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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Following her release from La Vista Correctional Facility in Colorado on Monday morning, Tina Peters quickly issued a stark warning regarding the upcoming midterm elections: she believes Democrats will engage in widespread cheating. Appearing on Steve Bannon’s podcast, Peters, who previously served as a Colorado elections clerk, asserted that insufficient measures are currently in place to prevent such electoral misconduct.
During her conversation with Bannon, Peters commented, “I observe these elections unfolding across the nation: from Mamdani’s race to the Virginia gubernatorial election involving Spanberger, as well as events in California, Texas, and Maine. Everywhere, I am convinced Democrats will cheat. The core issue, which I was imprisoned for addressing—the exposure of voting machines that can alter votes—is not being tackled.”
As highlighted earlier Monday by RedState’s Bob Hoge, Peters regained her freedom after Colorado’s Democratic governor, Jared Polis, decided to commute her nine-year sentence. This decision has sparked discontent among many of his Democratic colleagues since Peters was serving time for her involvement in the breach of Mesa County’s voting equipment in 2021.
In her discussion with Bannon, Peters described her release as a “miracle” and reflected on the 606 days she spent in prison as a “significant ordeal.” She recounted using some of that time to scrutinize the 2025 elections, including those of Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. This led her to assert that electoral fraud persists and will likely influence the 2026 midterms.
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) June 1, 2026
As RedState’s Bob Hoge reported earlier Monday, Peters was released from prison after Colorado’s Democrat governor, Jared Polis, commuted her sentence (and much to the consternation of many of his fellow Democrats). The 70-year-old Peters was serving a nine-year sentence for her role in breaching Mesa County’s voting equipment in 2021.
The 70-year-old former Colorado elections clerk was released Monday following Gov. Jared Polis’ May commutation of her nine-year sentence on felony charges for her role in breaching the county’s election voting systems and equipment in 2021. She was concerned that there were irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, where Joe Biden received a mind-bending 81 million votes despite campaigning mostly from his basement.
In her chat with Bannon, Peters called her release a “miracle” and revealed that her 606 days in prison were “quite the ordeal.” She used some of that time to monitor the 2025 elections of Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, which led to her speculation that the cheating has continued and will be a factor in the 2026 midterms.
On a seemingly ordinary Monday morning in Alachua, Florida, a 14-year-old student at Santa Fe High School found herself at the center of a serious incident following a remark that set off alarm bells. The Alachua Police Department reported the arrest of the student, Amelia Tate-Wilson, after she allegedly made a comment suggesting she had a bomb in her backpack.
The situation unfolded on June 1, 2026, around 9:15 a.m. when a school guidance counselor, stationed at the front gate for morning duty, overheard Tate-Wilson making the offhand remark to a fellow student. The student reportedly said, “She doesn’t even know I have a bomb in my backpack,” as she passed by the counselor. The comment was promptly reported to the school administration, leading to swift intervention by the school resource officer affiliated with the Alachua Police Department.
In response to the potential threat, Tate-Wilson was swiftly removed from her class and escorted to the dean’s office for further questioning. Upon investigation, she admitted to making the comment, explaining it was intended as a joke and insisting she did not possess any prohibited items. A thorough search of her backpack and person confirmed her claim; no bomb, explosive device, or any other form of contraband was discovered.
While the incident concluded without any real threat, it highlights the critical importance of cautious communication within school environments, where even seemingly joking remarks can lead to serious consequences. The Alachua Police Department’s quick response underscores the emphasis on safety and vigilance in educational institutions.
Tate-Wilson was removed from class and escorted to the dean’s office. When questioned, she admitted to making the statement but said it was intended as a joke and that she did not have anything on her. Tate-Wilson’s backpack and person were searched, and no bomb, explosive device, or other contraband was found.
A second student who was present at the time of the statement was also interviewed and confirmed hearing the comment. The second student stated the comment was believed to be a joke but told Tate-Wilson she should not make those types of statements.
Tate-Wilson’s guardian was notified of the incident. Tate-Wilson was arrested and charged with false report concerning planting a bomb, an explosive, or a weapon of mass destruction, in violation of Florida Statute 790.163 (Felony). She was also suspended from school.
The Alachua Police Department takes all threats involving schools seriously. Comments involving bombs, weapons, or violence are not jokes and can result in serious criminal consequences, even when no actual threat is found.
APD encourages parents and guardians to speak with students about the seriousness of making threatening statements and the importance of immediately reporting suspicious or concerning behavior.
A notorious bottleneck in Southern California’s traffic network has received a futuristic upgrade, albeit with a potential initial inconvenience.
As of Monday, the Riverside County Transportation Commission has launched a groundbreaking $33 million “smart freeway” initiative. This pilot project is set along an eight-mile segment of northbound Interstate 15 between Temecula and Murrieta, a corridor that has long been a source of frustration for drivers due to its frequent gridlocks.
The “smart freeway” pilot program runs along an eight-mile stretch of northbound Interstate 15 between Temecula and Murrieta. RCTC The pilot project reflects strong collaboration among RCTC, Caltrans, the City of Temecula, the Western Riverside Council of Governments, and our federal partners. Facebook/@Riverside County Transportation Commission
Instead of expanding the freeway with more lanes, the Smart Freeway Pilot Project employs artificial intelligence, sophisticated sensors, synchronized ramp meters, and digital speed advisory systems to optimize the flow of vehicles, effectively transforming the highway into an intelligent infrastructure.
However, there’s a caveat: motorists might face longer waits before merging onto the freeway.
The project’s focus area, stretching from the San Diego/Riverside County Line in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta, is infamous for its traffic jams. Heavy influxes from local on-ramps often bring the interstate to a crawl, frustrating daily commuters.
Under the new system, the highway’s on-ramp meters will no longer operate on automated timers. Instead, they will act as a “coordinated system,” talking to each other and “adjusting in real time to allow more or fewer vehicles to enter the freeway” based on how jammed the highway actually is.
Since the meters can speed up or slow down access to the highway depending on conditions farther ahead, drivers will be made to wait a little longer to get on.
Leaders are pitching it as a win, promising smoother rides and overall time savings once drivers actually get onto the blacktop. But they are also offering a stark reality check: motorists trying to get onto the I-15 will “initially experience short delays at on-ramps.”
Officials say the goal is to reduce stop-and-go traffic, improve travel times and make the clogged corridor flow more smoothly without building additional lanes.
“Building our way out of traffic congestion is not an option,” Riverside County Transportation Commission Chair Raymond Gregory said. “We must look at how we can combine technology with existing infrastructure to improve the driving experience.”
Temecula city officials also say that the technology could also reduce rear-end crashes, improve fuel efficiency and cut vehicle emissions by minimizing idling and repeated acceleration.
The project is in partnership with Caltrans, Western Riverside Council of Governments, and the City of Temecula. The results of the smart freeway experiment will be studied for the next two years.
A disturbing incident unfolded at a Nevada hotel during a barrel racing event over the weekend, where a teenage participant was apprehended for allegedly stabbing three horses. The incident has sparked outrage and concern within the community.
Late Saturday night, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were called to the scene following reports of an injured horse at a barn adjacent to the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa. The call came in shortly after 2 a.m., according to a police press release.
Upon arrival, the authorities discovered not one, but three horses had suffered intentional injuries inflicted with a sharp object. Such a shocking find prompted the immediate involvement of the LVMPD’s Animal Cruelty Section.
As detectives delved deeper into the investigation, they identified a teenage girl as a potential suspect in this unsettling case of animal cruelty. This development has left many in disbelief, as the alleged perpetrator is directly connected to the event.
A teenage competitor was arrested after allegedly stabbing three horses ahead of a barrel racing event at the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show in Nevada on May 30, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.(iStock)
Investigators revealed she had access to the barn the horses were being kept in, and that they believe “she may have used a knife to inflict multiple injuries to the horses.”
While the injuries to the three horses are not life-threatening, the animals were unable to compete in the 2026 National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show, which was held at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center over the weekend.
Three horses sustained non-life-threatening injuries and could not compete in the barrel racing event at the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show in Nevada on May 30, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.(iStock)
Following the discovery of the alleged stabbings, the teenager was located at a nearby hotel and taken into custody, police said.
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
An aerial view shows the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Her identity has not been released by authorities due to her age.
In a statement posted to social media, the NBHA said it “experienced an isolated incident” early Saturday, “involving the mistreatment of a limited number of equine athletes by an event competitor.”
“This situation was addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel and Security, Metro Police, and all appropriate parties,” the organization added. “The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind.”
News Media reached out to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NBHA and South Point Hotel Casino & Spa for comment.
The fragile Iran ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump is now teetering on the brink of failure. Tehran has issued a stark warning: it may shut down the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical artery for global shipping, as a retaliatory measure against the United States and Israel. This move could potentially plunge the global economy into a recession.
On Monday, Iranian authorities announced the suspension of all diplomatic discussions with the U.S., pointing to Israel’s military actions in Lebanon as a breach of the ceasefire agreement. This information was reported by the state-run media outlet, Tasnim.
The report further indicated that Iran plans to mobilize its Shiite allies in Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq with the intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway is crucial for the transport of approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply.
In addition to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is also focusing on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Known as the ‘Strait of Tears’, it is infamous for its hazardous sailing conditions, including erratic winds, strong crosscurrents, and concealed reefs.
According to Reuters, if Houthi rebels in Yemen decide to escalate the conflict, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would likely become a prime target.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a roughly 18-mile-wide chokepoint between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is the gateway through which nearly all cargo and energy shipments traveling between Europe and Asia must pass.
Its closure would have a devastating effect on the global economy, with energy analysts warning that oil could spike to $180 per barrel if peace talks collapse entirely.
‘Let’s assume that there is no deal and fighting restarts between the U.S. and Iran, we’ve seen a scenario of $180 per barrel by August, and that will mean a severe global economic recession, particularly in Europe and particularly in emerging Asia,’ Jorge León, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, told CNBC.
The regime warned that any violation there would be treated as a violation of the entire ceasefire, and that the US and Israel would face the ‘consequences’ of their actions
Trump has said he does not care if talks with Iran collapse, but also claimed that negotiations remain ongoing
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a roughly 18-mile-wide chokepoint between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is the gateway through which nearly all cargo and energy shipments traveling between Europe and Asia must pass
In response to the latest cut off all diplomatic talks by Iran, Trump said he did not care if negotiations fall apart.
‘I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,’ Trump told CNBC.
The President also said he was not worried about energy prices spiking over Tehran’s threats to shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
‘I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near, you know, the very near distance,’ Trump said.
Oil markets went into a frenzy following news of the ceasefire’s collapse, with crude prices climbing more than six percent.
Trump held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday following Tehran’s announcement.
The President said he was ‘going to ask’ Netanyahu about ‘what’s going on with Lebanon.’
Trump said on Truth Social that, after speaking with Netanyahu, no troops would go to Beirut and any en route had been recalled.
The Strait’s closure would have a devastating effect on the global economy, with energy analysts warning that oil could spike to $180 per barrel if peace talks collapse entirely
‘Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,’ Trump added.
Trump later claimed that ‘talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.’
Israel remains hesitant to include Lebanon in the ongoing ceasefire with Tehran, viewing that conflict as separate from the broader war.
The US has tried to mediate between Israel and Lebanon over the past few weeks, pushing for a temporary ceasefire while Trump negotiates a long-term peace agreement with Tehran.
Israeli forces over the weekend captured a strategic site in Lebanon, marking their deepest military incursion into the country in over 26 years.
Israel captured Beaufort Castle, a medieval fortress in southern Lebanon that it had held until its withdrawal from the country in 2000.
WASHINGTON – In a significant development, the Trump administration announced on Monday its compliance with a judicial order that temporarily halts a $1.8 billion fund intended to benefit President Donald Trump’s allies. This decision comes amid legal challenges and strong criticism from Republican circles due to concerns that the fund might reward individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. For the next two weeks, the controversial plan will be on hold.
The Justice Department made this announcement following a federal judge’s ruling in Virginia last Friday, which called for a suspension of the fund while further arguments are scheduled for later this month. Although the department expressed strong disagreement with the court’s decision, it confirmed it would adhere to the order.
The administration has justified the creation of the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as a necessary redress for what it claims was the politically motivated use of law enforcement against Trump during the Biden era. This fund was also part of Trump’s legal battle against the IRS concerning the unauthorized release of his tax documents.
While some supporters of Trump, including those involved in the Capitol riot, welcomed the fund, the response from Republican lawmakers has been notably critical. During a private meeting last month, GOP senators confronted acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the fund, with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas describing the gathering as one of the most intense he has experienced during his tenure in the Senate.
The fate of the fund became uncertain last Friday following two court decisions that put its future in jeopardy.
One judge in Virginia temporarily halted its formation and scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend her order barring the government from moving forward with the fund while pending litigation challenges it.
“This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise,” the Justice Department said in a statement in which it asserted its disagreement with the ruling. “The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling.”
Separately, the federal judge in Florida overseeing Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS ordered Trump’s attorneys to respond to “grievous allegations” by settlement critics that the president abandoned his claims to avoid the court’s scrutiny of an illegal deal. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams gave them until June 12 to respond in writing to allegations of collusion and whether the case should be reopened because the court was the “victim of a fraud.”
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Inset: Utah CEO Richard Hendrickson and his daughter Sally Hendrickson (Lifetime Store/Facebook). Background: The Ogden Canyon crash scene where Richard and Sally Hendrickson died (Utah Highway Patrol).
A Utah tow-truck driver is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a tragic incident resulted in the deaths of an outdoor equipment company’s CEO and his teenage daughter. The driver, Michael John Love, failed to properly secure a bulldozer on his flatbed trailer, causing it to dislodge on a curve and fatally crush Richard Hendrickson and his 16-year-old daughter, Sally.
In court on Friday, Love expressed deep remorse, stating, “If I could take it back, I would.” As reported by local NBC affiliate KSL, he received a sentence ranging from four to 23 years for multiple charges stemming from the accident. “I think about it every single day,” Love confided to the court. “I dream about it every single night. It’s a burden I will carry for life. I made a grave mistake, and I own up to it.”
Convicted in July, Love was given one to 15 years for aggravated assault, 364 days for each negligent homicide charge, up to five years for one obstruction of justice charge, and an additional 364 days for another obstruction charge due to false statements about securing the machinery. The July 2024 accident also injured Hendrickson’s wife and two other children.
The Utah Highway Patrol detailed the crash in its report, explaining that as Love navigated a right-hand turn, the bulldozer came loose, sliding off the driver’s side. The accident took place on SR-39, a picturesque two-lane road winding through Ogden Canyon.
“The vehicle [Love was driving] was negotiating a right-hand curve when the bulldozer broke free, sliding off the driver’s side,” the Utah Highway Patrol wrote in its report on the incident. The crash happened on SR-39, a two-lane route that runs through the scenic Ogden Canyon.
“A GMC pickup was traveling westbound towing a boat,” UHP officials said, in reference to the Hendricksons. “The bulldozer landed on the GMC pickup. The adult male driver and one juvenile female passenger were pronounced dead on the scene. Two other adult passengers were transported with non-life-threatening injuries.”
Charging documents for Love outlined how he failed to secure the bulldozer in a proper and safe manner, causing the crash that day, per KSL.
“The bulldozer landed on top of the passenger compartment of the victim-vehicle, crushing and killing” the Hendricksons, according to Weber County prosecutors.
The aftermath of the crash that killed Richard and Sally Hendrickson (Utah Highway Patrol).
Love agreed to talk with investigators at Utah Highway Patrol after the crash and claimed “he never left his travel lane, and that the victim’s vehicle left the west bound lane and struck him.” He insisted that the bulldozer he was hauling was secured properly, telling investigators that he put chains at four points of contact — “two [on] the back, ‘two on the front, and ‘one over the bucket,” per the charging documents.
Love also alleged that he used a “J hook from the tow chain on the dozer and a chain over the bucket, for a total of six restraints.”
Describing what may have caused the bulldozer to topple, Love said he believed it was “too heavy” and too tall.
“It’s the height that gets you,” he told investigators, “admitting that the height of the bed on the vehicle and the weight of the dozer made it unstable,” according to prosecutors.
When emergency crews arrived at the scene, Love — owner of Love Towing out of Marriott-Slaterville, Utah — was found “moving chains” and tampering with items near the storage compartment of the flatbed. He was ordered to “leave everything where it is,” with police reporting that he placed chains where they should have been in order to keep the bulldozer in place.
Surveillance video from a gas station that Love visited showed that the bulldozer he was hauling was not properly chained down. Investigators said that after watching the footage, it was “clearly visible” that Love had been lying about everything.
“The video clearly shows that there is only one hook secured to the front of the dozer, which is the ‘winch cable’ attached and does not legally count as a secure attachment,” prosecutors charged. “On the back and middle of the dozer is a single chain to the bed of the truck.”
Authorities said “some of Michael Love’s first actions after the crash were to attempt to place more chains into the scene to indicate that [the] bulldozer was secured properly,” ultimately showing that he “knew the bulldozer was not properly secured,” according to his charging documents.
“There were simply no excuses for an individual, a licensed tow truck driver, to carry this bulldozer that was over 30,000 pounds on a metal track flatbed,” the judge told Love on Friday, according to KSL.
Richard Hendrickson, the CEO of the Utah-based company Lifetime Products, was active on social media both as a father and business leader, posting regularly about his job and family life, including his daughter.
“I miss him every day,” said Richard Hendrickson’s wife, Julie Hendrickson, at Love’s sentencing. “We had so many plans to do so much together.”
Come Tuesday night, Newcastle United might just pull off a remarkable victory against Barcelona at St James’s Park. Despite Barcelona’s superior team and talent, Newcastle’s historic stadium boasts an atmosphere unrivaled in England, especially during electrifying evening matches.
Should Newcastle triumph, it won’t be shocking. However, if they fall short, we might witness a familiar scene: a portion of the fanbase clamoring for manager Eddie Howe’s dismissal. Howe has been a pivotal figure for the club, arguably the most significant since Sir Bobby Robson’s era over two decades ago.
Newcastle’s journey in the Champions League will inevitably come to a close at some point. When it does, discontent is likely to swell, with many attributing the club’s failure to break into the top five to Howe. The murmurs of ‘Howe Out’ are already echoing across Tyneside.
Such is the reality when expectations are set sky-high, dreaming of league titles with stars like Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal leading the charge, only to find the team languishing in 12th place, trailing behind local rivals Sunderland. These lofty ambitions can often haunt fans.
The constraints of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) prevent clubs from simply purchasing success every season, a source of frustration for many supporters. However, PSR is essential to preserving the integrity of the game, serving as a safeguard against the potential dominance of the Premier League by wealthy entities like Saudi Arabia.
A Newcastle win against Barcelona wouldn’t be a surprise but if they lose, it won’t surprise me when a large percentage of the supporters start calling for the head of Eddie Howe
Newcastle fans had high hopes of football dominance when the club was bought Saudi Arabia – now some of those taunts are coming back to bite them
Here’s what does surprise me, though: amid all the criticism of Howe, there is precious little said against the Saudis, precious little said against Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, which owns 80 per cent of Newcastle United, precious little dissatisfaction with what they have, and haven’t done.
Newcastle sold their soul to the Saudis when they bought the club in 2021. At the very least, everybody looked the other way when a state that dismembered a journalist with a bone-saw, which continues to treat even mild opposition with savage punishments and which treats women as second-class citizens, took over at St James’ Park.
And sold their soul for what? Winning the Carabao Cup?
Sure, the Saudis have bankrolled Newcastle’s transformation from a club that was an habitue of relegation fights into the mid-table team that it is today. But the continued deference that many supporters show to the ownership while they turn their ire on Howe is hard to comprehend.
Al-Rumayyan is feted as a king at Newcastle, front and centre in a team photograph, routinely referred to as ‘His Excellency’ by some media outlets. That nauseatingly fawning tone was set by Sky Sports when the takeover first happened and their reporters cracked open cans of beer to celebrate.
And sure, the Saudis lifted the gloom that had enveloped the club in the crushingly dispiriting years of Mike Ashley’s tenure. And, yes, they have invested in player acquisitions that have seen wonderful talents like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali arrive for handsome sums.
But there has rarely been an impression that the Saudis are anything more than semi-detached owners of the club. They can point to PSR limitations if they want but what about the other investments they could have made without any of those issues?
Look, I think state ownership in English football should be banned. It is blindingly obvious that it can distort spending and undermine competitiveness. Concerns about its influence and the cross-pollination of funding between state assets is at the heart of financial charges against Manchester City, which hover over our game like a dark cloud.
Yes, the Saudis have invested in player acquisitions that have seen talents like Sandro Tonali arrive for handsome sums but there has rarely been an impression that they are anything more than semi-detached owners
Newcastle sold their soul for what? Winning the Carabao Cup?
But within that context, when you look at the contribution Abu Dhabi has made to Manchester’s development during its time as owner of Manchester City, it has been considerable. It has transformed a swathe of east Manchester that was depressed and unloved. It has improved the stadium. It has built a sumptuous new training ground.
None of that has happened at Newcastle. Soon, it will be five years since the Saudis took over and there have been a few improvements to the training ground and occasional flurries of news about suggestions of building a new one. There have been discussions about a new ground, too, or a rebuild of St James’ Park. But nothing has actually happened.
The structure of the club has been a mess, too. Sure, blame Howe if you want but the Saudis botched the appointment of a director of football and that led to confusion and incompetence in the signings of new players. When Liverpool came for Alexander Isak, the Saudis rolled over and sold him. Newcastle might have the richest owners in the world but they are still a selling club.
Howe has been a fig leaf for all that. He has been Saudi Arabia’s human shield on Tyneside. And now it is him who is paying the price for an ownership that has let him down and has let the city down.
The club’s new chief executive, David Hopkinson, says Newcastle want to be the top club in the world by 2030. Which is nice. But if they get knocked out of the Champions League and the assassins come for Howe, they risk losing their prime asset. And if Howe goes, attention might finally start to turn on the failings of the richest ownership in world football.
RADUCANU’S CAREER HAS BEEN SHOCKINGLY MISMANAGED
Emma Raducanu is still only 23. There has, quite rightly, been a reluctance to criticise her because of her tender years and an acknowledgement of the uncommon pressures she has faced since she won the US Open as an unseeded 18-year-old in 2021.
It is also true that if she never wins another tournament – a prospect that is looking increasingly likely – she will still rank as one of the most luminous players in our tennis history because of that astonishing triumph in New York.
But when Raducanu crashed out of the Indian Wells Open on Sunday, humiliated 6-1, 6-1 by Amanda Anisimova in just 52 minutes, in the midst of yet another search for a new coach, it felt legitimate to say that her career has become a study in shockingly incompetent mismanagement.
Emma Raducanu struggles in Indian Wells on the way to her latest defeat
I am not putting the blame on Raducanu for that but on those around her. All that promise, all that ability, all that grit, everything that helped her squash the opposition at Flushing Meadows in that golden fortnight, has been squandered.
Hers has become a career with pockets of brilliance and nothing more. I saw her play at Wimbledon last summer and come close to upsetting World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka before being eliminated. There are small hints that she still has what it takes, but no more than that.
She split with the ninth coach of her short career in January and is now looking for her 10th. Mark Petchey helped her out temporarily in Indian Wells. No one seems to stick. No one seems right for her, or for the people who control her.
Indulging that restlessness would be OK if she was getting close to fulfilling her potential. But she isn’t. Her career is starting to ebb away in a fog of mediocrity, which feels like a crying shame.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ignited a significant rift within the Democratic Party by throwing his support behind a socialist candidate aiming to unseat the current Representative Adriano Espaillat, insiders revealed on Monday.
Mamdani’s endorsement of Darializa Avila Chevalier, a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America, for the upcoming June 23 primary in the northern Manhattan/Bronx 13th House District, reflects a strategic move by him and other socialists to gradually gain dominance within the Democratic Party, according to sources.
Campaign consultant Evan Roth Smith remarked, “In New York City, it’s essentially a civil war within the Democratic Party.”
By supporting Chevalier in her challenge against the seasoned Espaillat for the party’s nomination, Mamdani and the DSA are testing the waters for expanding their sway in the city, Roth Smith explained.
“The 13th District serves as an initial trial to gauge the extent of Mamdani’s appeal,” Roth Smith added.
Even state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs took a shot at Mamdani for turning on Espaillat, a five-term incumbent.
“I think it’s a mistake. When you have a good incumbent, stick with him,” Jacobs said.
“Espaillat is an excellent congressman,” he said. “I’ve heard from a lot people in the Hispanic community and in general who are upset about him going against Espaillat.”
The seat is overwhelmingly comprised of Hispanic, Latino and black residents and is not considered a DSA stronghold — unlike the “Commie Corridor” in the 7th and 10th Districts, which are also the sites of heated Democratic primary races.
But younger voters who support Mamdani and may be more receptive to backing his insurgent candidate have been moving into the 13th District.
Mamdani bested Andrew Cuomo in both the mayoral Democratic primary and general election in the 13th District. — even though Espaillat endorsed the former governor in the primary. Espaillat switched to Mamdani after the mayor won the nomination.
The mayor is also supporting fellow DSA member Assemblywoman Claire Valdez for an open seat in the 7th District covering the waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, considered a DSA stronghold.
Outgoing longtime Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who is retiring, has endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso against Valdez in the primary.
Former City Comptroller Brad Lander has also gotten Mamdani’s nod over incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the DSA-friendly 10th District covering brownstone Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
“He’s going to be mayor for four years and maybe eight. They believe in the long game,” Roth Smith said, referring to the far-left group.
Smith noted that Mamdani didn’t get all of the tax hikes he wanted from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature in this year’s budget negotiations — and wants more representatives in Albany and Congress who are on “his team.”
But Jacobs said Mamdani was not being a team player by messing with the New York congressional delegation.
“We should not be fomenting dissent in the primaries when we have so much at stake in the general election,” Jacobs said.
“It’s an effort by Mamdani to flex his muscles in the city,” he said.
Exclusive: Damien and Victoria Byron made a bold decision when they uprooted their lives, leaving the United Kingdom behind to start anew in Australia with their young children.
This couple from Manchester embarked on a daring adventure, chasing the quintessential Australian dream, a journey reminiscent of the “ten pound poms” migration era.
“We made the choice to part with virtually all our belongings, keeping only a few suitcases each,” Damien shared with nine.com.au.
EXCLUSIVE: After returning to the UK, expat Annie found herself back in familiar surroundings for only six months before reconsidering her decision.
Got a story to share? Reach out toreporter April Glover atapril.glover@nine.com.au
Do you have a story? Contactreporter April Glover atapril.glover@nine.com.au
An estimated 970,950 people living in Australia were born in England, according to the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
What the ABS doesn’t track, however, are the expats who “ping pong” between Australia and the United Kingdom.
Victoria, 35, Damien, 40, and their children Fabio, 16, and Aluna-Anayh, 12, touched down in Perth in 2022.
They had assumed Damien – who moved on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa – could easily secure work as a plumber.
The couple admit this was the “wrong choice”.
“To be honest, we thought we’d just figure it out,” Damien said.
“Once we got here, it was a lot harder than we thought to actually find work.
“I got plenty of job offers, but it was as an apprentice.”
Damien was also required to pay for a 12-month course to recognise his trade qualifications in Australia, after which he would be paid a minimum apprentice wage.
He took on a role in project management instead, where he needed to work seven-day weeks.
Victoria, 35, Damien, 40, pictured with their children Fabio, 16, and Aluna-Anayh, 12. Supplied
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“We weren’t aware that was going to be the case, it was really tough when we first got here,” Damien said.
The Byrons had been struck by Australia’s version of Paris Syndrome.
The reality of moving their entire family abroad did not match the fantasy.
“We realised that in going to Australia the first time, the way we did, we’d made a lot of mistakes.”
“It felt like a massive step backward,” Victoria admitted.
“It was just a lot harder than what we’d actually imagined it to be.”
“We were just bleeding money,” Damien added.
“With each month that went by, we were just eating into our savings that we’d built up.”
Victoria found herself yearning for their life back in Manchester.
It was ironic, given the family had decided to escape the monotony of their hometown for a life of adventure.
The couple said their two children adapted well to moving abroad. Supplied
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They stayed in Perth for seven months before making the difficult decision to move home.
It was hard not to feel as though they had “failed”.
“I was that person that was never coming home – I’d always wanted to do it,” Victoria said.
“It’s kind of a scary feeling because… I felt like I almost failed at it.”
The Bryons packed up their belongings, moved out of their rental and flew back to Manchester.
It was easy to slot back into their old lives.
Which, as it turned out, was the crux of the problem.
“As soon as I landed, it was like… ‘Oh God, this is the same feeling of why I wanted to leave’,” Victoria recalled.
“It was like time had stood still. Everything was still the same.”
Victoria, Damien and their two children felt comfortable back in Manchester with family and friends nearby, but the family knew they had unfinished business in Australia.
After a year in Perth, the Bryons packed up their belongings and flew back to Manchester. Supplied
They gave themselves a 12-month deadline.
“We realised that in going to Australia the first time, the way we did, we’d made a lot of mistakes,” Damien said.
“We knew what we had to correct and do right if we wanted to come back in the future.”
A long family discussion and a pros-and-con list sealed their fate.
“There were about 30 things on the pro column and maybe four on the con,” Damien said.
And after a year back on British soil, they decided to give Australia one last crack.
Damien flew back to Perth alone and worked on the mines for several months to build up savings.
Victoria and the children followed and the family reunited in Sydney for an east coast road trip.
“So we could gage where we liked before we settled somewhere,” Damien explained.
“We fell in love with the Gold Coast pretty much instantly, once we got there, we realised, this is the place, it has the best balance of everything for us.
“But again it was a case of doing it correctly, doing it the right way, getting the opportunity before we go.”
The Byrons headed back to Perth for another 12 months before Damien secured his dream role on the Gold Coast.
It was an anxious waiting game, troubled by brief spells of “have we made the wrong choice again?”
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After a year back on British soil, they decided to give Australia one last crack. Supplied
A year on, the family can definitively say that moving to Australia for the second time was the right move.
They now have permanent residency and have the freedom to move back-and-forth whenever they please.
It’s unlikely they will return to the UK though.
“We absolutely love it, and I’ve got no plans to move anywhere else, but when we moved the very first time to Perth, when we said, ‘This is it forever’, I think it added a lot of pressure,” Victoria said.
“It’s not a holiday, we’re still figuring everything out. We’re still always learning.”
Damien said the initial feeling of “failure” has dissipated.
All members of the Byron family now have permanent residency and hope to become Australian citizens soon.
“It feels good now that we’ve managed to do it again and make it work, and everyone’s here and happy,” he said.
