By Joe Diglio Let's face it: college basketball polls are pretty meaningless. They're essentially hype machines, having no bearing on the season. So to poke fun at college basketball's incessant need to rank things, we'll re-rank the AP top 25 according to other criteria. Last week, I tried to help you fill out your brackets by giving you a sneak preview at teams that could be in danger of getting upset in the NCAA Tournament. Today I'm going to do something similar, except for the one team we're all interested in more than any other: the eventual national champion. I've looked at the efficiency numbers of the last 10 national champions to determine which of this year's teams are playing most like that group. Below are this week's AP top 25 teams in order of how they compare to recent national champions, from least to most similar. Best of the Rest 25. Boise State 24. Maryland 23. Arkansas 22. SMU 21. West Virginia 20. Butler 19. Georgetown 18. Louisville 17. Davidson 16. North Carolina 15. Oklahoma All of these teams' current differences in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency are lower than that of the worst national champion of the last 10 years, the 20.4 mark posted by last year's UConn Huskies. That's not to say none of these teams have a shot of winning it all, just that if they did it would likely be the worst national champ we've seen in a while. Plus teams can improve their numbers in the coming weeks; Oklahoma (20.2) and North Carolina (20) aren't far off from reaching the 20.4 minimum. That makes sense: the Sooners and Tar Heels are the most complete teams of any listed above. Two teams you may be surprised to see so low are Louisville and Maryland. The Cardinals have gone 3 2 since dismissing Chris Jones, but that includes Saturday's dramatic win over Virginia. Freshman Quentin Snider has stepped up in Jones' absence, averaging 9.4 points and three assists in the team's five games without Jones. The numbers aren't very kind to the Terrapins, whose 14-point adjusted efficiency differential is tied with Boise State for the lowest of the top 25. Another concern for the Terps? Their inconsistent play away from home. Sure, they beat Iowa State on a neutral floor, but they were also blown out at Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana, and they dropped a game at a bubble team in Illinois. (Of note: Maryland will not play at home during the NCAA Tournament.) Contenders 14. Wichita State 13. Notre Dame 12. Iowa State 11. Northern Iowa 10. Baylor 9. Kansas 8. Utah 7. Gonzaga 6. Duke 5. Virginia 4. Villanova These teams fall in the range above '14 UConn's 20.4 differential but below the last 10 champions' average differential of 28.5. Villanova, which is fittingly at top of this group, finished the regular season hotter than anyone. I flipped away from the Wildcats' game against St. John's on Saturday with just over 13 minutes remaining and Villanova up 62 58. When I changed the channel back with just under four minutes on the clock, the Wildcats led 100 66. And if you listen closely, you can hear Villanova scoring even now. For a group of teams that should seriously contend for a national championship, though, there are plenty with question marks right now. Daishon Knight was unstoppable against Wichita State in the MVC Tournament semifinal, scoring 25 points for Illinois State, the last two coming at the free throw in the final 10 seconds to clinch the game. The loss will likely drop the Shockers to the No. 5 seed line. Utah could also drop a seed line if it continues its freefall in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Utes, who had one point could've won the conference's regular season title by winning out, dropped three of their last five, including their season finale against bottom-feeder Washington. The skid cost the Utes first and second in the league, allowing Oregon to sneak ahead of them. They'll have to hope for a third shot at Arizona (and make the most of it) for a late résumé boost. Kansas and Virginia also lost their regular season finales, but their bigger concerns are getting back to full strength. The Jayhawks put up a fight against Oklahoma, falling by two despite not having Perry Ellis (sprained knee), Brannen Greene (suspended), and Cliff Alexander (under NCAA investigation). Wayne Selden Jr. was also limited to 18 minutes in that game due to an ankle sprain. Bill Self hinted that Greene should be back by the team's next game, but Ellis might be held out of the Big 12 Tournament as a precautionary measure. Self is also operating under the assumption that Alexander, whom the NCAA is looking into for possibly receiving impermissible benefits, won't return. Virginia's title hopes are tied to one person: Justin Anderson. The junior wing was eyeing a possible return on Saturday from a broken finger suffered last month before an emergency appendectomy extended his stay on the sideline. He practiced yesterday but there is no timetable for his return . It took a last-second shot by Louisville's Mangok Mathiang of all people for the Cavaliers to lose their first game since Anderson went down. Still, their offense has taken a hit, scoring 1.03 points per possession in eight games without him. Favorites 3. Arizona 2. Wisconsin 1. Kentucky These three form their own triumvirate atop the list as the only teams whose current adjusted efficiency differential is greater the last 10 champions' average differential of 28.5. A few weeks ago I argued that Gabe York, while not necessarily one of Arizona's five best players, had to be on the floor for the Wildcats to truly have their optimal lineup. He provides much-needed offensive spacing on a team that too often relies on its size, strength, and athleticism inside. All he's done since then is average 12.5 points per game. He was particularly key in the team's win over Utah two weeks ago, scoring 12 points as leading scorer Stanley Johnson missed 16 of his 19 shot attempts. Speaking of Johnson, shooting wasn't his only problem that night. With less than three minutes to play and Arizona clinging to a one-point lead, Johnson endured a rough stretch that included driving into a double team and losing the ball, missing a layup, and failing to close out on a three-pointer that gave Utah the lead. The careless defense irked Sean Miller the most, leading him to bench his star freshman the rest of the game. Now, that's a bit easier to do when he's gone 3-of-19 from the field, but it's important to note if it were to happen again in the NCAA Tournament; Arizona can survive crunch time without him. Wisconsin is playing extremely well right now (as it has all season), but I still wonder if the Badgers can win with what is in essence a six-man rotation. Vitto Brown hasn't reached double-digit minutes in any game since Traevon Jackson went down, and Zak Showalter has done so four times, leaving Duje Dukan as the team's only legitimate contributor off the bench. Jackson's return would send Bronson Koenig back to bench, lessening Koenig and Josh Gasser's workloads. Oh, and it would mean the Badgers got their starting point guard back, which is kind of important I guess. And yet, none of this will matter if Kentucky plays the way it is capable of playing. The Wildcats' adjusted efficiency differential of 33.5 is higher than any national champion dating back to the 2001 02 season (which is as far back as KenPom's numbers go). There are basically two outcomes when you play Kentucky. The first, more depressing option is that the 'Cats dominate wire to wire the way they did against Arkansas, when they led by at least 10 for the final 22:21 of the game. The second, more tortuous option is Kentucky comes out flat, allowing hope for an upset, only to crush it. The Wildcats were down six with less than five minutes to play against Georgia, then closed out with a 16 2 run to win by eight. So they can wear you down over the course of an entire game or turn on the jets at a moment's notice and take over in a matter of minutes. Kentucky has been the best team under any lens: by possession, per game, and over the course of the entire season. This season of college basketball has devolved into a "Kentucky vs. the field" debate, and with each passing game, it gets harder and harder to go against the boys in blue.


It's time to spice up your life, really. Spice Girls fans can now stay in the original Spice Bus from the 1997 movie "Spice World" for a limited time in June   just in time for the highly-anticipated Spice Girls tour stop in Wembley Stadium in London. Suzanne Godley, a Spice Girls megafan, listed the bus on Airbnb . "The Spice Girls were my childhood obsession," Godley said in a statement. "My parents were subjected to my tone-deaf performances as Baby Spice, and I must have watched the Spice World movie hundreds of times. And while I have grown up over the years, I don't think I've ever grown out of my love for them." When Godley's boss told her he was considering buying the Spice Bus, she wanted to be part of the renovation process. "We've worked hard over the past few months to turn the bus into a home, in keeping with its legacy, and I'm so excited to open it up to the public with the support of Airbnb," she added. The bus will be located in the Wembley Park area of London and will be available to book for June 14 and 15 for roughly $127 per night, starting May 22 at 8 a.m. local time. It features "pink Union Jack cinema chairs below a 'Girl Power' neon light installation, and is fully stocked with vintage '90s magazines and CDs. Only three guests will be able to stay at a time, and no pets are allowed. Guests are required to don '90s-era clothing (yes, double denim is allowed) and selfies in the driver's seat are encouraged. The space includes one single bed and one double bed. "I'm a huge fan of the band and have tried to include as many little touches as possible inspired by the girls and their music, to make the inside just as iconic as the outside!" Godley wrote in the listing. "Inside, guests will have the run of both floors, which have been lovingly renovated with little nods to each of the Spice Girls and some fairly bold interiors." As for some caveats: The bus doesn't include WiFi, and guests will only be able to use a temporary bathroom (the bus itself doesn't include one). It includes a number of steps and is not handicap-accessible. "I'm looking for guests who share my love of the Spice Girls, have a verified Airbnb profile and have great reviews," she wrote in the listing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spice up your life: Stay overnight in the iconic Spice Girls bus, now listed on Airbnb


Locations where you can hunt for the precious metal. There's still gold in these hills The gold rushes of the 19th century have long since ended, but there are still plenty of places you can hunt for the precious metal using a shovel, pan, metal detector and more. In fact, recreational gold mining is a pastime for many people these days, and for good reason: the largest nugget ever found in California was discovered by an amateur. Click ahead for some key locations worldwide that you can still prospect for the yellow metal   you never know, you may get lucky and strike it rich. Reed Gold Mine, Charlotte, North Carolina In 1799, Conrad Reed was walking along Little Meadow Creek when he noticed a shiny, gold substance in the water. It turned out to be a 17 pound gold nugget, and was the first documented authentic gold claim in the US. Reed Gold Mine, Charlotte, North Carolina You can still pull gold out of the water to this day with panning at $2 per person. Visitors to the area can also learn about other ways of finding gold from the land. Crow Creek, Alaska If you are in Alaska and want to look for more than just incredible scenery and wildlife, you might want to try your hand at panning for gold in Crow Creek. The first claims of gold are said to have been made in 1897 near the mouth of the stream and panning has taken place here ever since. Crow Creek, Alaska Amateur gold hunters can get private excursions and a practice bag of rocks mixed with gold to make sure that they are panning correctly, before heading half a mile down stream to test their gold hunting skills. Panning costs $24 per person. Black Hills Forest, South Dakota In 1876 the gold rush swept across the Black Hills of South Dakota after gold deposits were found in Deadwood Creek, with people panning for gold ever since. Black Hills Forest, South Dakota Much of the Black Hills are encompassed by public land and panning is available to whoever fancies wading through the waters. You will need to rent or bring your own panning equipment and the cost depends on where you want to go panning. American River, California Rules and regulations differ slightly from state to state, but recreational gold prospecting tends to be permitted in the USA in designated public areas and on private land as long as the landowner gives permission. American River, California The California Gold Rush began in 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on the banks of the American River in Coloma. The surrounding area is still rich in gold deposits, and recreational panning is permitted these days at the south fork of the river in Coloma and at two forks in the Auburn State Recreational Area. Cosumnes River, California The Cosumnes River that flows through California's Eldorado National Forest is also known for its deposits of the yellow stuff. A great place to prospect, several camping grounds within the forest allow for gold panning. Cosumnes River, California The most popular gold panning sites include the areas around Cache Rock and the Pi Pi Campground, which is located along the middle fork of the Cosumnes, as well as the area around Capps Crossing. Cosumnes River, California This swathe of land near near the Majuba Mountains is renowned for its chunky chevron-shaped gold nuggets, which are much sought after by collectors. The gold deposits are situated in soils to the west of the reservoir, so you'll have to dry pan or search with a metal detector here. Jamestown, California There are many places to mine for gold in California, as it is rich with gold mining history, and Jamestown is no exception. The gold panning tours available here make this a popular choice. Jamestown, California Prices for prospecting here vary and it can be a little steep, but then again, you are going gold mining. For a family you can get equipment, instructions and a five-hour time slot for $160. Rye Patch, Nevada In Nevada, as long as you discover gold on federal land   and it hasn't been claimed by someone else   you can stake a mining claim and keep or sell your booty. Similar rules apply in other US states, including California, Colorado and Alaska. Clear Creek, Colorado A gold-hunter's paradise, this river in Colorado is hands-down the best place in the state for recreational prospecting. Panning and sluicing for gold is permitted on the river bed at Arapahoe Bar in west Denver, and digging is allowed on the north side of the river there. Clear Creek, Colorado There's also a large stretch of river about 10 miles upstream from Arapahoe Bar at Clear Creek Canyon where gold panning, sluicing and even suction dredging are permitted. You may even have better luck here given the location is up-river. Guided tours cost $100 for adults and $50 for children. Dahlonega, Georgia North Georgia saw an American gold rush in 1928. People have long since been hunting there and the Consolidated Gold Mine is the place to go. Dahlonega, Georgia Costs range between $6 and $11 per pan for you to have a go at finding your own fortune here, which seems like a decent price for finding gold. Instructions are also provided for beginners. America's largest ever gold finds Chena River, Alaska The discovery of gold near the Chena River in Fairbanks set off the Fairbanks Gold Rush of the early 1900s and the yellow metal is still found in relatively impressive quantities in Alaska's ice-cold watercourses. Chena River, Alaska Several tourist companies that are based in Fairbanks offer gold panning courses on the river. Recreational panning is also allowed at the narrower Pedro Creek to the north of the Alaskan city. Klondike River, Yukon, Canada The Klondike Gold Rush kicked off in 1896 when gold was found in Bonanza Creek (then called Rabbit Creek), a tributary of the Klondike River, attracting hundreds of thousands of prospectors to this remote part of Canada. Klondike River, Yukon, Canada Gold panning and sluicing are permitted on the Klondike River and other watercourses in Canada with some exceptions. If the land is federal-owned or belongs to First Nation people, you'll have to obtain permission before you prospect. Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada This river in British Columbia is noted for its reserves of gold and attracts many a recreational prospector. Tranquille Creek in Thompson county is one of the best spots to pan for gold on the river. Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada Fraser River is awash with gold left behind by prospectors over decades, and there's a good chance you'll find small nuggets here rather than tiny specks or grains of gold among the rich alluvial deposits, as it is one of the largest gold producing mines in Canada . Warrego, Northern Territory, Australia Australia is a fantastic place to prospect for gold if you're an amateur. Fossicking, as the activity is called Down Under, is permissible in a number of declared sites in the mineral-rich Northern Territory. Warrego, Northern Territory, Australia The Warrego area is one of the richest fossicking sites in the whole of Australia. The gold is scattered in the surface soils of the area, so you'll need a metal detector and good dry panning skills to find it. The largest gold nuggets ever found Arrow River, Otago, New Zealand Fossicking is almost as popular in New Zealand. The country is blessed with generous reserves of gold and there are plenty of sites in which to prospect for the yellow metal, including the Arrow River in Otago on the South Island. Arrow River, Otago, New Zealand The shallow part of the river near Arrowtown is the best place to prospect for gold. Panning is allowed and even encouraged here and several local gold prospecting firms hire out pans to rookie prospectors. Elvo River, Piedmont, Italy The Elvo River in Piedmont, Italy is enjoying something of a gold rush right now, and amateur prospectors regularly report finding nuggets the size of breadcrumbs in its mineral-rich alluvial deposits. Elvo River, Piedmont, Italy Recreational prospecting is permitted on public land in Italy and the rules are fairly relaxed. According to Italian law, prospectors are even allowed to keep up to five grams of gold per day without declaring their discovery to the authorities. Suisgill Estate, Sutherland, Scotland In most cases, gold reserves in the UK are classed as 'Mines Royal' and belong to Her Majesty. The Crown Estate has stopped issuing licences for recreational gold panning and is reluctant to authorise mining operations due to the environmental damage they may cause. Suisgill Estate, Sutherland, Scotland Amateur gold prospectors in the UK have few options if they don't want to break the law and risk prosecution. The Suisgill Estate in northern Scotland is one of them. Recreational gold panning is permitted free of charge, within strict guidelines, in two rivers on the estate. Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Dubbed 'God's Treasure House in Scotland', the area around the village of Wanlockhead in the Lowther Hills is prized for its gold reserves, even more so than the Suisgill Estate, and prospectors have been mining and panning there for centuries. Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland The Lowther and Buccleuch Estates issue gold panning licences for the area. Alternatively, the Wanlockhead Lead Mining Museum offers panning courses for amateurs   a Canadian tourist found a 20-carat nugget worth $12,800 during a course in 2014. Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales The discovery of the Dolgellau Gold Belt in Snowdonia back in 1843 triggered the Welsh Gold Rush of the 1860s. But gold is no longer mined on a commercial basis in the area. Still, the belt has yielded four tonnes of gold over the years. Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales Amateur prospectors can pan for gold in the area if they have permission from the relevant landowner and adhere to strict environmental guidelines. An easier option is to visit the ancient Dolaucothi Gold Mines in Carmarthenshire, where you can try your hand at gold panning without the legal worries. Gold Mines River, County Wicklow, Ireland Gold hunters may have more luck in Ireland. Recreational gold panning using handheld, non-motorised equipment is permitted, but you'll need to declare any find in excess of 20 grains (just over a gram) and must obtain a licence to sell any gold you discover. Gold Mines River, County Wicklow, Ireland The appropriately-named Gold Mines River in the Wicklow Mountains, which got its moniker in 1796 following the discovery of a nugget of the precious metal, boasts relatively high quantities of gold and is a magnet for amateur prospectors. Ordinary people who stumbled upon extraordinary amounts of gold


Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says he is open to hearings on the controversial plea deal Labor Secretary Alex Acosta struck with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 to resolve multiple allegations of sexual molestation. "If this plea deal doesn't withstand scrutiny then it would be the job of the Judiciary Committee to find out how it got off the rails. What kind of checks and balances do we have to make sure that complaints involving minor children are adequately investigated? This is an area of the law where the tie goes to the kids," Graham told reporters Tuesday morning. "If we think somebody's out there abusing children, no matter how hard the case may be, you want to bring it forward simply to get these people deterred if nothing else," he added. Acosta was the U.S. attorney in charge of Epstein's case when he struck what has now been criticized as an overly lenient plea deal that allowed him to spend just more than a year in jail and have work release. The plea deal with Epstein has faced new scrutiny following federal prosecutors unsealing new sex trafficking charges against Epstein on Monday, alleging abuse of dozens of female minors. He has denied all charges. Epstein, a successful hedge fund manager, who counted President Trump and former President Clinton among his social acquaintances, pleaded guilty to state charges of solicitation of prostitution but didn't face federal charges. Democrats have called on Acosta to resign over the deal that was crafted in secret and effectively potentially blocked dozens of alleged victims of sexual trafficking from pursuing complaints against Epstein. "As U.S. Attorney, he engaged in an unconscionable agreement w/ Jeffrey Epstein kept secret from courageous, young victims preventing them from seeking justice," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tweeted on Monday night. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, called for Acosta to resign and for Congress to investigate the plea deal. "There should be hearings in the United States Senate involving the Epstein-Acosta-Trump connection. Clearly, there is enough basis for unequal justice or excessive leniency and for questions about why that happened," he said. "There should be hearings here in the United States Senate. The travesty of justice in allowing Epstein essentially a pass in Florida when clearly there were potential violations of law merits hearings." Graham on Tuesday said, "I'd like to know more," noting that Acosta wasn't the only prosecutor involved in the plea deal. "This thing was fairly vetted. He didn't just do it by himself. A lot of people had eyes on the original plea deal. Now it's being set aside and sounds like there's more misconduct," Graham said. Other Republicans said they would follow Graham's lead. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the former chairman of the Judiciary panel, when asked whether Congress should review Epstein's plea deal, said, "if it's in this committee, you better ask Graham." Grassley said he wants to wait for a report from the Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility before making a decision on whether Acosta should step down. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an advisor to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said, if Graham decides to hold hearings "I'll certainly attend" but added, "I think we ought to let the Justice Department and [the] judiciary do their job and then we need to respond to any new information."


New York City will see a return of last week's warm temperatures over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 85 degrees today, then turn milder on Saturday. The immediate forecast also includes light rainfall. Today's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 99 percent, with predicted rainfall of 0.08 inches. Skies will partially clear tomorrow, remaining partly cloudy through Wednesday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 14 mph tomorrow, while today will be calmer. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


LOS ANGELES   A former Scientologist has filed the first of what her attorneys say will be multiple lawsuits against the Church of Scientology International and its leader, alleging retaliation, child abuse, human trafficking and forced labor against her and other members who have left the church. The suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks unspecified general, special and compensatory damages, well as unpaid wages, from the church, its Religious Technology Center and its "ecclesiastical leader," David Miscavige, and 25 unnamed co-respondents at a jury trial. Allegations in the lawsuit include libel, slander, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress and seek double or triple damages on claims the plaintiffs violated California labor and human trafficking laws. The woman who filed the lawsuit, identified in court papers as "Jane Doe," said she was raised in the church from birth and at age 15 became a personal steward to Miscavige, whose formal title is chairman of the church's Religious Technology Center. The church identifies Miscavige as the " ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion ," which was started in 1952 by the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology asserts in its official statements of beliefs that man is an immortal spiritual being with unlimited capabilities, and it offers, for a price , one-on-one "auditing" and classes designed to help members achieve a "clear" spiritual state . It strongly opposes the science of psychiatry as " disastrous ." According to the suit, Jane Doe joined the Sea Organization, described as an association of the church's "most dedicated members," who sign 1 billion-year contracts with the quasi-naval group. The lawsuit says she moved to the church's Gold Base in San Jacinto, California, southeast of San Bernardino. She remained there for 11 or 12 years until 2015, when she was removed as a steward and placed in an isolation program called "the Hole" because, according to the suit, she knew too much about what it describes as marital problems between Miscavige and his wife. Banished to Los Angeles to work on church publicity, the woman escaped in late 2016 in the trunk of a car driven by a non-Scientologist actor with whom she was assigned to produce promotional videos, according to the complaint. Scientology actively recruits celebrities to advocate for it. After she left the church, Jane Doe went to work for the actor Leah Remini, a former Scientologist, whose documentary TV series, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," has chronicled the stories of former Scientologists who allege the church abused them as members and harassed them after they left. The Church of Scientology International has mounted a vigorous, often scathing public campaign against Remini and the TV series. It has posted websites condemning both Remini and Jane Doe, which NBC News confirmed were still active at the time of publication but which it isn't linking to in order to protect Jane Doe's identity. "The lawsuit comprises nothing more than unfounded allegations as to all defendants," Rebecca N. Kaufman, an attorney for the Church of Scientology, told NBC News on Wednesday night, saying it was "littered with anti-religious slurs culled from the tabloids and accusations that have been disproven in courts decades ago." "We are confident the lawsuit will fail," Kaufman said. "Federal courts have already determined that service in the Church of Scientology's religious order is voluntary and protected by the First Amendment. Moreover, the evidence will establish that while serving the church, plaintiff came and went freely, traveled the world, and lived in comfortable surroundings. The church will vigorously defend itself against these unfounded allegations." Brian Kent, an attorney for Jane Doe, said that for decades, the church "has sought to quash dissension, cover up its long history of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of its members, including its most vulnerable members, its children, and weaponize its doctrine against those who escape and find the courage to speak up." "This is just the beginning, and we are not going to stop until they do," Kent said. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Scientology as a tax-exempt religion, a status it won in 1993 after years of litigation. But another of Jane Doe's attorneys, Marci Hamilton, academic director of Child USA, a nonprofit children's advocacy group, argued that religious liberty defenses don't apply in this case. Church members "have the right to believe anything they want," Hamilton said. "But they cannot do whatever they want. This lawsuit continues the important work of the #MeToo era to bring institutions and individuals to account for child abuse, trafficking and neglect."


The world doesn't agree on many things, but when it comes to electric cars , we're demonstrating some rare joined-up thinking. Of the 136 countries studied in a new report, the Tesla Model 3 is the most searched for electric vehicle on Google, making it the most desirable EV on the planet. Indeed, the Model 3 generates 1,529,770 global searches on Google every month, which is around a million more than the next most popular EV, which just happens to be the Tesla Model S. The Model 3 comes out top in 75 countries in new research conducted by CompareTheMarket, with interest high in North America, Western Europe, Scandinavia, China, India and Australia. EVs: the world map It's proof that Tesla continues to dominate online traffic and interest for electric vehicles, with the Model 3 , Model S and Model X combining to account for around 2.5 million Google searches a month. Tesla models are also the most popular electric vehicles in nearly 80 percent of the countries studied. As the first electric car to surpass 400,000 sales, it's no surprise to discover that the Nissan Leaf is the most searched for EV in 36 countries, accounting for around 560,000 monthly searches. But aside from the BMW i3 and Renault Zoe, few electric cars are generating a significant level of Google traffic. It's left to Tesla to lead the PR and marketing for an entire segment. Things will change. There are a host of new electric cars waiting in the wings, ranging from mainstream EVs like the MG ZS EV and Peugeot e-208, to the more high-profile Porsche Taycan and Aston Martin Rapide E. Others, like the Mini Electric, Fiat 500e and Honda e will inject some much-needed glamour into the more affordable end of the market. The question is: can a mainstream manufacturer generate as much online buzz as the upstarts from California? Time will tell. Electric cars: total monthly searches Electric car Total monthly searches (Google) 1. Tesla Model 3 1,529,770 2. Tesla Model S 559,240 3. Nissan Leaf 545,520 4. Tesla Model X 507,990 5. BMW i3 354,230 6. Renault Zoe 246,180 7. Chevrolet Bolt 61,770 8. Hyundai Kona Electric 50,720 9. Kia Soul EV 35,820 10. Jaguar I-Pace 32,270 Data and world map courtesy of CompareTheMarket . The post The most-wanted electric cars around the world appeared first on Motoring Research .


Antonio Brown missing practice has been a big story with it blowing up yesterday after Gruden comment during his press conference. No Antonio Brown at practice the two days I've been in Napa. "I think we're all disappointed," Jon Gruden said. "We want to get the party started." - Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) August 2, 2019 Now, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Brown is going to visit a foot specialist to see what is actually going on with his foot. Just learned that receiver Antonio Brown is seeing a foot specialist today #Raiders - Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 3, 2019 The minor injury shouldn't be a cause of concern, especially after seeing Brown dominate in practice. It is something to keep an eye on moving forward throughout camp. MORE: This Patrick Mahomes throw from Chiefs practice can't be real Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency 49ers without 5 starters on Day 7 of training camp Rookie safety Saquan Hampton standing out at Saints training camp Jay Gruden says the Redskins will choose a starting quarterback on Tuesday


Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is hanging up the cleats for good and heading to television. According to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand , Sanchez is retiring from the NFL and joining ABC as a college football analyst. He will be replacing Mack Brown on the broadcast and will be alongside Kevin Negandhi and former Jet Jonathan Vilma. Marchand also noted that Sanchez auditioned for a job at Fox Sports, but they couldn't find a spot for him. Sanchez stayed in the league for a decade, playing in four seasons with the Jets after they drafted him No. 5 overall in 2009. His career got off to a great start when he led the Jets to back-to-back AFC championship game appearances. Everything changed for Sanchez after that. He spent three more seasons with the Jets but played in only two of them before being released in 2014. Sanchez then spent two years in Philadelphia before going to Dallas in 2016. He had a year with the Bears in 2017 in which he was suspended for four games and never appeared in a game. The last stop Sanchez made was with the Redskins last season. For his career, Sanchez had a 56 percent completion rate and threw for 15,357 yards with 86 touchdowns and 89 interceptions. It's safe to say that Sanchez's career in the NFL didn't go as expected, but hopefully his new career in the studio will bring him much more success. MORE: New York Mets' New 'Foul Poles' Are an Abomination The Twins pulled off a beautiful triple play against the Yankees and fans loved it NBA trade rumor rankings: What's up with CP3? The 21 dumbest ideas in NFL history Ravens have another shot to land WR Allen Hurns, this time for cheap


The Cincinnati Bengals used rookie minicamp to make some slight adjustments to the roster. According to the team , the Bengals signed the following undrafted free agents: WR Ventell Bryant, Temple LB Noah Dawkins, The Citadel LB Sterling Sheffield, Maine Bryant is the biggest name there, coming off a season in which he put up 690 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 wideout was invited to camp on a tryout basis and clearly impressed, so he'll get a chance to keep climbing the ladder over the summer. The Bengals also cut two players: undrafted wideout Charles Holland and linebacker Brandon Bell. Bell spent the last two seasons in Cincinnati and appeared in 14 total games. MORE: Joel Embiid left the court in tears after Kawhi Leonard's astonishing buzzer-beater NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Game Of Thrones: Best Twitter Reactions And Memes From Season 8, Episode 5 Ex-GM: Giants got it right with Daniel Jones at No. 6


At long last, Albert Pujols will get his historic ball back. The Los Angeles Angels first baseman reached 2,000th RBIs in spectacular fashion on Thursday with his 639th career home run, but because he hit the ball out of the field of play, the team couldn't immediately secure the ball. The Tigers fan who caught the ball, Ely Hydes, initially rebuffed offers to give the ball to the Angels, but after sleeping on it, Hydes told the Detroit News on Friday that he would give the ball to Pujols for no reward. "All I ever wanted was to sleep on it," Hydes said. "I slept on it and I woke up and I think (Pujols) is a class act. "He's not my player, he's not my guy, I don't deserve the ball." Video by FOX Sports Immediately after the game, Tigers staff made several offers to Hydes for the ball. The club initially offered an autographed Pujols baseball in return and eventually upped its offer to also include a jersey, memorabilia from Tigers star Miguel Cabrera and a chance to meet Pujols. The Tigers pointed out that Major League Baseball could not authenticate the ball because of chain-of-custody concerns   rendering the ball worthless to sell   but that didn't stop an Angels fan from reportedly offering him $25,000 for the ball. Still, Hydes appeared happy to keep the ball for his own enjoyment. For what it's worth, Pujols did not seem too concerned about not getting to keep the ball. Maybe $344 million makes it easier to get over small hiccups. "I told the guys, 'Just leave it. Just let him have it,'" Pujols said after the game . "I think he can have a great piece of history with him. When he looks at the ball, he can remind himself of this game. I don't fight about it. I think we play this game for the fans, too, and if they want to keep it, I think they have the right to. I just hope he can enjoy it." Hydes may not come away with money or Pujols memorabilia from the experience, but he will come away with another prize. According to the Detroit News, after hearing about his love for their franks, Hebrew National will send him a summer's supply of hot dogs. More from Yahoo Sports: Keyser: Red Sox shouldn't have gone to White House David Beckham banned from driving for 6 months Troubling events clouding Cubs' red-hot start Lakers' offer to Lue was 'pitiful,' says Billups Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The NBA Finals begin Thursday (9 p.m. ET, ABC) and will feature the Raptors and two-time defending champion Warriors. Golden State is making its fifth consecutive finals appearance while this is Toronto's first ever. The Warriors are favored to win their third straight title, but here are three players who could swing the direction of the series: Danny Green To be frank, Green needs to pick it up. The 2014 NBA champion was among the most efficient 3-point shooters in 2018-19. The Raptors guard converted a blistering 45.5% of his attempts from behind the arc during the regular season but was virtually a non-factor against the Bucks in the Eastern finals. Green made 4 of 23 shots from deep against Milwaukee, converting his specialty at an alarming low 17.4%. He was held scoreless in Games 5 and 6. However, Green has been able to elevate his game during intense moments in the past. He had a then-NBA record 27 made 3-pointers against the Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals as a member of the Spurs. Although his team lost in the end, he was just the sparkplug San Antonio needed to push the series to seven games. Green is an excellent defender, but Toronto won't be able to leave him on the court if he's an offensive liability against a powerhouse like Golden State. Andre Iguodala The oldest member of the Warriors could be critical to their success. The 35-year-old wing has been battling calf soreness this postseason and will likely play an important role in Golden State's defensive strategy. The defending champs are up against Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has been one of the most dynamic scorers in this year's playoffs. Leonard is leading Toronto in points (31.2), rebounds (8.8) and steals (1.6) per game during the postseason, and it will likely require a group effort to slow him. Iguodala has proven to be an elite perimeter defender who can guard multiple positions. His approach to slowing down LeBron James in the 2015 NBA Finals helped him earn MVP honors and swung the series in Golden State's favor. His versatility would be well-suited to bother one of the NBA's more prolific scorers and relieve pressure from stars like Klay Thompson. DeMarcus Cousins Cousins hasn't played since he tore his quad against the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. But reports suggest he could return by Game 1 of the NBA Finals, despite the initial belief he would not return in the postseason. "Initially, I thought it was worse than what it was," Cousins told reporters Thursday. "There was obviously a panic, but once the doctors came out and I realized what it was, I gathered myself from a couple of days of frustration, anger, sadness and all of the above. I told myself to get back to work and do it all over again. That's what I did, and that's what I'll continue to do." The Warriors big man recovered from an Achilles injury over the offseason and averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in 30 games for Golden State in 2018-19. Cousins averaged only 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in his first two career playoff games against Los Angeles. But the dynamic will likely be different for the four-time All-Star with Kevin Durant (calf) still sidelined. The 28-year-old could tip the scales in a major way if he's able to impose his will with his ability to score on all three levels and uses his physicality as he has in past seasons. A variety of players could be poised to make their marks on the biggest stage in basketball as early as Thursday in Toronto. MORE : 'Lack of trust' led to Kawhi Leonard's trade demand with Spurs, uncle says | NBA Finals 2019: Charles Barkley once again picks against Warriors | NBA Finals 2019: Warriors vs. Raptors preview, prediction | OG Anunoby health update: Raptors 'optimistic' forward will return during NBA Finals, report says 4 - Here are four stats on @StephenCurry30 's playoff career ahead of the #NBAFinals . Knowledge. pic.twitter.com/KefieSE9xa   OptaLarry (@OptaLarry) May 24, 2019


MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami)   Miami Beach police have released a sketch of a man they said verbally and physically assaulted a woman and her daughter. Pilar Lopez and her daughter Daniella Bonilla were on the corner of 24th Street and Collins Avenue waiting for a bus when they say a man walked up to them, called them lesbians and said they should learn English and go back to their country. Fearing for their safety Lopez and Bonilla began backing away as the man continued yelling profanities at them. When the woman told him to leave them alone, the man walked to Bonilla and pushed her. She responded by throwing a cup of coffee she was drinking on him. He then punched her in the chest. He then turned punched Lopez in the chest. As a crowd began to gather, the man took off. He got into a taxi which took him to 26th Street where he jumped out and ran off. Police describe the man as being 25 to 35 years of age, approximately 5′ 11″, with brown hair and eyes. He could possibly be homeless.


The Dolphins have a long-range plan, and enough draft picks to make it worth flipping a couple for quarterback Josh Rosen . And according two of the franchise's Hall of Famers, it's a low-risk move. According to Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post , both Jason Taylor and Dan Marino spoke in glowing terms about the acquisition, though Taylor noted that it could be a short-term rental if it doesn't work out. " I thought it was a great move ," Taylor said. "You get a one-year look-see, see what's under the hood. And if you don't like it, you can change it. "If you do like it, then you can change the tires, put some custom wheels on it, keep riding that thing out." If Rosen turns out to be the vehicle the Dolphins believe can take them where they're going, then the cost of a second- and fifth-rounder for a guy the Cardinals took 10th overall last year is an incredible bargain. Rosen admitted this week his " head is swimming " while learning a new system, but Marino said he's been impressed with Rosen's aptitude for the game, and said his reputation for intelligence was earned: "All that stuff. He's been working hard. Yes, he has." As long as he can beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick , he'll have a year to prove himself. While their offensive personnel may make it difficult for any quarterback, they have a long test-drive to see if Rosen's worth customizing.


Bubble tea fans, take heed: there's a new spot in town to get your fix. Located at 3191 W. Colonial Drive, the new arrival is called I Tea . This new business offers a wide variety of tea drinks in a sleek, industrial space, with choices such as fresh fruit teas, milk teas, Japanese matcha and cheese teas on the menu. The shop also serves traditional hot teas, coffee and cocoa drinks. With a 4.5-star rating out of three reviews on Yelp so far, the new arrival has already made a good impression. Yelper Jennifer V. wrote , "This spot is really refreshing without being super sweet." Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. I Tea is open from 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. daily. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Orlando? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Scott Dixon admits that "bad choices" on tire strategy left him vulnerable to a late attack from Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Felix Rosenqvist in last weekend's Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Dixon clung on to score his sixth NTT IndyCar Series victory at the Lexington, OH circuit by less than a tenth of a second from Rosenqvist, struggling to make his alternate red tires last in the final stint after opting for a two-stop strategy. The five-time series champion pitted for the second time on lap 59 on 90, and after three-stopping Rosenqvist made his final stop on lap 66, Dixon led by nearly 10 seconds before the Swedish rookie began to reel in his more experienced teammate. Dixon believes that he would have had a straightforward run to victory had he chosen the harder black tires, and not reds, for his last stint. "With about 15 [laps] to go, I started moaning to the team," recalled Dixon. "I'm like, 'Man, I think we're going to have to pit again.' A lot of it, I think, was just bad choices from my front. "I think after the race, Chip [Ganassi] said that he had decided that we should have gone to blacks. But I said, it looks like the reds are holding on pretty well, but we made adjustments to the first set of sticker reds, had quite a bit of understeer. "We made those changes for the used second set that already had four laps on it from qualifying, and they just couldn't take it. It was too aggressive. "Luckily I used them early to try and get past some of those lap traffic cars that did help us later on, I think at least delay Felix getting to us. But ultimately had we gone to the black tires, we would have maintained our eight- or 10-second gap." Dixon and Rosenqvist made contact on the final lap of the race as the latter tried to make a move up the inside of the Turn 2 right-hander, only for the former to close the door. "I knew he was going to come in deep there," said Dixon of Rosenqvist's passing attempt. "I thought he was actually going to just wait to get a good exit off of [Turn] 2, and ultimately I think had he just been a little bit more patient there, I think he would have got me probably going into 4. "But because that kind of messed up his momentum and kind of got him into dirty stuff a little bit, it took him a little time to react after that one. It worked out perfectly for us. "Again, I think it was just bad choices on my front that put us in that situation, though." Dixon added however that, despite the contact, he wasn't concerned that his teammate would attempt anything reckless to score a first IndyCar win. "I think there's a big understanding in any team that the last thing you want to do is take each other out," said Dixon. "And Felix is a rookie here in IndyCar but has raced in many different series and has much broader knowledge of racing than I even do because he's touched so many different kind of formulas. "Again, I keep saying it, but he's a big talent. He's going to win a lot of races. He was super-fast all weekend." Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Honda, podium, champagne Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / LAT Images


For the first time since the franchise's start in 1967, the St. Louis Blues are the Stanley Cup champions after taking down the Boston Bruins, 4-1, Wednesday on the road. The Blues had control for much of the series, but it was anyone's title when the Bruins won Sunday to force a Game 7. But it didn't matter because St. Louis, despite early offensive struggles, jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period and looked absolutely unstoppable. The Blues scored two more goals in the third to seal their first Stanley Cup, in large part thanks to a spectacular performance from first-year starting goalie Jordan Binnington, who finished the game with 32 saves. St. Louis' dominating performance in Game 7 led to some wild and truly awesome Stanley Cup Final stats, so we rounded up some of the best. 1. It's been 32 years since the Stanley Cup Final Game 7 had a lead change Yes, you read that right. The last time there was a lead change in a Game 7 was in 1987, when the Edmonton Oilers beat the Philadelphia Flyers. There have only been eight Game 7s since then, and the lead-change streak continues. There has not been a lead change in a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 since 1987. Tonight is the 8th Game 7 in the Cup Final since that game was played. pic.twitter.com/ZnieUNOdde - ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2019 What's more, it's also been 48 years and counting since a team overcame a two-goal deficit in Game 7. This was the 17th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Final history and first since 2011, per ESPN Stats & Info . The Blues lead the Bruins 2-0 at the end of the 1st period. The last team to overcome a 2-goal deficit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final was the 1971 Canadiens against the Blackhawks (trailed 2-0, won 3-2). pic.twitter.com/koL5GiBlqC - ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2019 2. Ryan O'Reilly is making history Ryan O'Reilly is your Conn Smythe Trophy winner! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/wjjHDYhFpC - #StanleyCup Game 7 on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 13, 2019 Blues center Ryan O'Reilly - who was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs - is the third player to score a team's opening goal in four straight Stanley Cup Final games, after finding the back of the net late in the first period. He finished with a six-game point streak in the finals, and he now has the most points in a postseason in franchise history, per ESPN Stats & Info . The @StLouisBlues strike FIRST in Game 7! #StanleyCup : @nbc : https://t.co/svSJ7srvwn pic.twitter.com/3genf4cP7t - #StanleyCup Game 7 on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 13, 2019 3. The Blues snapped the NHL's longest streak without a Stanley Cup* The Blues are Stanley Cup Champions! This ends the longest wait in NHL history - 50 seasons - for a team to win its first championship. The Kings previously held that distinction after winning the Cup for the first time after 43 seasons in 2012. pic.twitter.com/rBKtC8iiUu - ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2019 The Blues joined the league in 1967, and they and their fans have been waiting 50 years to win the Stanley Cup. 4. Jordan Binnington is a beast The 25-year-old St. Louis goalie is a first-year starter, but he certainly didn't play like it this series - especially not in the Stanley Cup-winning game. Binnington made 32 saves on 33 shots, and the lone goal he let in was with about two minutes left in the game. Take a bow, Jordan Binnington. pic.twitter.com/RnS41k4Kzk - #StanleyCup Game 7 on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 13, 2019 He finished with a 90.1 save percentage in the series and a 91.1 save percentage in the playoffs overall. And he's the only rookie goalie in NHL history to have 16 wins on the way to winning the Cup. A postseason to remember for @binnnasty . #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/wYCocKFTzo - #StanleyCup Game 7 on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 13, 2019 5. The Blues had terrible odds to win the Stanley Cup six months ago St. Louis had a rough season - prior to this, obviously. The team wasn't above .500 a few months ago, and it entered 2019 with a 15-18-4 record. The Blues were one of eight teams in the bottom of the league to have 250-to-1 odds (or worse) of winning the Cup in January. They were dead last in the league at that point. The Blues were one of eight teams with 250-1 or longer odds to win the Stanley Cup on January 7th at Caesars Sportsbook. The other teams all missed the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/SepNr5zfIL - ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2019 But they took off in January and went on an 11-game win streak through the middle of February before eventually finishing the regular season at 45-28-9. MORE: Steve Kerr opens up on decision to play Kevin Durant: 'The Achilles came as a complete shock' NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Davante Adams on Packers rookie S Darnell Savage: 'We got a steal' Lakers reportedly make Ball and Ingram available for AD, Pelicans want Kuzma Floyd Allen grateful for dream of making Texans and uses it to inspire others


New York City will see a return of last week's warm temperatures through Tuesday, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Your weather today includes a high of 80 degrees and Thursday's will be 83. The immediate forecast also includes light rainfall. The highest chance of rain is forecast today at 31 percent. Skies will be mostly cloudy on Thursday. Winds will stay light through the week, with the highest speeds on Tuesday at only 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga for the seventh consecutive season last week. However, after winning the title at a canter for the last several years the Bavarian side faced a title challenge from Borussia Dortmund. Bayern were actually behind Dortmund for large parts of the season but managed to overhaul Der BVB in the second half of the campaign when Lucien Favre's side seemed to buckle under the pressure of the title fight. The title race went down to the last day of the season where Bayern overcame a brief scare to beat Eintracht Frankfurt and retain the Bundesliga title. Die Bayern did suffer a disappointing exit in the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Liverpool . After gaining a creditable 0-0 draw at Anfield in the first leg, Bayern delivered a tepid performance in front of their own fans at the Allianz Arena, losing 3-1 and exiting the Champions League with a whimper. There has been an over-reliance on older players at the club in recent years and this almost cost the Bavarian side in the league this season. Despite this, Bayern will be pleased that they managed to fend off Dortmund 's Bundesliga title challenge even during a season in which they have been in transition and have attempted to integrate younger players into the team. We look at Bayern's squad and decide whether or not they their merit inclusion in the next campaign. Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer - KEEP - After missing most of the 2017/18 season with a series of foot injuries, Neuer endured a disappointing return to the starting XI this campaign. He established himself as the best goalkeeper in the world before his injury but seems to have diminished both physically and technically since, making series of uncharacteristic errors. However, at 33 he is still in his prime years for a goalkeeper and should remain number one at the club. Sven Ulreich - KEEP - The 30-year-old deputised ably for Neuer while the Germany number one was injured. Ulreich did come for criticism at times for lacking Neuer's commanding presence but has enough experience and quality to remain as the back-up goalkeeper at the club. Christian Früchtl - KEEP - Widely considered to be Neuer's long-term replacement, the 18-year-old should be given an opportunity to compete for role of first-choice goalkeeper at the club next season. Possessing composure and quality that belies his tender age, it would not be a surprise if he be became a starter sooner rather than later. Full Backs Joshua Kimmich - STAY - After starting his career as a central midfielder, the 24-year-old was converted to a full-back by previous manager Pep Guardiola. Kimmich has adapted brilliantly to this role and has now cemented his position as the first choice right-back at the club. He may face competition from the incoming Benjamin Pavard next season but will undoubtedly remain with Die Bayern. Rafinha - RELEASE - The club has already announced that Rafinha will be leaving Bayern this summer after spending eight years at the club. The versatile Brazil has not let Bayern down when called upon and the club will miss his experience and know-how when he departs. However, he is 33 and having had very few opportunities to start this season, it is the right time for both the player and the club to part ways. David Alaba - STAY - Alaba is considered to be among the best full backs in the world and despite not hitting the heights of previous seasons in the current campaign, he remains an integral part of this Bayern side. He is the only recognised left-back at the club and Bayern have signed  Atletico Madrid 's Lucas Hernández to provide competition for the Austrian next season. Central Defenders Mats Hummels - STAY - It has been a difficult season for the former Borussia Dortmund defender. He was jettisoned by Joachim Löw from the Germany national team and was part of a Bayern backline that looked unconvincing throughout the 2018/19 campaign. After spending several years as one of the best centre backs in Europe, Hummels showed signs of decline this season but still remains a top quality central defender and should be in Niko Kovac's plans next season. Niklas Süle - STAY - The 23-year-old has overtaken Jerome Boateng in the pecking order for both club and country this season. Süle has shown this season that he has the quality to be the foundation of this Bayern defence for many years to come. He possesses the perfect blend of great physicality and technical ability that all managers would want in a defender and he will look to make further progress next season. Jerome Boateng - STAY - Considering his age, injury problems and decline in form recently, it would be tempting for Bayern to sell Boateng . However, the World Cup winner still has a great deal to offer the club. He could prove to be a great mentor for the young players coming through and his leadership skills will be invaluable for Niko Kovac next season following the departures of several experienced players this year. No longer the player he once was but still provides an excellent back-up option. Central Midfielders Thiago Alcântara - STAY - The technically gifted Spain international has been one of Bayern's best performers this season. He has improved his defensive attributes considerably and is now considered amongst the best central midfielders in Europe. He made 30 appearances in the Bundesliga this season - the most he has made in a single campaign in his Bayern career. He will be an important player in this Bayern side going forward and it is vital that FC Hollywood build around him next season. Javi Martínez - STAY - Capable of playing in defence in addition to his usual defensive midfield position, the 30-year-old provides a calming influence in this Bayern team. Martínez is adept at breaking up play as well as shielding the defence and will be an important member of the team next season. Corentin Tolisso - STAY - It has been a frustrating campaign for the 24-year-old as he sustained a ruptured cruciate ligament in March that kept him out for the rest of the campaign. When he has played, Tolisso provided great energy, work-rate and mobility, qualities which many of his fellow central midfielders at the club do not possess. May take time to get back up to speed following his injury but should remain with the team next season nonetheless. Renato Sanches - LOAN - It hasn't worked out for Sanches following his move to Bayern from Benfica in 2016. During his time in Munich he has failed to replicate the performances that earned him the Young Player of the Tournament Award at Euro 2016. If Bayern were to sell the Portuguese midfielder they would struggle to recoup the fee that they paid for him. Still only 21, it would be best if Sanches was to have a loan spell where he would get regularly playing time, preferably at another Bundesliga club. Attacking Midfielders & Wingers Arjen Robben - RELEASE - The club has announced that Robben will be leaving Bayern this summer after a distinguished decade at the club in which he scored 144 goals in 308 appearances; most notably scoring the winning goal in the 2013 Champions League final. Robben spent the prime years of his career at Bayern where his performances have led him to being considered one of the best players in the world. The Bundesliga champions will miss the sight of Robben cutting onto his left foot from the right flank and causing havoc for the opposition but the time is right for the Dutchman to move on. The 35-year-old has suffered recurring injury problems in recent years and leaving as a Bundesliga winner is the perfect way to end his time at Bayern. Franck Ribéry - RELEASE - After spending many years destroying oppositions defenders in tandem with Robben it is fitting that the pair depart at the same time. Ribéry helped Bayern not only dominate domestically but succeed in Europe during his time at the club, and his individual performances garnered him the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2013. He also suffered injury problems in recent years but will still be missed tremendously by the club and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats. Kingsley Coman - STAY - Coman has spent most of his Bayern career in the shadow of Ribéry and Robben but the onus will be on him next season to elevate his game to a higher level following the departures of the experienced pair. The 22-year-old has not shown the consistency required of a top player yet but undoubtedly has the potential to be world class. He will expect to start most games next season. Serge Gnabry - STAY - With 13 goals and six assists Gnabry has been one of Bayern's standout performers of the season. The former Arsenal man has also become a fixture in the Germany national team, impressing with his his pace, trickery and crossing ability. Just like Coman, he will be expected to carry the burden that has been left by Ribéry and Robben and should be one of Bayern's key players going forward. Alphonso Davies - LOAN - The prodigiously talented 18-year-old joined Bayern from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in January 2019. He has made six substitute appearances and has also played for Bayern's second team. Davies is incredibly talented but lacking in experience at the highest level and would benefit from a loan move to a club playing in a top European league in order to help him flourish at Bayern in the future. Jeong Woo-yeong- LOAN - Another talented youngster who would improve greatly with regularly playing time on loan at another club. Leon Goretzka - STAY - Goretzka has had a solid debut season with Die Bayern, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in all competitions. He has been rotated with Thomas Muller and James Rodríguez but he would expect to be Bayern's first choice number 10 moving forward. Thomas Muller - STAY - The past year has been a fall from grace for the man who was once considered to be Bayern's talisman. Muller had an abysmal World Cup and was then one of the players that was told by manager by Joachim Löw that they were no longer considered for selection for the national team. Despite this, he remains a key player for this Bayern side and will be integral to the team next season. James Rodríguez - RELEASE - The Colombian playmaker has been on-loan at Bayern from Real Madrid for the last two seasons. He has played well on occasions but has struggled with inconsistency throughout. His loan deal ends this season and with Muller and Goretzka already filling the number 10 position, Bayern do not need a third option, especially considering the high wages that he is on. Forwards Robert Lewandowski - STAY - Bayern's talisman and top goalscorer, it is vital that the Bavarian side keep the Polish striker at the club next season. There have been flirtations with Real Madrid and Bayern must do their best to ward off potential advances from Los Blancos. Lewandowski has a frankly ridiculous goal-scoring record at Bayern - with 189 goals in 241 appearances. He has carried the goalscoring burden at the club for years but will have support in the striking position next season from new signing Jann-Fiete Arp.


The Diamondbacks are reportedly gearing up to sell by Wednesday's deadline, which could make left-hander Robbie Ray one of the game's most popular trade candidates during the next few days. The Twins are among the teams that have inquired about Ray, Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets. On paper, the 27-year-old Ray would be a quality get for the Twins or any other team. He's a capable starter who's affordable right now ($6.05M salary) and controllable via arbitration through next season. One of the majors' premier strikeout artists dating back to 2016, Ray has fanned a prodigious 11.85 batters per nine this year across 123 innings. At the same time, though, he has issued 4.24 walks per nine, induced ground balls at a mere 38.4 percent clip and allowed home runs on an unappealing 19.1 percent of fly balls. Ray's control and homer problems have led to a 3.95 ERA/4.27 FIP, which is solid but not excellent. In terms of bottom-line results, Ray's not a massive upgrade over any of the Twins' current complements to top starter Jose Berrios . Kyle Gibson , Jake Odorizzi , Michael Pineda and Martin Perez have posted similar numbers in the run prevention and-or fielding-independent pitching categories. With that said, a Ray acquisition could still make plenty sense for a Minnesota team facing a great deal of uncertainty in its starting staff after the season. Aside from Berrios, nobody from the Twins' rotation is a lock to return in 2020. Gibson, Odorizzi and Pineda are pending free agents, while Perez has a $7M club option (or a $500K buyout). As such, adding Ray could bolster the AL Central-leading Twins' rotation now while taking care of an offseason need in one fell swoop.


HILLSIDE, England - Tiger Woods did enough to win this year's Masters, just as he did when he won most of his first 14 majors, according to Lee Westwood. The Englishman spent part of his $3.4 million Betfred British Masters preview extolling the virtues of Tiger's win at Augusta National. The veteran Englishman says Woods was back to his best last month at Augusta. "Class is permanent, that's what they always say, and he proved it," Westwood said. "He wasn't spectacular. He wasn't knocking out all the flags. I think that's the sort of preconception that people get, that when he was in his prime he was knocking out all the flags, holing all the putts, hitting all the fairways. He wasn't. "A lot of tournaments he kind of just did enough to win, and that's what I got a feel for the Sunday of the Masters. When people were knocking it in the water on 12, you could see a little glint in his eye like the door had opened for him, just to not be too aggressive, just to push it slightly open by hitting the middle of the green and then making a three, don't make the same mistake. "The way he played and where he hit it coming in, he was hitting it into the safe spots some of the time and birdieing the par 5s like he should and getting up-and-down like he should and making those five, six-footers like he should. "I just thought it was a typical professional Tiger Woods performance really." As for Westwood's performance this week in his 18th British Masters appearance, it's a case of seeing where his game is. "We start off with this year this week. I've hardly played this year. I've only played two tournaments in nearly three months, so looking forward to playing. The game is there or thereabouts. Now we'll see how it holds up in competition. "It's always nice to play in England in front of the English and British fans, so I'm looking forward to this week and then kick starting the season and into the major next week." Westwood, winner of the 2007 British Masters, might be making his professional debut over the Hillside course, but he has won here, albeit as an amateur. "I won the Pines Trophy in 1990, 29 years ago. I think I won by six." He'd love to kick start his year with a similar performance against Europe's best. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/will-tiger-woods-win-the-2019-pga-champi MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Rumor: LeBron made a visit to Kawhi Leonard during Raptors-Sixers series Kevin Durant injury update: Officially ruled out for Game 6 in Houston NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Geronimo Allison fits mold of slot WR in Matt LaFleur's offense


Rick Hofstetter has been married and divorced three times, but he has one love that has outlasted them all: Story, Indiana. The little town, established in 1851, is a throwback to the 19th century and includes a general store that houses an inn and restaurant, some cottages and several barns. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places , surrounded by forest and gets poor cell phone service. "It is a love affair," Hofstetter says of Story, which has a population of 3 humans, 4 dogs and 2 horses. "It's a place that offers someone freedom and independence. A chance to be in charge of their destiny." Hofstetter and his business partner bought Story in 1999 in a sheriff's sale after its owner "ran it into the ground." Before that, a couple had owned Story. They had opened the Story Inn and amassed the other properties that now form the town. Hofstetter eventually bought his partner out. "Twenty years later, I'm an old man who owns a whole town," he says. Although the town may be priceless to Hofstetter, he ultimately had to put a price on it. In March, he put Story up for sale for $3.8 million. "I got an expiration date on me," says Hofstetter, who is 62. "But the town does not. I want to put it in safe hands and send it down the tunnel of time." What do you do with a whole town? The chance to be ruler of your own rural realm may sound enticing. But just as the characters in Schitt's Creek discover, it can come with plenty of strings attached, too. In Spain, where residents have deserted the countryside and moved to more populated cities and towns, whole villages are going up for sale. Foreign buyers' imaginations have been stirred by ancient assemblages of stone buildings from the 1600's. Gwyneth Paltrow's site Goop touted a Village in Lugo, Spain, that was listed for $172,910 as one of its "ridiculous but awesome" holiday gift guide suggestions. Currently, Spanish real estate firm, Aldeas Abandonadas, (which translates to Abandoned Villages) has a listing for a 17th-century village just an hour outside of Barcelona with 12 buildings, including a large house and several other structures for $2 million. The village has spring water, electricity and telephone service. But the buildings were all built between 1610 and the mid-20th century and require rehabilitation, according to the listing. Fortunately, the main house, workers house, silos and garage are all considered structurally sound. In the United States, the towns that are for sale are much younger, but only slightly less demanding than a 17th century village. While someone like Hofstetter wants to preserve the town of Story as much as possible, often buyers are seeking big opportunities that require a lot of renovations, permitting and investment. "We've heard from a cornucopia of people," says Fred Marik, a broker in Las Vegas who is marketing the town of Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada   a 520-acre town of 350 people that includes a casino, airport, post office, its own water supply, an RV park and a mobile home park   for $8 million. He has heard from potential buyers who wanted to use the town for drone schools, farming, recreational parks, off-road activities and a marijuana resort. Cal-Nev-Ari (pronounced Cal-Nev-Air), which is located 60 miles from Las Vegas near Nevada's border with Arizona and California, was established 54 years ago after pilots Slim and Nancy Kidwell , obtained   for free   the land surrounding a former military airstrip from the government for their fly-in/fly-out private plane community by proving it could be self-sufficient. They installed power lines and water systems and set up Cal-Nev-Ari as an air-park community where residents   many of them retired pilots and snowbirds   could park their private planes in front of their homes. "Nancy is now 81 years old and she runs the town by herself," says Marik. "She wakes up at 5 a.m. every day to check the water tank. The people there, they are her family. She takes care of them. But now she's getting on and wants to sell." But buying Cal-Nev-Ari is complicated. "We're dealing with the gaming commission, because there are two gaming licenses, two liquor licenses," says Marik. "There's a runway, so we have to deal with the FAA. There's a water company overseen by the public utilities commission. All these entities need to be included." After two years on the market, Cal-Nev-Ari has a buyer, but the deal hasn't closed yet. When it does, Kidwell isn't going anywhere. She has outlived both Slim and a second husband, Ace, and wants to enjoy living in the town just as she envisioned it. Related video: The Italian town that pays you to move there Vision and reality When Bruce Krall, a commercial mortgage broker from Orange County, Calif., bought the 83-acre town of Bridgeville, California, for $700,000 in 2004, he garnered a good bit of attention. Although he bought it from an agent, he was ultimately the owner of the first town that was sold on Ebay. Bridgeville had been auctioned off for nearly $1.8 million on the site in 2002. But that buyer backed out. Krall stepped in. He had visions of a wellness retreat with cottages and a conference center. But he couldn't make the numbers work for the remote Humboldt County town along the Van Duzen River. Plus, it was too far away from his young family's active life in Orange County, so he listed it on Ebay again in 2006. Bridgeville was then bought by Daniel La Paille, a 25-year-old entertainment manager from Los Angeles in August 2006. "He was in the middle of trying to switch it into a self-sufficient, 60's kind of kick-back resort," said Bruce McNaughton, the agent handling the current sale of Bridgeville. But only a few months after La Paille bought the town, he committed suicide. This sent the property into what has been an extended purgatory for his family   who still own Bridgeville and have put the town up for sale, off-and-on, for the better part of the past 12 years   and, just as importantly, for the people of Bridgeville, population 16. But there is a glimmer of hope for the family. In the past year, they've raised the price of the town from $975,000 to $1.5 million, according to McNaughton. The reason? Marijuana. McNaughton says that given the location nestled in Northern California and the booming, newly legal cannabis industry, the next purchaser will likely be in the marijuana business. Efforts by residents to try to organize and cooperatively buy the town have fallen flat. The marijuana industry is not thriving in Story, Indiana, and you can't park a plane in your yard or pretend you live in the 17th century. But you can have a quiet life. Story is within a two-hour drive of Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Its main business, the Story Inn and restaurant, offers spaces to host festivals, gatherings and weddings. While the business isn't for sale, the buildings that house them are. The current owners, Jacob and Kate Ebel, run the inn and restaurant and plan to lease from the new owners. "It's not a ticket to riches, but it is a great place for the right person," says Hofstetter. However, he doesn't plan to hand over the town to the first person who can write a check. "I'm really determined that this isn't going to go to the wrong hands. No one is going to put up a Yogi Bear campground, vinyl-sided houses or a Dairy Queen," he says. "If they want to have a Michelin star restaurant, that would be okay."


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Detroit. Detroit Institute of Arts exhibit to feature 44 works by Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, others A new exhibition coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts this summer will features some of the best works of the Impressionist era. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Detroit could break world record for most food trucks at upcoming festival River Days festival is expected to have 120 food trucks, which would break a Guinness World Record. Read the full story on Detroit Free Press . Teen boy riding minibike killed when car loses control, hits house in Detroit A teen boy on a minibike was killed Wednesday when the driver of a car lost control and hit him in Detroit. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Detroit police save man who had medical issue, crashed into utility pole Two Detroit police officers are being credited with saving the life of a man who had a medical issue and crashed into a utility pole near Eastern Market. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Detroit vs. Everybody calling on artistic students Students with Detroit Public Schools Community District are being encouraged to submit their designs to Detroit Vs. Everybody. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Something big is happening, something very big, and those at the top of the Premier League should be concerned. Newcastle United, Everton, Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers are poised to break the monopoly that the top clubs hold over the other 14 sides in the English top flight. Whether it be through savvy coaching, heavy investment or a blend of both, this confident quartet have readied themselves to challenge the authority of their rulers. 7⃣ DAYS TO GO... One week until the 2019/20 #PL fixtures are released Which game are you most looking forward to? pic.twitter.com/v15Gdirkgq   Premier League (@premierleague) June 6, 2019 Manchester United should be worried, as should Arsenal , Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea . If they're not adequately prepared - both physically and mentally - then even runaway pair Liverpool and Manchester City have something to consider. Here's each contender's chances of infiltrating that elite group of teams and pushing for Champions League football. Newcastle United It took the Magpies 11 league fixtures to register a single victory last term. It came in November, when already the nights were long and the days were cold. How does a team like that bulk up into a heavyweight in the space of nine months? The much-maligned Mike Ashley's reign at St James Park is nearly over, the Toon Army's nightmare is coming to an end, hopefully. The Sheikh Khaled era could be soon to begin, with the billionaire promising manager Rafa Benitez a titanic war-chest to weaponize his squad. The Spaniard is a marvellous tactician, proving his skills across Europe. That he ultimately secured Newcastle's survival with relative ease demonstrates his abilities; on a shoe-string budget with a distinctly-average collection of players, that is an impressive feat. Imagine what he could do with a handful of carefully selected, quality acquisitions. Still, these things take time. If the northerners can get their business done smoothly, they are leaving themselves in a strong position from which to mount a challenge. Maybe they won't quite reach the requisite levels in 2019/20, but they can kick-start a remarkable revival and continue their progress into the following campaign. Chances of breaking the 'Big Six' next year: 1/10 Everton The most decorated side on this list, the Toffees are something of a sleeping giant, incessantly frustrating their supporters with sub-par performances each term. They will be hoping that things will now click into place and an entire season can be navigated without any extended period of poor form. Marco Silva is the astute mind that can turn potentiality into actuality, especially with the talent littering his squad. Gylfi Sigurdsson was unplayable at times last campaign, Michael Keane finally looks assured and composed, and at just 22 years-of-age Richarlison is a star in the making. The closing months of 2018/19 proved the Merseysiders can produce sparkling displays on the pitch and mix it with the big boys; Arsenal and United were both beaten at a canter, whilst an engaging 2-2 draw with Spurs was a delightful way to bring the curtains down. It's all about consistency for Everton. Find it and they will be genuine contenders. So, how do they go about doing it? The key is mindset - if this group genuinely believe they can pull off this remarkable achievement, the likelihood of doing so goes through the roof. Unfortunately, fostering such an attitude is a process that requires time, painstaking effort and an understanding of the characters he is dealing with. Chances of breaking the 'Big Six' next year: 3/10 Leicester City If there's one thing that Leicester have it's that buzzword again - belief. Everton may need to work on that, but a club that won the title as recently as four short years ago needs no reminding that football is all about defying the odds. They've got the right outlook, then. They also have a bustling band of would-be world-beaters, unfazed by the prospect of facing a side like City or Liverpool. Just look at the host of issues they caused the former during their clash at the Etihad Stadium in May. James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Wilfred Ndidi... the list of exciting young footballers plying their trade with the Foxes goes on. They are fearless and fearsome, employing a system under Brendan Rodgers that would trouble any opponent. There is little you can do against blistering pace, unwavering belief and superlative talent. Under the guidance of their calm, collected coach, this plucky outfit are likely to claim some sizeable scalps in the near future. However, they may also need another campaign under the Northern Irishman before they are firing on all cylinders. Chances of breaking the 'Big Six' next year: 5/10 Wolverhampton Wanderers Who would have thought that the Wanderers would steal the hearts of Premier League viewers, that Nuno Espirito Santo's men would become the darlings of English football? Certainly not me, though I now fully expect them to oust one of Arsenal or the Red Devils - if not both - this coming year. Gunners boss Unai Emery is allegedly being given a measly £40m budget for new signings this summer, whilst United are in a state of disarray both on and off the pitch. These two are weak and wounded, easy prey for a pack of hungry wolves. They amassed 16 points against the top six sides in their first season back in the promised land, showcasing their proficiency as a whole unit. They're undoing was playing supposedly-lesser sides, a problem that shouldn't be too difficult to fix with some adjustments from Nuno. If that is done and they collect the extra points, they should really be in amongst it having qualified for the Europa League last time out. With only the newly-promoted, recovering Aston Villa near them geographically, there is a huge area of the country for Wolves to establish themselves in, in turn earning them new supporters and cementing their authority. The Midlanders look to be going in only one direction, Arsenal and United appear to be going in the other. Chances of breaking the 'Big Six' next year: 6/10


AFC Bournemouth have announced the arrival of Wales international forward Harry Wilson on a season-long loan from Liverpool ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. The 22-year-old made his first real impact on senior football last year whilst on loan at Frank Lampard's Derby County, where he scored 18 goals and claimed six assists across all competitions. Wilson has even impressed during pre-season for Liverpool , scoring during their match against Borussia Dortmund , and it had been suggested he could be part of their first-team this year. O F F I C I A L pic.twitter.com/73ZSlP6xL6   AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) August 6, 2019 But Bournemouth have now confirmed that the youngster has moved to the south coast on a season-long loan, linking up with former Liverpool stars Dominic Solanke and Jordon Ibe. "It's great to be here, great to finally get everything sorted and I can't wait to meet all the staff and the lads," Wilson told afcbTV . "When Liverpool informed me it was a possibility to come here I was keen to get it sorted. I want to play Premier League football and with a great team like Bournemouth. "With the style of play that Bournemouth are likely to play I feel that I can fit right in and help the team a lot."


Iranian officials have railed for two months against the Trump administration's sanctions blocking their oil sales as "economic warfare." But the response to the latest American penalties imposed on Monday, which targeted the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders, was more measured, even mocking. "Ridiculous," declared a headline from the semiofficial Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter "Are there really any sanctions that the U.S. hasn't imposed against our country and people in the past 40 years?" a foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, asked reporters in Tehran. "And what did it achieve?" An Iranian calling himself K. Jafari wrote in a widely circulated tweet: "The only people left to sanction are me, my dad and our neighbor's kid. The foreign ministry should share Trump's phone number so we can call him and give him our names." In contrast to the threats and bluster of Tehran's previous responses to the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign, Iranians across the political spectrum dismissed the latest embargoes on Monday as little more than insults. Both hard-liners and reformers argued that the new sanctions would have little practical impact, aside from undermining Mr. Trump's repeated assertions that he is seeking to renew talks with Tehran, if only to restrict its nuclear weapons program. "Sanctions announced today officially closed all the windows and doors for U.S. and Iran talks," Hassan Soleimani, the editor in chief of the Revolutionary Guards' Mashregh News Agency, said in a telephone interview from Tehran. "If Trump was hoping for negotiations with Iran, he can now only dream about it." [Read more about the latest sanctions, and what the Trump administration said about why it was imposing them.] Mr. Khamenei, the most prominent individual targeted in the latest sanctions, for example, never travels outside Iran and the conglomerate he controls, Setad, has little reliance on international banking. The new sanctions, which prohibit him from entering the United States or doing business with American financial institutions, will have almost no impact on the ayatollah. The same appears to be true for most of the other individuals sanctioned on Monday. Several are senior officers of the Republican Guard. The Trump administration in April designated the guard as a terrorist organization, and that prohibited them from entering the United States or doing business with Americans. Yet the gesture may still come at a cost. Under the Iranian political system, Mr. Khamenei's personal assent is required to open any talks with the United States, and the new sanctions are unlikely to win him over. What is more, in addition to being Iran's paramount political leader, Mr. Khamenei is revered by some Iranians as a singular spiritual authority as well, and those Iranians may also be offended. The sanctions on Mr. Khamenei and other top officials were a "clear violation of Iran's sovereignty and against international norms," Abbasali Kadkhodaei, a spokesman of the Guardian Council, the powerful body that supervises the work of elected officials, said on Twitter. Most startling to Iranians was Mr. Trump's order to add sanctions that target Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. Mr. Zarif was educated in the United States and within the Iranian political system he is considered a moderate   the kind of figure hard-liners might seek to cast out and previous American administrations had sought to cultivate. As foreign minister, he would also be the main conduit for any negotiations with Tehran. Both reformers and hard-liners said on Monday that the order to sanction Mr. Zarif severely undermined Mr. Trump's repeated assertions he is seeking to reopen talks with Iran about a revised deal to limit its nuclear weapons program. "The important point about sanctioning Zarif is the reality that the U.S. is not really after negotiations," tweeted Ali Gholizadeh, a reform advocate who was jailed in the crackdown after a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2008. In a tweet on Monday, Mr. Zarif called the latest sanctions evidence that the hawks in the Trump administration now "thirst for war." Cutting off Mr. Zarif will only embolden the Revolutionary Guards and other hard-line elements of the military to steer Iranian foreign policy toward more confrontation with the United States, said Mr. Soleimani of the Guards' news agency. Washington, he said, had now silenced the most moderate voices within Iran's government and those most likely to advocate talks. How the Iranian leaders might respond in the coming days remains to be seen. Even before the addition of the new sanctions targeting individuals, the Iranian economy was under severe pressure from the previous round of restrictions and penalties. Announced in April, those actions sought to cut off all Iranian oil sales , targeting the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. It was in response to those actions that the Iranian government announced that for the first time in four years it would restart the steps that could lead to the development of a nuclear weapon. Iran had agreed to restrictions limiting its nuclear research as part of a 2015 deal with the United States and other international powers. Mr. Trump withdrew from the deal last year with a vow to negotiate a stricter one. Since the Trump administration imposed the oil sanctions, the White House has also accused Iran of using naval mines to damage six tankers in two incidents in the waters around the Persian Gulf. Last week the Revolutionary Guards also shot down an American surveillance drone , and the United States came within minutes of carrying out a retaliatory missile strike against Iran before Mr. Trump called it off. Still, even as tensions appeared to build with the addition of more sanctions, some senior Iranian officials imagined what a new round of negotiations might look like. "U.S.'s claim that it wants negotiations without preconditions, while it increases sanctions and pressure, is not acceptable," said Hesameddin Ashena, an adviser to President Hassan Rouhani, who is also considered a moderate voice within the political system. If Washington wants something more than the existing nuclear deal, "then it must offer us more than the deal with international guarantees," Mr. Ashena said.


A teen was taken Saturday to the Augusta Burn Center after being pulled from a building that had exploded, according to a report from the Union County Sheriff's Office. A deputy responded about 11 a.m. to a home on Janie Glymph Goree Boulevard in Carlisle after a witness reported hearing an explosion. The witness reported seeing a man get off a lawnmower outside the home and run into a burning building. The report said the witness helped the man rescue a teen from the building. The 16-year-old was flown to the Augusta Burn Center. The report said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was asked to investigate. READ MORE: Teen burned in reported building explosion, report says CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


Visiting City Center District, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Dallas neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a New American restaurant to a tapas bar. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in City Center District, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Café Momentum Topping the list is New American spot Café Momentum . Located at 1510 Pacific Ave., it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 163 reviews on Yelp. The menu features a Texas pear salad with blue cheese, pecans and a cider vinaigrette, four cheese ravioli with chili oil, grilled pork chops with a fig jam and more. 2. Gather Kitchen Gluten-free, breakfast spot Gather Kitchen is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1601 Elm St., 4.5 stars out of 93 reviews. The spot offers New American dishes like sweet potato toast with almond butter, jam and berries, and Pad Thai made with zucchini noodles, chicken and mushrooms. 3. Dakota's Steakhouse Dakota's Steakhouse is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 321 Yelp reviews. Head over to 600 N. Akard St., Suite 125, to see for yourself. The menu features crab cakes, pan-roasted salmon, filet mignon and more. 4. Cafe Izmir Finally, there's Cafe Izmir , a local favorite with four stars out of 186 reviews. Stop by 211 N. Ervay St. to hit up the tapas bar and Mediterranean spot next time you're in the neighborhood. Try the saffron chicken kebab with lemon, falafel with chickpeas and a garlic sauce or the grilled shrimp bowl with your choice of salad or rice. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


COLLIER COUNTY (CBSMiami)   What do you do when you see a ten and a half foot alligator in the middle of the road? Get out of the way and call an expert trapper. 10 and a half foot alligator wrangled in Collier County after walking across a street. (Source: Facebook/Collier County Sheriff's Office) That's exactly what happened in Collier County early Wednesday morning when a giant gator decided to cross the road at 2:00 a.m. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic at the time. According to the post on their Facebook page, deputies called in Trapper Ray Simonsen to wrangle the animal and the road was clear about an hour later. Calls like this are more common right now because were in the middle of alligator mating season, which runs from April through the end of June. During that time, Florida's estimated 1.3 million alligators are more active, more visible and more aggressive as they mate, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.


The first axe-throwing bar in Winston-Salem is now open. Axe Club of America is located in the Winston-Salem Junction building near 9th Street and Trade Street. "You're scared because you're taking this 1.5 pound (block of) steel and throwing it down at wood," said Scott Gadd, owner. "But that first stick is exhilarating. It's so exciting to feel it." It's a fairly new trend that's coming in fast and it finally hit the bullseye in Winston-Salem. "We are really proud of Winston and the fact that it is growing," said Gadd. "Everything from the hospitality, food and beverage community." The facility has six lanes with two targets each. Groups are welcomed as much as private events are. Safety will always be a top priority, and staff will be trained to look for things that may be dicey. A coach will always be with each group when axes are being thrown. "They are not only there to teach you how to do it, because it's a lot harder than what it looks, but to also make sure you're safe and following the rules and not endangering yourself or others," said Gadd. Gadd says the skill is easy to learn and hard to master. More information can be found here . READ MORE: Axe-throwing bar opens in Winston-Salem CHECK OUT WXII: Get the latest Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem news of the day. Catch the top stories, sports and weather from the team at WXII12.