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Actor Michael Wright Passes: Wife Honors His Legacy

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Actor Michael Wright Passes: Wife Honors His Legacy

The world of entertainment mourns the loss of actor Michael Wright, who passed away at 70. Renowned for his role in the 1991 classic, The Five Heartbeats, Wright succumbed to heart failure complicated by Marchiafava‑Bignami disease—a rare neurological disorder that affects brain nerve fibers.

Wright took his final breath in Los Angeles on August 19. His wife, Susan, shared the news on social media with a poignant message reflecting on his illustrious career and enduring influence. She expressed, “With profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart, I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright.”

“Michael was not only a husband, but a father to Manon Wright, Byron Barr, Brittney Briggs, Brianna Barr, Sir Barr, and a grandfather to Yoko. He was a cherished loved one, friend, and a brilliant artist whose creativity inspired many. Audiences adored him from his roles in The Five Heartbeats, The Wanderers, V, The Principal, Streamers, and the wealth of characters he embodied throughout his distinguished career.”

“His unparalleled talent and significant contributions to film and television ensure his legacy endures. Yet, to those who knew him personally, he was infinitely more than his on-screen personas.”

Susan continued, “Our family faces an immeasurable and deeply personal sorrow. We recognize Michael’s importance to many, and we are deeply appreciative of the love, prayers, memories, and condolences flowing in. In due course, when ready, we will share further details about Michael’s life, legacy, and how we plan to honor and celebrate him.”

Susan concluded: “Michael, your work will live forever, but your love will live even longer in the hearts of those who knew you best. Rest peacefully, my love. You will be missed beyond words.”

Born in New York City in 1956, Wright went on to build a career spanning more than 50 film and television credits. His notable roles included The Five Heartbeats, Robert Altman’s Vietnam drama Streamers (1983), Sugar Hill (1994) and The Wanderers (1979).

He made a number of appearances in notable TV shows such as the 1980s sci-fi series V and HBO’s Oz, starring as Omar White from 2001 to 2003.

In Robert Townsend’s 1991 musical The Five Heartbeats, Wright portrayed charismatic lead singer Eddie King Jr., whose struggles with alcohol and drug addiction ultimately force him to leave the fictional Motown group.

Wright opened up about his life during a 2021 interview with Sheen Magazine, saying he had achieved everything he’d wanted to.

“The greatest sin an actor can commit is to fail to be interesting. I always try to make my characters interesting. I want you to be riveted and wonder what’s going on behind my eyes,” he said. “I’ve done everything I have wanted to do. I’ve been everywhere, I speak five different languages. I have seen the world; I love my experiences.”

Wright is survived by wife Susan Wright, his five children and a granddaughter.

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence: The Iconic Stephen King Film That Captivated Audiences

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Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence: The Iconic Stephen King Film That Captivated Audiences

Teddy in Stand By Me against a forest backdrop

Static Media

When Stephen King’s name crops up, chilling tales like “It” and “Carrie” might leap to mind. Yet, one of the finest cinematic adaptations of his work eschews supernatural fright altogether. Instead, it delves into the unsettling truths of childhood’s brevity and how escaping cycles of abuse doesn’t secure longevity. This is why “Stand By Me” remains a must-watch, even nearly half a century since its debut.

Drawing from King’s novella “The Body,” the film “Stand By Me,” helmed by Rob Reiner, first hit theatres on August 22, 1986. Perfectly timed with the end of summer, the movie trails four young friends on an unforgettable Labor Day weekend. The quartet sets off to discover a rumored boy’s body in the wilderness. Alongside facing dangers like bullies and roaring trains, they use the journey to confide in each other—their gravest fears and the burdens they bear, such as Chris (played by River Phoenix) grappling with a tarnished reputation, courtesy of his father’s criminal past.

“Stand By Me” stands out amongst Stephen King film adaptations for its genuine depiction of young friendships. The boys confront issues from family maltreatment to the haunting realization of their own mortality, intensified when they finally stumble upon the boy’s body—a chilling reflection of what could be their own fate. Although released in the 1980s and grounded in the 1950s, the film’s themes continue to resonate powerfully today.

Stand By Me has gone on to be highly influential

Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern on the train tracks in Stand By Me

Columbia Pictures

“Stand By Me” has cemented itself as the quintessential coming-of-age tale, echoing an era before smartphones when adventures into the woods required no parental check-ins. It’s no wonder it has inspired generations of filmmakers aiming to capture the carefree essence of youth and the imminent loss of innocence.

Notably, the hit series “Stranger Things,” particularly in its inaugural season, often feels like a tribute to “Stand By Me.” That first installment also revolves around a missing child; however, unlike the boys in “Stand By Me” who never met the deceased, “Stranger Things” centers on his close-knit group of friends leading the search. The parallels are so pronounced that the “Stranger Things” cast auditioned with lines from “Stand By Me.”

Virtually any movie involving kids riding bikes into the woods has some “Stand By Me” DNA. “Super 8” is essentially “Stand By Me” and “E.T.” mashed together, as a group of friends discover a train derailed that was carrying an alien. “The Sandlot” while not as perilous, does feature someone recounting a past summer that fundamentally shaped them as a person. 

Tragically, the themes of “Stand By Me” have only become more poignant with the recent death of its director Rob Reiner. The news was as sudden and horrific as an adult Gordie (Wil Wheaton) finding the obituary notice of his old friend Chris. Somehow, the Stephen King story without monsters features his most gut-wrenching portrayal of death.

Tighten Loose Skin at 60+: 4 Effective Wall Exercises

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Tighten Loose Skin at 60+: 4 Effective Wall Exercises

Concerned about loose skin as you age? Discover these four simple wall exercises to help tone the muscles beneath for a firmer appearance.

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For those over 60, battling loose skin on areas such as the arms, belly, or thighs might have led you down a path of ineffective creams. I completely understand. With nearly four decades as a personal trainer and 25 years at the helm of TRAINFITNESS, a leading provider of personal training courses in the UK, I’ve seen this issue prevalent among women post-60. While exercise can’t directly tighten skin, it can effectively strengthen the muscle beneath, altering how skin drapes across the body. These four wall-based exercises offer more noticeable results than any topical solution.

Where Loose Skin Shows Up Most

The most frequent areas of concern include the upper arms, belly, neck, and inner thighs. These sections of the body often have less muscle support, leading to sagging as the underlying muscle diminishes.

This issue arises from multiple factors. As you age, collagen and elastin—proteins vital for skin’s elasticity—become depleted, especially after 40, accelerating post-menopause. Consequently, skin becomes less resilient and loses its youthful springiness.

Then there’s the muscle underneath, which fades from lack of use. Skin that used to sit over a firm bicep or a full glute now sits over a smaller, softer muscle. Most of the visible change comes from the muscle underneath fading, not from the skin itself changing shape.

And there’s the weight fluctuation history. Anyone who’s gained and lost a lot of weight over the decades has stretched their skin, and it doesn’t fully recover. This is genetic to a large extent. Some people’s skin snaps back, and others’ doesn’t.

4 Nightly Stretches That Loosen Stiff Shoulders Faster Than a Massage After 60

Why Wall Exercises Beat Expensive Treatments

Exercise builds muscle, and muscle is what fills out the space under the skin. Creams work on the surface of the skin, which is only a fraction of a millimeter thick. Wraps are temporary. Lasers do have some effect on collagen, but it’s modest and doesn’t touch the muscle underneath, which is what determines the shape.

Wall exercises specifically load the muscles in a stable position, which means older adults can push harder than they could freestanding without any risk of falling. This is what actually builds muscle, not the light, careful movements many over-60s have been sold as safe.

There’s also the cost. A course of laser skin tightening runs into the thousands and needs repeating. Wall exercises cost nothing, need no equipment, and produce ongoing improvements as long as you keep doing them. And they improve strength, balance, and bone density at the same time, which no cosmetic treatment does.

I’ll be honest with you here. Exercise doesn’t literally tighten skin. What it does is fill out the muscle underneath, which changes how the skin looks even though the skin itself hasn’t changed much. For most areas of the body, that’s enough to produce a visible difference. For very loose skin from major weight loss, exercise plus time is the best you’ll get without surgery.

Wall Push-Up

This builds muscle across the chest, shoulders, and back of the upper arms. The back of the upper arm is where “bat wing” skin sags, and adding muscle there fills out the whole area from underneath, which changes the shape immediately.

How to Do It:

  • Stand facing a wall, two to three feet away, palms on the wall at shoulder height
  • Keep the body straight from heels to head
  • Bend the elbows and lower the chest towards the wall over 3 seconds
  • Push back in 1 second

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t stand too close to the wall. It makes the exercise too easy to build any real muscle. Walk the feet back until you can feel the arms actually working, and progress to a kitchen counter as the wall version becomes easy.

Sets and Reps: 12 to 15 reps.

4 Kitchen-Counter Exercises That Rebuild Leg Muscle Faster Than Gym Sessions After 65

Wall Sit

This builds muscle in the thighs and glutes, which fills out the inner-thigh and back-of-the-leg areas where loose skin is most noticeable. Wall sits are also isometric, which means the muscle works at maximum contraction without any impact on the joints.

How to Do It:

  • Stand with your back against a wall, feet about two feet away from it
  • Slide down the wall until your knees are bent at about 90 degrees, or as close as you can manage
  • Keep your back flat against the wall
  • Hold for 30 seconds, breathing normally
  • Rest for 30 seconds

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t let your knees drift forward over the toes as you slide down. The knees should stay behind the toes, which puts more of the work into the glutes and less into the front of the knee. If you can’t manage that, walk the feet further out from the wall.

Sets and Reps: 3 rounds of 30 seconds.

Wall Plank

This trains the deep muscles of the trunk that hold the belly in and support the lower back. Building these muscles pulls the abdomen in from underneath, which changes the belly shape even before any fat has been lost. And it does it in a much gentler position than a floor plank.

How to Do It:

  • Stand facing a wall, one to two feet away
  • Place your forearms on the wall at shoulder height, elbows bent to 90 degrees
  • Walk your feet back so the body is at a comfortable angle, straight from heels to head
  • Squeeze the bottom muscles and brace the belly
  • Hold for 30 seconds
  • Rest 20 seconds

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t let the belly sag towards the wall or the bottom lift up. Both take the load off the trunk muscles. The whole body should be one straight line. If you can’t feel the belly working, adjust the angle until you can.

Sets and Reps: 3 rounds of 30 seconds.

5 Morning Exercises That Trim Muffin Top Faster Than 30 Minutes of Cardio After 50

Wall Glute Squeeze With Hip Extension

This builds the glute muscles, which fill out the back of the upper thigh and the bottom itself. Loose skin over a flat bottom sits noticeably differently from loose skin over a strong bottom, and the difference is visible in trousers within a few weeks.

How to Do It:

  • Stand facing a wall, hands lightly on the wall for balance
  • Shift your weight onto the left leg
  • Keeping the right leg straight, sweep it backward behind you, squeezing the glute at the top
  • Only go as far as you can without arching the lower back
  • Lower under control
  • Do 12 reps, then swap sides

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t arch your lower back to lift the leg higher. The range is small, and the squeeze is everything. Two inches with a proper glute squeeze changes the shape of the bottom far more than a big kick that comes from the lower back.

Sets and Reps: 12 reps per side

How Often to Do This

Three or four times a week is the target. Muscle needs a day of recovery between sessions to actually grow, which is when the change shows up in the mirror. Doing this daily doesn’t produce faster results.

All four exercises in one session take about 15 minutes with short rests. Do 2 sets of each in the first fortnight, then progress to 3 sets. That’s when the visible change begins.

Add walking on the days you’re not doing the wall routine. Walking supports overall body composition, and the combination of muscle building plus walking is what actually produces the “toned” look people are after.

After the first month, either progress the wall exercises to harder versions or add weight. Wall push-ups can move to a lower surface. Wall sits can be held longer. Hip extensions can add an ankle weight. Progress is what keeps the muscles growing.

4 Daily Exercises That Restore Muscle Tone Faster Than Weight Training After 60

What to Expect

Within the first two weeks, most people notice their arms and thighs feel firmer to the touch, even before any visible change. That’s the muscle waking up and holding tension.

By 4 to 6 weeks, the mirror starts to catch up. Arms look tighter, especially the underside. The bottom sits higher. The belly looks less soft. Clothes fit slightly differently, particularly around the arms and hips.

By 8 to 12 weeks, family members and friends notice. The change is real and visible, though it’s the muscle underneath doing the work rather than the skin itself. Most people find that clothes they’d shelved come back into rotation.

Beyond 3 months, the process continues. Muscle takes 6 months to a year to fully build in this age group, and each month adds a bit more shape. For anyone whose skin has been stretched by decades of weight fluctuation, the honest answer beyond that point is time, patience, and sometimes a conversation with a doctor.

Iran’s Ruling Gaps: Loyalists Struggle in Key Roles

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Iran’s Ruling Gaps: Loyalists Struggle in Key Roles

Report suggests IRGC commander holds power, linked to multiple terror attacks

Ahmad Vahidi, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has become a pivotal figure in shaping Iran’s negotiation tactics. Known for his radical hardliner stance, Vahidi’s career skyrocketed during the Iran-Iraq War, and he has been linked to significant terror incidents like the 1983 bombing in Beirut and the 1994 bombing in Argentina. Expert observers are increasingly worried about who really has the reins of Iran’s military direction.

In response to substantial wartime setbacks, Iran is reconstructing its military and security hierarchy, leaning heavily on seasoned veterans. These individuals boast careers that date back to such pivotal moments as the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the grueling Iran-Iraq War, along with previous internal repressions.

Recent senior appointments arose following the deaths of several top Iranian commanders in strikes attributed to the U.S. and Israel, as reported by The National on August 11.

For the United States, the implications are significant, extending beyond simply replacing personnel. This reshuffle positions entrenched hardliners at the helm of institutions that orchestrate Iran’s military maneuvers and shape its national-security and internal policies, amid an ongoing confrontation with the U.S.

Although these appointments do not necessarily signal a depleted pool of younger talent or loyalty as the sole criterion, the reliance on long-standing figures is sparking a critical question for U.S. decision-makers. With wartime casualties potentially narrowing Iran’s circle of influential ideologues, there is concern this could further restrict the nation’s willingness to negotiate, even as the U.S. endeavors to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard

Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, and Iraj Masjedi, deputy coordinator of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, participate in a ceremony to mark the memory of former IRGC commander, Hossein Salami, who was killed in Israeli attacks, at a mosque in an IRGC organizational house complex in Tehran, Iran, July 25, 2025. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/Nur Photo via Getty Images)

Former American prisoner Morad Tahbaz, who was detained in Iran in 2018 and freed in a U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange in September 2023, told News Media that he views the latest appointments as evidence of Tehran’s continued dependence on longtime loyalists.

“They keep rotating the same old people, most of whom are fairly inept but are loyal to the Khamenei father and son,” Tahbaz told News Media.

The reshuffle spans Iran’s conventional military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, its naval arm, the Basij paramilitary force and the country’s highest national-security council.

Iran’s state-run IRNA reported Aug. 10 that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed Ali Abdollahi chief of staff of the Armed Forces, Kioumars Heydari his deputy, Ahmad Vahidi commander of the IRGC, Mostafa Izadi deputy IRGC commander, Ali Ozmaei commander of the IRGC Navy and Hossein Taeb head of the Basij.

The previous day, former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei, 71, was named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Khamenei’s representative on the powerful body. Reuters reported Aug. 10 that the SNSC coordinates Iran’s security and foreign policy and that Rezaei replaced Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, who had been appointed secretary in late March following the death of his predecessor, Ali Larijani.

The appointments do not establish that Iran has run out of younger or less familiar commanders. But the reliance on longtime military and security figures has fueled assessments that wartime losses have narrowed the regime’s pool of officials it regards as sufficiently experienced and politically trustworthy.

Erfan Fard wrote for the Middle East Forum on Aug. 15 that Khamenei was not promoting a new generation but turning to veterans of the revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, intelligence operations and domestic repression, arguing that an architecture based on “institutional memory, loyalty, and coercive power” was taking shape.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies argued in an Aug. 12 policy brief that the reshuffle looked “less like renewal than a game of musical chairs among regime veterans.”

The appointments also formalized the position of Ahmad Vahidi, a veteran hardliner who had already emerged near the center of wartime decision-making. Vahidi was a major player in shaping Tehran’s wartime policy and had risen through the IRGC’s early intelligence and external-operations apparatus before later serving as defense and interior minister. As interior minister, Vahidi oversaw police units involved in the crackdown on the 2022 protests.

IRNA confirmed Aug. 10 that Khamenei promoted Vahidi to major general and formally appointed him commander-in-chief of the IRGC.

Hossein Taeb head of the intelligence apparatus of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Hossein Taeb, Iranian Shia cleric and head of the intelligence apparatus of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), looks on during a meeting in Iran’s capital Tehran on June 24, 2018. (Hamed Malekpour/Tasnim News/AFP via Getty Images)

Hossein Taeb: The intelligence veteran returns to the Basij to build a ‘20-million-strong Basij force.’

One of the most closely watched appointments is Hossein Taeb, the cleric and veteran security official tapped to lead the Basij, the IRGC’s volunteer paramilitary force that has repeatedly been used against domestic dissent.

The National reported that the Basij has been used to suppress internal dissent, while The Times reported Aug. 12 that the force is embedded in neighborhoods, universities, workplaces, factories, ministries and mosques and has played a central role in suppressing successive uprisings.

For Tahbaz, Taeb’s return is personal. Tahbaz was detained in 2018, while Taeb was leading the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

“Ta’eb is extremely close to Mojtaba Khamenei but was very unceremoniously fired from his former position as head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization,” Tahbaz told News Media. “He was personally responsible for my and my colleagues’ arrests and detentions. He lives and breathes conspiracy theories.”

The Times reported Aug. 12 that Taeb and Mojtaba Khamenei’s relationship dates back more than four decades and that both served in the Habib Battalion during the Iran-Iraq War. The newspaper also reported that IRGC intelligence arrested environmentalists and dual nationals during Taeb’s tenure.

Taeb previously commanded the Basij before moving into IRGC intelligence. The Times reported that months after the disputed 2009 election, the Guards’ intelligence division was elevated into an independent organization with Taeb as its first chief.

Taeb’s earlier leadership of the Basij also drew U.S. sanctions. In a Sept. 29, 2010 Treasury Department fact sheet, the U.S. government said that while Taeb commanded the Basij during the June 2009 election, forces under his command participated in “beatings, murder, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of peaceful protestors.”

According to IRNA, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf congratulated Taeb on his appointment as head of the Basij Organization, saying his tenure could mark a new chapter for the volunteer force. Ghalibaf said the Basij now needs a more comprehensive and forward-looking approach and argued that Taeb’s appointment by the supreme leader could help advance what he described as one of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s longstanding goals: building a 20-million-strong Basij force.

Moshen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council

Mohsen Rezaei was named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general and member of the Expediency Discernment Council, as well as the secretary of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination and the Iranian government’s Economic Committee, attends a ceremony at Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s shrine in southern Tehran, Iran, on June 4, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)

Mohsen Rezaei: Back at the center after four decades

Few appointments better illustrate the return of Iran’s old guard than Mohsen Rezaei, who was named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Reuters reported Aug. 10 that Rezaei joined the IRGC shortly after the 1979 revolution, became its commander in 1981 at age 27 and led the force for 16 years, including through most of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War.

He later served as secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council for more than two decades and as vice president for economic affairs from 2021 to 2023 under President Ebrahim Raisi. Now, at 71, he is secretary of the SNSC and Khamenei’s representative on the body.

Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, argued that bringing back longtime figures such as Rezaei reflects weakness rather than renewal.

“This is, again, another evidence that they don’t have anyone else,” Sabti told News Media. “So they have to bring him out again from the desk and put him somewhere. These are the guys that they have.”

Rezaei and Vahidi were also among six people for whom INTERPOL authorized Red Notices requested by Argentina in 2007 in connection with the investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

INTERPOL said in November 2007 that its General Assembly upheld the publication of notices for six individuals, including Ahmad Vahidi and Mohsen Rezaei, after Iran challenged Argentina’s requests.

Sabti argued that Rezaei’s re-emergence is particularly telling because Tehran’s decision-making circle has become less ideologically diverse.

“Today, there is only one opinion, and this is the main problem,” Sabti said. “This is why you think that there is unity and the system is stronger. No, it’s not stronger. Actually, it’s weaker also because of that.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and an IRGC commander general Mohsen Rezaee

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and an IRGC commander, General Mohsen Rezaei, attend a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on July 3, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Ali Abdollahi: A wartime commander takes the top military job

Ali Abdollahi was elevated to chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, putting him at the top of the country’s military command structure. IRNA confirmed the appointment Aug. 10.

Abdollahi had previously commanded the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s joint operational command responsible for coordinating its armed forces in wartime, according to Iran International on Aug. 10.

His appointment also comes amid an effort to integrate the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters more closely with the Armed Forces General Staff. Le Monde reported Aug. 11 that Abdollahi’s task includes completing that integration in an effort to further centralize command and coordination.

Fard argued in his Aug. 15 Middle East Forum analysis that Abdollahi’s elevation exemplifies Tehran’s reliance on longstanding revolutionary-security figures rather than a generational break.

Iranian army commanders

Iranian army commanders, from left to right, Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, commander in chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Alireza Sabahifard, commander of Iran’s Army Air Defense Force, General Kioumars Heydari, commander in chief of Iranian Army Ground Forces, and Hamid Vahedi, brigadier general of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the commander of the Air Force, participate in a military parade commemorating the anniversary of Army Day outside the Shrine of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the south of Tehran, Iran, on April 18, 2025. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)

Kioumars Heydari: The regular army moves closer to the center

Former Army Ground Forces commander Kioumars Heydari was appointed deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces, bringing a senior officer from Iran’s conventional military into the new command structure.

The National reported that Heydari formerly commanded the Army Ground Forces and has held senior positions in Iran’s regular army, known as the Artesh. IRNA independently confirmed his appointment.

His inclusion also demonstrates that the reshuffle is not limited to the IRGC.

Fard argued in the Middle East Forum that Heydari’s previous public rhetoric surrounding protest suppression indicates that Tehran has increasingly integrated the regular army into its domestic-security posture.

Mostafa Izadi: Another veteran rises inside the IRGC

Mostafa Izadi was appointed Vahidi’s deputy, putting another longtime commander near the top of the IRGC hierarchy.

IRNA confirmed Izadi’s appointment Aug. 10, while The National described him Aug. 11 as a veteran commander who has held a number of senior positions in Iran’s military and security establishment.

Iran International reported that Izadi previously commanded the Cyber and New Threats Headquarters within the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Warships maneuver off the coast of southern Iran during a joint maritime exercise.

Naval units from Iran and Russia simulate the rescue of a hijacked vessel during joint drills at the Port of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan, Iran, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Iranian Army/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ali Ozmaei: A new commander at one of Iran’s most sensitive fronts

Rear Adm. Ali Ozmaei was appointed commander of the IRGC Navy, putting him in charge of a force central to Iran’s military posture in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

The National reported Aug. 11 that Ozmaei replaced Alireza Tangsiri, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in March, and that the IRGC Navy is responsible for Iran’s military operations in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media also highlighted Ozmaei’s longstanding maritime experience. IRNA reported Aug. 11 that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised Ozmaei’s years in maritime defense and his familiarity with the current conflict and the Strait of Hormuz. 

The appointment came one day before Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless the United States changed its behavior and accepted Iran’s conditions. Reuters reported that Rezaei said Washington would have to end the war and unfreeze Iranian funds overseas, with other conditions relayed through mediators.

Taken together, the seven personnel changes show Tehran moving to fill and reshuffle critical military and security posts after significant wartime losses. What remains an assessment rather than an established fact is whether the identities of those chosen reveal a deeper shortage of trusted successors.

Sabti said the return of veteran figures reflected what he sees as a shrinking bench of trusted officials and a less diverse decision-making circle.

Tahbaz offered a less academic version of that assessment.

Iranian flag

Members of security forces watch over the crowd during a funeral procession held for IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri, alongside other senior naval commanders and their families who were killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes in late March, on April 1, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

“They keep rotating the same old people,” he said.

Tragic Toll Rises: 10 Dead in Latest Russian-Ukrainian Attacks Following Shopping Mall Drone Strike

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Tragic Toll Rises: 10 Dead in Latest Russian-Ukrainian Attacks Following Shopping Mall Drone Strike

In a tragic escalation of the conflict, at least seven lives were lost in Ukraine due to Russian drone and missile assaults, officials reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, a drone strike by Ukraine in Russia’s Krasnodar region resulted in three fatalities.

These incidents followed a devastating Russian attack on a shopping center in Ukraine that claimed at least 16 lives and left approximately 130 others injured just a day prior.

Moscow has ramped up its ballistic missile offensives targeting Kyiv, taking advantage of Ukraine’s ongoing shortage of US-supplied Patriot air defense systems—crucial for intercepting such missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that the latest ballistic missile attack in Kyiv, which struck railway infrastructure overnight, resulted in one death and left another person injured.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that their forces targeted a locomotive depot as part of the recent offensive.

In a separate attack, local authorities said two people were killed Saturday afternoon in a Russian ballistic missile strike on the Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital.

Russian drone strikes also killed one person overnight in the Zaporizhzhia region, local officials said Saturday, and a daytime attack killed three others and wounded 15.

Zelenskyy said that three people were also wounded in an attack on a minibus in the regional capital, also called Zaporizhzhia.

In Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, authorities said that three people, including two children, were killed and two adults were wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike.

A day on from a deadly attack on a shopping center

The latest attacks came a day after Russian drones struck a shopping center in the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine.

Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said in the early hours of Saturday that the death toll had risen to 16.

Later on Saturday he said four people remain missing after the attack, which wounded a further 130.

Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of Zelenskyy, who described the attack as a double-tap strike, in which an initial wave of drones hit the area followed by a second wave as rescue workers responded.

The Ukrainian leader said the fire, which spread across 9,000 square meters (around 97,000 square feet), had been extinguished and rescue efforts were underway.

Kryvyi Rih has been hit multiple times during the 4½-year all-out war between Russia and Ukraine, with one of the deadliest occurring in April 2025, when 20 people were killed, including nine children.

Large-scale Russian strikes have become a regular occurrence this summer, with Friday’s attacks landing just 24 hours after Russia pounded Kyiv with scores of missiles and drones in a nighttime assault that killed 16 people.

The United Nations said last week that Kyiv was one of the hardest-hit cities in July, with at least 54 civilians killed and 202 wounded.

Ukraine pounds Russia with long-range strikes

At the same time, Ukraine has shifted the war onto Russian soil through long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused fuel shortages across Russia.

It also has unsettled the Russian public by striking warehouses of Wildberries, the country’s biggest online retailer.

The Russian online news outlet Astra reported Saturday that a Ukrainian drone set ablaze an oil refinery in the Samara region.

Local officials said that damage was recorded at an unidentified “industrial facility” and a logistics center for Ozon, a competitor to Wildberries.

Zelenskyy said Saturday Ukrainian forces struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Samara, noting it is some 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the front line.

Australia Introduces New Tourist Tax in Popular Travel Destinations

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Starting next month, the Fijian government is set to implement a fresh tourism services tax targeting major tourism businesses, a move that industry experts caution may lead to higher costs for travelers.

Effective September 1st, a new 5% tax will be in place, drawing criticism from travel associations across Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand who argue they were left out of the consultation process.

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has expressed concern that this measure might unfairly impact travelers with plans to visit Fiji from September onwards, as there is uncertainty among travel agents and operators on how to implement the tax.

Dean Long, CEO of ATIA, remarked, “The poorly planned execution shows a lack of insight into the complexities of travel booking systems, and it is both travelers and tourism businesses that will bear the brunt of this oversight.”

“Holidaymakers are left in a difficult spot. Families who booked their September school break well in advance and paid in full, along with groups traveling for business or film shootings, now face unexpected additional charges. This is not a fair treatment of those who opted for Fiji with trust in mind.”

The change forms part of wider taxation amendments enacted as part of Fiji’s 2026-2027 national budget, passed last month.

It will affect tourism operators — including hotel, tourism and cruise businesses — with an annual turnover above FJ$2 million (approximately $1.3 million).

According to Fijian finance minister Esrom Immanuel, revenue from the tax will be used to support Fiji Airways.

“The revenue generated will be ring-fenced and fully directed to Fiji Airways, which continues to face financial pressure from rising aviation fuel costs and its ongoing recovery from losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Immanuel told local media in June.

It’s reported that the tourism tax will generate around FJ$70 million ($44.7 million) for the airline. The Fijian government is the largest shareholder of Fiji Airways.

Consultation with Fijian government

ATIA confirmed it will meet with the Fijian government to discuss the tourism services tax, which it said arrived with “zero consultation”.

Long said there is ongoing confusion over how the tax is collected, saying that members of the travel industry in Australia and New Zealand — which represent Fiji’s largest tourism markets — were not consulted on the change.

“None of this needed to happen. The tax arrived with zero consultation with the travel industry in Australia or New Zealand despite the significant importance of these markets to Fiji,” he said.

ATIA said there are still questions about how net rates (base prices which exclude discounts, commissions or fees) will be taxed, while the distinction between suppliers and agents remains “unresolved”.

The Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) said it was concerned with the way the tax is being implemented, and proposed that existing bookings be grandfathered.

“Grandfathering existing bookings is the fairest outcome. It protects travellers who purchased in good faith, gives the travel industry certainty and allows the new tax to be implemented cleanly for new bookings from 1 September,” TAANZ CEO Julie White said.

SBS News has contacted the Fijian government’s Ministry of Tourism for comment.

Divers stand on a white boat and swim in clear blue waters in Fiji.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Fiji was one of the top 10 short-term return destinations for Australian travellers in June 2026.

Almost 37,000 Australians returned from short stays (less than one year) in Fiji in June this year. That’s compared to around 35,000 visitors in June 2025.

In a statement issued in June, the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) said the tourism industry did not propose, endorse or “broadly agree” to the tax.

FHTA CEO Fantasha Lockington added that retroactively adding costs would “undermine confidence in Fiji’s tourism product”.

“Operators cannot simply return to guests, agents or wholesalers to recover another 5 per cent without risking disputes, cancellations, destination and brand reputational damage or margin loss,” she said, adding that industry operators do not agree to absorb the tax.

“Indications from members suggest the majority, if not all, will pass it on in its entirety,” she said.

Lockington noted that Fiji Airways remains vital to the country’s connectivity, visitor arrivals, trade and employment. However, she believes the carrier should be funded through a “national fiscal response”, not a tax imposed on the travel sector.

In July, Immanuel told Fijian broadcaster FBC News he was “surprised” by FHTA’s statement and claimed the proposal had received support during discussions before the budget.

Lindsay Clancy Family Speaks Out: Insights on Tragic Events

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Lindsay Clancy Family Speaks Out: Insights on Tragic Events

Throughout the harrowing murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, her parents, Michael and Paula Musgrove, have been steadfast in their support. The couple has made their presence felt in the Plymouth, Massachusetts courtroom, often seated behind their daughter as she faces severe allegations concerning the tragic 2023 deaths of her three young children.

Earlier this year, in a heartfelt conversation with CT Insider, Michael, who is known for his work in photography, expressed their unwavering love and dedication. “We love our daughter very much,” he shared, emphasizing their commitment, “and we’re here to support her in any way we can.”

Lindsay’s journey began in Wallingford, Connecticut, where she was raised alongside her sister, Allison Ozga. With a passion ignited by both cheerleading and nursing, Lindsay pursued her dream, eventually becoming a labor and delivery nurse, a role that spoke to her nurturing nature.

Neighbors have described the Musgroves as a closely-knit family, grounded in their values. “They’re good people, good, hard-working, regular, middle-class people,” a neighbor recounted to CT Insider. “They took good care of their kids,” illustrating the community’s recognition of their integrity.

It’s no wonder Lindsay’s family has remained by her side as the details of her case unfold. Clancy is currently being tried for the deaths of her children – Cora, aged 5; Dawson, aged 3; and Callan, just 8 months old. She has entered a plea of not guilty to these serious charges.

What did Lindsay Clancy’s Sister Allison Ozga Say During Her Testimony?

Allison, a social worker, testified she saw her sister around Thanksgiving 2022, Lindsay “seemed off.”

By December, Lindsay told her she was in “a really tough spot,” Allison said, and was experiencing suicidal thoughts nearly every day, according to The Associated Press. 

By January, Lindsay had admitted herself into a psychiatric hospital. Then, weeks later, at a birthday party for Lindsay’s daughter Cora, Lindsay “looked like she was going through the motions,” Allison recalled per Boston.com. “She looked like she was still struggling.”

What did Lindsay Clancy’s Mom Paula Musgrove Say During Her Testimony?

During her testimony, Paula described her daughter as a “loving mother” though she recalled receiving a concerning text from Lindsay in October 2022.

“Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit?” the text read, per Boston.com. “I’m really sick. Something is wrong. I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I’m going to get through the day. I started taking the medicine my doctor prescribed for anxiety, and I think it’s made things worse. It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone.”

Paula began spending more time at her daughter’s home and testified that two months later, Lindsay admitted having thoughts of harming her children.

She also recalled her daughter becoming paranoid, struggling to sleep and losing weight amid her mental health struggles and medication changes.

“She would say to me, ‘This isn’t me. I’ve never been like this before,’” Paul said. “And I would agree, because she wasn’t. She was attempting to go through the motions of her day, take care of the kids as best she could.” 

However, what asked by the prosecution if she had any concerns for her grandkids safety, she said, “No, because I was there.”

Just days before the Jan. 24, 2023 killings, Paula texted her daughter, “It’s nice to see you’re doing better.”
“The text from me was meant to encourage her,” Paula explained, “because I didn’t think it did any good to discourage her.” 

Cirque du Soleil Performer Seeks $16.75M in Lawsuit Following Devastating Fall and 11 Broken Bones

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Cirque du Soleil Performer Seeks $16.75M in Lawsuit Following Devastating Fall and 11 Broken Bones

Mariia Konfektova has brought forth allegations against a company, claiming it neglected to ensure sufficient fall protection and disregarded warnings about the rigging prior to her injury in 2024.

WASHINGTON — Editor’s Note: This story includes a photograph that may be unsettling for some readers.

An aerial artist from Cirque du Soleil who sustained 11 broken bones after a dramatic 15-foot plunge during a 2024 performance has initiated a lawsuit against the company, demanding $16.75 million. The performer accuses the company of failing to supply the necessary fall protection measures.

Mariia Konfektova, a seasoned aerial hoop artist hailing from Russia, lodged the lawsuit on Thursday at the Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon.

During a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA” at the Portland Expo Center, Konfektova suffered a fall from her aerial hoop, leading to her injuries.

According to the lawsuit, Konfektova was transitioning between movements when her right foot slipped while her other foot was wrapped around a rope at the top of the hoop. Her hands were touching the hoop for stability but were not gripping it, which caused her to fall toward the stage.

Konfektova suffered fractures to her skull, wrist, lower back and seven facial bones, among other injuries, according to the lawsuit. She required multiple surgeries and has been left with permanent injuries, the lawsuit alleges.

Konfektova claims Cirque du Soleil failed to provide adequate safety measures, including mats, nets or other fall protection. She also alleges the company ignored concerns she had raised about the rigging.

Months after the fall, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, or OSHA, fined Cirque du Soleil $8,070 for failing to have safety systems in place.

According to that lawsuit, Cirque du Soleil told OSHA that the company generally began requiring fall protection at heights of 20 feet. Konfektova’s performance was set at a height of about 15 feet.

OSHA also issued the company a second citation related to the makeup of an employee safety committee, though no fine was imposed for that violation. Cirque du Soleil appealed one of the citations in January 2025, and the case remains on appeal, OSHA said.

The lawsuit also cites reports of other fall-related injuries at Cirque du Soleil performances and training sessions between 2006 and 2021, including two deaths.

Before her injury, Konfektova had about eight years of experience as an aerial hoop artist. She also held a Guinness World Record for the most seated aerial hoop rotations in 30 seconds, according to the lawsuit.

Konfektova has shared photos showing some of the injuries she suffered, including a black eye and bloodied nose.

Konfektova’s attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit. Cirque du Soleil also declined to comment on the case, which is pending. 

Sofia Vergara’s ‘Modern Family’ Son, Now 28: See His Transformation

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Sofia Vergara’s ‘Modern Family’ Son, Now 28: See His Transformation

Rico Rodriguez, who captivated audiences worldwide as a child actor on the hit series Modern Family, made a public appearance this week at a film premiere, now at the age of 28.

Rodriguez was just 11 when he delighted viewers in 2009, portraying Manny Delgado, the charming son of Sofia Vergara’s Gloria, on the popular sitcom.

Manny’s doting, albeit straightforward, stepfather was played by Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett, Gloria’s considerably older husband, who led the show’s central family unit.

Over its remarkable 11-season run, the sitcom enjoyed international success, concluding in 2020 and paving new paths for its talented cast.

Following the show’s end, Rodriguez continued to make waves, appearing in various Nickelodeon projects. Last year, he lent his voice to the star-packed animated film Sneaks, sharing credits with notable talents like Anthony Mackie and Chloe Bailey.

When he appeared Wednesday at the premiere of the horror film It Ends, his boyish features from Modern Family were partly obscured by a goatee.

The Daily Mail has contacted Rodriguez’s representative for comment. 

Rico Rodriguez, who achieved global stardom as a child on Modern Family, surfaced this week at a movie premiere at the age of 28

Rico Rodriguez, who achieved global stardom as a child on Modern Family, surfaced this week at a movie premiere at the age of 28

He was 11 years old when he began featuring on the show in 2009 as Manny Delgado, the son of Sofia Vergara's character Gloria and the stepson of Ed O'Neill's Jay

He was 11 years old when he began featuring on the show in 2009 as Manny Delgado, the son of Sofia Vergara’s character Gloria and the stepson of Ed O’Neill’s Jay 

Rodriguez, who did not act in It Ends, cut a summery, casual figure in a short-sleeved print shirt with a set of black trousers and tan leather sneakers.

He posed proudly with his sister Raini Rodriguez, who starred on the Disney Channel show Austin & Ally and played the title character’s daughter in Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Born in Texas’ Brazos Valley, he began acting in Los Angeles at the age of just six, landing a part on Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven spin-off Cory in the House.

He jobbed around on shows ranging from ER and Nip/Tuck to iCarly to My Name Is Earl and featured in Epic Movie, the comedy starring Kal Pen and Jennifer Coolidge that parodied several of the era’s franchise tentpoles, including Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Chronicles of Narnia.

When he was nine, he was cast as Manny Delgado on Modern Family, joining a cast that included Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.

Last year, Rodriguez gamely revealed that when he was a young boy he was occasionally flummoxed by his character’s dialogue.

He explained that Manny, an ‘old soul’, was given ‘these big paragraphs and words that I had no idea what I was saying’, on Ferguson’s podcast Dinner’s On Me.

‘I would look up online or I would ask my studio teacher Sharon, Miss Sharon, I would ask her: “Hey, what does this mean? Why are they laughing? Are they laughing because a kid’s saying this or because the line’s funny? What’s the context behind this?” And so she would explain to me, I’d go: “Oh, okay, I understand now.”‘

When he appeared Wednesday at the premiere of the horror film It Ends, his boyish features from Modern Family were partly obscured by a goatee

When he appeared Wednesday at the premiere of the horror film It Ends, his boyish features from Modern Family were partly obscured by a goatee

Rodriguez, who does not feature in It Ends, cut a summery, casual figure in a short-sleeved print shirt with a set of black trousers and tan leather sneakers

Rodriguez, who does not feature in It Ends, cut a summery, casual figure in a short-sleeved print shirt with a set of black trousers and tan leather sneakers

He posed proudly with his sister Raini Rodriguez, who starred on the Disney Channel show Austin & Ally and played the title character's daughter in Paul Blart: Mall Cop

He posed proudly with his sister Raini Rodriguez, who starred on the Disney Channel show Austin & Ally and played the title character’s daughter in Paul Blart: Mall Cop

O'Neill, Rodriguez, Vergara, Nolan Gould, Julie Bowen, Ariel Winter, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet are pictured in an early publicity still for the series

O’Neill, Rodriguez, Vergara, Nolan Gould, Julie Bowen, Ariel Winter, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet are pictured in an early publicity still for the series

In 2023, Vergara hosted the first full-blown Modern Family reunion, with the entire principal cast except  Burrell, as well as creator Steven Levitan and showrunner Christopher Lloyd

In 2023, Vergara hosted the first full-blown Modern Family reunion, with the entire principal cast except  Burrell, as well as creator Steven Levitan and showrunner Christopher Lloyd

Modern Family won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for best ensemble cast in a comedy series, with Rodriguez included among the honorees.

The sitcom concluded in April 2020, a month into the Covid-19 lockdowns, with Rodriguez having already predicted how ‘tough’ the end would be.

‘I’ve been on this show for 11 amazing years and this is my family,’ he said in October 2019 ahead of the final season, via Hollywood Life. 

‘They’re my second family, so I know that once we’ve finished in March, I am going to think we’re going to come back and start up in July,’ the then 21-year-old actor explained. ‘It’s going to be weird when that time of the year comes around again and we know we’re not going to get together to start filming again.’

Shortly before Thanksgiving 2023, Vergara hosted the first full-blown Modern Family reunion, welcoming the entire principal cast except for Ty Burrell, as well as the show’s creator Steven Levitan and showrunner Christopher Lloyd.

Burrell was unable to attend because of a surgery, so Ariel Winter jokily held a framed photo of him for a group shot of the party that Vergara posted to Instagram, instantly setting off a round of death rumors the cast then had to quash.

Rodriguez’s post-Modern Family career has included two Nickelodeon reality series, one of them being The Substitute, a prank show in which celebrities disguised themselves as substitute teachers in real-life classrooms.

The other was an episode of Unfiltered, a game show hosted by Jay Pharaoh in which guests tried to identify a celebrity concealed by animation and a voice filter.

Last year, he was part of a voice cast including Chloe Bailey, Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Quavo, Swae Lee, Laurence Fishburne and Macy Gray in Sneaks.

Chinese Robots Break Records in 100m Sprint, High Jump

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Chinese Robots Break Records in 100m Sprint, High Jump

BEIJING – In a groundbreaking achievement at the World Humanoid Robot Games, held in Beijing on Saturday, Chinese-designed humanoid robots outdid human records, including surpassing Usain Bolt’s legendary 100-meter sprint time.

The event has drawn an impressive lineup of over 2,000 humanoid robots, according to statements from the organizers.

Spanning five days, this year’s games highlight China’s growing prowess in robotics amid intensifying technological competition with the United States. The event features 51 categories and more than 1,000 competitions, ranging from running and table tennis to soccer skills.

Taking place at the National Speed Skating Oval, specifically built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the games coincide with the 2026 World Robot Conference. Here, businesses are presenting approximately 3,000 innovations, including advanced humanoid robots.

With China manufacturing the majority of the planet’s humanoid robots, the U.S. has increased its scrutiny of these technological products emanating from China.

Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots. The FCC cited national security reasons in a move that targeted China. The Pentagon recently also added Unitree, one of China’s leading humanoid robot makers, to its list of companies that it deemed have ties with the Chinese military. Beijing has hit back at the accusations.

At Saturday’s opening of the robot games, the organizer and robot makers said that Chinese humanoid robots defeated human world records, as hundreds of humanoid robots marched in formation onto the field in a massive display of synchronized coordination.

At a 100-meter sprint, a humanoid robot achieved a result of 9.39 seconds, beating the human record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican athlete Bolt in 2009.

In a standing high jump, a humanoid robot was able to reach 2.88 meters, well above the 0.95 meters best result by a humanoid in last year’s first edition of the games. It surpassed the human high jump record of 2.45 meters set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993.

Both robots were from Beijing-based X-Humanoid.

Before the opening, a humanoid robot from Chinese smartphone company Honor completed a 100-meter sprint in a record of 9.32 seconds during a trial of the games, the company said, at a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second.

Still, experts say humanoid robots are still mostly used for demonstrations, performances and research — at least for now — and it will still take time to achieve mass real-world deployment.

Some spectators at the robot games said they were excited about the humanoid robots’ quickly improving abilities.

Humanoid robots are “evolving rapidly,” said Li Yanfeng, an education worker and a Beijing resident.

“At first, I wasn’t very accepting of artificial intelligence. I was even a bit resistant to it, because of the possibility that it might replace or displace humans,” she said. “But now that I see this development is unstoppable, I decided to come and take a look.”

“These sports are perfectly normal for humans, but now robots can do them. I find it amazing,” said Yang Shangzheng, another spectator.

Liu Tao, who was watching the games with his son, said that he was hoping to see “the best robots China currently has to offer.”

This year’s robot games — which the organizer said has 16 countries participating, among them Germany, Japan and the U.S. — also include other events such as weightlifting and tug of war.

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Chan Ho-him reported from Hong Kong. Olivia Zhang and Liu Zheng contributed to this report from Beijing.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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