Landen Roupp struck out a career-high nine over seven innings, Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run and the San Francisco Giants held on for a 3-2 victory over the Angels on Saturday night.
Roupp gave up two runs and five hits and walked one in his 96-pitch effort. Tyler Rogers retired the side in order in the eighth, and Ryan Walker got Nolan Schanuel to fly out to left field with a runner on second in the ninth for his fifth save.
Roupp (2-1) relied heavily on a 77-mph curveball to induce 12 of his 18 swinging strikes, giving him a major league-high 42 swinging strikes with his breaking ball this season.
The right-hander made only two mistakes, which Mike Trout turned into a pair of home runs.
Trout’s franchise-record 28th multihomer game gave him eight homers this season, tied for second in baseball behind the Athletics’ Tyler Soderstrom with nine.
Trout sent a drive to the wall in left-center in the ninth where Heliot Ramos made a leaping catch to deny what would have been Trout’s third homer of the game.
Angels starter Kyle Hendricks (0-2) gave up three runs and four hits in five innings, striking out one and walking two.
Chapman drove a changeup 384 feet over the left-field wall in the first inning for his fourth homer of the season and a 2-0 Giants lead. Mike Yastrzemski doubled to right-center with one out in the third and scored on Willy Adames’ RBI single to make it 3-0.
The Angels have struck out 89 times and walked only eight times in 71 innings during their past eight games.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” in Ukraine, as he declared an “Easter truce” until the end of Sunday.
He said the 30-hour truce would last until 22:00 BST on Sunday (00:00 Moscow time), adding that Russian forces should be prepared to respond to “any possible violations”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would adhere to the truce.
But he accused Moscow of “trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire” even as “in some places it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine”. He did not give any details.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – mirroring Russia’s actions,” he said late on Saturday.
“Our actions are and will be symmetrical. The proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day silence remains on the table — the answer to it must come from Moscow,” he wrote on X.
Zelensky said Ukraine would be ready to extend a truce beyond 20 April, seemingly referring to an earlier proposal from the US for a 30-day ceasefire which Ukraine had already agreed to.
Responding to Putin’s initial announcement, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X: “Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days.”
“Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions. We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words,” he added.
Putin announced the temporary truce at a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov.
“Based on humanitarian considerations… the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told Gerasimov.
“We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions.”
The Russian defence ministry said its troops would adhere to the ceasefire provided it was “mutually respected” by Ukraine.
It is not the first time a pause in fighting has been suddenly announced – a previous attempt at a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 fell apart after both sides failed to agree on a proposal.
Reacting to Putin’s truce announcement, a Foreign Office spokesman in the UK said: “Now is the moment for Putin to truly show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion and committing to a full ceasefire, as the Ukrainian government has called for – not just a one day pause for Easter.”
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people – the vast majority of them soldiers – have been killed or injured on all sides.
The US has been directly talking to Russia as part of its efforts to end the war, but has struggled to make major progress.
Last month, Moscow rejected a proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire that had been agreed by the US and Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Washington would “take a pass” on brokering further talks on ending the war in Ukraine unless there was quick progress.
He was speaking after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not “going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end”, as it had “other priorities to focus on”.
“We need to determine very quickly now – and I’m talking about a matter of days – whether or not this is doable,” he added.
“If it’s not going to happen, then we’re just going to move on.”
OVER seven million people across Britain claim Universal Credit – and there are ways to get even more cash support.
The government aid was created over a decade ago to replace six legacy benefits with a monthly payment.
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We share Universal Credit loopholesCredit: Alamy
How much you receive will depend on certain factors, such as your age and who you live with.
Below we explain how Universal Credit works and how to apply for extra cash when claiming Universal Credit.
Payments will reduce the more you work
This benefit is designed to help those claiming to get back into work.
However, if you return to employment, the amount you get a month will be impacted.
If you start working, your Universal Credit will reduce, while if you are without work the amount you earn will increase.
For every £1 you earn your UC payment goes down by 55p.
Your income will be your wages plus your reduced UC payment.
If you claim housing benefit, have a disability or are responsible for a child, you may be able to earn more without the payment reducing.
You should use a benefits calculator to see how much you can claim.
You can claim 85% of child care back
Working parents can claim a portion of the money they spend on childcare back.
Debunking Myths: Life on Universal Credit
You can claim back 85% of what you paid up to a maximum of £1,031.88 for one child and £1,768.94 for two or more children.
You also might be able to get help if you need to pay the costs of your childcare upfront.
You can get an advance payment
When you first apply for Universal Credit you have to wait around five weeks to see the payment in your account.
But you can apply for an advance payment of your Universal Credit if you are in financial hardship while you wait for your first payment.
For example, if you are struggling to buy food or pay rent.
An advanced payment will see you get your money earlier but you will have to pay back what you were given.
To apply, you can contact your local Job Centre work coach or call the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644.
You can also get a budgeting advance
A budgeting advance is for people already claiming Universal Credit and used for emergencies when you’re short on cash.
For example, if your cooker broke or if you needed money to stay in your job.
The lowest amount you can borrow is £100. You could get up to:
£348 if you’re single
£464 if you have a partner
£812 if you or your partner claim child benefit
You will not be eligible if you’ve earned more than £2,600 – £3,600 together for couples – in the past six months.
You will also not be accepted if you have been given an advance in the past and not paid it back.
You can find out more by visiting www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support.
What is PIP?
HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP).
The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £172.75 a week.
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.
Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around – or both- for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).
The minimum income floor is based on how much a person your age would earn on the National Living Wage after tax and National Insurance Contributions.
If you earn more than the minimum, the Government will calculate your Universal Credit payment using your actual earnings.
If you earn less the government will calculate your earnings based on the minimum income floor.
Alternative payment arrangements
These are set up for households who struggle with a monthly Universal Credit payment.
For example, if you are struggling to pay your rent, you can arrange for the money to be sent directly to your landlord.
Or you can be paid more frequently, such as twice a month, or request for payments to be split if you’re part of a couple.
This can be arranged in special circumstances, despicably if a claimant is in a vulnerable positions such as struggling with addiction.
Council Tax reduction
If you claim Universal Credit you could get a reduction on your council tax up to 100%.
But whether you are eligible or not depends on where you live.
It does not matter whether you own your home or rent, anyone who is struggling financially can apply.
You need to apply for a reduction via your local council’s website.
To make a claim, you will need to provide the council with information on your earnings and what pensions, benefits, allowances and tax credits you receive.
To find which is your local council, visit www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
In some instances your bill could be reduced by 100%, meaning you don’t have to pay anything.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
You can get freebies
People who claim Universal Credit can also get access to free prescriptions and dental care.
The NHS says claimants who earn nothing or had take home pay of less than £435 in their last Universal Credit assessment period could be entitled to help.
You could get your prescriptions for free and get access to dental care.
To find out more, you can visit /nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/.
Cost of living cash
People who are claiming Universal Credit may also be eligible for cost of living cash paid out by local authorities.
The aid was set up in 2021 and has since been extended by the UK government several times.
How much you are eligible for is usually based on what benefits you already receive and your financial circumstances.
The pot of cash is handed out by local councils and varies from area to area.
You could meet the criteria for the support if you are already on benefits.
However, that is not always guaranteed so it may be worth ringing up your local council to find out more.
Apply for extra benefits
If you are suffering with any long-term illnesses, you could be entitled to claim extra benefits alongside your Universal Credit.
For example, Personal Independent Payments (PIP) is a benefit for people who are understate pensionage and need help with day-to-day life because of a long-term illness ordisability.
The maximum amount you can get is £184.30 a week, which works out at £9,584 a year.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
An hour before his first performance at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival’s main stage, a horde of managers, bandmembers and label execs crowded the entrance of Junior H’s artist trailer.
Among the many faces was Jimmy Humilde, the chief executive of Rancho Humilde Records, who signed the singer after his track “No Eh Cambiado,” a requinto-backed hustle anthem, went viral on YouTube.
Junior H, whose real name is Antonio Herrera Pérez, was a high schooler in Utah at the time. Now, almost seven years later, the 23-year-old artist, who was raised in Guanajuato, Mexico, is one of the biggest names in the increasingly popular world of música Mexicana.
“It feels really good for us to be here right now, representing Mexico and representing all this music we’re doing,” said Junior H, switching between Spanish and English. “Being the kind of artist that I am, I’m trying to get the most ears I can. That’s why I’m here to get people’s attention.”
Junior H’s last full-length album “$ad Boyz 4 Life II” was released in 2023 and it remains one of the “most important” projects of his career.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Junior H and labelmate Natanel Cano are credited for pioneering corridos tumbados, a hybrid sound that blends traditional corrido instrumentation with elements of hip-hop and trap beats — Cano’s 2019 album, “Corridos Tumbados,” heavily featured Junior H.
In the realm of música Mexicana, there are the trap corrido makerswho sing about partying and drugs, and then there are “the sad boys,” hopeless romantics who croon about being in love or about being brokenhearted. Junior H conveniently straddles the line between both.
“I don’t really have a problem looking at who I am. I think the people gave me [the ‘sad boy’ title] a few years ago. They started categorizing me with sad and sentimental music. So I accepted and we kept it going,” said Junior H. “Especially with men, I think it’s important to show people that feelings are not bad and we can express them as we want.”
After his U.S. tour, Sad Boyz Mania, which took place last summer and included two sold-out nights at L.A.’s BMO Stadium, Junior H received a second-line billing on this year’s Coachella’s Day 3 lineup. His name appeared between electronic DJ Zedd and K-pop idol Jennie, and was one of three música Mexicana performers playing the entire fest — he’s joined by fellow sad boy Ivan Cornejo and reggaetón Mexa up-and-comer El Malilla.
Festival organizers first began booking música Mexicana actst in 2018 — legacy cumbia group Los Angeles Azules was the first to play the three-day event. As global interest in the genre has grown, Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella, has booked acts like Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Grupo Firme, Banda MS and Cano. Last year, Peso Pluma, Carin León and Santa Fe Klan were on the lineup.
It was during Peso Pluma’s set that Junior H made his desert debut, making a guest appearance to sing “El Azul,” a narcocorrido believed to be about a Sinaloan drug lord. Now with his own 50-minute set, Junior H says he was excited to be in a position where he could return the gesture to Pluma and bring his own “sad boy” flair to center stage.
Junior H will return to the desert stage for Coachella Weekend Two, performing on Sunday.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“You know, it’s not an opportunity for him, because he was the first one who opened all this way for us,” said Junior H. “It’s a really beautiful thing between artists, and especially between friends like us when we work really hard for this genre, and then get the privilege to perform on stages like this one.”
As the Sunday evening set’s start time lingered over his head, Junior H traded his casual, pink jersey for an all-white outfit that would contrast his band’s all-black attire. In the dimmed trailer, journalists, friends and VIP fans all shared a few moments of his sought-after attention. The softspoken singer remained quiet and seems to be in a relaxed state of mind. Outside, the tololoche player tuned his instruments as the guitarists gathered in a corner to run through a few chords and the horn players blew a few trial notes — all while intermittently taking shots of Clase Azul Tequila. When it was time for them to all head over to the stage, they moved in a dense pack where Junior H was barely visible.
On stage, Junior H took the role of a conductor overseing the 25 musicians backing him. The sheer amount of people created a showstopping spectacle, with each group of instrumentalists on different raised levels. The ensemble even included someone whose sole purpose was to deliver tequila shots to the musicians and hold Junior H’s red solo cup, generating a party atmosphere both onstage and in the audience. As the música Mexicana sensation crooned the heartbroken lyrics of “Y Lloro” and a symphony of “Rockstar’s” horns rang out, he commanded the stage’s catwalk and hit every note from the pits of his diaphragm.
Throughout the show, he continually shouted out Mexico and encouraged the crowd to yell out the lyrics. Toward the end of his set, he brought out Peso Pluma to sing “Luna,” and followed it up by inviting Tito Double P on stage to join him for “5-7.”
Many expected a different setlist from the corridos tumbados originator, as he neglected many of his most popular corridos such as the newly released “El Chore” and one of his early hits, “El Hijo Mayor.” There was online speculation surrounding the exclusion of these tracks, especially after Los Alegres del Barranco’s U.S. visas were revoked for showing an image of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during a recent concert. But Junior H shared that he wanted to put more of a spotlight on his “Sad Boy” sound.
“[Sad Boyz 4 Life II] is one of the most, most important albums in my career. We’ve been forcing ourselves to prove and show the people what we can do and that we can change our music. It doesn’t have to be typical. We can also do nice and beautiful music, not just music for the streets or the narcos and all that s—,” he says, apologizing for cursing. “We want people to see that we don’t only do that type of music. We also do beautiful music and poetry. That’s our goal: to show them that we do more than that.”
Before heading off the stage, a massive image of the Mexican flag appeared on the main stage’s biggest screen. The explosive guitar riffs of “Disfruto Lo Malo,” a collaboration with Cano, prompted a ground-shaking roar from the crowd. Junior H made one final lap around the mega stage, making eye contact with every screaming individual and paying homage to his musical roots.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood heads into the final round of the RBC Heritage just three shots off the lead held by Kim Si-woo.
Fleetwood mixed five birdies with two bogeys in his three-under 68 to improve to 12 under at the Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina as he aims for a first PGA Tour victory.
South Korea’s Kim started the day two shots behind overnight leader Justin Thomas but had six birdies in his 66 as he moved ahead on 15 under.
Andrew Novak also shot a 66 to finish one behind Kim and alongside Thomas, who is aiming for his first victory since winning his second major at the 2022 US PGA Championship.
Thomas’ round also included a one-stroke penalty on the second hole because the PGA Tour said he “caused his ball to move in a waste bunker”. Despite the penalty he called on himself, Thomas managed a par.
“It was weird,” said Thomas,, external who birdied the last to card a 69. “I was moving some rocks, pebbles and the ball kind of looked like it just moved a little.”
World number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is on 11 under after a 68 that included two birdies in his final four holes.
Timberwolves shot 50% from the three-point line to inflict a heavy defeat on the No.3 seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the opening game of their Western Conference playoff series.
Jaden McDaniels collected 25 points with nine rebounds, and Anthony Edwards added 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists as the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 117-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Naz Reid scored 23 points and Julius Randle had 16 as the No. 6 seed as the Timberwolves improved to 5-0 in first-round games over the past two seasons.
Minnesota shot 51.2 percent from the floor on Saturday and went 21-of-42 from three-point range while continuing their success from the end of the regular season, when it closed with a 17-4 record.
“It was just going out and playing with confidence,” McDaniels said on the ABC broadcast. “I know all my teammates trust me. [Edwards] always tells me, ‘Shoot the ball no matter what, miss or make’, and that’s what I did tonight.”
On an otherwise ideal night, the Timberwolves saw Edwards depart to the locker room late in the third quarter with an apparent left leg injury before he returned in the fourth quarter. Reid was also injured late in the game.
Luka Doncic scored 37 points with eight rebounds, and LeBron James added 19 points for the No. 3 seed Lakers, who shot 39.8 percent from the floor and lacked the energy present after Doncic was acquired in a February trade from the Dallas Mavericks.
Austin Reaves had 16 points after a slow start for Los Angeles, which was outscored 25-6 on fast-break points and 43-13 in bench points.
Game 2 in the series is set for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Lakers owned the first quarter, taking a 28-21 lead before the Timberwolves took charge in the second quarter to take a 59-48 lead into halftime. Minnesota shot 54.2 percent in the second quarter while scoring 38 points.
The Timberwolves punctuated their second-quarter domination when Donte DiVincenzo made a 30-foot three-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
The Timberwolves continued their push into the second half, opening on an 11-0 run to take a 70-48 lead less than 2 minutes into the third quarter.
Minnesota had an 88-64 lead when Edwards landed hard after a drive to the basket and walked back to the locker room with 2:58 minutes left in the third quarter. He checked back into the game with 10:57 minutes remaining in the game.
Reid departed with 9:26 minutes remaining after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from the Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt, but the Timberwolves easily held on to win the contest by 22 points.
In earlier Game 1 playoff matches on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98, the New York Knicks overcame the Detroit Pistons 123-112, and the Denver Nuggets won an overtime thriller against the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110.
Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the Round 1 Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2025, at the Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, US [Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty Images via AFP]
The Sunday Telegraph leads with Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Vladimir Putin of failing to uphold an “Easter truce” the Russian leader had called for. Putin said he expects Ukraine to follow the truce until the end of Sunday, but Zelensky said Russian artillery had not stopped. The paper also has a large photo of pop star Jennifer Lopez in Jeddah ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Sunday Times also leads with Zelensky saying Putin’s proposed truce is a lie. Below this is a story on campaigners who won a Supreme Court battle over the legal definition of a woman saying they have been “inundated with death threats and misogynistic abuse” since the judgment.
More than 80 people a day are being “savaged by out-of-control dogs” and attacks are on the rise, the Sunday Mirror reports. It writes victims and charities want tougher penalties for “reckless owners and dodgy breeders”.
The Observer leads with a story on how Gaza has been “pushed to new depths of despair” by a seven-week-long Israeli blockade that has cut off all aid. Many in Gaza are now more afraid of famine than airstrikes, the paper reports.
The Sunday Express quotes senior Tories who have accused the Labour government of risking national security by “bending the knee” to China. It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Saturday saying it would be “very foolish” not to engage with the world’s second largest economy.
The Mail on Sunday reports that Labour ministers are “secretly plotting” to defy a Supreme Court ruling that woman refers to a biological woman and does not include transwomen. The paper writes the exchanges reveal the “private fury” on Sir Keir Starmer’s frontbench, with minister planning to hold a meeting to decide a way forwards.
The Sun on Sunday leads with a story on how Apprentice winner Dean Franklin is reportedly at the centre of a “rogue trader probe” over his business that won the BBC show. Franklin said he was “not aware of any review or investigation”.
The Sunday People has an interview with the mother of Sally Anne Bowman, a model who was murdered in 2005. Linda Bowman said police “mistakes cost Sally Anne her life”.
And the Daily Star has a story on how a quarter of Brits are “turned on” by dreams of their first car.
The Sunday Telegraph’s front page focuses on scepticism about the so-called “Easter truce” in the Ukraine war. It says critics have described it as a “naked attempt” by President Vladimir Putin to curry favour with Donald Trump, after the US president threatened to walk away from efforts to secure peace.
The Observer leads with the latest from Gaza, reporting that the territory has been pushed to “new depths of despair” by the seven-week-long Israeli military blockade that has cut off aid supplies to the strip. It cites interviews with civilians, medics and humanitarian workers inside Gaza, and says many are now more afraid of the risk of famine than airstrikes. Israel’s government introduced the blockade after accusing Hamas of stealing aid supplies.
“Bending knee to China risks UK Security” is the Sunday Express front page headline, as it quotes senior Conservatives who have accused the government of risking national security over its relations with Beijing. It follows comments from Chancellor Rachel Reeves that it would be “very foolish” not to engage with the world’s second largest economy.
EPA
Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the UK for a state visit in May, the Times reports
PA Media
A corgi whose training included chasing Edinburgh seagulls claimed victory
In its front page splash the Sunday Mirror reports that campaigners are calling for tougher penalties in light of figures that show more than 80 people a day are savaged by out-of-control dogs. It says police statistics show that attacks are on the rise across England and Wales.
But in happier canine news, several papers feature pictures from the annual ‘Corgi Derby’ held at Musselburgh race course in Scotland yesterday. Sixteen competitors took part in this year’s 70-metre sprint with four-year-old Juno from Edinburgh taking victory. The event celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite dog breed was first held in 2022 to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman caused one of the greatest WrestleMania shockers of all time on Saturday’s main event.
Heyman, 59, linked up with CM Punk on the closing match of WrestleMania 41 during night one of the wrestling extravaganza at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman betrayed CM Punk and Roman Reigns
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Heyman aligned with Seth Rollins on the main event of WrestleMania 41
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Heyman helped Rollins beat both Reigns and Punk at WrestleMania
Punk took on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns in a heated Triple Threat Match that saw the famous manager cutting a very conflicted figure at ringside.
That is because the ECW legend had been aligned with Reigns for the past five years and was a catalyst behind his recent four-year world title reign that made him the longest-reigning champion of the modern era.
However, Heyman reunited with The Best in the World, who cashed in on a favor that was owed to him when he helped Reigns’ team win at Survivor Series in November and asked The Wiseman to link up with him again at Mania after 11 years.
All three wrestlers were knocked down during the closing stages of the match.
That was when Heyman grabbed a steel chair and was spotted by both Punk and Reigns, who asked him to help them in the No Disqualification Match.
The ex-SmackDown General Manager handed the chair to Punk but turned on him with a Low Blow just when he was ready to whack Reigns with the foreign object.
Just when it looked like The Wiseman had reunited with Reigns he did the exact same thing to him.
Heyman then handed the chair to Rollins who hit The Tribal Chief on the back and finished him off with a Curb Stomp for the three count.
The live WrestleMania crowd watched in shock as it became clear The Advocate had betrayed both of his legendary clients to join forces with The Visionary.
Heyman went on to raise Rollins’ hand in front of the 60-plus-thousand WWE fans in attendance who couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.
WWE star Rhea Ripley officially ADOPTS a grown man as she grants fan’s ‘strange’ request ahead of WrestleMania 41
As the two new partners left the ring, Reigns and Punk were left watching in absolute shock before the broadcast came to an end.
A new Italian star who is dating one of the Strictly Come Dancing professionals could be joining the 2025 line up as bosses search for a replacement for dancer Giovanni Pernice
22:48, 19 Apr 2025Updated 22:48, 19 Apr 2025
Giovanni Pernice is not retuning to Strictly Come Dancing following his scandal
His comeback would have likely been supported by the likes of judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, who have remained close to the Italian dancer.
Dancer Simone Arena could be joining the Strictly cast(Image: Instagram/ @simonearena_official)
Yet, there could be a new Italian star on the Strictly dancefloor in a matter of months as show bosses. According to reports, show bosses have eyed up Simone Arena, who is the boyfriend of Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas.
“Simone blew the Strictly bosses away when he auditioned as a new professional on the show,” a source told the Sun. “He is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the series.”
They added: “Simone is well known among the pros and his girlfriend Michelle loved her time on the series last year.”
Earlier this month it was confirmed Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will all take to the floor later this year.
Two new pro dancers – who are yet to be revealed – will also join them. Not all the pros will receive celebrity partners this year, so fans will have to wait until the autumn to find out if their favourites will be in the main line-up.
It was claimed last year that five pro dancers were set to leave the show, with Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones among the names on the chopping block. Yet, this has now been confirmed to not be the case.
Strictly has had tumultuous year, which along with Giovanni’s abrupt exit also saw Graziano Di Prima axed by show bosses. A video had emerged of the pro dancer kicking his 2023 celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals, which he admitted to.
2024 contestant Wynne Evans was axed from the Strictly Live Tour this year after a video emerged of him making a vile sexual remark at his co-star while at the launch of the tour in Birmingham.
Wynne was recorded making an inappropriate sexual comment to Janette Manrara, who acts as host on the tour, as he used the hugely demeaning term “spit roast” in reference to a lewd sexual act.
Before the first game of the Lakers’ postseason, head coach JJ Redick clenched as he spoke, a very serious person acting even more seriously than usual.
The moment in front of him and their team was big, a series opener inside their building for the first time since 2012, optimism that extended beyond a single win all the way to 16, belief that their first playoff run with Luka Doncic could be something special.
And that’s what it looked like early Saturday, the crowd rocking as Doncic showed the ways he could carry a team in the postseason, the stepbacks and the mismatches and the finishes in traffic.
But for as much as a brilliant Doncic start can be the opening paragraphs in the story of a Lakers’ win, it can also be a bit of a mask. Because while Doncic got whatever he wanted, Austin Reaves struggled against Minnesota’s pressure, missing easy shots and the rim and struggling to get the Lakers into offense. LeBron James, who we last saw on the court grimacing after a hip flexor strain, didn’t have much burst to the basket or much touch on his shot.
And with Doncic on the bench after a 16-point first quarter, that mask came off. The Lakers couldn’t score. They couldn’t match Minnesota’s energy. They couldn’t out-run ball movement or chase down rebounds. And they couldn’t stop an avalanche that hit them with the kind of force that knocked all the energy out of the building.
The game, which Minnesota won 117-95, didn’t end during that stretch, at least not in an official sense. But everything that happened as the Timberwolves scored 64 of the game’s next 90 points.
It took 19 minutes of court time for the big moment to unravel, for it fall out of reach, for the season to feel in actual jeopardy for the first time since well before Doncic was a part of it.
The concerns for the Lakers moving forward can be found all over the final box score, the 19-point edge in fastbreak points showing how much faster Minnesota played. The 21 second-chance points the Lakers allowed showed Minnesota’s determination. The 48 combined points for the Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid showing how capable Anthony Edwards’ and Julius Randle’s co-stars are.
The Lakers held Edwards to just 22 points on 22 shots. And lost. The Lakers kept Randle to 16 and Rudy Gobert to just two. And lost.
Free breakfast clubs are to launch at 750 schools across England next week but teachers have voiced concerns that government funding for the scheme will not meet the cost.
From Tuesday, thousands of parents can access half an hour of free morning childcare as part of the trial that will run to July, ahead of an expected national rollout.
But teaching unions have raised concerns the funding is too low.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the move would help with “breaking down barriers to opportunity”.
Labour campaigned on a promise of free breakfast clubs in every English primary school and later tripled funding to £30m.
The scheme will give parents of primary-aged children up to 95 additional hours and save them £450 per year in childcare costs, ministers say.
The headteachers union welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but said schools have suggested the funding is not enough.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “While we welcome the intentions behind the programme, the initial feedback we are hearing from many school leaders participating in the pilot is that the funding just isn’t sufficient.
“At a time when school budgets are already stretched, most can ill-afford to subsidise this shortfall.”
He added it was “absolutely crucial” the funding is addressed before the scheme is rolled out nationally and it has received assurance from the government the funding would be looked at carefully during the trial.
Teaching union NASUWT said the scheme would make a “significant contribution” to tackling child hunger but it needed to be closely monitored to ensure funding issues can be addressed without it impacting other provisions within schools.
Announcing the first 750 schools to join the pilot scheme, the Department for Education said breakfast clubs had “an important role to play in the government’s commitment to remove the stain of child poverty”.
Education Secretary Phillipson said: “Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents’ lives easier and more affordable, while breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child.”
Devon tops the list with 25 schools in the programme, followed by England’s largest local authority, Birmingham, with 24.
Both Wales and Scotland have programmes to provide free breakfasts to children in primary schools.
Guidance sent to schools taking part in the pilot scheme says they will receive a set-up payment to cover equipment and material.
Under the scheme, schools will then be reimbursed by the government based on attendance at the clubs – a school with 50% participation in the pilot scheme could get £23,000 a year, the government said.
This striking red-sand beach is home to wild sea lions, rare birds, and elegant flamingos, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before
This red-sand beach hosts wild sea lions, rare birds, and flamingos; it’s truly unique(Image: Getty Images)
You might expect a beach to have soft golden sands, maybe sparkling white shores, or even dramatic black sand from volcanic rock. But there are a few rare beaches in the world that break the mould entirely, by glowing bright red.
One of the most vibrant examples of this phenomenon lies hidden in the Galapagos Islands. Rabida Island, also known as Jervis Island, is a tiny, uninhabited paradise just south of Santiago Island, with a surreal crimson coastline that looks more like Mars than Earth.
The island’s fiery-red sands are the result of iron-rich volcanic rocks that have oxidised over centuries. The contrast between the deep red beach, turquoise ocean, and lush green interior is truly jaw-dropping, like walking straight into a colour-saturated dream.
The stunning red sands of Rabida Island contrast beautifully with the turquoise waters(Image: Getty Images)
Despite its remote location, Rabida Island is a haven for wildlife and a favourite stop for those exploring the Galapagos by cruise. Its untouched shores are alive with animals, offering nature lovers a front-row seat to some of the most remarkable creatures on the planet.
A huge colony of sea lions call Rabida home, and they’re often seen sprawled lazily across the sand, soaking up the sun without a care in the world. Unlike many wildlife encounters, you don’t need binoculars here; these gentle giants happily share the beach with visitors.
Just a short walk from the shore, a saltwater lagoon tucked behind the beach reveals an even more magical sight: flamingos wading through the shallows. Their bright pink feathers against the blood-red sands makes for one of the most striking wildlife scenes in the Galapagos.
Flamingos are often spotted on Rabida Island(Image: Getty Images/Collection Mix: Subjects RF)
The island is also the only place in the Galapagos where you can spot all nine species of Darwin’s finches. It’s a paradise for birdwatchers and a living classroom for those fascinated by evolution and biodiversity.
Visitors can’t stop raving about Rabida. One vistor shared to TripAdvisor saying, “Beautiful island with flamingos in brackish ponds, incredible red sand beaches.” Another simply calls it “special,” praising its unique terrain and rare beauty.
To experience Rabida Island, your best bet is hopping aboard a Galapagos cruise. Celebrity Cruises offers a Southern Loop tour that includes a stop on the island, with guided visits from mid-afternoon until sunset to soak up the full, fiery glory of the beach.
The uninhabited island is the perfect destination to get up close with nature(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
While Rabida may be the most eye-catching, it’s not the only red beach out there. Others include Kaihalulu Beach in Hawaii, though locals warn it’s dangerous, along with Ramla Bay in Malta, Cavendish Beach in Canada, and Kokkini Beach in Greece.
Colourful beaches don’t stop at red, either. There are pink lagoons in the Maldives, a blush-toned beach in the UK, and even green sand shores in rare spots like Hawaii, Norway, and the Galapagos itself.
So next time you think you’ve seen every kind of beach, remember Rabida Island, a rare, remote paradise where red sand meets wild sea lions, elegant flamingos, and a storybook landscape that feels truly out of this world.
WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy.
For reduced items – when shops open
Red sticker items are rare at Aldi’s 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found – if you’re quick.
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates.”
That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens.
Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store’s times by using the supermarket’s online shop finder tool.
For Specialbuys – Thursdays and Sundays
Specialbuys are Aldi’s weekly collection of items that it doesn’t normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools.
New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals.
For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store’s opening time.
Remember: once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if there’s something you really want, visit as early as possible
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Aldi has revealed a two-piece deco craft set that is essential for sprucing up any outdoor spaceCredit: Getty
April 19 (UPI) — The Federal Railroad Administration has taken control of the $7 billion renovation of New York City’s Penn Station rail hub from the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the move on Thursday and said it will save taxpayers an estimated $120 million.
“New York City deserves a Penn Station that reflects America’s greatness and is safe and clean,” Duffy said in a news release.
“The MTA’s history of inefficiency, waste and mismanagement also meant that a new approach is needed,” Duffy added. “By putting taxpayers first, we’re ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to create a transit hub all Americans can take pride in.”
The Trump administration is advocating for a public-private partnership model for the Penn Station renovation to reduce potential financial harm for U.S. taxpayers while lowering costs by an estimated $120 million.
The Federal Railroad Administration is putting Amtrak in charge of the project with federal oversight and removing New York City’s MTA from the renovation.
Amtrak owns Penn Station, which serves more than 10 million passengers every year, and the Trump administration has determined that the U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak can work together to renovate the rail station.
The project’s new leadership will ensure a “safe, modern and efficient transportation hub for the nation’s financial capital,” Duffy said
New York City’s MTA in November 2024 received a $72 million federal grant for project development, but a lower allocation in a separate funding allocation will save U.S. taxpayers an estimated $120 million, according to the U.S. DOT.
“In multiple meetings with President [Donald] Trump, I requested that the federal government fund the long-overdue overhaul of Penn Station,” Hochul said in a statement on Thursday. “
“Clearly, that effort has been successful,” Hochul added.
She thanked Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for taking responsibility for the $7 billion project.
“This is a major victory for New Yorkers,” Hochul said, “and the use of federal funds will save New York taxpayers $1.3 billion that would have otherwise been necessary for this project.”
Punk joins the action and delivers a number of Chops on Rollins.
And follows it up with kicks and punches on Reigns.
Triple Threat Match
The bell rings and off we go between the three icons.
CM Punk is finally competing in the main event of WrestleMania for the first time ever in his career!
Punk approaches Heyman asking for wisdom in a move that’s obviously designed to frustrate an already frustrated Reigns who kicks things off with a series of punches on Rollins.
Triple Threat Match
It is impossible to tell who the crowd supports in this match.
It kind of sounds that it might be Reigns, who has no one to hand the ulafala to now that Heyman is aligned with Punk tonight.
Triple Threat Match
A nice little pre-match package for CM Punk that included highlights of his career, including from OVW and ECW.
And now his entrance music – Cult of Personality – is being played out live.
Jelly Roll is having the time of his life on the front row, and Punk makes his way to the ring with Paul Heyman by his side.
Remember, this is The Best in the World’s first WrestleMania after 12 years – his first after returning two years ago and it’s the main event!
Triple Threat Match
Roman Reigns follows looking very serious and frustrated.
And the reason is very simple, Reigns is without his wiseman Paul Heyman.
As Cody Rhodes warned last year, he has ended up being a Tribal Chief without a tribe.
Very cool to see images of Anoa’i family legends, such as Reigns’ late father Sika, Rikishi and Yokozuna.
Remember, the other two Anoa’i relatives – Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu – won tonight and The Head of the Table will be looking for a hat-trick.
Triple Threat Match
Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring first and as you can imagine he’s putting together an extravagant entrance.
Started out with a flamethrower and went on to kind of emulate Shawn Michaels’ legendary WrestleMania 26 entrance in full angelical style.
Police in Ecuador say they have arrested four people in connection with an attack by gunmen at a cockfighting ring in which 12 people died.
Weapons and replica police and army uniforms were seized during police raids in the north-western Manabí province on Friday – a day after the attack in the rural community of La Valencia.
Footage of the attack shared on social media showed gunmen entering the ring and opening fire, as terrified spectators dived for cover.
Reports in local media suggested the attackers in fake military gear were members of a criminal gang whose rivals were at the cockfight.
A criminal investigation has been launched by the provincial authorities.
As many as 20 criminal gangs are believed to be operating in the Latin American country, vying for control over major drug routes.
Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has said that about 70% of the world’s cocaine now flows through Ecuador’s ports before being shipped to the US and Europe.
The drug is smuggled into Ecuador from neighbouring Colombia and Peru – the world’s two largest producers of cocaine.
This January saw 781 murders, making it the deadliest month in recent years. Many of them were related to the illegal drug trade.
Precious few bands can fill a stadium 52 years into their career — let alone play to an audience heavily populated by parents and their children, both generations sporting red devil horn headbands and cheering for 77-year-old singer Brian Johnson and white-haired guitar icon Angus Young, 70.
But AC/DC did just that, playing 21 instantly recognizable sing-along tunes of considerable heaviness — the majority of them classic rock radio staples and cultural touchstones — rendered with a power and passion that belies their many decades of service. Kicking off with 1978’s “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” Young, in his trademark schoolboy outfit (red velvet for this show) with the recognizable black and white Gibson SG, took the stage to thunderous appreciation.
Next was “Back in Black,” the song and album that marked Johnson’s 1980 entrée to the lineup. The frontman proved expressive and animated despite serious hearing issues that sidelined him for a few scary years, and a voice that, understandably, doesn’t always have the sustain and power of earlier days. The quintet played a few tracks from their latest, 2020’s “Power Up,” but as expected and appreciated, the hits ruled, from “Shot Down to Flames” to “Hells Bells” to latter-day crowd favorite “Thunderstruck.”
AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young perform at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.
(Eric Thayer/For The Times)
The band’s set, despite the relentless, strident perfection and power of the rhythm section, wasn’t a quick flow, with fairly frequent darkened-stage breaks between songs. The second half of the two-hour-plus performance proved the stronger — Johnson’s energy seemingly renewed on this third show of 13 for this leg of the Power Up tour.
Fans cheer as AC/DC performs at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.
(Eric Thayer/For The Times)
The band’s hardcore devotees may wonder if AC/DC may be slightly callous or merely driven, as their career suggests. Other fans don’t know or care about the lineup’s backstory, which took its first devastating turn in February 1980 with the death of singer Bon Scott, 33. In less than six months, with new frontman Johnson, previously of Brit band Geordie, AC/DC released what would become one of the best-selling albums in history, “Back in Black,” their first of 11 LPs (to date) with Johnson.
Like a Dickensian Andy Capp, Johnson is an uber-charming rogue, an everyman bluesy belter whose winking humor with a hint of the scoundrel are not entirely unlike Scott’s demeanor, though each man’s vocals, inflection and stage presence are/were clearly their own. And beloved as such.
AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young perform at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.
(Eric Thayer/For The Times)
However, on Feb. 28, 2016, in the midst of AC/DC’s Rock or Bust tour, doctors told Johnson that if he didn’t stop performing immediately, he risked total hearing loss. By May 17, 2016, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose joined AC/DC as a fill-in vocalist for two dozen shows, a move that shocked many and thrilled others. Seemingly nothing will stop the juggernaut that is AC/DC. They’re at once a band of brothers, literally — founded by Angus and late brother Malcolm Young — but also not. As the middle-aged concertgoer next to me noted: “Angus is all about the money and he and his brother [Malcom] own the band.” That said, it was the fan’s 10th show across several continents, though he purposely avoided seeing the Rose-fronted version of AC/DC.
Johnson, his hearing issues managed, was back in the fold by 2019, and post-pandemic, playing live with AC/DC by October 2023. Interestingly, one of the other bands still filling stadiums is indeed Guns N’ Roses. Even more titillating: Rose and guitarist Slash, the Johnson and Young of American rock, were in attendance at the Rose Bowl — their walk through the crowd inciting thousands to gasp and crane their necks for a look at the duo.
But all eyes were onstage for the two-hour-plus show. AC/DC have written winking songs about sexually transmitted diseases (“The Jack”); large women (“Whole Lotta Rosie”); voracious encounters (“You Shook Me All Night Long,” “She’s Got Balls”); and of course, Hell (in the abstract). The tunes are all exuberant, and even with a new era of political correctness, never offensive.
Despite any challenges of health and member attrition, AC/DC remain unstoppable and undeniable — Young’s own version of Chuck Berry’s duckwalk proved his preternatural energy, as did his expected and always lengthy (10 minutes? 15?) solo during “Let There Be Rock.”
At least six songs in the set were made infamous by Scott, including “Sin City,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Riff Raff,” “Let There Be Rock” and “Highway to Hell,” but they’re so much a part of the band’s oeuvre it matters not that Johnson has been singing them longer than Scott did. Another constant: AC/DC song titles are frequently convivial lowbrow bon mots — “Have a Drink on Me,” “Hells Bells,” “Stiff Upper Lip” — now so common in the vernacular that AC/DC might have invented the phrases. At this point, who knows; maybe they did.
One valid complaint leveled at the band, is also the (not-so) secret to AC/DC’s strength and continued, deserved worldwide success: they make the same record every time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And when things do “break,” they’re quickly fixed. Instead of hoped-for drummer Phil Rudd, rounding out the live lineup are drummer Matt Laug, with the band for two years; and skilled journeyman bassist Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction infamy. He replaced Cliff Williams, who first joined AC/DC in 1977. And there are two “Young people” on guitar; Angus and his nephew, Stevie, 68, who replaced his uncle Malcolm in the band in 2014.
A multigenerational sea of fans sporting glowing devil horns as AC/DC performs at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.
(Eric Thayer/For The Times)
So, will AC/DC keep going? Clearly, for as long as they can. It’s what they do. Will audiences, fans young and old, keep showing up? They will. It’s what they do. The world circa 2025 could use two hours of an ear-splitting sing-along with 70,000 like-minded denizens, celebrating the working-class joys of booze, broads and rock ‘n’ roll. AC/DC remain the band to deliver that joyful, bipartisan escapism. As Scott sang (and Johnson never has) on the bagpipe-belter “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll),” AC/DC indeed hit that top, and remain ensconced there.
AC/DC did their audience a great service in having the Pretty Reckless as openers. Singer Taylor Momsen had a big presence on the massive stage, looking like the Runways’ Cherie Currie circa ’70s, her voice sultry pitch perfect, her commanding voice as genuine as her positively magnetic stage presence. Overheard from a nearby seat: “I was thoroughly blown away.”
Like AC/DC, the band is guitar-driven and write great songs, their approach the perfect blend between accessible rock with the danger, volume and power of metal. It’s a shame AC/DC are so by-the-book onstage, because a Momsen-Johnson duet would be a pairing for the ages.
ARLINGTON, Tex. — Roki Sasaki will have to keep waiting for his first Major League Baseball victory.
Despite his season-long six-inning, two-run start against the Texas Rangers on Saturday, the Dodgers couldn’t find a way to hold on in the ninth.
Instead, veteran reliever Kirby Yates blew a save in the Dodgers’ 4-3 walk-off loss, giving up a two-run home run to Adolis García on just the seventh pitch of his first save opportunity this season.
That’s how sudden the narrative change was at Globe Life Field; shifting the spotlight from the Dodgers’ 23-year-old phenom starter, to a bullpen that ran short on late-game options without either of their primary closers available.
“Yeah, it happened pretty quick,” Yates said. “You just flush it and move on. Be better next time.”
The ending overshadowed a day of growth from Sasaki — who, despite suffering a noticeable drop in fastball velocity, took another positive step in his major league development.
Early on, Sasaki’s heater was as soft as 92 mph. Not until the fifth inning did it top 96 mph. Overall, it averaged just 94.7 mph, a stark drop from the 96.9-mph average he had over his first four MLB starts.
And yet he turned in his best effort as a big-leaguer anyway, using a heavy dose of splitters and sliders to hold the Rangers’ powerhouse lineup to just a two-run home run from Kyle Higashioka in the third inning.
“I think that not to have the velocity today, but to still manage to get through six innings with that lineup, I just think that it was a good way for him to use his entire sequence, his mix,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Fastball velocity has been a point of emphasis for Sasaki ever since this winter, when he gave teams a “homework assignment” during his free-agency process to explain why they thought his once triple-digit heater had dipped to the 96- to 97-mph range during his last season in Japan.
In his MLB debut in Tokyo last month, Sasaki hit 100+ with each of his first four throws, and topped 99 mph eight total times. Since then, though, the right-hander’s four-seam speeds have been on a gradual decline, even before taking a sharp dip in Saturday’s first inning.
“I was surprised with the fastball velo in the first inning myself,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton on Saturday, noting he felt fine physically and that the dip had more to do with mechanical inconsistencies.
“I was able to really kind of dig in to what I needed to do and make some mechanical changes,” he said.
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki winds up to pitch against the Rangers during the sixth inning Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
(Jeffrey McWhorter / Associated Press)
By the end of the day, Sasaki’s fastball velocity had indeed started to tick up (it was in the 95- to 96-mph range over his final few innings). But the more encouraging sign was that he located it consistently for strikes, setting up a heavy dose of splitters and sliders that kept the Rangers (13-8) and their star-studded lineup off-balance in a two-hit, three-walk, four-strikeout outing.
“Overall, I think I was pretty happy,” Sasaki said. “I felt like I had to mix in all of my pitches.”
The Dodgers’ offense, meanwhile, put Sasaki in line for his first career win, erasing the early 2-0 deficit with a three-run rally in the fourth that was keyed by Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer and (after a botched pickoff attempt from Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi moved Michael Conforto into scoring position) a go-ahead ground-rule double from Max Muncy.
Three middle relievers then provided a bridge to the ninth inning, with Jack Dreyer, Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips (who was making his season debut after being activated off the injured list pregame) combining for scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth.
In the ninth, however, the Dodgers were without their top two closing options. Tanner Scott was down after pitching three of the previous five days. Blake Treinen was unavailable after going on the injured list pregame with forearm tightness (his timeline to return wasn’t immediately clear, with the Dodgers awaiting results on an MRI).
The Dodgers tried to prepare for such circumstances this off-season. They made a late-winter splash for Yates — a veteran right-hander who recorded 33 saves for the Rangers last year, and had a 1.74 ERA with 20 strikeouts in his first 11 appearances this season — with days like Saturday specifically in mind.
Yates, however, failed to record an out in the ninth. Josh Smith lined a leadoff double down the left-field line after barely missing the right-field foul pole on a potential game-tying homer two pitches before.
García then launched a no-doubt blast to left field, hammering an elevated 93-mph fastball to even this three-game series between the past two World Series champions ahead of a rubber match on Sunday afternoon.
“I think he just tried to sneak a heater by García,” Roberts said, “and he put a good swing on it.”
As the ball disappeared into the outfield seats, Sasaki’s chance at a first career victory vanished with it.
April 19 (UPI) — El Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an MS-13 member who likely engaged in human trafficking while in the United States, a Department of Homeland Security report says.
The DHS Combined Intelligence Unit investigated the facts in Garcia’s case after Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported him to El Salvador on March 15, where he is being held in a maximum security prison.
“Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a MS-13 gang member, illegal alien from El Salvador, and suspected human trafficker,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin Friday said in a news release.
“The facts reveal he was pulled over with eight individuals in a car on an admitted three-day journey from Texas to Maryland with no luggage,” McLaughlin said.
“The facts speak for themselves, and they reek of human trafficking,” she added. “The media’s sympathetic narrative about this criminal [and] illegal gang member has completely fallen apart.”
2022 Tennessee traffic stop
The report says a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer stopped a vehicle driven by Garcia, 29, and carrying eight other passengers on Dec. 1, 2022.
Garcia was speeding, could not maintain lane integrity and had an expired temporary driving permit issued in Maryland.
Garcia told the officer he was traveling from Houston to Temple Hills, Md., via St. Louis to bring in people to do construction work and had been on the road for three days, according to the report.
The officer said the vehicle had no luggage and every person in the vehicle cited the same address provided by Garcia for his home address as their home addresses, which led him to believe Garcia was engaged in human trafficking.
“During the interview, [Garcia] pretended to speak less English than he was capable of and attempted to put [the] encountering officer off-track by responding to questions with questions,” the report says.
Garcia told the officer he was employed by the vehicle’s owner, worked in construction, and the eight passengers were going to work for his employer.
“Encountering officer gathered names of other occupants in [the] vehicle, but could not read their handwriting,” the report says.
The officer did not cite Garcia for the traffic violations and did not pass on the names, ages and IDs of Garcia’s eight passengers.
Alleged MS-13 membership
The report also shows officers with the Prince George‘s County (Md.) Police Gang Unit on Oct. 10, 2019, determined Garcia was a member of the transnational gang MS-13.
Garcia allegedly was a “chequeo” for MS-13 from its “western clique,” according to the police gang unit.
“This information was provided by [a] tested source who has provided truthful [and] accurate information in the past,” the report says.
The DHS also provided a redacted copy of its investigative referral dated April 17 and showing Garcia in October 2022 said he has three children and wanted to move to Houston to be closer to family after living in Maryland for the prior three years.
Garcia illegally was in the United States and had a lawful deportation order issued, DHS officials said Wednesday in a post on X.
He had been arrested and found with rolls of cash and drugs, was arrested with two other members of MS-013, and two judges found he was a member of the transnational gang, the DHS post says.
His wife also petitioned a Maryland court for an “order of protection after instances of domestic violence.”
Garcia’s deportation occurred on March 15 along with other deportees who were flown to El Salvador, where he is a citizen and was placed in the nation’s Terrorism Confinement Center.
Maryland senator seeks Garcia’s return
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., flew to El Salvador and met with Garcia on Thursday at the El Salvadoran prison where he is being held for allegedly being a member of MS-13.
“Mr. Abrego Garcia was illegally abducted by the Trump [administration] and, by their own admission, wrongly deported to El Salvador,” Van Hollen said Wednesday in a social media post.
“He shouldn’t have to spend another second away from his family,” Van Hollen said. “I’m flying to El Salvador tomorrow morning to check on his condition and discuss his return.”
A federal judge recently said there was no evidence before his court that connects Garcia to MS-13 or any other criminal organization, Van Hollen said Friday in a post on X.
Van Hollen’s office declined a request for comment made Saturday evening via his Senate website.
