Iranian-backed Houthis claim responsibility for US reaper drone crash off Yemen coast

2024년 04월 28일

Iranian-backed Houthis rebels have claimed responsibility for a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone crash off the coast of Yemen on Thursday, Fox News confirmed on Friday.

Thursday’s crash is the fourth remotely piloted drone brought down by Iranian-proxy groups since November, costing the U.S. government upwards of $120 million.

It is also the third time Houthi rebels have brought down a U.S. MQ-9 drone.

SHIP COMES UNDER ATTACK OFF COAST OF YEMEN AS HOUTHI REBEL CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO GAIN NEW SPEED

Remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drones cost around $30 million each. (Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

Last fall, the Houthis released video of a reaper drone the rebels shot down on Nov. 8, one day after Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israel.

The rebels also brought down a second MQ-9 earlier this year, and another Iranian-proxy group brought one down in Iraq in January.

MQ-9 Reapers are primarily used to collect intelligence, but can also be armed with Hellfire missiles. They have a wingspan of 66 feet and cost about $30 million.

Unlike other Iranian-proxy groups, the Houthis continue to launch attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They have launched 131 attacks to date, according to a U.S. defense official.

YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBELS CONTINUE TO LAUNCH ATTACKS DESPITE MONTH OF US-LED AIRSTRIKES

Members of the UK’s Royal Navy aboard the HMS Diamond shoot down a missile fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthis on Wednesday. (LPhot Chris Sellars/MoD Crown via AP)

On Thursday, Houthis also attacked a ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden, officials said.

The attack came after the U.S. military said early Thursday that an allied warship shot down a Houthi missile targeting a vessel the day before near the same area.

Houthi rebels lift their rifles and chant slogans in Sanaa, Yemen, last month. (Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)

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The Houthis also claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Students at prestigious Paris university occupy campus building in pro-Palestinian protest

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2024년 04월 28일

Students in Paris inspired by Gaza solidarity encampments at campuses in the United States blocked access to a campus building at a prestigious French university Friday, prompting administrators to move all classes online.

The pro-Palestinian protest kicked off a day of drama at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po, which counts President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal among its many famous alumni.

ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS AT COLUMBIA ISSUE DEFIANT ULTIMATUM, END ‘NEGOTIATIONS’ WITH SCHOOL

Protesters first occupied a central campus building and blocked its entrance with trash cans, wooden platforms and a bicycle. They also gathered at the building’s windows, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, and hung out Palestinian flags and placards.

France-Israel-Palestinians-Campus-Protests

Students block the Sciences-Po university on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Paris. Students at a prestigious university resumed pro-Palestinian protests on Friday, days after French police broke up a demonstration, inspired by Gaza solidarity encampments at campuses around the United States. Dozens of students from the Sciences-Po university blocked an entrance to a campus building in central Paris with chairs and bikes. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Schaeffer)

Later Friday, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators faced each other in a tense standoff in the street outside the school. Riot police stepped in to separate the opposing groups.

As night fell, a dwindling group of pro-Palestinian protesters refused to budge, ignoring police orders to evacuate the street and warnings of possible arrests. Eventually, demonstrators came out of the building, carrying a large Palestinian flag, to cheers from the protesters who had been supporting them outside. They then started to stream peacefully away from the area, watched by police.

Among protester demands was that Sciences Po sever ties with Israeli schools. In an email to students, Sciences Po administrator Jean Bassères pledged to hold a townhall meeting in the coming week and to suspend some disciplinary proceedings against students. In return, students “committed to no longer disrupting courses, examinations and all other activities of the institution,” the email said.

The Gaza war is sharply divisive in France, which has the largest populations of Muslims and Jews in western Europe. France initially sought to ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations after Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war. Antisemitism has surged.

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters had also occupied a Sciences Po amphitheater. Most agreed to leave after discussions with management but a small group of students remained. They were removed by police later that night, according to French media reports.

The university administration closed all university buildings and moved classes online Friday. It said in a statement it “strongly condemns these student actions which prevent the proper functioning of the institution and penalize Sciences Po students, teachers and employees.”

Louise, a protester, said the students’ actions were inspired by similar demonstrations at New York’s Columbia University and other U.S. campuses.

“But our solidarity remains first and foremost with the Palestinian people,” she said. She spoke on condition that only her first name be used over concerns of repercussions.

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Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war have been digging in at Columbia University, one of a number of demonstrations roiling campuses from California to Connecticut.

Hundreds of students and even some professors have been arrested across the U.S., sometimes amid struggles with police.

Orbán challenger leads protest calling for child protection after sexual abuse scandal in Hungary

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2024년 04월 28일

An aspiring challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán renewed his calls for change Friday as he led a protest of several thousand people demanding a more robust child protection system and the resignation of Orbán’s government.

The demonstrators gathered outside Hungary’s Interior Ministry in Budapest and called for its head, Sándor Pintér, to step down over what they see as his failure to prevent the sexual abuse of children in state-run institutions, a crime which has led to political upheaval in Hungary in recent months.

HUNGARY PM ORBÁN BLASTS ‘WESTERN WORLD,’ CALLS FOR TRUMP VICTORY

Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer who has emerged as a new voice of opposition to Hungary’s right-wing government, took aim at Orbán’s portrayal of himself as a defender of families and traditional values, and called for genuine reforms to address child welfare.

Peter Magyar, a former insider within Orban’s ruling Fidesz party speaks during a protest outside the Hungarian Interior Ministry building to demand stronger protections for children and Interior minister Sandor Pinter to step down, in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, April 26, 2024. The demonstration was the latest in a series of large anti-government protests that Magyar has mobilized in recent weeks, and comes as the political newcomer is campaigning for EU elections this June with his new party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA). (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

“We have a government that claims to be family friendly. It is a government that pretends to be Christian. A government that lies about being child-friendly. A government that lies about being pro-peace,” Magyar told the crowd. “The opposite is true. They lie in the morning, they lie at night, they lie everywhere they can.”

The demonstration was the latest in a series of large anti-government protests that Magyar has mobilized in recent weeks, and comes as the political newcomer is campaigning for European Union elections this June with his new party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA). He has called for Orbán and his government to step down, and vowed to represent a third option for Hungarians disillusioned by both Orbán’s 14 years of governance and Hungary’s fragmented and ineffectual opposition parties.

A one-time insider within Orbán’s Fidesz party and the ex-husband of former justice minister and Orbán ally Judit Varga, Magyar shot to prominence when he publicly accused the government of corruption and cronyism following a child sexual abuse scandal that led to the resignations in February of the president and justice minister.

The scandal erupted after it was revealed that the former president, Katalin Novák, had issued a presidential pardon to a man convicted of trying to cover up child sexual abuse in a rural youth home. The case went to the heart of Orbán’s image as a Christian conservative who protects families and children from what he calls “LGBTQ propaganda.”

Magyar on Friday said that Hungary’s child protection policies, which have been criticized for conflating homosexuality with pedophilia and abridging the rights of sexual minorities, have allowed abuses to go on unpunished, and demanded that Orbán apologize to the survivors of abuse in the orphanage.

Hungary’s government has dismissed Magyar as an opportunist seeking a new career after he lost several positions in state companies following his divorce with the former justice minister. But his message has had wide appeal, and opinion polls showed that his new party is likely to gain seats in the European Parliament in June elections.

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László Horváth Etele, one of the demonstrators on Friday, said he sees Magyar as capable not only of mounting a real challenge to Orbán, but of disrupting the opposition parties that have been unable to unseat him in 14 years.

“To be able to defeat the currently reigning government, this opposition needs to be changed. The current Hungarian opposition was only able to deliver a two-thirds majority for Fidesz,” he said. “I think that whoever loses so many times in a row should leave the field and give his place to new challengers who may have a chance.”

A British tourist is in a hospital after a shark attack; Tobago closes several beaches

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2024년 04월 28일

A shark attacked a British tourist on Friday in the southeastern Caribbean, prompting the government of Trinidad & Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park. The man was hospitalized in an intensive care unit following the attack, officials said.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FACING ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY’ AFTER MAJOR COASTAL OIL SPILL

The closure included beaches along the northwestern coast of the island of Tobago. The attack occurred at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay.

World-Data-Locator-Map,-Trinidad-and-Tobago

A shark attack on a British tourist in the southeastern Caribbean prompted the government of Trinidad and Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park. (Encyclopaedia Britannica/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The government said in a statement that shark sightings were reported in the Grafton area and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. Officials said the closures will allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the incident and “neutralize the shark threat, if possible.”

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Shark attacks are rare. Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide, along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.

Falcons’ decision to choose Michael Penix Jr ‘selfish,’ former NFL player says

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2024년 04월 28일

The Atlanta Falcons stunned the NFL world on Thursday night when the team selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract.

Former NFL player Ross Tucker, who is also an analyst for CBS, appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday and tore into the Falcons for making the pick. He called the pick “selfish” and “disrespectful.”

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Atlanta Falcons first round draft choice quarterback Michael Penix Jr., speaks during a news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

“When in doubt, in the NFL, in my experience, look for the decision-makers to make decisions that they believe is in their best interest for their job security, and/or job preservation,” Tucker explained. “And I believe, at some point, the Falcons’ GM, Terry Fontenot, and the head coach, Raheem Morris, were talking, and they realized, ‘Hey, we’re probably gonna be pretty good the next couple years, with Kirk Cousins. The NFC South’s not that great. We will be in the mix, maybe we’ll win the division, be in the playoffs.

“But if we get a guy like Penix now, then, Year 3, maybe Year 4, we have a succession plan in place,’ to the point where Arthur Blank isn’t gonna fire them before Penix has at least one year, maybe even two.”

Tucker added that he believed the Falcons brass “bought themselves a four-year runway” to see what they could do.

Atlanta Falcons first round draft choice quarterback Michael Penix Jr., holds a Falcons jersey during a news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

COLTS’ CHRIS BALLARD RIPS CRITICAL REPORTS AROUND DRAFT PICK IN EXPLETIVE RANT

“I think it’s selfish, and this is coming from a former player’s perspective, I think it’s borderline disrespectful,” he added. “I think it’s one of the worst moves I’ve seen in a long time. . . . I think it’s a selfish move by the GM and head coach, that’s my read on it from a player’s perspective.”

Cousins was reportedly told of the pick when it was happening.

Penix said later Friday he heard from Cousins and Falcons legend Michael Vick after he was selected.

He added he felt comfortable working behind Cousins.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins speaks during a news conference Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Cousins has one playoff victory in his long career. The Falcons are betting at least $100 million that he’s the guy who can lead them to the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

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“I know I’m going to put in a ton of work to make sure whenever I do step on that field it’s not going to be a beat missed,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Travis and Jason Kelce reveal how many NFL players believe in flat Earth conspiracy theory

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2024년 04월 28일

Travis and Jason Kelce made interesting comments about the beliefs of some players in NFL locker rooms on the latest episode of their “New Heights” podcast earlier this week.

The Kelce brothers had Andrew Santino, one of the stars on “Dave” and the co-host of the “Bad Friends” podcast with Bobby Lee, on their show. Travis Kelce brought up how “conspiracy theories help bring NFL locker rooms together” as he prefaced a question about them to Santino.

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Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) hug after an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on November 20, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The comedian then asked how many NFL players believe in “flat Earth.” The Kansas City Chiefs star and the retired Philadelphia Eagles great both jumped at the chance to answer.

“Dude, honestly, there at least 10 guys, 10 to 15 guys in every locker room I would imagine,” Travis said.

“You would be shocked,” Jason added. “If you took an anonymous poll, like nobody had to disclose their name or anything or anything like that, you’re over 15% of an NFL locker room … maybe over 20.”

COLTS’ CHRIS BALLARD RIPS CRITICAL REPORTS AROUND DRAFT PICK IN EXPLETIVE RANT

Santino appeared to be stunned by the suggestion.

“Dude, everyone gets hit in the head,” Travis said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Comedian Andrew Santino performs at The Ice House Comedy Club on August 5, 2023, in Pasadena, California. (Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images)

Santino went on to joke about the “NFL is rigged” theory, which was brought up toward the end of the 2022 season on Barstool Sports’ “Macrodosing” podcast.

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Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce are honored during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 5, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

The bit took over social media, and the NFL even included a “script read” to start the 2023 season. However, the NFL may need to hire new writers as the Chiefs were Super Bowl champions in dramatic fashion for the second straight season. This time, it was against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Colts’ Chris Ballard rips critical reports around draft pick in expletive rant

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2024년 04월 28일

The Indianapolis Colts selected wide receiver Adonai Mitchell out of Texas in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, giving quarterback Anthony Richardson another weapon in the arsenal.

In the wake of the pick, Colts general manager Chris Ballard came out hot when talking to reporters and slammed unnamed sources who had been critical of Mitchell in the days leading up to the vent. The slights may have caused Mitchell to move to the second round.

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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) celebrates after making a catch for a first down during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2023, at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“I read some of the bulls—t that was said on TV,” Ballard said, via FOX 59. I mean, just the typical f— … our typical league. Unnamed sources, bad interview, that’s such bulls—t. I mean it f—ing is. It’s bulls—t.

“Like, put your name on it. I’m tired (of it). We tear these young men down. These are 21-, 22-year old men, and if people can tell me they’re perfect in their lives, it’s crap. It’s crap. This is a good kid. And for those reports to come out, I said it last year, it’s bulls—t.

KIRK HERBSTREIT BELIEVES VIKINGS’ NEW QUARTERBACK J.J. MCCARTHY COULD BECOME ‘ONE OF THE FACES OF THE NFL’

General Manager Chris Ballard of the Indianapolis Colts speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

Mitchell told reporters himself he was “p—ed.” He said he wasn’t celebrating getting into the league but rather ready to get to work, according to ESPN.

The wide receiver transferred from Georgia to Texas after the 2022 season.

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Adonai Mitchell, #WO19 of Texas, during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

With the Longhorns, he had 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. He didn’t get as much hype as the top receivers in the draft, but he is still expected to be just as productive, if not more, once his pro career begins.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Two teams tried to acquire Justin Herbert before drafting quarterbacks: report

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2024년 04월 28일

The Los Angeles Chargers are in a rebuild, but they’re not in that much of a rebuild.

This offseason alone, the Chargers parted ways with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler – those departures came following a 5-11 season.

It was a tumultuous 2023 for the Chargers, who had blown a 27-point lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs the season prior.

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Justin Herbert, #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers, looks to throw the football during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 3, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

After an embarrassing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, they fired controversial head coach Brandon Staley, and to make matters worse, Justin Herbert’s season was cut short due to injury.

They hired Jim Harbaugh after his nine seasons at Michigan, the most recent being a 15-0 season with a national championship, and although he’s providing a new identity, he doesn’t want a new quarterback.

ESPN reported that both the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings had conversations with the Chargers in the weeks leading up to the draft regarding Herbert’s availability.

The Pats took Drake Maye with the third pick on Thursday, while the Vikings moved up one spot to take Harbaugh’s quarterback at Michigan, J.J. McCarthy.

Justin Herbert, #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers, throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the game at SoFi Stadium on November 26, 2023, in Inglewood, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

49ERS’ BRANDON AIYUK GIVES SURPRISING 4-WORD REACTION TO TEAM DRAFTING HIS POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT

Chargers general manager Joe Horitz confirmed that teams tried, but didn’t reveal which, and they were ultimately unsuccessful.

“No. No, at the combine I had some people ask me would we consider it, and they were quickly shot down. No, that is never an option,” he said.

Los Angeles selected the Oregon product with the sixth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft – he was the third quarterback selected in the class behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Before the 2023 season, he signed an extension worth over $260 million.

In 13 games, he threw for 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was on pace for his worst season thus far, though, as his 65.1 completion percentage and 241.1 yards per game were both career-lows.

Justin Herbert, #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers, returns to the field during a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on December 10, 2023, in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

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The Chargers did give Herbert some help in the second round, though, by taking Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, joining last year’s first-round selection in Quentin Johnston.

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Clippers’ Russell Westbrook, Mavericks’ PJ Washington get into altercation in Dallas’ Game 3 win

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2024년 04월 28일

Los Angeles Clippers star Russell Westbrook and Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington were ejected from the teams’ Game 3 matchup on Friday night following a scuffle.

The altercation occurred in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ Game 3 101-90 victory. Westbrook switched to guard Luka Doncic. After the Mavericks gained an offensive rebound, the ball swung back to Doncic. The Dallas sharpshooter drove into the lane when Westbrook got locked up with Doncic.

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Russell Westbrook and PJ Washington in an altercation

Referee Justin Van Duyne (64) holds Los Angeles Clippers’ Russell Westbrook (0) back and another holds Dallas Mavericks’ P.J. Washington after an altercation during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Westbrook was called for a foul and protested. When Doncic tried to argue with Westbrook, he received a forearm shove from the veteran NBA player. Washington got involved and pushed Westbrook, resulting in a shove from the Clippers player in retaliation.

Both players had to be separated and were ejected.

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Westbrook received a flagrant 1 foul for excessive contact on Josh Green during a breakaway chance earlier in the game.

LAKERS D’ANGELO RUSSELL FACES SCRUTINY FOR BEHAVIOR ON THE BENCH DURING TEAM’S PLAYOFF MELTDOWN

Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (77) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers’ Russell Westbrook, right, during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

“We’ve got to channel our aggression in other ways,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “It’s getting chippy. I like the physicality. I like the tough possessions. I like all of that. But we’ve got to make sure we’re not getting the technical fouls, we’re not getting thrown out of the game, because everybody’s important.”

Westbrook finished with one point and three rebounds in the loss.

Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the way for Dallas. Doncic had 22 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Irving had 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Washington had 10 points before he was tossed.

Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic talks to an official as Los Angeles Clippers’ Russell Westbrook, rear, listens during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas leads the series 2-1. Game 4 is set for Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

IndyCar bars political branding on vehicles at Indianapolis 500 after reported Trump-RFK Jr request

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2024년 04월 28일

The Indianapolis 500 may be among the most famous motorsports competitions in the United States, comparable to NASCAR’s Daytona 500 to start the Cup Series season.

And while the Indy 500 takes place next month, less than six months before voting begins for the 2024 presidential election, there will be no political branding on vehicles that take part in the May 26 race.

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Josef Newgarden (#2 Team Penske) and Marcus Ericsson (#8 Chip Ganassi Racing) race into turn one on a restart during the NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2023, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

One entry to the race requested to have Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy on its livery for the race, RACER reported Friday. But the request was denied.

“IndyCar does not approve sponsorships associated with elected officials, candidates for political office or political action committees,” an IndyCar spokesman told the outlet.

It wasn’t clear which driver or IndyCar team submitted the request.

NASCAR DRIVER ERIK JONES SUFFERS BROKEN BACK IN BRUTAL TALLADEGA CRASH

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, and Donald Trump are running for president. (Getty Images)

The Indianapolis 500 is known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Last year’s race drew in 300,000 fans, according to multiple reports. More than 2 million tuned into the race at home.

American Josef Newgarden held off Marcus Ericsson, Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi to win his first Indy 500.

The 2024 race is expected to be just as interesting. NASCAR star Kyle Larson is expected to do double duty – participate in the Indy 500 and compete in the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600.

Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden of United States celebrates winning the 2023 Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. It was his first Indy 500 victory. (Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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Kurt Busch was the last driver to pull off double duty. He finished in sixth place in the Indianapolis 500 but finished in 40th at the Coca-Cola 600.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Kirk Herbstreit believes Vikings’ new quarterback JJ McCarthy could become ‘one of the faces of the NFL’

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2024년 04월 28일

The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan standout J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes the organization made the right call.

McCarthy, who led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and the national championship before declaring, saw a rise in his draft stock in the weeks leading up to the big night, but he ultimately fell to the No. 10 spot after the Vikings traded up to select the young signal caller.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines is hit by Dallas Turner of the Alabama Crimson Tide during this year’s Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Four other quarterbacks were taken before him, including former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who lost to Michigan in the title game.

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But during a recent episode of OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich,” Herbstreit praised McCarthy as the real deal, which he credited in large part to former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s offense.

“The guy’s a winner — he’s 27-1, won a national title, brought Michigan back to being Michigan, and now he goes to Minnesota. And I think if you look at [Vikings head coach] Kevin O’Connell… he’s going to put a system that’s very similar to what J.J. McCarthy did at Michigan, and I think this kid’s going to fit in perfectly.”

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy talks with head coach Jim Harbaugh before the Big Ten championship game against Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

VIKINGS TRADE UP IN NFL DRAFT TO SELECT J.J. MCCARTHY AFTER SURPRISING FALL

“I think that kid could eventually become one of the faces of the NFL. I think he’s got a chance to really take off,” Herbstreit added.

The Vikings obviously saw something similar and made the move for McCarthy. They traded up with the New York Jets, handing over the No. 11 pick and a fourth and fifth-rounder in exchange for Nos. 10 and 203.

J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Washington Huskies during the 2024 CFP National Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 8. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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“We knew we weren’t the only ones that had identified him as a quarterback we wanted to select,” O’Connell said of the jump. “You start thinking about the what-if.”

In his two full seasons as starter, McCarthy went 27-1. He set the program record with a 72.3% completion percentage and threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid fighting through Bell’s palsy amid NBA playoffs

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2024년 04월 28일

Joel Embiid, star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, revealed on Thursday that he has been battling through a Bell’s Palsy diagnosis for the past 10 days, playing through the diagnosis as the Sixers feel their backs against the wall.

Embiid shared the news of his condition with the media after Game 3’s 125-113 win by Philly.

Bell’s Palsy leads to partial paralysis of the face. In Embiid’s case, the left side of his face has been affecting him during the ongoing series against the New York Knicks. The reigning MVP scored 50 points in Game 3, a playoff record total for Embiid, to help keep Philly alive in the series. There is no set timeline on a recovery for Embiid.

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Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center on April 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

As part of sharing his diagnosis, Embiid noted that he’s seeking treatment but will be muscling through the nagging condition these playoffs.

“My body was just, I was just not feeling it,” Embiid said when first identifying the symptoms.

76ERS JOEL EMBIID DROPS 50 IN PLAYOFF WIN BUT FLAGRANT FOUL RAISES EYEBROWS

Embiid still struggles with migraines and rapid dryness in his left eye.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks to pass around Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

Fans noticed the slight stiffness on Embiid’s face during Monday’s Game 2 broadcast. Embiid appeared startled during a free throw attempt when his left eye could not blink in tandem with his right eye.

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“Yes, it’s pretty annoying. My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing.”

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots over Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on December 22, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Embiid first noticed symptoms on April 17 after facing the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. In this series, the center has worn glasses in postgame interviews, which Embiid admitted was due to the partial paralysis in his face.

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“It hasn’t really necessarily gotten better,” Embiid added. “With the conversations that I’ve had, it could be weeks, it could be months.

“I just hope that it stays like this. I’ve got a beautiful face. I don’t like when my mouth is looking the other way. Unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason.”

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