In a heartfelt moment at Wimbledon, Serena Williams made her much-anticipated return to the prestigious tournament’s singles event after a four-year hiatus, taking to the court on Tuesday with her family present to support her. 

At 44, Williams marked her impressive return to competitive tennis on Centre Court, facing off against World No. 87 Maya Joint. She entered the Grand Slam’s main draw with a wildcard invitation, signaling a major comeback in her illustrious career. 

Speculation was rife about whether the 23-time Grand Slam winner would make an elaborate entrance akin to Naomi Osaka’s runway-inspired arrivals. However, Williams opted for a more understated approach, stepping onto the grass with her usual grace and composure. 

As she made her way onto the revered SW19 turf, Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, exuded confidence and calm, fully embracing the moment. 

The atmosphere was electric in the famed Centre Court as fans erupted with applause, celebrating Williams’ return to the game. However, she remained focused, her attention encapsulated by a pair of pale pink headphones, keeping her thoughts centered. 

Yet, no amount of soundproofing could have drowned out the eruption of cheers minutes later when she claimed the first point of the match on her opponent’s serve. 

It was tough not to feel for Joint, the echoing cheers making it clear that, even after a four-year hiatus, Williams was still very much the favorite and the Australian the underdog. 

At just 20 years old, Joint is part of the new generation of female tennis players who have never before faced Williams on the court. 

Tuesday’s first-round clash marked Williams’ return to SW19 and first singles action for the first time in four years after having publicly stepped away from the sport following the 2022 US Open. 

In the time since she ‘evolved’ away from the sport, Williams welcomed her second daughter, Adira, with Alexis Ohanian, who was in her box to cheer her on. 

The two-year-old defied Wimbledon’s age restrictions for Centre Court to sit alongside her dad and older sister Olympia, eight, and watch her mom compete at SW19 for the first time. 

Wimbledon traditionally enforces an age limit of five and above to attend the show courts. However, exceptions were evidently made for the daughter of a seven-time winner.

Williams’ posse of supporters was rounded out by her sister Venus and new brother-in-law, Italian actor Andrea Preti, whom Venus wed last year. 

The sisters will form a powerful duo later in the week when they team up in the doubles draw, where they have found formidable success in the past, winning six times. 

For now, though, Serena had her own success to focus on. It appeared her comeback was destined to collapse just eight games into the first set when Joint broke her serve. 

The cameras panned to the player’s box when an anxious Ohanian could be seen pumping his fists on the top of the railing. His wife displayed a similar explosion of determination moments later when she went 0-15 up on Joint’s serve, erupting into a passionate cry.

It wasn’t enough, however, to stall Joint’s momentum, the Australian taking the first set comfortably 6-3.

Long before the days of Osaka’s catwalk entrances, Williams was renowned as a tennis fashionista, having walked out in a white trench coat in 2008 as well as a detachable train to her outfit that featured one long sleeve in 2021.

Williams also famously caused controversy when she wore a bright purple headband in 2012 despite Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code.

Yet despite that, she stepped out on to Centre Court for her opening round match with Maya Joint in a simple Nike white mesh jacket, over a matching co-ord top and skirt.

It was nothing on the grand entrance made by Osaka for her opening match, which saw the Japanese star sport a kimono inspired by Lucy Liu’s character from the film Kill Bill.

Nor, too, the custom all-white Hugo Boss suit worn by American Taylor Fritz, who did his best Roger Federer impression as he strolled out for his opening-round match.

Fritz channelled his inner Federer with matching white holdall, which drew instant comparisons with the iconic outfit worn by the eight-time Wimbledon champion.

The 44-year-old began her comeback to tennis – four years after her last professional match – at the Queen’s Club’s HSBC Championships, where she won a round before being forced out by an injury to her partner Victoria Mboko.

Williams had previously hinted at a potential return to the grass courts after kicking off her competitive tennis comeback in the doubles draw alongside Venus. 

While many questioned if the veteran still possesses her titan talent, others may be more focused on the question mark over one particular detail of her preparation -whether Williams has continued to use GLP-1 jabs managed by telehealth company Ro, of which she became a vocal paid spokesperson for last year.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion’s husband Ohanian sits on the company’s board and was an early investor. As recently as this February Williams, the company’s celebrity face, featured in a Super Bowl advert for the brand and its Zepbound tirzepatide jab, which is also marketed under the name Mounjaro.

Williams, who is said to have lost close to two and a half stone, or 34 pounds (15kg) using the drug, previously called her challenge to lose weight following the birth of her two children ‘the one opponent (she) couldn’t beat’.

It remains unclear as to whether Williams has continued to use the drug, which also treats symptoms of diabetes, with her publicist declining to comment when asked by the Atlantic.

But although GLP-1s are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), they are one of the drugs under ongoing investigation as to whether they might be classed as performance-enhancing in the future.

Although Williams would be the first athlete to publicly use a GLP-1 if she was still using Zepbound, tennis has an existing relationship with weight-loss jabs, with semaglutide Ozempic a surprising sponsor at last year’s Canadian Open. 

Before being able to announce her comeback, Williams had to return to the anti-doping testing pool. 

However, the tennis legend took aim at the regulations when asked about returning to the pool on Sunday. 

‘It’s grueling. They changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed. I’m like, I guess I can’t go pick up my kids,’ said the seven-time Wimbledon champion, a mother of two.

‘It’s unprofessional. I hate it. I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test.’

Players are required by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to provide their daily ‘whereabouts’ for no-notice testing.

Williams described it as ‘unreasonable.’

‘That was a big reason why I didn’t want to come back either,’ she said, ‘because it’s just so hard. I mean, my life is busy, I run a company, I run a VC company, I travel the world. I have children. It’s like I could be in so many different cities so many different times.’

Disney+ is now streaming the eagerly awaited second installment of “X-Men ’97”.

Ranking as one of the top-viewed original animated offerings, the debut season of “X-Men ’97” left a significant mark.

The remarkable achievement of the series could be traced back to the seasoned creative team’s deep-rooted history of bringing these mutant superheroes to life, a journey that began in the 1990s.

“We conceived the series right at our dining room table,” shares Eric Lewald, the Executive Producer. “This project is where all the elements harmonized perfectly,” he adds.

The show is championed by accomplished television writers and producers, Eric and Julia Lewald, who also serve as executive producers and showrunners.

They’ve been working on animating the X-Men since the ’90s.

As they well know, for decades, the team of mutant superheroes has had a loyal legion of superfans.

“I think the genius in what the X-Men are is a group of teens, young people, who were being shunned or ostracized because they started to become different because of the way they were born,” says Julia. “Society didn’t like that.”

“All sorts of people come up to us that don’t quite feel like they’re part of their community, who don’t quite feel like they’re part of the mainstream culture,” adds Eric. “The word that came to us when we started doing the cons and talking to fans was it’s like a ‘found family.’ They accept each other and look out for each other.”

In this new season, the X-Men have to find each other as they’re divided and thrown across different eras in time.

They are struggling to navigate their way home and they are also up against a familiar foe.

“It gets to be pretty much all about them dealing with Apocalypse,” says Eric.

Larry Houston is also an executive producer who has been with the X-Men since the ’90s.

As a mega fan himself, he describes this animated series as “a comic book that was never printed, but we are giving it to you on screen.”

“Working on this series has been an enormous amount of fun,” says Houston.

But can they beat Apocalypse this time?

“That’s the thing everybody’s got to wait for,” laughs Houston. “You’ll enjoy it when you get there.”

Season 2 of “X-Men ’97” returns to Disney+ with a special three-episode premiere on July 1.

The remaining six episodes will air over the subsequent weeks, with the final episode airing August 12.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this ABC station.

David Stearns is once again venturing into the realm of reclamation projects, aiming to unearth potential where others may not see it.

This time, Stearns, known for his penchant for identifying underperforming talent with the hope of rejuvenating their careers, has brought utility player Christopher Morel into the fold of the New York Mets organization. According to Jon Heyman of The Post, Morel signed a minor-league contract on Tuesday.

The terms of Morel’s deal offer multiple opt-out opportunities, underscoring the flexibility both sides are embracing. Morel will be beginning his journey with Triple-A Syracuse, eager to redefine his path in professional baseball.

At 27, Morel was recently cast off by the Miami Marlins, finding himself designated for assignment without having replicated the promise he showed earlier with the Chicago Cubs. Despite recent struggles, his early career numbers aren’t entirely forgotten.

During his tenure with the Cubs, Morel didn’t quite shine in batting average, maintaining a sub-.250 line, but demonstrated power by hitting 42 home runs and bringing in 117 RBIs over the 2022-23 seasons.

Despite inconsistencies, he was seen as an up-and-coming piece for a then-rebuilding Cubs team. 

But the start of 2024 was a disaster for Morel, as he hit just .199 despite having 18 homers. 

The Cubs then traded Morel to the Rays when they acquired Isaac Paredes, but Morel still couldn’t find his footing in over a year with the Rays. 

Morel’s power output decreased compared to his stint with the Cubs, and he hit just .219 in 2025 before being designated for assignment after the season. 

After becoming a free agent, Morel signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Marlins and played in 22 games for the team following an oblique injury. 

He hit just .162 with one homer during his Marlins stint and was released June 26. 

With opt-outs in his Mets contract, it appears Morel will likely be up in the major leagues soon or he’ll become a free agent again. 

Morel has experience playing both infield and outfield throughout his career, but given that the Mets outfield is one of their lone bright spots currently, him playing in the infield seems more likely. 

The Mets have lost nine of their last 10 games and are 35-50 as their season continues to unravel. 

Jody Owens, the District Attorney for Hinds County, stepped down on Monday after admitting his involvement in a complex federal bribery scandal in Mississippi.

On Monday, Owens entered a guilty plea to conspiracy charges in the U.S. District Court located in Jackson, as reported by local news station WAPT.

The indictment brought against Owens in October 2024 initially accused him of conspiracy, federal program bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements, the report detailed.

The investigation began with a 2022 FBI operation, where agents, posing as real estate developers, engaged Owens under the pretense of constructing a hotel near a convention center in downtown Jackson, according to the outlet.

Federal prosecutors allegedthat  Owens accepted at least $115,000 in cash, along with promises of future financial perks, in exchange for using his influence to push the project through city government channels, according to WAPT.

Undercover recordings allegedly captured Owens detailing how public officials could be bribed and how the illicit funds could be laundered through businesses and campaign donations, the outlet reported.

In the wake of his guilty plea, Owens took to Facebook on Monday to announce his official resignation, which takes effect July 1.

Calling it “one of the most difficult decisions” he has ever made, Owens wrote that while it “hurts beyond measure” to leave a position he loves, it was the best choice for his family and the district attorney’s office. 

“Serving as your District Attorney has been the privilege and honor of a lifetime,” Owens wrote in the post. 

“To everyone who has supported, encouraged, and prayed for Michelle, our children, and me over these past two years, thank you.… As we begin this next chapter, I ask only that you continue to keep our family in your prayers,” he added.

A conspiracy conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Owens’ sentencing date has been set for Oct. 15.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and Hinds County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to News Media’s requests for comment.

Mere days before the highly anticipated wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, extravagant new decorations were spotted being transported into Madison Square Garden.

The iconic pair have taken considerable measures to maintain secrecy around their July 3rd wedding details, yet all signs point to an event that could rival the grandeur of Swift’s renowned The Eras Tour performances.

Observers might mistake the legendary New York City venue for a high-profile awards show as fresh images reveal a red carpet being installed near the VIP entrance, readied for the array of celebrity attendees.

Enhancing the mystery surrounding these exclusive vows, segments of what looked like an elaborate setup were observed being moved into the premises—transported on a cart labelled ‘red carpet fascia.’ Get a glimpse at the pictures ahead of this dazzling affair.

A source told NBC News that 1,100 guests have RSVP’d and are expected to attend Swift’s July 3 wedding.

It’s been reported that wedding guests will not know the address until the morning of the event.

In early June, an insider exclusively told the Daily Mail that the couple decided to ’embrace the spectacle’ of a giant wedding.

Business owners in the highly congested MSG area later voiced concerns over a potential loss of revenue and security accommodations.

According to TMZ , less than one month before the expected event, local bars and restaurants claimed they had yet to receive details regarding the major event that is sure to have an impact on their establishments.

Sources previously claimed to the Daily Mail that guests who received an invitation are being required to sign an NDA before receiving information in regards to the wedding.

Family and close friends of the couple are also allegedly being asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

Those who RSVP are then sent a link to the NDA which requires guests to not disclose information about the wedding

And details in regards to Swift’s wedding dress were recently revealed earlier this week. 

The star is expected to wear multiple outfits over the course of the wedding weekend which takes place over the Fourth of July holiday, per Page Six.

A source claimed to the outlet that a number of custom dresses have been made for the Love Story songstress to choose from.

Designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of the New York-based brand Monse are included in the running. The duo were recently co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta until their exit in February.

Back in April, a separate insider claimed to the Daily Mail that Swift’s wedding dress could be inspired by Elizabeth Taylor’s gown during her 1950 wedding to Conrad Hilton.

The star also included a song titled Elizabeth Taylor on her 2025 album The Life Of A Showgirl.

David Muir continues to reign supreme in the realm of evening network news, yet his dominance faces growing competition as NBC’s Tom Llamas steadily closes in on the longstanding ratings leader.

ABC’s “World News Tonight” wrapped up June as the nation’s leading nightly newscast, drawing an average of 7.82 million viewers. It also narrowly surpassed NBC’s “Nightly News” in the coveted 25-to-54 age demographic, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel statistics.

Tom Llamas is turning the competition into a closer contest.

During June, NBC’s broadcast averaged 936,000 viewers within the 25-to-54 age group, trailing ABC’s 947,000 by just 11,000 viewers. This marks the narrowest June gap between the two networks in nearly a decade.

The shrinking difference rounds off Llamas’ inaugural year as the anchor, during which NBC has persistently eroded ABC’s stronghold in the key demographic.

Nonetheless, Muir has maintained a commanding lead in total viewers, with “World News Tonight” averaging 7.82 million viewers in June — roughly 1.4 million more than “NBC Nightly News,” according to Nielsen.

“World News Tonight” also continues to lead NBC by roughly 1.8 million viewers season-to-date and CBS by 4.3 million viewers — its largest lead over both rivals in more than three decades — even as sports preemptions and a carriage dispute affecting ABC affiliates disrupted distribution in some markets during June.

Still, NBC touted June as its fifth straight month of year-over-year audience growth across total viewers and key advertising demographics.

The network also said “Nightly News” posted its largest June audience in six years and recorded multiple daily demo victories over ABC during the month, including a weekly win during the week of June 8.

“CBS Evening News” remained a distant third, averaging 3.91 million total viewers — with 564,000 viewers who were 25 to 54 and 373,000 adults in the 18-to-49 demographic during June.

Still, CBS says its revamped broadcast anchored by Tony Dokoupil continues to build momentum after launching in January.

According to the network, the program is up 1% in total viewers from May while the 25-to-54 demo has grown 9% from a year ago and 7% from last month, marking its strongest monthly performance in the demographic since January.

The upticks came in spite of tumult at the network, especially on the “60 Minutes” staff.

Network executives also credit Dokoupil with helping reverse the steep audience declines that plagued the previous co-anchor format that featured Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson, who finished 2025 down 12% year over year in total viewers.

CBS expects the broadcast to post year-over-year growth during the second quarter despite typically softer television viewing during the summer months.

ABC has led the evening news race in total viewers since 2015, when “World News Tonight” overtook NBC following Brian Williams’ departure, and continues to hold a sizable overall audience advantage.

The Post has sought comment from all three networks.

In a heartbreaking incident in North Carolina, a devoted mother of two and a long-term postal worker lost her life while on duty, delivering mail. Tragically, this occurred just months after her children had already suffered the loss of their father in a car accident last December, leaving them now orphaned.

The victim, Brandi Reynolds, a postal delivery driver for the United States Postal Service, was fatally shot on a Friday afternoon around 4:16 p.m. in Hayes, North Carolina, as confirmed by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The suspect, William Craig Durham, was apprehended and now faces charges of kidnapping and murder in connection with Reynolds’ death.

Authorities arrived at the scene to find Reynolds already deceased, marking a somber end to her dedicated service as a rural mail carrier.

Reynolds, known for her service with the USPS, was fulfilling her duties as a mail carrier when the tragic event unfolded. Reports from The Wilkes Record and Charlotte Observer confirm that she was delivering mail at the time of her murder by the alleged assailant.

Authorities alleged in an arrest report obtained by the Charlotte Observer that Durham restrained Reynolds and removed “the victim from one place to another without the consent of the victim.”

Reynolds’ husband Brent Reynolds passed away after he was in a car accident in December. The couple have two kids, who will now be without parents.

In a Facebook post from February, Reynolds wrote in a caption of a picture with her two kids: “The reason I get up every morning. Love these babies. They are what makes life worth living.”

She frequently posted pictures with her kids and husband on social media. In one post about her child, Reynolds wrote: “I couldn’t deny this baby if I tried. Love her so much and man do i wish i could slow time down and keep her little forever.”

Officials haven’t revealed any relationship between Reynolds and Durham.

After an enigmatic 116-day absence from the public eye, a Republican congressman has opened up about his personal battle with depression.

Tom Kean Jr, age 57, made a poignant appearance in the Capitol alongside his wife. Addressing his colleagues on Tuesday, he revealed the journey that led him to his current diagnosis. “Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing,” he explained. “I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay; I was given the diagnosis of depression.”

He articulated the multifaceted nature of depression, describing it as both a physical and emotional experience. “Until you’ve experienced it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” he acknowledged, shedding light on the often misunderstood condition.

Kean candidly conceded that delivering the speech was no easy feat, but expressed profound appreciation for the compassion and prayers extended to his family over the last few arduous months.

Moments before stepping into the chamber of the House of Representatives, Kean was seen sharing a tender moment with his wife, a display of the personal support that underpins his public duties. Together, they are raising two children.

The Donald Trump-backed lawmaker represents one of the most vulnerable GOP seats in Congress, NJ’s 7th district, which the President won by a single point in 2024.

Kean had previously hinted at being sidelined by a medical issue and missed more than 140 votes as Republicans are under pressure to advance their legislative agenda with a razor-thin majority.

His campaign issued a statement on June 2, writing: ‘Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.’

House Speaker Mike Johnson previously dismissed rampant speculation about Kean’s absence, telling reporters ‘it’s not a scandalous thing at all.’

‘I do know what his health issue is but he’s asked me not to disclose that and I’m going to honor that,’ Johnson told reporters on June 3. ‘What he’s dealing with is not very common and not a big thing.’ 

‘When he explains it, it will all make sense,’ he added. 

Kean is not the first Capitol Hill lawmaker to go public with his mental health struggles.

Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman spent six weeks away from Washington, DC in 2023 in the midst of his own battle with clinical depression. 

New York Democrat Richie Torres has also been open about his bouts with depression, hospitalizations, and suicidal ideations in the past. He told TIME in 2023 that ‘elected officials should see telling their own stories about mental health as a form of public service.’  

Words of encouragement poured in for Kean as he shared his diagnosis on Tuesday.

New Jersey Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman noted on X, that ‘millions of Americans struggle with depression every year,’ adding that she was ‘glad to hear Rep. Kean is getting the support he needs.’

Coleman additionally noted that Kean is a co-sponsor on youth mental health legislation that the two of them are backing. 

Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna shared on X that she was ‘praying’ for her colleague.

Hours before Kean’s primary election contest earlier this month, President issued an endorsement encouraging his supporters to back the incumbent.

In his endorsement for Kean, Trump said ‘he will never let you down.’

Yet, with his cryptic absence, the argument that Kean has let his constituents down will likely be made forcefully by Democrats in the march to November.

‘His months-long absence has put a spotlight on his self-inflicted vulnerabilities including playing the stock market while in office, putting loyalty to Donald Trump first, and failing to show up when the people of New Jersey need him most,’ the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee noted in a prior press release.

A GOP operative who spoke about the race with the Washington Post noted, ‘We cannot hold the majority without this seat. And folks need to know if he is capable of running for reelection and winning. … You can’t just go missing for months and tell people they just need to be patient and wait without any accountability.’

Rebecca Bennett, who is running against Kean in November, is exciting Democrats because she’s seen as a prototype of Governor Mikie Sherrill, a moderate-facing female with a military background who can appeal to suburban voters with an independent streak.

Senior GOP staffers and lawmakers who spoke with Punchbowl News last month said they had received little to no information about Kean’s condition or whereabouts.

Kean, in a post made to his congressional campaign’s social media page in late April, said that he was dealing with an unspecified ‘personal medical issue’ that he expects to recover from. 

‘My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,’ Kean said in the statement. ‘I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.

Kean’s campaign account continued to post content during his absence, though none appeared to be photographs taken in real time.

The campaign’s fundraising solicitation emails have emphasized how ‘razor-thin the margin’ is for GOP control in the US House.

Kean won his 2024 race by nearly 7 percentage points but Kalshi markets have handed Bennett an 80 percent chance of flipping the seat.