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Orlando City SC has officially signed Antoine Griezmann, the renowned French attacker from Atlético Madrid, in a landmark deal that marks a significant moment for the club, the city, and Major League Soccer (MLS). The 35-year-old Griezmann has agreed to a contract that runs from July 2026 through the 2027-28 season, with an option for the 2028-29 season. While financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Griezmann's arrival is seen as a major coup for Orlando City, reflecting the club's ambition and commitment to building a championship-caliber roster. Mark Wilf, team owner and chair of Orlando City, expressed his excitement about Griezmann's signing, highlighting his status as one of the most gifted and influential players of his generation. Wilf emphasized that Griezmann's decision to join Orlando City underscores the club's mission and culture, as well as its focus on consistently competing at a high level. Griezmann will join Orlando City as a designated player when the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July, pending medical clearance and the receipt of his international paperwork. He will be part of a team that has had a challenging start to the 2026 season, with four losses in their first five games, leading to the sacking of head coach Óscar Pareja in March. The French attacker expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career, citing the strong ambition and clear vision of Orlando City. Griezmann, who has 211 goals across all competitions for Atlético Madrid, is the club's all-time leading scorer. He has also had a distinguished career with 298 goals and 132 assists in 792 professional appearances in Spain. Griezmann's move to Orlando City sets him up for a new challenge in MLS, where he will be part of a growing rivalry with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. His addition is expected to bring leadership, creativity, and a winning mentality to the team, making this a statement signing for the club and its ownership group.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has taken a significant turn as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim countries gathered in Riyadh for urgent discussions. The meeting, which included representatives from 12 countries, aimed to muster a common response to Iran's increasing retaliation against US assets and infrastructure in the region.The talks were held as Iran targeted several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in retaliation against Israel's strike on the South Pars gasfield, Iran's biggest source of energy. This escalation comes after a series of Israeli assassinations of top Iranian security officials.The joint statement issued on Thursday confirmed that the countries present at the meeting, including Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, asserted the right of states to defend themselves, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on defensive action.The foreign ministers condemned deliberate Iranian attacks with ballistic missiles and drones that have struck various targets, including residential areas, water desalination plants, oil facilities, airports, and diplomatic positions. They called on Iran to:Halt its attacks.Stop "provocative actions or threats" aimed at its neighbours.Cease supporting, financing, and arming pro-Iran proxy groups based in Arab states.Refrain from actions or threats aimed at blocking the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.The meeting yielded a unified response to Iran's increasingly unpredictable behaviour, but the joint statement was vague about how countries would follow this up. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized his country's right to defend itself and hinted that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would act if necessary, adding that they have "very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so".The Iranian leadership's response to these developments remains unclear, with New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei having not been seen in public since his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Iranian forces had responded to the "deceiving and lying enemy" that had targeted energy facilities in the country, and that they had "entered a new phase of warfare" to defend Iran's infrastructure.

Israeli military operations have escalated significantly with the destruction of the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a critical infrastructure link connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the nation. President Joseph Aoun characterized the strike as a “prelude to ground invasion,” suggesting a strategic shift in the ongoing conflict.The assault follows a directive from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to dismantle all crossings over the Litani River and demolish homes in border villages. Analysts note that this strategy mirrors tactics employed in Gaza, aiming to create buffer zones by clearing territory near the border.Aoun argued that the attacks are designed to sever the geographical connection between the southern Litani region and the central government, a move he described as part of a scheme to establish a permanent buffer zone and facilitate Israeli expansion within Lebanese territory.Israeli military leadership has signaled that the operation against Hezbollah is far from over. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stated that the campaign would be “prolonged” and that preparations for targeted ground operations are underway.Diplomatic tensions remain high as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot expressed reservations to his Israeli counterpart regarding a potential ground operation of significant scale and duration.Humanitarian organizations are sounding alarms over the widening conflict. Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch warned that wholesale destruction of homes and bridges constitutes wanton destruction, a potential war crime. He emphasized that isolating the southern region would create a humanitarian catastrophe, cutting off access to essential supplies like food and medicine.The conflict has already claimed significant lives, with Lebanon's Health Ministry reporting 1,029 deaths and over one million displaced civilians in just three weeks. On the Israeli side, the first civilian death linked to fire from Lebanon was recorded, alongside the deaths of two Israeli soldiers.

The documentary 'Clash of the Superpowers: America vs China' offers a unique perspective on the US-China trade war during Donald Trump's presidency. Produced by Norma Percy, known for her work on historical diplomatic events, the film features first-hand testimonies from key figures involved in the negotiations.The documentary begins with Chinese President Xi Jinping's appearance at the Davos forum in 2017, where he positioned himself as a champion of free trade. This move was seen as a pre-emptive strike ahead of Trump's inauguration and the looming trade tensions between the US and China.The film highlights the resentment among Trump's advisers towards China's economic strength and its perceived negative impact on US commerce. Trump's comments on the campaign trail, where he accused China of 'raping' the US, set the tone for the trade war.The documentary features interviews with Trump's advisers, including HR McMaster and John Bolton, who describe Trump's leadership style as 'reflexively contrarian' and chaotic. The film also shows Xi Jinping's calm and calculated approach to negotiations, which contrasts with Trump's unpredictability.A key moment in the documentary is Trump's speech in Beijing, where he surprisingly stated that he didn't blame China for exploiting the US. The film also covers Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports and Xi's measured response, including a naval display in the South China Sea.The documentary concludes with Trump and Xi's meeting at the G20 in Buenos Aires in 2018, where Xi's systematic approach to negotiations is contrasted with Trump's improvisation. The film ends on a comedic note with Trump's comments on his relationship with Xi, highlighting the chaos and unpredictability of Trump's approach to international relations.

The UK government has instructed HS2 Ltd to assess the feasibility of operating its high-speed trains at reduced speeds, aiming to curb escalating costs and facilitate an earlier launch in the 2030s. The proposal involves limiting train speeds to 186mph (300km/h), a significant decrease from the initially planned 224mph. Potentially billions of pounds in savings could be achieved through this adjustment, which would bring the project more in line with typical European high-speed rail standards. Currently, most UK trains operate at a maximum speed of 125mph, while HS1 trains serving Kent and the Channel tunnel reach up to 186mph. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has commissioned HS2 Ltd to report back on the potential savings from slower trains before the summer recess. This development follows a review by HS2's new CEO, Mark Wild, who has been working to regain control of the project's costs and delays. Alexander acknowledged the challenges facing the project, stating that previous plans significantly underestimated the work required. Despite these challenges, she praised Wild's leadership and noted that HS2 is now making progress, having completed the excavation of all 23 miles of deep tunnels needed for the initial stage of the railway. The project's overall budget is expected to be reassessed and restated in 2026 prices, with predictions that it will exceed £100bn due to soaring inflation and rising labour and steel costs. As of now, the total expenditure stands at £46.2bn at current prices. Government sources suggest that the original design for the world's fastest railway was “gold-plated” and “needlessly overspecced”, contributing to the cost overruns. Wild emphasized that speed was never the primary objective, and the railway's focus should be on delivering better journeys, increased network capacity, and economic growth.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reaffirmed its support for head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of cricket Rob Key, despite the team's dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. This decision, while potentially unpopular among fans, is seen as the right course of action by the ECB.According to Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, the board's choice to stick with McCullum and Key is guided by 'good judgment and objective views,' rather than public sentiment. Gould emphasized that the leadership duo has shown a willingness to 'adapt' and 'evolve' their approach in the wake of the Ashes debacle.The ECB's internal review of the Ashes series highlighted several key areas for improvement, including better use of the performance system, enhanced long-term planning, and a more professional culture within the senior men's setup. These findings were presented to the media in the form of two slides with bullet points.One of the major talking points from the review was the team's culture and environment, which came under scrutiny following a mid-Ashes break in Noosa that generated headlines about player behavior. The situation escalated when Harry Brook was disciplined for a drunken altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand.Gould described the incident as 'significantly unprofessional,' while Key noted that Brook was given a second chance due to his previous clean record and the decision to prioritize England commitments over the Indian Premier League.In response to these challenges, the team has introduced a midnight curfew to formalize McCullum's stance on the importance of rest and discipline. Key also highlighted the recent appointment of Troy Cooley to oversee fast-bowling development as a positive step forward.Looking ahead, Key emphasized that the team will not undergo a major philosophical shift under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, who have different but complementary outlooks. The focus will be on refining their existing approach rather than implementing drastic changes.

The Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC ended in a 2-1 victory for the visiting team, but the match was overshadowed by reports of racist abuse directed at Sunderland's Lutsharel Geertruida by home fans.The incident occurred early in the second half, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to temporarily halt play in accordance with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol. Granit Xhaka, Sunderland's captain, informed Taylor of the alleged abuse, which led to a discussion with both managers and the player involved.The Premier League has launched a full investigation into the incident, with Northumbria Police making one arrest during pre-match skirmishes between rival fans. Newcastle United has condemned the abuse and vowed to work with authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible.In a statement, Newcastle United said: "We are aware of a report of racism made by a visiting player against someone in the crowd during our Premier League match against Sunderland. Our stance is clear – we do not tolerate discrimination of any form. We will work with the authorities to fully investigate and will ensure any individuals are identified and held accountable."Sunderland AFC also released a statement, expressing their support for Geertruida and condemning the racist abuse: "Sunderland AFC is aware of the reported incident of racist abuse directed at Lutsharel Geertruida during today's fixture at St. James' Park. We stand with Lutsharel, who has our complete backing, and we commend him for displaying bravery and leadership by reporting this incident to the match officials."The incident has highlighted the ongoing issue of racism in football and the need for clubs and authorities to take a strong stance against such behavior.

Mythmatch is a match-three game that has captured the essence of ancient Greek mythology, blending it with a heartwarming tale of friendship and community. Players take on the role of Artemis, the immortal daughter of Zeus, who is determined to become the God of the Hunt. To achieve her goal, Artemis must first earn favor with a council of her elders on Mount Olympus, and they all have puzzle-based jobs for her.The game seamlessly integrates elements from various puzzle games, such as Plants vs Zombies and Overcooked, into its match-three gameplay. As Artemis navigates her way through the challenges set by the gods, she gets cast out of Olympus and sent down to the mortal town of Ithaca, home of Odysseus. Here, the game transforms into a rural life sim, where players help the locals by constructing new buildings, assisting their trade with other settlements, and solving their complicated lives.The gameplay cycle revolves around spending days on Earth becoming a more useful deity and then returning to Olympus at night to try to better your score at the challenges set by the gods. As players become indispensable in the lives of the mortals, they reward Artemis with ecclesiastical XP (experience points), which can be spent to make the Olympian puzzle tasks easier.The visual style of Mythmatch is gentle and cartoonish without being overly cute, and the characters are well-drawn and sympathetic. The game tackles timeless sociopolitical themes, including unrequited love, social anxiety, absent fathers, corporate greed, and the philosophy of leadership. The game is also extremely funny, with a unique sense of humor that adds to its charm.Overall, Mythmatch is a lyrical poem about beautiful and rewarding game design. With its interlocking systems, pleasing pace, and ebb and flow between Olympus and the mortal realm, the game is almost hypnotic. If you're looking for a new game to get lost in, Mythmatch is available now for £16.75.