CIA director erupts after Democrat asks whether Hegseth was drinking before Signalgate leaks

 CIA Director John Ratcliffe blew up on Democratic Congressman Jimmy Gomez after the lawmaker asked if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he and other top Trump administration officials leaked sensitive military information to Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

During a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Wednesday, Gomez directed a question to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, about Hegseth's sobriety on the day of the leak.

“To your knowledge, do you know whether Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he leaked classified information?" Gomez asked.

Gabbard replied that she did not have "any knowledge of Secretary Hegseth's personal habits."

That set Ratcliffe off.

“I think that’s an offensive line of questioning,” he said. “The answer is no, I find it interesting that you want to—”

Gomez interjected, reminding Ratcliffe that it was his time to speak, but the CIA director continued to shout over the congressman.

“You asked me a question. Do you want an answer?” Ratcliffe yelled. “You don’t want to focus on the good work that the CIA is doing? That the intelligence community—”

Gomez shut him down again, demanding to have his time.

“I reclaim my time!” Gomez yelled back. “I have huge respect for the CIA, huge respect for our men and women in uniform. But this was a question that’s on the top of minds of every American.”

Before his confirmation, Hegseth was questioned about reports that he drank frequently and heavily, allegedly sometimes while he was on the job.

Gomez pointed out claims on social media alleging that Hegseth was drinking alcohol during a NATO press conference in February.

“He stood in front of a podium in Europe holding a drink, so of course we want to know if his performance is compromised!" Gomez said.

There is no evidence that Hegseth was drinking alcohol during the press conference.

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, also laid into Ratcliffe, pushing back on his claim that Democrats did not want to talk about the "good work" the CIA was doing.

She said she had served in classified environments during her time in the military, and said if she'd been involved in a security breach like the Signal leak, she would have resigned immediately. Houlahan further said if Hegseth had any “dignity,” he would do the same.

“The fact that we’re having to have these conversations now means that I can’t ask the questions I need to ask about things like biosecurity,” she said. “So I’d like to put you in check as well, sir, because you can’t assume who I am any more than I can assume who you are.”

The hearing was held shortly after the Atlantic published screenshots of the full group chat, which included specific attack plans transmitted two hours before they were set to occur. The story was published after Trump and other officials insisted in a hearing earlier this week that none of the information included in the chat was classified.

On Wednesday, Ratcliffe continued to insist that there was no classified information included in the chats.

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Phil Mickelson has his say on TGL with clear message to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

 Phil Mickelson had plenty of compliments for TGL on Tuesday after the LIV Golf star had his say on the simulator league following the end of its inaugural campaign.

TGL's maiden season is in the books, having divided opinion among golf fans, with Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, and Lucas Glover of Atlanta Drive the first team to get their hands on the trophy at the SoFi Center. Atlanta defeated their New York Golf Club rivals 2-0 in the finals series, with Horschel sinking the winning putt.

Generally, the reception for the innovative league has been positive, and there is no doubt co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will be pleased despite their own teams missing out on the playoffs and skipping the Finals Series.

One man who has also been impressed is Mickelson, who took to social media on Tuesday night to praise TGL's maiden season. "That’s great news! It would be great for golf if this were to succeed," Mickelson tweeted of the simulator league following the finale.

"The golf fan is the most loyal fan in sports. Buy a ticket, walk miles, and see a fraction of the action, but this could allow the golf fan to buy a ticket, sit down and watch of the action just like other sports. It could really be good for the game if it’s compelling."

There had been doubts about the TGL concept prior to its inception, and some remain now, but it appears the players have more than bought into the idea. No more so than Horschel, who showed his passion for the event and his team throughout the finals, which were played across Monday and Tuesday.

This was seen when the PGA Tour star rolled in the winning putt, too, running across the green in celebration whilst tossing his cap in the air. Speaking after their victory, Horschel went on to reveal that the expertise of his teammate Thomas was key to the winning putt, after the two-time major winner gave him the read.

"JT said, 'Hey, I've got the perfect line on this'. I asked him, I said, "Hey, where is this fall line? Where do I need to die it?' He gave me the perfect read, and I did a great job of following his direction, and the putt went in. Then,n once again, a blackout moment happened.

"I don't think I slapped JT's hand or PC's, so I think I saved their hand at that point, but yeah, I went a little crazy, and it was a massive moment." Delving further into exactly what it meant to win the event, aside from the $9 million prize money and silverware, Horshel added: "It is just really cool to be a part of something with these guys.

"Team competitions are special. I've only been a part of one, the Presidents Cup in '22. You hear the stories. You hear how fun it is. Obviously it's more exciting when you win a team competition."

'Only there to make trouble!' Trump snaps over 'infiltrated' town hall protest

After firing off a bevy of self-promoting posts on his Truth Social platform on Sunday morning, Donald Trump lashed out at concerned voters who attended a North Carolina town hall held by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R).

The president posted, "TRUTH (Social) is on 'FIRE' (in a positive way, of course!). It is my Voice, and the Real Voice of America. Sign up TODAY, I have never let you down!" and following that with, "I LOVE $TRUMP — SO COOL!!! The Greatest of them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the president took issue with the protesters and the "filthy" language they used and snapped at them.

On Truth Social he wrote: "I just watched our GREAT Republican Congressman from North Carolina, CHUCK EDWARDS, hold a Town Hall in Asheville. He was a total gentleman, but the room was “littered” with Radical Left Lunatics, mostly Democrats, and all they did was scream, shout and use filthy language. They were largely paid agitators, with fake signs and slogans, and were only there to make TROUBLE! Chuck put up with it, and was WONDERFUL!"

He then added, "Remember, BIDEN AND HIS FEMA DID NOTHING FOR NORTH CAROLINA and the terrible hurricane which did so much damage. As soon as I got to office, we worked miracles, with ZERO HELP FROM THE DEMS. WE HAVE BEEN PRAISED FOR THE JOB THAT WE DID, AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SCORNED. Also remember, you have a Democrat Governor who is supposed to be doing the work that Chuck, and other Republicans, are doing."

"Don’t let infiltrated Town Halls fool you. It (sic) the only thing the Dems know how to do. Great Job Chuck!!!" he concluded.

Former Yankees star Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son dies after unexpected illness on vacation

 Former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner's teenage son died unexpectedly after falling ill on vacation, according to the family.

Brett Gardner, 41, and his wife, Jessica Gardner, announced the tragic loss via the Yankees' social media pages Sunday. Their 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, became ill alongside several other family members on the trip, according to the statement.

"We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st," they wrote.

The couple, who share an older son, Hunter Gardner, did not disclose further details about their trip or the illness Miller Gardner contracted. In their statement, they requested that the public "respect our wishes for privacy as we mourn and search for healing."

"Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile," they wrote. "He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day."

They thanked "all who have reached out to offer support and encouragement during this difficult time," extending their prayers to their late son's friends, teammates and "all other families who have lost a child far too soon as we share their grief."

A former outfielder, Brett Gardner spent his entire 14-season baseball career with the Yankees. He was part of the team when it won its last World Series in 2009, just a year after he made his MLB debut.

In the team's own statement, the Yankees described Miller Gardner as having "a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature."

"Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss," the Yankees shared on social media. "It wasn't just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years - so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller."

Palestinian envoy delivers Abbas' message to President Prabowo

 Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the Palestinian President's special envoy for religious affairs, delivered a special message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to President Prabowo Subianto 

The Palestinian envoy, who is also the top Islamic law judge at the Palestinian Authority, stated that President Abbas wrote the message to celebrate Indonesia and Palestine's long-standing bond and highlight the impact of Israel's aggression.

"Today, we had the honor of visiting the President of Indonesia. We sent a special message from the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, to the Indonesian President," Al-Habbash told the media after the meeting, which took place in Jakarta and lasted about an hour.

He added that he also briefed President Prabowo on the ground situation in Palestine and extended appreciation to Indonesia for striving to protect the rights of Palestinians during the meeting, which was also attended by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al-Shun.

The Palestinian judge lauded Indonesia for its perseverance in advocating for the independence of the Palestinian people amid global uncertainties.

He also spoke highly of President Prabowo, expressing optimism that the head of state will ensure Indonesia remains steadfast in its commitment to playing a strategic role in the Palestinian cause.

"We are convinced that the Indonesian government will continue backing Palestine in its struggle for freedom and independence," he said.

The day before, Al-Habbash met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, who assured him that Indonesia rejects all attempts to alter Palestine's demographics and remains committed to pursuing the two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

During his visit, the Palestinian official conveyed his appreciation to the Indonesian government and people for the humanitarian assistance they provided to the Gaza Strip.

Govt confirms 554 Indonesians rescued from Myanmar online scam gangs

 Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan confirmed that 554 Indonesians have been rescued from online scam syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

"The 554 Indonesians comprised 449 males and 105 females. They were the victims of mass-scale online scam syndicates in the Myawaddy region close to the Myanmar-Thailand border," he stated during a press conference at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport following the arrival of 400 out of 554 Indonesians 

Minister Gunawan remarked that the rescued Indonesians, who mostly originated from North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Java, Jakarta, and North Sulawesi, crossed the Myanmar border to Maesot City in Thailand on Monday (March 17).

The rescued Indonesians were exposed to physical and mental torture during their time in Myanmar. "Some of the victims were even threatened to have their organs harvested if they did not reach the target," he stated.

The coordinating minister noted that the stealth rescue operation was successful due to intensive coordination between Indonesian and Thai authorities, which ensured the prompt retrieval of the Indonesians from Myanmar.

After their crossing to Maesot in Thailand, the rescued Indonesians underwent health checks and the National Referral Mechanism to identify human trafficking and modern slavery victims.

Following the completion of the procedures, they departed for Bangkok by land for nine hours for their return flight to Jakarta from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport, Gunawan added.

In response to the rescue, the government will conduct an investigation, pursuing victims' testimonies, to apprehend the suspects involved in the online scam syndicates.

"The assessment result will help the police determine the follow-up actions," he noted.

After arriving in Jakarta, the rescued Indonesians will be temporarily accommodated at the Hajj Dormitory in East Jakarta for medical treatment.

"They will get logistics aid and health treatment before we return them to their hometowns. We will also determine whether they are all victims or some of them have indications as suspects in this crime," he remarked.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry confirmed that after the repatriation of the 400 Indonesians on Tuesday, the rest of the 154 Indonesians are expected to return home on Wednesday (March 19) after their arrival to Thailand on Tuesday.

‘I thought we could be successful’ – Fernandes reveals why he’s still at Man United

 Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has revealed why he did not accept the offer to leave Old Trafford last summer.

The Portugal International said there were offers on the table for him to leave the club but he decided to talk to the club’s hierarchy and with former United boss, Erik ten Hag.

He said he demanded to know from the board if they had him in their long-term plans.

The former Sporting CP man said he was told that he would be a crucial part of the rebuild, and he decided to stay at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese said after United’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, via BBC Sport, “I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave. We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying. They said what they wanted from me.

“I just asked if they still see me as a part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with (Erik) Ten hag also.

“He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful.”

Fernandes has been the engine room for Manchester United this season.

He steered them towards a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the second leg of the UEL Round of 16 on Thursday, March 13.

In the process, Fernandes netted a hat-trick as the Red Devils secured a spot in the UEL quarterfinals with a 5-2 aggregate score

Lindsey Graham rebukes lawyers who defended Trump foes: "I hope they pay a price"

 Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on Sunday defended President Trump's executive orders targeting law firms that represented the president's legal adversaries, saying "I hope they pay a price."

"Private business aided government power in a fashion to destroy Donald Trump's life…our people believe that the Justice Department was used as a weapon to destroy Trump's campaign and his business interests and to ruin his family," Graham said Sunday on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "If these people involved pay a price, they got nobody but themselves to blame."

Mr. Trump on Friday continued his battle against the legal industry, signing an executive order targeting New York law firm Paul, Weiss that suspended security clearances for employees at the firm and restricted their access to federal buildings and officials. CBS News has reached out to Paul, Weiss for comment.

Just a few hours earlier, Mr. Trump delivered a speech at the Department of Justice where he aired his grievances over the federal investigations into him and vowed retribution against his political foes.

"We're turning the page on four long years of corruption, weaponization and surrender to violent criminals," Mr. Trump claimed. "And we're restoring fair, equal and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law."

The Friday order marked the third targeted move the president has made against a prominent firm. 

In February, Mr. Trump targeted Covington & Burling, a firm representing former special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation that ultimately resulted in Mr. Trump being charged in two jurisdictions before the election.  

Then earlier this month, Mr. Trump signed an order to suspend the security clearances of attorneys at Perkins Coie, a law firm linked to Democratic-funded opposition research during the 2016 presidential campaign into any ties between Mr. Trump and Russia. A federal judge on Wednesday, however,  temporarily blocked that order, ruling that it unlawfully targeted the Perkins Coie law firm and violated its First Amendment rights.

Graham, on "Face the Nation," said he believes that these law firms were pushing legal theories that "were designed for political outcomes more than legal outcomes."

"I think Jack Smith was politically motivated. I think the Russian hoax, a lot of people should have gone to jail, and they didn't. I think the idea that President Trump was an agent of Russia was manufactured. The Steele Dossier was based on lies and falsehoods coming from a source that said he never meant it to be used in the fashion it was used. I think Jack Smith's effort to prosecute President Trump for January 6 was politically motivated," Graham said. "And people who engage in trying to destroy President Trump, I don't mind him going after them in a lawful way."

Mr. Trump, last week, signaled more actions against firms moving forward.

"We have a lot of law firms that we're going to be going after because they were very dishonest people," Mr. Trump said. "So bad for our country."

Gio Reyna's Borussia Dortmund secures brutal Champions League tie despite Canadian star

 Borussia Dortmund punched their ticket for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, thanks to a 3-2 aggregate win against Lille.

The chilly night in northern France got off to a rough start for Niko Kovac’s side after Canadian international Jonathan David scored his 23rd goal of the season just five minutes in, slotting a neat shot through the legs of keeper Gregor Kobel.

Excellent goalkeeping from Lucas Chevalier kept Lille in the lead heading into the break, before Emre Can fired Dortmund level from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. Continued pressure from the Bundeliga side eventually paid off just over 10 minutes later, as Maximilian Beier fired home from just inside the box to give them the lead.

With five minutes to go, USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna was subbed on for Beier, helping to see out a victory that secured Dortmund a daunting double header with La Liga leaders Barcelona in April.

“The way we played the game today, over 90 minutes, was impressive. It was great,” Kovac said postgame. “Even the early setback after five or six minutes didn't throw us off track. Very unfortunate for us. The way we acted with the ball, but above all against the ball, the way we stressed the opponent over 90 minutes, I liked that. That's what we can do, what we want to do.”

As for Reyna, Wednesday marked his seventh Champions League appearance of the season, with all but two having come from the bench. This came a day after he was named to Mauricio Pochettino’s 23-man roster to represent the USMNT at the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League Finals in California.

There, Reyna will be hoping for some more game time as he looks to impress Pochettino amidst what has been a tough season for the 22-year-old and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil looming.

“I think everyone recognises his talent. And, of course, he's improving, but he needs to improve. And of course, he can do better,” Pochettino said during a press conference on Tuesday of Reyna. “We need to push him, but at the same time, we need to understand how he thinks, what he likes, what he doesn't like.

I think it's important to create this relationship for the future if he is going to have the possibility again to join us. We want to win this competition, I think he can help. That's why he's with us. But at the same time, I think he can do better. We are going to try to create this relationship, to try to discover it, and how to help.”

Should the USMNT beat Panama and Canada beat Mexico in their respective semifinals on March 20, the final could see Reyna and David face one another for a third time this month, with the in-form forward having been called up to Jesse Marsch’s roster.

SpaceX mission to bring home Starliner astronauts postponed due to hydraulic issue

 SpaceX postponed a mission on Wednesday to bring the next crew set to work on the International Space Station (ISS) and begin the return of a pair of astronauts back to Earth.

The launch's postponement was announced on Wednesday evening ahead of what would have been the scheduled launch time.

There was an issue with the hydraulic system on the launch side. It is a ground issue with the launch tower and not a problem with the spacecraft, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX said it's now targeting a launch on Friday at 7:03 p.m. ET.

Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams have been in space since June 2024 after they performed the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner. When they launched, they were only supposed to be on the ISS for about a week.

However, NASA and Boeing officials decided to send the uncrewed Starliner back to Earth in September after several issues and keep Wilmore and Williams onboard until early 2025 when Crew-10 was ready to launch on the Dragon spacecraft. Wilmore and Williams are set to return in the Crew-9 capsule.

The pair integrated with the ongoing Crew-9 mission aboard the ISS and could not return to Earth until Crew-9 completed its six-month mission and were replaced by Crew-10.

Wilmore and Williams assisted the crew with research and other responsibilities. However, NASA officials said the pair were using up more supplies meant for the ISS crew.

Steve Stich, program manager for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said that NASA teams spent all summer looking over the data on Starliner and felt there was too much risk with regard to the vehicle's thrusters.

During a press conference in September, Wilmore said he and Williams did not feel let down by anything during the mission.

"Let down? Absolutely not," Wilmore said. "It's never entered my mind. It's a fair question. I can tell you, I thought a lot about this press conference … and what I wanted to say and convey."

"NASA does a great job of making a lot of things look easy," he said, adding, "That's just the way it goes. sometimes because we are pushing the edges of the envelope in everything that we do."

If the mission is successful, it's unclear when exactly Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth on Crew-9.

The crew consists of two NASA astronauts, an astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and an astronaut from Russia's Roscosmos.

SpaceX will share a live webcast of the mission beginning one hour and 20 minutes prior to liftoff on its website and on its X account. NASA will also air coverage on its X account.

"During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct new research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth," SpaceX said on its website.

SpaceX's contracted missions are part of the larger Commercial Crew Program at NASA, which are certified to perform routine missions to and from the ISS.

Israel to cut off electricity supply to Gaza, minister says

 Israel ordered all of Gaza's electricity supply to be cut off on Sunday in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory.

Energy minister Eli Cohen's announcement came a week after Israel cut off all aid supplies to the territory, which has a population of more than two million people.

In a video statement on Sunday, Cohen said: "We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza the day after [the war]."

The decision to cut electricity is expected to primarily affect the operation of desalination plants which are crucial for providing clean drinking water.

The government said it has not ruled out cutting off water supplies.

In his statement, Cohen said: "I have just signed the order to stop supplying electricity immediately to the Gaza Strip."

Israel cut off most of the mains electricity supply to Gaza earlier in the war.

Talks to prolong the fragile ceasefire, the first phase of which ended on 1 March, are expected to resume in Qatar on Monday.

Israel wants Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire.

But Hamas wants to start negotiations on the ceasefire's second phase, which would see the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces and a permanent end to war.

Hamas is believed to be holding 24 living hostages as well as the bodies of 35 others.

The militant group - which has warned that cutting off supplies to Gaza would affect the hostages as well - said on Sunday that it had wrapped up the latest round of ceasefire talks with Egyptian mediators without changes to its position and called for an immediate start of the ceasefire's second phase.

Gaza's coastal territory and its infrastructure have been largely devastated by the war, and generators and solar panels are used for some of the power supply.

Israel has faced criticism over cutting off supplies to Gaza.

"Any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment," the United Nations human rights office said on Friday.

Hamas has reiterated its support for a proposal for the establishment of an independent committee of technocrats to run Gaza until Palestinians hold presidential and legislative elections.

That committee would work under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which is based in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has rejected the PA having any role in Gaza but has not put forward an alternative for post-war rule.

Hamas's attack in October 2023 killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, inside Israel and saw 251 people taken hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements.

Israel's military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants.

Man charged after climbing Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower

 A man has been charged by police after scaling Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster in central London on Saturday.

Daniel Day, 29, of Palmerston Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, has been charged with causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site after climbing onto the clock tower, the Metropolitan Police said.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Emergency services were called at 07:24 GMT on Saturday to reports of a protester who had climbed up the tower holding a Palestinian flag.

The barefoot man was brought down in a cherry picker as Big Ben struck midnight, after more than 16 hours on a ledge several metres up the tower.

On Sunday, Westminster Police said a man had been arrested once he reached the ground after what it called a "protracted incident".

The incident led to the closure of Westminster Bridge, one of the exits at Westminster Underground Station, and Bridge Street.

Tours of the Parliamentary Estate were also cancelled in response.

A small group of supporters gathered behind a police cordon below the tower shouting "free Palestine" and "you are a hero".

FIFA announces historic change to 2026 World Cup final in true Super Bowl style

 The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will be held in North America, with the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting the tournament. It will be the first time that 48 teams will compete in the tournament, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. FIFA is preparing for a historic change that will undoubtedly cause controversy.

This was confirmed by its president Gianni Infantino, who revealed that the final, which will be played at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will have a Super Bowl-style halftime show with "a list of artists" that will conclude with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Phil Harvey.

He did so through his Instagram account where he published the following text: "I can confirm the first break at a FIFA World Cup final in New York, New Jersey, in partnership with Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and an appropriate spectacle for the world's biggest sporting event," he said.

In the same post, he also announced that "we also talked about how FIFA will take over Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, both during the bronze medal match and during the final. It will be two incredible matches, with some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City."

I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will work with us at FIFA to finalize the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as in Times Square," he concluded.

Houston Dynamo will give away tickets to their fans for the next game due to Messi's absence

 Lionel Messi did not play in Inter Miami's last Major League Soccer (MLS) match as a precaution. The Argentine has no discomfort, but Tata Martino wanted to give his star a rest. Houston Dynamo, Inter Miami's rivals, promoted the match throughout the week assuming that Messi would play in the match, but he did not. Not only did they lose the match 1-4, but also the team's fans took to social media with comments such as "what a joke of a league". As an apology, the club decided to give tickets to all those affected for a future Dynamo match in MLS

The news received a lot of negative feedback and fans were quick to show their displeasure. Some agreed that "they should be refunded for the tickets", something that has ended up happening although in a different way. Houston Dynamo were forced to apologise as they expected the stadium to have a large crowd to see Messi and other great stars live

The statement read: "The report on the condition of the players did not include Leo Messi, but it has been communicated that he has not traveled to Houston. Unfortunately, we have no control over who is going to play in the opposing team."

The solution: give away tickets for the next match

Amid the uproar and criticism that arose around this incident, the team took steps before the game against Inter Miami to address the problem. They decided to compensate all those who were going to attend that match with free tickets to the next game.

The capacity of the stadium is 22,000 spectators. The attendance was 20,810, almost a 'sold out'. Tickets to watch the match live ranged from $80 to $200. Houston Dynamo 'repaired' their double mistake by compensating their fans with the opportunity to watch their team for free in the next MLS match.

Jordan Spieth ribs Arnold Palmer Invitational for lack of invite

 Next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational will feature a high-profile field of 72 players but two of the game’s most popular players will not be there.

Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler did not receive invites to Bay Hill; instead, Rafael Campos, Justin Rose, Min Woo Lee, and Mackenzie Hughes received the four sponsors’ exemptions.

Last year, Spieth played through a wrist injury that eventually required surgery in August. He did not make it to the Tour Championship and posted only three top 10s.

Spieth subsequently missed more than five months and returned to the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February. Spieth tied for 69th there, but then rebounded with a strong T-4 finish at the WM Phoenix Open. The three-time major winner missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational the following week, but bounced back at this week’s Cognizant Classic, finishing in a tie for ninth.

Now Spieth has a week off, and will have to watch one of his favorite events from home.

“I’m bummed not to be there next week,” Spieth said.

“It’s been a great, great place for me, and I really wish I was getting that start, but I needed to play better injured golf last year, I guess.”

Spieth said he feels good overall and will next tee it up at The Players, which begins Mar. 13. He will also play at the Valspar Championship in Tampa the following week.

“I feel like I’m trending in the right direction,” Spieth said.

“I feel like I played better [this week] than I did in Phoenix. Phoenix is a better fit for me, I think, maybe. I just throw out Torrey Pines because I did what I always do there. It’s really not a great judge on where I’m at.

“I really do feel like I’m playing good golf at about 60 percent of the control tee to green that I’m capable of doing and still able to come to a very challenging golf course and hit nice shots and shoot under-par rounds. I’m one swing away on Friday from having a chance to win, and that was a 9-iron, which is just a 1-in-100 kind of chunk.”

That one swing Spieth alluded to came on the par-3 17th, where he found the water off the tee. After re-hitting from the drop-zone, Spieth three-putted from 20 feet and walked away with a triple bogey six. He ultimately finished five strokes behind winner Joe Highsmith, but he would have been a bigger part of the conversation without that shot.

Had he finished higher, Spieth may have snuck into the Arnold Palmer Invitational field via the Aon Swing 5. But he also would have received an invite had he won, which would have marked his first victory since the 2022 RBC Heritage.

At any rate, Spieth’s week off may be a blessing in disguise — he can rest his left wrist before playing back-to-back weeks.

“[My wrist has] been pretty good this week. It’s been pretty much the same every morning when I wake up,” Spieth said.

“It’s just minorly maybe getting a little bit better as it’s getting warmer, but it’s very slowly — by the time I start hitting, everything is okay, and I’m not thinking about it much at all on the golf course, which is really the goal. I just hope that I start to wake up and it starts to feel a little more normal. It’s strange. It doesn’t feel unstable like last year; it’s just simply beating it up. It’s just the scar tissue and some of the inflammation.”

Tiger Woods highlights Monday's notable field at Seminole Pro-Member

 Tiger Woods isn't competing in the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he will be active this week.

Woods was listed in the field for the annual Seminole Pro-Member tournament, which will be contested Monday at famed Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida.

Woods is also scheduled to compete for his Jupiter Links team in Tuesday night's TGL match.

Woods, who underwent another back surgery in September, hasn't played on the PGA Tour since last year's Open Championship. He was eligible to play at Bay Hill, where he has won eight times on Tour, and has one year remaining on his Players Championship exemption. As a past champion, he could also make his return at the Masters Tournament.

Woods is playing at Seminole with former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh for the second consecutive year. The field includes Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda, Tom Brady and a host notable tour pros and heavy hitters in the golf, sports and business worlds.