Authorities are seeking at least five people in an armed robbery of the St. Louis Cardinals complex in the Dominican Republic on Friday

Second-ranked Iga Swiatek has ended Coco Gauff’s 16-match winning streak to advance to the China Open final with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over the U.S. Open champion

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko says Mercedes made a last-ditch attempt to sign Adrian Newey as the Silver Arrows desperately look to haul in the deficit to Formula 1’s dominant team. Newey, the lead designer behind Red Bull’s rapid RB19 car this season, last week extended his deal with the Milton Keynes outfit. Yet F1 Insider report that the 64-year-old received a phone call from a Mercedes assistant, who formerly worked at Red Bull, about opening talks regarding a potential move to Toto Wolff’s team. But Newey, who has been at Red Bull since 2006, rejected the offer and Red Bull’s special advisor Marko seemed to confirm the report while speaking at the Miami Grand Prix. “Mr. Wolff may not seem to have the full confidence in his own people to fix the problems with their car,” said Marko. Mercedes recently announced a job swap in their department, with James Alisson returning to his role of technical director and Mike Elliott taking up the position of Chief Technical Officer. Wolff labelled the W14 a “nasty piece of work” over the weekend in Miami, where George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and sixth respectively. Mercedes, the constructors’ champions in F1 from 2014-2021, are pinning their 2023 hopes on a highly-anticipated upgrade at the next race at Imola in the hope it reduces the gap to Red Bull out in front. Red Bull, meanwhile, are expanding to become an engine manufacturer for the new set of regulations in 2026, partnering with American automotive giant Ford to form Red Bull-Ford Powertrains. Newey, who is seen by many as the main reason behind Red Bull’s supreme RB19 this season given his experience in ground-effect aerodynamics, will play an important role as the division launches in Milton Keynes. “Adrian has been such a fundamental part since almost the beginning,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. “He covers a lot of a lot of areas and, to have the depth of his experience and knowledge to draw upon, and the way he works with the young guys, it’s great. “He’s just as motivated as he always [has] been. Obviously, he has a great interest in what’s going on in Powertrains, and Red Bull Advanced Technology as well. So, he covers the three pillars of the campus in Milton Keynes.” Read More Red Bull chief ‘signs new contract’ in blow to rival F1 teams ‘Nasty piece of work’: Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes slammed by Toto Wolff Where are Mercedes and Ferrari? Frankly, you don’t want to hear the answer Max Verstappen claims Miami boos are due to his success: ‘They don’t like who wins’ George Russell takes aim at ‘distracting’ razzmatazz before Miami Grand Prix

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Luis Rubiales has refused to directly apologise to Jenni Hermoso over the kiss that ultimately forced his resignation as Spanish football federation president. In an interview with Piers Morgan on Talk TV, Rubiales instead continued to maintain the kiss was “consensual” and went on to suggest that the negative publicity over the affair had been “created by spurious arguments and people”. Rubiales announced his resignation in a statement posted on his unverified X account – formerly Twitter – on Sunday evening, having already been suspended by FIFA pending an investigation into his behaviour. Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation after Spain’s victory over England in last month’s World Cup final. Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and has submitted a complaint to the national prosecutor’s office. “What happened is bad for everyone,” Rubiales responded when asked by Morgan if he would apologise directly to Hermoso. “We had Jenni lifting me. We had the fleeting kiss, two tenths of a second, but what was created from that is crazy. So what’s left for me is to defend my dignity. So it’s not about that (the apology) Piers, it’s about humility.” So what we had is a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was driven by the emotion of the moment, the happiness, so I maintain that that is the truth of what happened Luis Rubiales Asked again if he wished to apologise, Rubiales continued: “So what we had is a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was driven by the emotion of the moment, the happiness, so I maintain that that is the truth of what happened. “This has turned out to be a snowball created by spurious arguments and people. My intentions were noble, enthusiastic, 100 per cent non-sexual. “There was no harm, no sexual content, no aggression, nothing like that. As president, once again, I will say… the significance of the kiss to Jenni would have been exactly the same as a kiss to one of my daughters. Between friends and family, that’s very, very common.” Rubiales has been widely condemned for his behaviour following the final, when as well as kissing Hermoso he also grabbed his crotch in celebration while standing alongside Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia in the VIP box. Despite issuing a general apology for his actions in a video statement issued the next day, Rubiales persistently refused to resign in the wake of a mounting revolt which saw 81 players, including every member of the World Cup-winning squad, indicating their unavailability for the national team squad while he remained in his post. On August 26 he was banned by FIFA from all football-related activities for an initial period of 90 days, while Spain manager Jorge Vilda – about whom concerns over his coaching methods had been expressed – was sacked. Despite continuing to stress that his kiss with Hermoso was “mutual”, Rubiales did acknowledge that it was a “mistake” that was not befitting of his role as Spanish FA president. “Of course, I have said it from the beginning, I made a mistake and I apologised in a sincere manner,” added Rubiales. “I was very happy, I felt like another player. I have apologised unreservedly, that is not the actions of the president of the association. “Because a president can’t behave that way towards the executives at the game on the podium, yes, a president can give a hug, but needs to act in a more diplomatic and colder way.” :: Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored, Monday to Thursday on TalkTV at 8pm. Available on Sky 522, Sky Glass 508, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217 as well as on DAB, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, the Talk.TV website and TalkTV iOS and Android apps.

Tyson Fury has claimed that he would beat Francis Ngannou in a mixed martial arts fight, ahead of the heavyweights’ boxing match in Saudi Arabia. Fury, who holds the WBC heavyweight title, will box the ex-UFC heavyweight champion in Riyadh on 28 October, but the Briton has hinted that he already has his eyes on a rematch in a different discipline. Speaking at the press conference for the pair’s boxing match, which has been billed ‘Battle of the Baddest’, Fury said on Thursday: “I’d like to fight Ngannou in the cage, I think I can beat him for sure. “He’s not a good wrestler; he’s known for striking, and I’m a better striker than him. In little gloves, I’d knock him out in seconds. “I’d fight [current UFC heavyweight champion] Jon Jones also in the cage, if the money was right.” Meanwhile, Ngannou said on stage: “I always ask myself, ‘What will happen when that guy hits the floor? Are you still the best boxer in the world now?’” The 35-year-old Fury, whose WBC title will not be on the line on 28 October, has come under criticism for choosing to face Ngannou, 37, instead of unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, 36. Asked about his decision to box the Cameroonian, Fury said: “Obviously I’m getting paid a hell of a lot of money, and I get millions of people from MMA and boxing who are gonna watch it. “Whether they like that I’m doing it or not, guess what they’re gonna do? Still watch it.” Fury last fought in December, beating Derek Chisora for the third time to retain the WBC belt and stay unbeaten. Fury won the bout via TKO in Round 10. Meanwhile, Ngannou last fought in January 2022, outpointing Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight title. Ngannou, widely deemed the hardest puncher in MMA history, then vacated the title this January while leaving the UFC. He proceeded to sign with a rival company, the Professional Fighters League, which allowed him to box before he makes his promotional debut in 2024. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Why Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland may turn ugly, quickly Adesanya vs Strickland live stream: How to watch UFC 293 online and on TV this weekend Daniel Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren appeals Oleksandr Usyk result and pushes for rematch Chris Eubank Jr’s coach remanded in custody following airport arrest Former Tyson Fury opponent backs Francis Ngannou to drop ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury takes thinly-veiled swipe at Usyk over ‘low blow’ in Daniel Dubois fight Eddie Nketiah wins England call-up – Thursday’s sporting social

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A mass exodus has led to a seismic shift in the Pac-12 Conference

Mauricio Pochettino predicts Nicolas Jackson to become one of the Premier League's greatest strikers if he continues to develop at Chelsea.

The Big Ten is on the verge of adding Oregon and Washington. The Pac-12 is on the verge of falling. And social media is having its say!Conference realignment has struck again!On Friday, after several twists and turns that spelled the doom and salvation of the Pac-12 depending on the hour, th...