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Novak Djokovic Overcomes Lorenzo Musetti to Set Up Wimbledon Final Rematch with Carlos Alcaraz

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Novak Djokovic outclassed Italian underdog Lorenzo Musetti to reach the Wimbledon final and set up a showdown with reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in a repeat of last year’s final.

The 37-year-old impressed as he stayed on course for a record-equalling eighth men’s singles title at Wimbledon with a 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory on Centre Court. Djokovic showcased his resilience and skill throughout the match, maintaining composure under pressure and delivering crucial points when it mattered most.

Novak Djokovic

Musetti, 22, had one chance to get the break back in the final set but sent a forehand into the net and crouched down with his head in his hands, knowing the end was near. Djokovic made sure his opponent did not get another opportunity.

Under pressure, Musetti sent a shot long before Djokovic walked to the net, knowing he had reached his 37th Grand Slam final and 10th at Wimbledon. The Serb then moved his racquet over his shoulder and imitated playing a violin, in a gesture aimed at his six-year-old daughter Tara, with television cameras showing her grinning along.

Novak Djokovic

Some fans, however, started booing, thinking Djokovic, who produced the same celebration following his win over Holger Rune in the last 16, was being disrespectful. Despite the mixed reactions from the crowd, Djokovic remained focused on his goal.

Alcaraz beat Djokovic in last year’s showpiece, winning 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 in a five-set epic, which lasted four hours 42 minutes and is regarded as one of the best matches in the tournament’s history. The pair meet again on Sunday in what could be another amazing chapter in Wimbledon folklore.

Asked about Spaniard Alcaraz, Djokovic said: “He’s a great example of a player that has an all-around game, he has a great team around him, great values, a lot of charisma and carries himself superbly – that’s one of the reasons why he is so popular. He is one of the greatest 21-year-olds we’ve ever seen and we’re going to see a lot of him in the future, no doubt. He’s going to win many Grand Slams, but hopefully not in the next few weeks. He can do it when I retire.”

Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz, 21, the defending champion, added: “He already beat me here in a Wimbledon final. That’s already done so I don’t expect anything less than a huge battle. I’m prepared and ready for it.”

Djokovic’s journey to the final was marked by remarkable consistency and moments of brilliance. In the semi-finals, he demonstrated his ability to remain calm and collected under pressure, a hallmark of his illustrious career. Musetti’s challenge, though spirited, was ultimately no match for the Serbian’s experience and skill.

The upcoming final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the sport’s greatest talents. Djokovic’s pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon title and Alcaraz’s bid to defend his crown set the stage for a memorable showdown on Centre Court.

Source:bbc.com

England Striker Ollie Watkins Says Team Focused on Winning, Not Performance Metrics, We Just Want to Win

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England striker Ollie Watkins has made it clear that the team is not concerned about their performances or goal-scoring tallies as long as they secure victories. This statement comes as the Three Lions prepare for the Euro 2024 final against Spain, despite criticisms over their lackluster run to the tournament’s climax.

The Three Lions have reached Sunday’s Euro 2024 final against Spain despite failing to set the tournament alight. Spain have netted 13 times with six victories in 90 or 120 minutes. This contrasts with England’s seven goals and three wins—excluding penalty shootouts—while playing against lower-ranked teams than Spain.

England’s boss Gareth Southgate and his players faced heavy criticism from fans due to an unconvincing run to the quarter-finals. However, a penalty shootout win over Switzerland followed by a 2-1 comeback victory over the Netherlands has shifted the national mood positively.

Watkins scored the 90th-minute winner in that semi-final victory over the Dutch, marking only his second substitute appearance of the tournament. Reflecting on his decisive goal, Watkins said, “I watched it quite a few times, when I got back to camp. I was manifesting it, as it has led up to it.” The Aston Villa frontman added, “A good friend said he felt like I would score in the Euros final, I did it a match before, but you never know, I might be saving another one for the final.

When asked about King Charles’ message to the team to win without any last-minute drama, Watkins stated, “As much as it makes it more exciting, I feel like personally we don’t care how we win or score, as long as the ball goes in the back of the net.” The 28-year-old emphasized that winning is the ultimate goal, irrespective of how the game unfolds.

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who started England’s first two games in midfield but has since made only substitute appearances, echoed Watkins’ sentiments. “This far you have to be elite in every department, which we have been,” he said. “We have found our rhythm now within the team, on the pitch and in the games at a good time as well.”

Alexander-Arnold added, “As the saying goes, it is not how you start, it is how you finish. We are finishing this tournament well and hopefully, we go out even better on Sunday.”

England’s journey to the Euro 2024 final has been fraught with challenges and criticisms, but the team’s focus remains firmly on securing the trophy. Watkins’ and Alexander-Arnold’s comments reflect a squad determined to triumph, regardless of the means, as they prepare to face Spain in a highly anticipated final.

Source: bbc.com

Human Remains in Suitcases Found in London Linked to Bristol Body Parts Discovery, Police Search for Colombian Suspect

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Human remains have been found in West London by police investigating the discovery of body parts in suitcases in Bristol. Officers believe the remains found on Friday in a flat on Scotts Road, Shepherd’s Bush, and those discovered two days ago at the Clifton Suspension Bridge belong to the same victims.

The Metropolitan Police have named the suspect they are searching for as Yostin Andres Mosquera, a 24-year-old Colombian national, and have warned the public not to approach him. Both victims are thought to have been known to Mr. Mosquera, but have not yet been formally identified.

Police say the remains in London are currently being “sensitively removed,” with post-mortems planned as soon as possible. This discovery comes after significant forensic efforts and cooperation between various police departments. The investigation began in Bristol when body parts were found in suitcases, leading authorities to trace connections back to London.

A cordon was established on Scotts Road, Shepherd’s Bush, on Friday afternoon. Officers and forensic investigators were observed entering a property at the junction with Devonport Road, while helicopters circled overhead to assist with the operation. The investigation scene has been meticulously examined for additional evidence that might link the London location to the Bristol discovery.

A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation on Friday in Greenwich but has since been released without charge. His connection to the case remains under scrutiny, but police have shifted their primary focus to locating Mosquera.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine from the Metropolitan Police stated: “This is a fast-moving enquiry with detectives in London and Bristol actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry. Locating Yostin Andres Mosquera, however, is the priority and I appeal to anyone with information on his whereabouts to get in touch.”

Mosquera was last seen traveling to Bristol from London on Wednesday. He was captured on CCTV taking a taxi to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, where the suitcases containing body parts were later discovered. The taxi’s registration plate was seized by police, and the driver is cooperating with the investigation.

Yostin Andres Mosquera is described as wearing a blue jacket, black jeans, black trainers, a gold chain, and carrying a beige baseball cap and a black backpack at the time he was last seen. His appearance has been widely circulated in hopes of garnering public assistance in locating him.

The local community in both London and Bristol has been advised to remain vigilant. Police are urging anyone with information to contact them immediately. The investigation continues to evolve, with efforts focused on piecing together the timeline of events and uncovering any potential accomplices.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the police on 101, quoting the Met reference CAD 1234/12JUL.

This case has highlighted the need for enhanced surveillance and community cooperation in tackling violent crimes. The Metropolitan Police are coordinating closely with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation.

Source: bbc.com

Former NBA Player Jontay Porter Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Betting Scheme

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Former NBA player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty Wednesday to wire fraud conspiracy and was released on a $250,000 bond, according to a spokesperson with the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, in a case stemming from an alleged betting scheme, CNN reports.

“Estimated sentencing guidelines are 41-51 months, max sentence for wire fraud conspiracy is 20 years,” the spokesperson told CNN in an email. Porter’s bond was signed for by his wife and mother, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson confirmed Porter’s guilty plea was connected to a gambling case in which four other people have also been implicated. A federal complaint filed last month against one of those individuals accused him of conspiring with three others to defraud a sports betting company by using inside information from an NBA player to successfully bet on the performance of that player.

That complaint referred to the player as “Player 1,” but CNN determined at the time that the player is Porter, who played for the Toronto Raptors before being banned from the NBA in April for violating the league’s gambling rules.

Jeff Jensen, an attorney for Porter, said, “I have nothing to add to my previous comments about the case.” Jensen has not previously responded to CNN’s requests for comment.

Porter is expected to be sentenced on December 18, according to the Eastern District of New York.

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65 Bodies Found in Gaza Neighborhood Amid Ongoing Conflict

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A civil defense worker in Gaza City tells CBS News that 65 bodies were found under the rubble in just one neighborhood of the Palestinian city, which has been decimated by the latest Israeli assault. Gaza City, the largest city in Gaza, has been significantly impacted since the war began following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by the territory’s Hamas rulers.

Israel’s military issued another evacuation order for everyone in Gaza City this week—the second since the conflict began.

Video from the Shejaiya neighborhood, where the bodies were found, shows utter obliteration.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation, which was completed by the end of the week, targeted militants who had regrouped in Gaza City. The IDF previously claimed to have killed more than 150 terrorists in the area.

Residents returned to Shejaiya on Thursday to search for their belongings amid the rubble. Many appeared dazed or distraught by what they found.

CBS News’ Gaza producer Marwan al-Ghoul reported near-constant explosions thundering across the Palestinian territory from 11 p.m. Thursday night until 5 a.m. Friday.

Israeli negotiators, meanwhile, have returned from the latest round of cease-fire talks in Doha, Qatar this week. On Thursday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of “clinging to demands that endanger Israel’s security.

CBSNews.com

Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes Expecting Third Child

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Brittany Mahomes is pregnant!

The Kansas City Current co-owner, 28, announced in a joint Instagram Reels on Friday, July 12, that she and her Kansas City Chiefs quarterback husband Patrick Mahomes, 28, are expecting their third baby together.

The couple shared an adorable video of themselves with their daughter Sterling Skye, 3, and son Patrick “Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III, 18 months, having a photo shoot in all-white outfits, as they smile, laugh, and dance around with sonograms.

“Round three, here we come ????,” the soon-to-be parents of three captioned the Reel.

Patrick and Brittany began dating as teenagers when he was a sophomore and she was a junior at Whitehouse High School in Texas.

During a 2020 interview with Today, Patrick reflected on the early days of his relationship with Brittany, describing himself as “just a normal teenage kid showing up at the family dinner type stuff and being nervous and everything.”

Following his Super Bowl ring ceremony in September 2020, Patrick proposed to Brittany in front of a floral wall with a neon light that read “Will You Marry Me?”

Later that same month, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. Their daughter Sterling Skye was born in February 2021.

USPS Hikes First-Class Stamp Prices to 73 Cents Amid Ongoing Financial Struggles

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The price of first-class U.S. mail stamps will rise on Sunday to 73 cents from 68 cents, the latest in a series of price hikes.

The plan, announced in April and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission in May, raises overall mailing services product prices by 7.8%. So-called Forever first-class stamps can be used at any time – even after prices rise.

The U.S. Postal Service in November reported a $6.5 billion yearly net loss as first-class mail fell to the lowest volume since 1968. On Sunday, stamp prices will have risen 46% over 2019 when they were 50 cents.

USPS has been aggressively hiking stamp prices as it has lost over $100 billion since 2007. It is in the middle of a 10-year restructuring plan announced in 2021 that aims to eliminate $160 billion in projected losses over the next decade.

USPS is the world’s largest delivery operation, handling 123 billion pieces of mail and packages annually. It says it accounts for 44% of the world’s mail.

The agency has said it expects its “new pricing policy to generate $44 billion in additional revenue” by 2031.

USPS mail volume, which fell 6.1% in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2023, to 44.6 billion pieces, is down 53% since 2006 – to the lowest volume since 1968. It is used by most people to send letters and pay bills and is the highest revenue-generating mail class, accounting for $24.5 billion, or 31% of USPS 2023 revenue.

In April 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation providing USPS with $50 billion in financial relief over a decade.

In May 2023, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy agreed to pause further planned consolidation of the Postal Service’s processing network until at least January after a bipartisan group of senators raised concerns about the impact on mail deliveries.

Mexico’s Celaya Becomes Deadliest City for Police as Two More Officers Killed in Targeted Attacks

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The Mexican city of Celaya, located in the violence-plagued state of Guanajuato, has become the most dangerous city for police officers in the Western Hemisphere following a series of coordinated attacks that left two more officers dead. This latest incident brings the total number of Celaya police officers killed in 2024 to a staggering 18, highlighting the severe security crisis facing the region.

Authorities reported that gunmen opened fire on police in at least four different locations in and around Celaya on Wednesday. The attacks, which targeted both armed officers and unarmed traffic police, bear the hallmarks of organized crime, with federal officials and local police sources pointing to the brutal Santa Rosa de Lima gang as the likely perpetrators.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, “This is something that worries us a lot, and more than that it hurts.” The president’s comments underscore the gravity of the security situation in Celaya and the broader Guanajuato state, which currently leads Mexico in homicides due to ongoing drug cartel and gang turf wars.

One particularly troubling incident involved gunmen opening fire on three unarmed municipal traffic officers as they were setting up a checkpoint to verify vehicle registrations. This attack on civilian law enforcement personnel demonstrates the boldness and ruthlessness of the criminal organizations operating in the area.

Celaya, a city of approximately 500,000 inhabitants, has become a focal point of cartel violence in recent years. The targeted attacks on police officers not only undermine public safety but also pose a significant challenge to law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime in the region.

The situation in Celaya reflects the broader security challenges facing Mexico, particularly in states like Guanajuato where rival cartels vie for control of lucrative drug trafficking routes and other criminal enterprises. The persistent violence against law enforcement officers raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current security strategies and the resources available to local police forces.

As federal and state authorities grapple with this escalating crisis, the residents of Celaya and surrounding areas continue to live under the shadow of cartel violence. The ongoing attacks on police officers not only jeopardize public safety but also threaten to erode trust in law enforcement institutions, potentially creating a vicious cycle of insecurity and impunity.

The international community watches with concern as Mexico struggles to address this critical security situation, recognizing that the violence in cities like Celaya has implications that extend far beyond the country’s borders.

Eddie Murphy Weds Longtime Fiancée Paige Butcher in Intimate Caribbean Ceremony

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Eddie Murphy, the renowned comedy legend, has finally tied the knot with his longtime fiancée Paige Butcher in an intimate ceremony in Anguilla on Tuesday, July 9. The couple, who had been engaged for nearly six years, exchanged vows surrounded by close friends and family in a picturesque Caribbean setting.

The bride, 44, looked radiant in a stunning Mira Zwillinger wedding gown that accentuated her figure, complemented by a cascading veil. Murphy, 63, cut a dashing figure in a crisp white Brioni suit. Photos from the ceremony captured the couple standing beneath an arc of white flowers, with Paige holding a bouquet of white blossoms as guests looked on.

Murphy and Butcher’s love story spans over a decade, having first started dating in 2012 before becoming engaged in 2018. They share two children together: daughter Izzy Oona, 8, and son Max Charles, 5. This marriage marks Butcher’s first walk down the aisle, while it’s the second for Murphy, who was previously married to actress Nicole Mitchell Murphy from 1993 to 2006.

The “Beverly Hills Cop” star is father to ten children in total, including five with his ex-wife Nicole, and others from previous relationships. His large, blended family is a testament to Murphy’s dedication to fatherhood, a role he has embraced alongside his illustrious career in entertainment.

Interestingly, Murphy had recently hinted at the marriage during an appearance on The New York Times podcast “The Interview,” where he referred to Butcher as his “wife” twice while discussing his current lifestyle and viewing habits.

Butcher has previously spoken about Murphy’s romantic nature, sharing at the 2020 Golden Globes that he frequently compliments her and is “very sweet and romantic.”

This joyous occasion marks a new chapter for the couple, who have been a steady presence in each other’s lives for over a decade. As they embark on this new journey together, fans and well-wishers around the world celebrate the union of one of Hollywood’s most enduring comedic talents and his longtime love.

Daily MailOnline

Judge Dismisses Alec Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Case Over Withheld Evidence

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The judge in actor Alec Baldwin’s trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter on set of “Rust” dismissed the case Friday after the defense team accused prosecutors of withholding evidence.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors, specifically the withholding of evidence from the defense in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.”

Prior to the dismissal, the case took a bizarre turn when prosecutor Erlinda Johnson resigned and fellow prosecutor Kari Morrissey called herself as a witness.

Earlier in the day, the judge had sent the jury home as attorneys argued over the defense’s motion for dismissal, including questioning a witness who had already testified in the case.

Baldwin was charged in connection with the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of the movie “Rust” in 2021.