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US Marshal Killed in Line of Duty Serving Warrant in Louisiana

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A tragic incident unfolded in Alexandria, Louisiana, on Monday when a Deputy U.S. Marshal was fatally shot while executing an arrest warrant, as confirmed by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The event occurred around 3 p.m., according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, in the vicinity of Rutland Road, where authorities sought to apprehend a sought-after fugitive.

The sheriff’s office reported, “Sheriff’s Detectives, along with the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, were engaging in a law enforcement operation aimed at arresting a wanted fugitive in the Rutland Road area when an Officer Involved Shooting transpired.”

U.S. Marshals

On Monday, a Deputy U.S. Marshal lost his life in a shooting incident while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana. (U.S. Marshals)

The suspect was taken into custody after a lengthy standoff, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies said the suspect sustained injuries during the encounter and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

U.S. Marshal near a door

The suspect was taken into custody after a lengthy standoff. (Getty Images)

The FBI is leading an investigation into the killing of the deputy, while the sheriff’s office is probing the shooting. Louisiana State Police are also assisting.

“The FBI responded to an incident this afternoon in Alexandria with the Alexandria Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police,” the FBI New Orleans Field Office said in a statement. “The FBI is now leading the investigation into an assault on a federal officer. Louisiana State Police is also investigating potential violations of state law. The subject, now under investigation, was taken into custody and there is no ongoing threat to the public. Because this is a very active and ongoing investigation we cannot comment further at this time.”

FBI agents

The FBI is leading an investigation into the killing of the deputy. (Getty Images)

FBI Director Kash Patel said: “FBI is investigating and offering full resources to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and our brave partners the @USMarshalsHQ after one of their deputies was tragically killed today while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana. Suspect is in custody. Please pray for the deputy’s family and friends.”

Trump-Endorsed Daylight Saving Time Legislation Advances in House

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A bipartisan effort to establish Daylight Saving Time as a constant is progressing to a full chamber vote after overcoming a significant legislative challenge in the House.

On Monday, the House Rules Committee set the stage for a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, proposing that states could maintain Daylight Saving Time all year, while offering the choice to opt out. The rule passed with a 6-4 vote by the committee.

This initiative is backed by numerous coastal representatives and has gained support from President Donald Trump, who has consistently urged Congress to make this adjustment permanent, thereby eliminating the biannual clock changes currently followed by all states except Hawaii and most parts of Arizona.

Advocates for the change contend that the process of adjusting clocks is detrimental to health. They argue that establishing permanent Daylight Saving Time could enhance outdoor leisure activities, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth, among various other advantages.

Currently, most Americans advance their clocks by one hour each spring to capture more evening daylight, only to “fall back” an hour with the arrival of November.

“Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of this policy and want to end the practice of ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back.’ Locking the clock all year long would have positive impacts on sleep schedules, energy conservation, motor vehicle safety, and our economy,” Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said in an opening statement Monday.

“In practice, this change would mean more time for people to exercise outside, visit family, attend concerts and sporting events, attract customers to their retail businesses, and more.”

“Floridians and Americans across the country are tired of the biannual time change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity,” Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who authored the measure, previously said in a May news release. 

“Ending the clock change is a commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans,” he added.

The legislation’s momentum comes after the House Energy and Commerce Committee overwhelmingly passed the measure 48-1 in May.

“It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice-yearly production,” Trump wrote following the Sunshine Protection Act’s advancement out of committee. “It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it! We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day — And who can be against that — This is an easy one!”

Roughly 20 states have already passed legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent if Congress were to authorize the practice. Alabama, South Carolina, Oregon, Maine and Florida are among those places.

But opponents, including several medical organizations, argue that permanent standard time — which provides more sunlight in the morning — would be the healthier option because it would more closely align with the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., proposed amending the bill with language from her co-sponsored Sunshine for Our Kids Act, which would make standard time permanent nationwide. The amendment was quickly rejected.

Scanlon argued that permanent daylight saving time would pose significant health and safety risks by leaving more Americans — particularly children — in darkness during morning hours. She also pointed to the nation’s brief experiment with year-round daylight saving time in 1974, which Congress abandoned after widespread public backlash.

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., was also the lone lawmaker to oppose the legislation during the Energy and Commerce Committee markup in May, citing concerns that year-round daylight saving time could negatively affect children’s health and sleep schedules.

Some conservative lawmakers have also argued that GOP leadership should be focused on what they describe as more pressing legislative issues, including legislation codifying Trump’s border security executive orders and the stalled SAVE America Act.

“Republicans are majoring in the minors — fiddling with the clocks while the country burns,” Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, wrote Monday.

The House has already passed versions of the SAVE America Act multiple times, but the measure has struggled to overcome the Senate’s legislative filibuster.

The Senate unanimously passed a version of the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, but it died in the House amid opposition, including from lawmakers who voiced concerns about darker morning hours in parts of the country during the winter.

DCLM Daily Manna 14 July 2026 — When Silence Is Golden

DCLM Daily Manna 14 July 2026 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — When Silence Is Golden

TOPIC: When Silence Is Golden (DCLM Daily Manna 14 July 2026)

KEY VERSE: And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing – Mark 15:3

TEXT: Mark 15:1-5 (KJV)

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:

In a letter published in the London Evening News on 8 May 1919, an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, had proposed a respectful silence to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War. This was brought to the attention of King George V and on 7 November 1919, the king issued a proclamation, which called for a two minute silence. “All locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.” After the end of the World War II in 1945, Armistice Day became Remembrance Day to include all those who had fallen in the two world wars and other conflicts. Since 1919, on the second Sunday of November, otherwise known as Remembrance Sunday, a two-minute silence has been observed at 11am at war memorials throughout Britain.

Remaining silent is sometimes more valuable than speaking. It suggests that not speaking can be a more effective or beneficial choice than expressing oneself. This is useful, not only to remember the dead, by observing a ‘moment of silence’, but also to reinforce ourselves while facing life’s challenges. Jesus was brought before Pilate by “the elders and scribes and the whole council” bound and humiliated. They wanted Pilate to sentence Him to death. But Jesus chose to keep silent before Pilate, in spite of many baseless accusations levelled against Him. Luke listed some of the allegations they made against Jesus. “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King” (Luke 23:2). His silence surprised all and even Pilate marvelled.

Jesus chose to be silent in fulfilment of the Scriptures. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth…” (Isaiah 53:7). His silence was also in line with the plan and programme of God for His life. It was a choice, and a wise one at that, because He trusted the heavenly Father to perfect everything that concerns Him.

Silence is not a sign of stupidity. It is a sign of power that only highly disciplined people can enjoy. Silence allows spiritual warriors to pick their battles and focus on the essentials. Silence was the weapon God used to overcome at the battle of Jericho. God also told Israel to hold their peace and allow Him to fight for them at the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:14). Let us always learn to observe moments of silence, as we wait on God, and receive instructions to go forward in difficult times.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Silence is never more golden than when it is God-honouring

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Genesis 41-44

Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2025 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

REMINDER!!! JESUS IS COMING SOON

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN? IF NO, WHY NOT ACCEPT JESUS NOW!

Accept Jesus Christ today and secure a life of eternal rest and Glory by saying this short prayer below:






Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins, Forgive me of all my iniquities. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour from today and forever.



Come and Be the Lord of my life and I am willing to obey Your command and live according to Your will by Your Grace, Thank you for accepting me into Your fold

AMEN!!! John 6:37…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Rhapsody Of Realities 14 July 2026: Let Your Spirit Take The Lead

Rhapsody Of Realities 14 July 2026 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Christ Embassy): Let Your Spirit Take The Lead

TOPIC: Let Your Spirit Take The Lead (Rhapsody of Realities 14 July 2026)

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son… (Romans 1:9).

Rhapsody Of Realities For Today’s MESSAGE:

What a profound statement from the Apostle Paul from the scripture we just read. It shows you where true service to God comes from. It’s not with your body or with your mind. True service to God is with your spirit. The Lord Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Your fellowship with God is spiritual; therefore, your service must flow from that same source. When you were born again, it wasn’t your body that was changed, and it wasn’t your mind that was recreated; it was your spirit. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

That new creation is your spirit. That’s where the life of God is. This is why a person can be born again and still struggle in certain areas. You may find someone who is short-tempered, easily offended, or still thinking the wrong thoughts. It’s not because he doesn’t have the life of God; it’s because his mind hasn’t been renewed.

That’s why the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). Your spirit is already recreated but your mind must be trained to align with the new life in Christ. Your body also must be brought under control. The Bible says, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1).

Who does the presenting? It’s your spirit. So, your spirit, being alive to God, must take the lead. From your spirit, you influence your mind. From your spirit, you bring your body into subjection. If you don’t let your spirit take the lead, your senses will. Your feelings will. Your old patterns of thinking will. But that’s not the life you’ve been called to live.

You’ve been called to live from within, from your spirit. That’s where the guidance of the Holy Ghost is. That’s where the life of God operates. Your spirit is a dependable guide because he’s mingled with the Holy Ghost. You’re one with Him: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). So, let your spirit guide your thoughts and actions. Let him direct and define your responses. That’s how you live the higher life in Christ.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the life of God in my spirit. The Holy Spirit in me guides my thoughts and actions, being mingled with my spirit. Thus, my spirit is a dependable guide, defining and directing my responses. My mind is renewed by the Word, and I live in dominion, from glory to glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

John 4:23-24 (NKJV)
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 8:12-13 (KJV)
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 22:22-23:1-11 & Job 36-39

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Galatians 4:1-11 & Isaiah 34

DIVINE HEALTH CONFESSIONS – 14TH JULY 2026

Jesus bore my infirmities on His body, thus securing my health forever. I reject sickness, disease, and all the works of darkness. I embrace the victorious and glorious life. I have passed from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and from sickness to health.

Keep saying it, don’t stop talking it! Remember, you can make your way prosperous with words. Get talking today!

Remember to share with all your friends and loved ones today. Thank you and God bless you richly.

Rhapsody of Realities 2026 Devotional was written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.

REMINDER!!! JESUS IS COMING SOON

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN? IF NO, WHY NOT ACCEPT JESUS NOW!

Accept Jesus Christ today and secure a life of eternal rest and Glory by saying this short prayer below:






Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins, Forgive me of all my iniquities. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour from today and forever.



Come and Be the Lord of my life and I am willing to obey Your command and live according to Your will by Your Grace, Thank you for accepting me into Your fold

AMEN!!! John 6:37…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Woman Courageously Grabs Husband as Turbulence Pulls Him Out of Ryanair Plane

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In a harrowing experience, a woman recounted how she firmly grasped her husband’s legs as he was nearly pulled from a Ryanair aircraft at an altitude of 20,000 feet, striving valiantly to save him.

Serbian native Ljubiša Karović found himself perilously suspended outside the plane after a catastrophic engine failure sent debris crashing through a window. In a panic, his wife Svetlana Grković held onto his legs, desperate to prevent him from being completely ejected from the cabin last Friday.

The drama unfolded on flight FR1879, a Boeing 737-800 en route from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, compelling the flight crew to abort their journey and return to the original airport to execute an urgent landing.

Witnesses on board reported hearing an explosive noise shortly after takeoff, a sound that was soon identified as the shattering of the plane’s window.

Seated by the compromised window, Mr. Karović was nearly pulled through the gaping hole, teetering dangerously close to disaster.

But his wife held him by his legs for about five minutes, after which fellow passengers were able to pull him back into the cabin as oxygen masks dropped down. 

Now Ms Grković has described the ordeal in the air, which took place as she and her husband were heading back from a summer holiday in Greece.

She told Nova: ‘It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window next to which my husband Ljubiša was sitting. 

Svetlana Grkovic held on to her husband Ljubisa Karovic's legs as he was being sucked out of a Ryanair window at 20,000ft and has described her battle to save him

Svetlana Grkovic held on to her husband Ljubisa Karovic’s legs as he was being sucked out of a Ryanair window at 20,000ft and has described her battle to save him

The Boeing 737-800, travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing following the dramatic incident

The Boeing 737-800, travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing following the dramatic incident

‘I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: “If we die, we die together.” It was horrible.’

Chaos ensued with some passengers panicking and others rushing to help Mr Karović.

‘Some people came to my aid, I remember one man and one woman,’ she added. ‘That man helped me a lot, Ljubiša and I.’ 

Ms Grković said she would like to thank the heroic passenger in person after he helped save her husband’s life. 

Mr Karović remains in hospital and is believed to be unable to speak due to his injuries. He also has friction burns and is in a state of severe shock.

His wife said his hand is badly injured and he also has a series of burns.

She recalled that he lost consciousness several times during the incident and cannot remember much of what happened.

Mr Karović comes from Vrnjačka Banja in central Serbia but has spent a lot of time in Greece, where he sells and rents apartments in the resorts of Paralija and Olympic Beach.

One passenger told the Informer: ‘Luckily, he didn’t unbuckle his seat belt. His wife Svetlana Grković held his legs for five full minutes, until the other passengers ran to help and managed to pull him back into the cabin.’ 

Footage, shared by a Ryanair flight attendant, appeared to show a missing engine blade and damage to the outside of the aircraft before panning to the smashed window. A large hole could also be seen in the side of the engine casing. 

Another witness told Greek broadcaster ERT that the man’s ‘head and shoulders were sticking out of the broken window’. 

Travellers feared they ‘wouldn’t make it’ as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window.

One witness, who had been sitting at the back of the plane, said they did not initially realise what had happened.

‘We thought we were falling,’ they said. ‘We were wearing oxygen masks, we didn’t know if we would make it.’

The witness added that Mr Karović ‘had blood on his head’ and ‘fainted several times’.

A Ryanair spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight.

‘The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal.

‘One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.

A large hole can be seen in the side of the engine casing. Travellers feared they 'wouldn't make it' as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window

A large hole can be seen in the side of the engine casing. Travellers feared they ‘wouldn’t make it’ as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window

Shortly after taking off, passengers heard a deafening bang as the jet's window was shattered

Shortly after taking off, passengers heard a deafening bang as the jet’s window was shattered

Ms Grković held her husband by his legs for about five minutes, after which fellow passengers were able to pull him back into the cabin as oxygen masks dropped down

Ms Grković held her husband by his legs for about five minutes, after which fellow passengers were able to pull him back into the cabin as oxygen masks dropped down

A video showed the shattered engine of the Ryanair plane after the incident

A video showed the shattered engine of the Ryanair plane after the incident

Join the discussion

Should airlines face tougher penalties for safety failures that put passengers’ lives at risk?

‘In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9.53am local this morning.’

According to publicly available flight data, the Ryanair plane landed back in Thessaloniki after one hour and 14 minutes. 

A pregnant woman also on board the flight was taken to hospital. According to local media, she is in good health and has since left hospital. 

Commenting on the incident, the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN) claimed there was ‘almost a tragedy’.

He said the ‘damaged’ window gave way and that part of the passenger’s body was pulled outside the aircraft before he was restrained by his wife.

Xavi Simons Excited for Tottenham’s New Era: Insights on Top Signings, His Injury Update, and Ambitious Goals

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Xavi Simons has returned to the place where his aspirations first took root. Nestled just a few miles from the sparkling Mediterranean, his hometown is a sun-soaked, dusty area ringed by vibrant orange groves. It was under this very sun that his Tottenham teammates assembled for their pre-season training.

“This is where my childhood unfolded, right here in my neighborhood,” Simons shares with a smile. Spain’s Rojales was home for Simons for seven formative years, from age three when his family relocated from the Netherlands. It was here that he began his journey with the sport, before advancing to La Masia, Barcelona’s legendary academy.

Situated half an hour’s drive from Alicante, Simons revisits to inaugurate a Cruyff Court—an urban, six-a-side football arena with an artificial turf. This accolade from the Johan Cruyff Foundation celebrates his impressive stint at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022-23 season, when he emerged as the top goal-scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie.

“It feels like returning to the essentials,” Simons expresses to Daily Mail Sport. “Everyone here remembers me as the young boy with dreams of becoming a football star. They have journeyed with me through triumphs and setbacks. Their support means the world to me, making every return visit deeply meaningful and joyful. I’m thrilled to have been able to do this.”

Ideally, Simons would prefer to be putting himself through rigorous strength and conditioning tests at Tottenham, even enduring the notorious bleep test sprints in sweltering conditions. These challenges await him later, once he overcomes his current injury.

Tottenham's Xavi Simons in his former hometown of Rojales in Spain, at the opening of a Cruyff Court football pitch named in his honour

Tottenham’s Xavi Simons in his former hometown of Rojales in Spain, at the opening of a Cruyff Court football pitch named in his honour

Simons is recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury picked up towards the end of last season

Simons is recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury picked up towards the end of last season 

The last couple of months have been difficult for Xavi. ‘Not-so-good moments’ is an understatement.

He tore cruciate knee ligaments at the end of April, in the game when Spurs ended a miserable run of 15 Premier League games without a win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and just as he started to sparkle under Roberto De Zerbi.

‘I started to find my flow with him, the way he wants to play football,’ says Simons. ‘If I’m honest with you, from the day he came in, he changed the mentality of the club with the way he transmits what he wants.

‘Something was different from the first day. New energy, new boost. Sometimes in bad situations you only need a small change to make a massive difference and that small change was Roberto.

‘When he was a player, he played as a No 10, like me. He knows how I feel in certain situations. It’s true, I need that kind of freedom to feel good about my game. He gave me confidence and that’s what you need as a player.

‘When you don’t feel confidence or trust from the manager, it’s a little bit difficult. From day one, he gave that to the whole team, especially to me. And then of course things like this happen. Only the second injury in my entire life.’

Simons missed the last four games of the Premier League season and the World Cup. ‘It was a little bit painful at the start,’ he admits. Others close to him will tell you he was distraught. Unable to do his bit in the survival fight.

‘After the operation you have to spend a couple of days in bed doing nothing,’ he says. ‘You really don’t have the power to do anything. You cannot stand up, you cannot go to the toilet alone, you don’t even have appetite to eat.

Simons signed every shirt and posed for every selfie at the Cruyff Foundation event 

'From the day Roberto came in, he changed the mentality of the club,' says Simons of Spurs boss De Zerbi

‘From the day Roberto came in, he changed the mentality of the club,’ says Simons of Spurs boss De Zerbi

‘It was hard at the start, but my family came to the hospital and then it was like, “OK let’s move on”. This is a lesson in life. My first big injury and I’m seeing things in life I didn’t see before. Everything goes so fast, especially in football. This is the first moment to do other things.

‘I’m still young. I’ve experienced a lot in my life – my personal life as well as my football life and now is the moment to be calm and see things differently.

‘A time of reflection. A new beginning. I’m very happy we finished the season on a high because the season was not good. Hopefully the coach and the team start the new season well and the moment I’m back on the pitch you’re going to see a new Xavi.

‘All things happen for a reason. That’s how I’m looking at it right now.’

Simons is grafting in the gym. Updates on his social media channels show him doing pull-ups with weights hanging from a belt around his waist. His new muscular physique is evident here in Spain. He appears stronger than ever around his upper body.

‘I have to get my confidence back in my knee,’ says the 23-year-old. ‘Hopefully I can start running soon. Right now, it feels strong, but I still have to gain more weight on that (injured) leg because it has been nine weeks without doing a lot.

‘I have to compensate the other leg as well, get back into the pattern of running not only in my knees but in my hips. My upper body as well, so a little bit of everything but the progress is there. Every day I can see it and that’s what counts.’

Simons’ was the fourth cruciate knee injury at Spurs inside 14 months. Radu Dragusin was out for 10 months. James Maddison returned within nine months of surgery. On a similar time scale, Wilson Odobert could be back early next year and Simons before the end of the season, but all cases are different.

'I've played against Sandro Tonali,' says Simons. 'I know he is a top player. Aggressive with the ball. He will find the passes to those like me'

‘I’ve played against Sandro Tonali,’ says Simons. ‘I know he is a top player. Aggressive with the ball. He will find the passes to those like me’

'I have my own target (for when I will be back), but I'll keep it to myself, otherwise I will create expectancy'

‘I have my own target (for when I will be back), but I’ll keep it to myself, otherwise I will create expectancy’

‘The day I feel good again in my knee I’ll sit down with people at the club and decide when I’m back,’ says Simons. ‘I have my own target, but I’ll keep it to myself, otherwise I will create expectancy.’

He has followed the transfer activity with interest. Spurs have already signed six new players, twice breaking their transfer record to poach Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85million and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka arrived on free transfers and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m.

‘JP is a regular starter in the national team,’ says Simons of his fellow Dutchman. ‘He is experienced in the Premier League, but as well there’s his aggression. You have Senesi and Robertson, very experienced. Roberston won the Premier League and Champions League.

‘We are finding a good balance between young and experienced players and that’s something we maybe missed last season and can’t be (allowed) to happen again.

‘I’ve played with the best players in the world and I want to play with the best. And the fact the club is spending this kind of money for this type of player gives a clear message to everyone. They want the best players at the club and to bring in the best in each position.

‘I’ve played against Tonali for example. I know he is a top player. Aggressive with the ball. He will find the passes to those like me in the No 10 position. He will help the team just to play football and bring success.

‘Everyone can see that the club is aiming high. We know what happened last season can’t even be considered to happen again. This is a massive club. We all know that so at the start of the season, we will see a new Tottenham.’

'Everyone can see the club is aiming high. We know what happened last season can't even be considered to happen again'

‘Everyone can see the club is aiming high. We know what happened last season can’t even be considered to happen again’

'There are big goals I want to achieve for the club. And I know I will achieve them'

‘There are big goals I want to achieve for the club. And I know I will achieve them’

Spurs escaped relegation with a win against Everton on the final day of the season, finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second successive year.

‘It cannot get worse than this,’ says Simons, signed from RB Leipzig for £52m in August. ‘We’ve experienced the worst possible scenario. Not only for the players but the whole club because you know if you go down, there is a lot of trouble inside the club.

‘People who may lose their jobs are depending on you as well so as a player it touches you. We were very conscious of that. But that is in the past. We have experienced the worst and we are looking forward to making an impact together and bringing the club back to where it belongs and that’s up at the front.

‘That’s why I’m putting the work in every day. I know what I can bring to the team. There are big goals I want to achieve for the club. And I know I will achieve them. As players we all have big goals and big ambitions. So does the coach.

‘My ambitions are together with the ambitions of the team and the club. To win everything. That’s why I signed. I cannot wait to get back on the pitch and show a better version of Xavi.’

Justin Baldoni Challenges Blake Lively’s $8 Million Legal Fees Request in Court Dispute

Attorney representatives for Justin Baldoni have responded to Blake Lively‘s request for the It Ends With Us director to cover nearly $8 million in legal expenses following their recent out-of-court agreement.

In a court document accessed by Us Weekly on Monday, July 13, Baldoni’s lawyers, Ellyn S. Garofalo and Bryan Freedman, stated, “Lively has failed to provide credible evidence proving that the fees and costs she wishes to reclaim are reasonable, and therefore, her request for fees should be completely denied.”

The legal team representing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios fervently addressed Lively’s June 29 demand that the filmmaker cover a total of $8,035,040.88 in legal charges, dismissing it as an excessively large sum in their Monday filing. (TMZ initially released details about the court filing.)

“This motion falls far from being standard,” his counsel asserted in the motion submitted on Monday.

Justin Baldonis Attorney Reflects on Blake Lively Legal Battle We Fought and Won

Attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Justin Baldoni, issued a statement after the court ruled in favor of Blake Lively’s right to legal fees. “We successfully contested an organized attempt based on unfounded allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation that were never substantiated,” Freedman commented in a statement provided to Us Weekly on Friday, June 12. “Ms. Lively […]”

His attorneys compared Lively’s request to the New York Times seeking $181,622.70 in attorneys’ fees “to dismiss precisely the same defamation claim,” referring to Baldoni’s defamation case against the newspaper. (Baldoni sued the New York Times for $250 million over accusations that he engaged in a “smear campaign” against Lively but the lawsuit was dismissed in June 2025.)

Monday’s motion blasted an “excessive” expectation for Baldoni, 42, to pay for 7,070.20 billable legal hours “billed by no fewer than 82 timekeepers, to obtain the dismissal of a single defamation claim at the pleading stage.”

“The most cursory review of Lively’s submission shows multiple lawyers at the same hearings, numerous charges for lawyers conferencing, conferring, or strategizing with one another, and to put it mildly, extremely excessive research and online investigation,” Baldoni’s lawyers argued.

Baldoni ultimately asked for the $8 million request from Lively, 38, to be denied outright or “substantially reduced.” It will now be up to Judge Lewis J. Liman to determine the exact costs that Baldoni will be required to pay, if anything.

Us reached out to representatives for both Baldoni and Lively for comment.

In December 2024, Lively sued her It Ends With Us costar and director for sexual harassment and orchestrating an alleged smear campaign against her. Baldoni vehemently denied Lively’s accusations and countersued, though his lawsuit was thrown out of court in June 2025.

Following the dismissal of Baldoni’s countersuit, lawyers for both sides engaged in a lengthy discovery process that included text messages from Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, Jenny Slate and Ben Affleck being released through the court.

Justin Baldoni Fights Blake Livelys Request for 8 Million in Legal Fees


Justin Baldoni; Blake Lively
Getty Images (2); Frazer Harrison; Dimitrios Kambouris/TIME

With a May trial date looming, Baldoni and Lively’s attorneys released a joint statement on May 4 to confirm that they’d settled the broader legal dispute.

“The end product – the movie It Ends With Us – is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal that we stand behind,” Lively and Baldoni said in a statement to Us via their attorneys on May 4. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”

Their statement continued, “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”

However, the legal wrangling between the two sides continued on June 12 when Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni was liable to pay Lively’s legal fees under a 2023 California law meant to protect sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory defamation suits. (Liman denied Lively’s request for triple damages and punitive damages.)

On June 29, Lively’s lawyers asked Judge Liman to award the actress $8,035,040.88 in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs related to Baldoni’s dismissed defamation suit. The sum broke down to $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and $539,514.01 in legal costs and expenses incurred as part of the “successful defense of the Wayfarer Action.”

Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Spend $60 Million in Legal Battle?

Blake Lively’s lawyer is addressing claims that the actress and Justin Baldoni spent a whopping $60 million on dueling lawsuits. On Monday, May 4, the It Ends With Us costars announced that they had settled their legal battle after Lively, 38, sued Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios for sexual harassment, retaliation and breach of contract, […]

“Thanks to this landmark decision, those considering using a lawsuit as a weapon of intimidation have been put on notice that there are consequences for doing so,” Lively’s attorneys said in a statement to Us at the time. “The value of this ruling is in the precedent it creates, the accountability it imposes, and the protection it provides to those who may one day find themselves facing similar retaliation for speaking the truth.”

Judge Liman gave Baldoni’s attorneys until July 13 to respond, which facilitated Freedman’s motion to the court on Monday.

Ahead of this latest legal filing, Justin and his wife, Emily Baldoni, broke their silence with an Instagram video message on Wednesday, July 8.

“We are healing, and if you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear,” Justin stressed. “It looks different every day, and we have had to rethink for ourselves what is real and what matters and it’s this, it’s our family, it’s our friends, it’s our community [who] have been there for us, it’s our faith.”

He went on, “I think we’re closer and more devoted and steadfast in our faith than we’ve ever been. Also, and this has been on both of our hearts, there were so many of you who, when we didn’t have a voice, were our voice. … So many of you had discernment and you used your intuition and you trusted that, and you have given your time to fight for us. Thank you does not feel like enough, but we’re here in large part because of so many of you and all of our friends and family.”

Dog inadvertently ignites Maryland house fire via toaster, resulting in the loss of three family pets

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In a tragic twist of events, a dog managed to activate a toaster, sparking a fire that ended up claiming the lives of three other pets in a Maryland residence, as reported by authorities.

Firefighters rushed to the scene at 4319 Foxglove Court in Belcamp in response to a fire at a single-family home just after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to a statement from the Abingdon Fire Company.

The firefighting teams were able to bring the blaze under control within approximately 20 minutes.

Maryland house fire

A canine accidentally turned on a toaster, triggering a fire that resulted in the unfortunate demise of three other pets inside the house. (Abingdon Fire Company)

Fire officials, as reported by Fox 45, confirmed that the homeowners were absent during the fire and no people suffered any harm.

Neighbors rescued two dogs from the home, but a third dog and two cats died in the fire, the outlet reported.

The family’s bearded dragon was later found alive and survived after 24 hours in critical care.

Fire officials said the fire started in the kitchen before spreading to other parts of the home.

House fire

Neighbors rescued two dogs from the home, but a third dog and two cats died in the fire. (Abingdon Fire Company)

It was determined that one of the family’s dogs jumped onto the kitchen counter and accidentally turned on the toaster, igniting nearby combustibles. The dog that switched on the toaster was one of the two that were rescued by neighbors.

The fire was recorded on a Ring home security camera, which showed the dog jumping on the counter and pawing at items and assisted deputy state fire marshals in determining the fire’s point of origin, Fox 45 reported.

Deputy state fire marshals officially ruled the cause of the fire as accidental, according to the outlet.

Dog caused fire

Deputy state fire marshals officially ruled the cause of the fire as accidental. (Abingdon Fire Company)

The house sustained extensive damage from fire, soot, smoke and water.

Officials estimated that about $150,000 worth of structural damage and $50,000 worth of damage to the contents of the home were caused by the blaze.

Dillon Jones Commends Mike Brown’s Humility in Embracing His NBA Finals Insights

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LAS VEGAS — Dillon Jones may not have played a single minute in the NBA Finals, but his influence on the championship run was significant, serving as an unofficial advisor to coach Mike Brown.

During the 2025 championship campaign with the Thunder, Jones drew from his experience to assist the team in navigating critical situations.

Coach Brown valued the insights of his young player so much that he acted on at least one piece of advice, having the Knicks replay their Game 3 defeat against the Spurs to motivate them.

A similar strategy had proven effective for the Thunder the previous year, when Jones was still coming off the bench as a reserve guard.

“Honestly, it reflects more on coach than on me and anything I suggested,” Jones commented on Monday following a victory over the Pistons in the summer league, with a final score of 86-75. “His willingness to approach me, have discussions, and even seek my input is a testament to his character. It shows his humility in listening to everyone within the organization. I’m just grateful to have contributed to the team in any way I could.”

Jones said the idea to rewatch Game 3 came up in “organic conversations” with Brown.

“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had,” Jones said. “And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”

Jones is now fighting for a training camp invite.


Mohamed Diawara (left ring finger injury) and Pacôme Dadiet (right foot soreness) both sat Monday, but the Knicks didn’t miss them — riding rookie Jack Kayil to their first summer league win.

Kayil, a second-round pick who played last season in Germany, dropped a team-high 19 points with three steals in 29 minutes.

“Very talented kid. Super gifted,” Jones said. “One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. … He’s not going there trying to overshadow. … He’s got a bright future.”

Kayil arrived late to summer league because of a contract dispute with his German club. He said he doesn’t want to be stashed overseas this season.


Another free agent center is off the board.

Or is he?

Jonas Valanciunas appeared to push back on an overseas report that he finalized a deal to sign with Lithuanian squad BC Zalgiris, posting on social media with laughing emojis, “You wake up and see that everything has been decided for you, don’t need to do anything myself. Thank you, reporters.”

Still, Valanciunas’ signing with Zalgiris — while maybe not finalized — remains expected, according to BasketNews.

Valanciunas, 34, is a free agent after being waived by the Nuggets. He’s reportedly targeted by the Knicks, who are thin at center with only Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond on the roster.

Richmond Hill Representative Discusses Proposed Amendments to Property Tax Policy

RICHMOND HILL, Ga. () — On Monday, officials discussed a potential adjustment to Bryan County’s property tax system, aiming to offer homeowners more stability in their tax expenses.

During a community forum held in Richmond Hill, Representative Ron Stephens from District 164 elaborated on the initiative.

He explained that the proposed ballot initiative intends to lock in school property taxes according to the assessed home values from the year 2025.

The primary objective is to shield homeowners from escalating tax bills that result from surging property values.

Stephens remarked, “While the market value of your house may continue to rise as desired, your assessment for tax purposes will remain constant, recorded in a separate column, and safeguarded from change for as long as you reside in your home, unless significant renovations are made.”

 Stephens said voters in both Bryan and Chatham counties will have the chance to weigh in on the proposal this November. He also said the change would make school property taxes consistent with other local tax freezes already in place.