The Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings seem poised for a competitive face-off over acquiring a prominent center.

According to Sam Amick, a senior writer at The Athletic, Jalen Duren, the center for the Detroit Pistons, is scheduled to discuss potential sign-and-trade opportunities with both the Lakers and the Kings.

On Monday, Chris Haynes, a prominent NBA insider, revealed that there is a significant gap between the Pistons and Duren as attempts to reach an agreement on a contract extension for the unrestricted free agent have stalled.

At 22, Duren is nearing the conclusion of his initial four-year contract, during which he earned $19.5 million. The Pistons had chosen him as the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Starting his journey as a supporting player, Duren has rapidly evolved into one of the leading centers in the league. Last season, he narrowly missed making it into the NBA’s top 10 for rebounds, with 8.5 per game, and blocks, with an average of 1.2.

Last year, he played in 70 games, while averaging 19.5 points per game and played a vital part in the Pistons snapping an 18-year playoff drought as they finished the regular season with a 60-22 record, for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Amick reported that the Kings are set to meet with Duren in the morning, which would mean the Lakers would likely meet with him later in the day.

Lakers star Luka Dončić has been vocal about his desire for the Lakers to acquire a big man to help with running the pick and roll.

Right now, the Lakers have two centers under contract in DeAndre Ayton and Jaxon Hayes. Ayton performed underwhelmingly for the Lakers last season, averaging 12.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.

Acquiring Duren would be the first part of Dončić’s requests for this offseason, as he’s also been vocal about the team acquiring more shooters for him this year.

According to Amick, the Kings are set to offer Domantas Sabonis in their offer for Duren, but noted that, “It’s unclear how the Pistons might see that scenario, but the Kings are clearly serious about the prospect of landing the 22-year-old.”

In a landmark agreement, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has consented to disburse $395 million to settle over 500 lawsuits that allege child sexual abuse by clergy and church officials. This settlement ranks among the most substantial in California’s history and potentially brings a protracted bankruptcy case to a close.

The terms of this agreement encompass roughly 530 survivors and require Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to issue a personal apology letter to each affected individual.

Additionally, the settlement compels the implementation of comprehensive child protection and transparency measures. These include disclosing a list of clergy members accused of abuse and eliminating confidentiality agreements that prevent survivors from speaking out. However, the settlement awaits the confirmation of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

80% OF CLAIMS IN AMERICA’S LARGEST SEXUAL ABUSE SETTLEMENT IN HISTORY COULD BE FRAUDULENT, LA DA SAYS

“We believe this proposal provides a path toward fair compensation for survivors who have borne the weight of this abuse for a lifetime,” Cordileone said in a prepared statement. “The entire Catholic family is called to unite and share in the work of making amends through this proposed settlement.”

Cordileone said the archdiocese accepts responsibility for the abuse allegations, many of which date back decades, while pledging to continue supporting survivors and preventing future abuse.

“While the vast majority of sexual abuse allegations associated with this bankruptcy were from many decades ago, we accept full responsibility for what happened, and I sincerely apologize to all those who have been harmed,” he said. “We remain committed to the healing and care of survivors who have suffered because of past sins of Church ministers.”

The agreement is the latest in a wave of costly settlements involving California’s Catholic dioceses after a 2019 state law temporarily revived decades-old child sexual abuse claims.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PAY NEARLY $116M TO INMATES SEXUALLY ABUSED AT CALIFORNIA PRISON DUBBED THE ‘RAPE CLUB’

In 2024, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to an $880 million settlement with abuse survivors, while several other California dioceses filed for bankruptcy after facing hundreds of lawsuits.

The settlement marks another defining moment for Cordileone, one of the nation’s most prominent Catholic leaders, who has frequently spoken about challenges facing the church.

In a 2023 interview with News Media, Cordileone warned that Catholics were facing increasing hostility in American society.

“We have to realize that we’re being explicitly attacked,” Cordileone said at the time. “Our properties are being attacked, our sacred symbols are being desecrated. We’re being explicitly insulted, and that’s been championed and celebrated in the culture.”

Cordileone also cautioned Catholics against becoming overly confrontational despite those challenges.

“I think we can’t be overly bombastic either,” he told News Media. “Where do you have to draw a line and take a strong stand? Because that can’t be overdone either — because after a while, one will lose credibility.”

Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Anderson called the settlement unprecedented, saying it not only provides financial compensation but also forces lasting institutional reforms.

Besides the $395 million payment, the archdiocese must maintain and publicly update a comprehensive list of clergy accused of abuse, disclose the outcomes of investigations and can no longer require survivors to sign confidentiality agreements.

“I’ve been working with survivors for decades, and I’ve never heard of anything quite as significant, as rigorous, as robust as what is being required of the Archdiocese of San Francisco,” Anderson said.

An explosion rocked the heart of Monaco on Monday night, leaving at least three Ukrainian nationals, among them a billionaire oligarch, seriously injured. The victims are believed to have sought refuge in Monaco from the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The devastating incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in the foyer of the Sun’s Palace, an apartment block on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, located near the French border. The device, an improvised explosive packed with nuts and bolts, caused significant damage upon detonation.

Vadim Ermolaev, identified by multiple local sources including Monaco Matin, was among the injured. Ermolaev is recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Ukraine, having fled his homeland following the escalation of tensions with Russia.

A second victim, believed to be in their 50s or 60s and thought to be Ermolaev’s wife, suffered grievous injuries from the blast. A witness described the harrowing scene, stating she was ‘slumped over, covered in blood,’ with severe injuries reported to her feet.

A second victim in their 50s or 60s, thought to be Ermolaev’s wife, was reported by a witness as having ‘her feet missing,’ and ‘slumped over, covered in blood’ following the blast.

The third victim has been confirmed as a 13-year-old boy. It believed all three, who were in the building’s entrance at the time of the blast, belong to the same family. 

The bomb, understood to be a ‘deliberate explosion’ was left in a backpack by a male suspect wearing a black hat and track suit top, and white jeans and trainers.

French newspaper Le Figaro said video surveillance images showed a man dropping a bag at the entrance of the building shortly before the explosion. 

Video footage posted online appeared to show him running away from the scene. 

A manhunt for the suspect has since been launched by police in Monaco. An aide to France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, said police were working ‘to find the perpetrator, who has fled’.

Early reports from Lionel Beffre, a Monaco government official, said there were ‘three victims in a critical condition’, including Ermolaev, a Ukrainian woman in ‘their 50s or 60s’ and a 13-year-old.

A witness described seeing a ‘little boy’ at the site, who was ‘lying on the ground, covered in blood, with someone trying to help him’.

The two adults, including Ermolaev, were taken to the Pasteur Hospital in Nice, while the minor was treated close to the scene.

Emergency services treated four other people for shock and cuts from windows shattered in the blast, which appears to be part of a planned attack on the 1920s building on Rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla.

Marine Cotta, a neighbour who witnessed the explosion, said the noise was ‘like fireworks’.

She said: ‘I could hear the police, alarms, and fire trucks, and that’s when I thought, ‘Okay, something is going on’.’ 

Christophe Mirmand, Monaco’s Minister of State, earlier said the detonation appeared to be ‘an attack’, but later dropped that term, describing it as a ‘deliberate explosion’.

He said: ‘The explosive device likely contained bolts and shrapnel.

‘The three victims were in the building’s entrance when the device exploded. It is presumed that they belonged to the same family. 

‘Police services are currently gathering evidence. To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that such an act has occurred in the Principality.’

Monaco’s Prince Albert II described the incident as a ‘heinous crime’ and ‘a shock to the entire Monegasque community’. 

Vadim Ermolaev is among the around one hundred Ukrainian oligarchs that have fled the war with Russia to live on the French Riviera.

He made his fortune as a real estate developer in Dnipro, central Ukraine, before leaving the country with his family.

His Alef Group, which he set up following the fall of the Soviet Union, was also involved in wine and spirits production in the Crimea.

Ermolaev became a citizen of Cyprus in 2019, and in December 2023 Ukraine imposed sanctions on him, including asset restrictions.

Like many oligarchs who became rich following the fall of the Soviet Union, he has faced accusations of criminality, including money laundering, which he denies.

Ermolaev has four children – two boys and two girls – with his wife, Anna Ermolaev, who is a dentist and charity worker.

In recent years, the family has been living in absolute luxury in Monte Carlo, where they had a very high profile.

Ermolaev was known for parking his Ukrainian-registered Bentley outside the Monte Carlo Casino Square.

He also owned a super yacht flying the Ukrainian flag and owned a high-security villa in nearby Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Monaco is a globally famous tax haven on the French Riviera full of high-worth residents.

It prides itself on its crime-free reputation, and attracts billionaire business people and celebrities from all over the world.

But there have been numerous corruption scandals on the so-called Rock in recent years, including allegations of money laundering by mafia-style gangs, including ones from Ukraine.

Prince Albert, the ruler of Monaco, has pledged to clamp down on corruption, with the help of the French authorities.

Despite Monaco’s independence, its defence is primarily the responsibility of the government in Paris.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — In a stunning turn of events at the 2026 World Cup, Paraguay triumphed over Germany 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout, marking the tournament’s biggest upset so far. The pivotal victory came when Jose Canale expertly scored during the first sudden death penalty kick, coupled with Orlando Gill’s impressive two saves during the shootout.

The intense round of 16 clash concluded in a deadlock at 1-1 after extra time. Paraguay initially took the lead with a spectacular header from Julio Enciso near the end of the first half. However, Germany, with their rich World Cup history, equalized in the 52nd minute thanks to Kai Havertz.

This surprising victory propels Paraguay into the next round, where they will face off against the victor of Tuesday’s match between France and Sweden. This upcoming contest, set for July 4 in Philadelphia, offers Paraguay the opportunity to return to Foxborough by securing a quarterfinal spot on July 9.

Historically, Germany has been formidable in penalty shootouts, triumphing in six of their seven encounters in major tournaments. Notably, they had won six consecutive shootouts since their loss to Czechoslovakia during the 1976 European Championship final.

Reflecting back on their only previous World Cup fixture, Germany defeated Paraguay 1-0 during the 2002 tournament’s round of 16. Fast forward nearly 25 years, and Paraguay has finally claimed their poignant revenge.

Paraguay had appeared in five previous knockout games but failed to score in each. It advanced only once in those previous occasions, winning on penalty kicks against Japan in the round of 16 at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. It fell that year to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals.

Monday was Germany’s first knockout game since the 2014 final in Brazil when the Germans beat Argentina 1-0 to capture their fourth World Cup title.

On Monday, Germany appeared to take a 2-1 lead in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner kick by Nathaniel Brown that was just above the reach of Gill. But a video review ruled that Waldemar Anton has pushed Gill to the ground before the shot and the goal was disallowed.

A Catholic institution with a 138-year history in California has abruptly closed its doors, following financial difficulties. This development occurred shortly after the San Francisco Archdiocese consented to a nearly $400 million settlement with a large group of individuals who have accused clergy members of sexual abuse, marking one of the biggest payouts of its kind.

On Thursday, families associated with St. Brigid Academy in San Francisco were caught off guard by the announcement of the school’s permanent closure. They were informed that the deposits made for the $20,950 tuition for the upcoming academic year would be reimbursed later in the summer.

This unexpected shutdown coincided with the Archdiocese’s revelation of a settlement amounting to approximately $395 million, intended to provide compensation to around 530 individuals who allege they were victims of child sexual abuse by clergy, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Established in 1888, St. Brigid had evolved into a K-8 microschool, offering a learning environment with mixed-age classrooms in recent years.

The school was particularly known for its focus on teaching neurodivergent and gifted children, employing a highly individualized approach with a student-teacher ratio of 4 to 1.

“After a thorough review of the school’s finances and after exhausting every available alternative to us, we deeply regret that the school can no longer sustainably operate or fulfill its mission to your children,” Chris Fisher, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese, wrote to families.

“We recognize that this announcement brings disappointment, uncertainty, and grief to many families who have entrusted Saint Brigid Academy with their children’s education and formation.”

Parents are now frantic to find new schools just weeks before classes begin, fearing it will be nearly impossible to secure spots in similar specialized programs after the enrollment season ends.

The settlement announced Monday follows the Archdiocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in August 2023 after California’s Child Victims Act temporarily lifted the civil statute of limitations.

This allowed survivors to pursue decades-old child sex abuse claims between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022.

The agreement also requires greater transparency from the Archdiocese by prohibiting confidentiality agreements in future settlements and requiring broader disclosure of clergy members accused of abuse.

According to plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Archdiocese of San Francisco was the only Catholic diocese in California that had not released a list of clergy members credibly accused of child sex abuse as of 2023.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Anderson said a committee of survivors worked alongside attorneys to negotiate the agreement and that each survivor will vote on whether to approve its terms.

“It’s a joint effort that has been underway for years,” Anderson said. “This represents, effectively, the most robust non-economic settlement that’s ever been made in the country.”

The Archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing followed the passage of California’s Child Victims Act, which prompted thousands of lawsuits against individuals and institutions across the state, with Catholic dioceses among the hardest hit.

San Francisco was among the first California dioceses to seek bankruptcy protection, followed by Santa Rosa, Oakland and Sacramento, per the SF Chronicle.

The school’s closure also comes weeks after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland announced it would shutter 13 East Bay parishes, blaming financial pressures stemming from hundreds of child sex abuse lawsuits against its own clergy members.

On Monday morning, a JetBlue pilot reported what he believed to be a drone strike while preparing the aircraft for landing, a revelation captured on an air traffic audio recording.

The unsettling occurrence took place as JetBlue Flight 948, having left from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, was nearing its destination at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The pilot’s voice, recorded by LiveATC, can be heard stating, “We collided with a drone back there in the turn.”

In response, the air traffic controller queried, “You said you collided?”

“Yep, it is right above the cockpit,” he responded. 

The reported encounter occurred as the aircraft was beginning its final approach sequence, about 10 to 12 miles out from JFK at roughly 3,000 feet.

The pilot said the incident specifically happened near the ASALT waypoint, a navigational checkpoint where aircraft typically line up to land.

“It was as we were making the turn to ASALT, so about 10 miles to 12 miles outside of ASALT. We were coming over that part of land in New Jersey,” the pilot said.

When asked by air traffic control whether assistance was needed, the crew declined.

“We don’t need any assistance, we’re just going to go ahead and land,” the pilot said.

At the end of the exchange, the controller acknowledged the message, responding, “Roger, thank you.” 

“Sorry, I couldn’t give you any more details than that,” the pilot added. 

According to JetBlue, the flight landed without incident and passengers deplaned normally.

A post-flight inspection also did not reveal any damage to the aircraft, officials said. 

“Safety is JetBlue’s first priority, and we will assist with any relevant investigations,” the airline said in a statement to News Media. 

The FAA said the agency will investigate the incident.

Cara Delevingne has officially acknowledged her romantic involvement with Amber Heard during the tumultuous period of Heard’s divorce from Johnny Depp.

Longtime friends, Cara and Amber had often been spotted enjoying nights out together, but whispers had long suggested their connection had deepened beyond mere friendship.

Recently, Cara revealed that during Amber’s challenging split from Johnny in 2016, their relationship took a romantic turn. She described the situation, saying the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor was ‘driven crazy by jealousy’.

In May 2016, Amber pursued a divorce and obtained a restraining order against Johnny, alleging he had been abusive throughout their time together.

Subsequent to their separation, Johnny initiated a lawsuit against Amber in 2019, accusing her of defamation regarding her December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, which detailed incidences of alleged abuse.

After a six-week televised battle, Johnny was ultimately awarded $10million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Cara said: ‘Am I meant to comment? It’s because we did a movie together, and it was called London Fields. 

‘He was also doing the movie. I think he was pretty driven crazy by jealousy. Nothing was happening at that point. Later, after they divorced, it had, I suppose. 

‘We were close for a long time, and then when they were going through the divorce, yeah, we were entangled, I suppose.’

Referring to Amber’s liaisons with X founder Elon Musk, Cara noted: ‘But she was also entangled with other people.’

Following the fallout of her legal battle with Johnny, Amber has relocated to Madrid with her daughter, Oonagh Paige, now four, and her now ex-girlfriend, photographer Bianca Butti.

‘The trial was beyond stressful, and she wanted to start fresh,’ a source told People magazine, adding she now ‘has new energy and is focused on things that she loves’. 

The following year, Amber welcomed twins, whom she carried, and announced the news in a Mother’s Day post in May. 

Meanwhile, Cara recently declared herself a ‘proud lesbian,’ and she has been in a relationship with musician Minke for four years.

Reflecting on her sexuality, she told Louis: ‘I’ve always thought in my head, I was like, “I feel like I could do that”.

‘This is why the relationship I’m in now, it feels like the first time I’ve ever really been in love. 

‘Because when you’ve taken substances out of it and everything else, I feel like I would always sabotage the relationships I was in and substances or work was always at the front part, whereas now my relationship is the most important thing. 

‘Like, if that’s not okay, I’m not okay, and that’s probably unhealthy, and that might be codependency and everything else. But poly, no, I can’t do it.’

She told Louis that she still has hopes of starting a family in the future, saying: ‘I definitely don’t want to have kids to fix anything, but I think it will really heal parts of myself that have a tough time having sympathy for the kid I was. 

‘Because I’ve done a lot of work with that and imagining a little kid going through the things I saw or went through, I couldn’t imagine that.’

The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.