Ever wonder where A-list actors get their start? Often, it's not under the spotlight but behind the scenes, blending into crowds and delivering silent performances. These now-household names paid their dues in the background before nabbing leading roles and Oscar gold. From iconic action heroes to beloved comedic stars, here are the familiar faces who once started out as background actors and how each made their way to center stage.
ZUMA Press / MEGA
Before he was an action icon, Bruce Willis appeared in countless film and TV projects as an uncredited extra, including a background role as a courtroom observer in the Oscar-nominated legal drama The Verdict, as reported by Backstage. These early experiences paved the way for his breakthrough television role as wisecracking detective David Addison on Moonlighting, the series that first turned him into a household name, according to Britannica.
MEGA
Evangeline Lilly's path to fame started quietly, as she took on small, non-speaking parts on shows like Smallville and Kingdom Hospital before ever landing a credited role, as reported by TVOvermind. It was her role as Kate Austen on the ABC drama Lost that catapulted her to fame, with producers casting the relative newcomer over dozens of more experienced actresses who read for the part, according to CBR. Today, she's a leading action star with a loyal fanbase.

#actors

Jared Leto has been accused of criminal **** ual conduct by multiple women in a bombshell documentary.
The Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman has been accused of **** ual **** ault, threatening **** ual **** ault, having **** with a minor and making **** ually explicit phone calls in the new BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret.
In the documentary, which airs in the U.K. on Wednesday, one woman alleged that she was **** ually **** aulted by the 54-year-old in 2002, when she was 17 and he was in his 30s.
The woman, going by the pseudonym Isabel, claimed that Leto called her into the bathroom of a "gross motel" while he was showering, "opened the shower curtain and started kissing" her before allegedly grabbing her hand and using it to **** himself.
Another woman claimed she was left alone with the Suicide Squad star in a hotel room when she was 19 and he threatened her with **** ual **** ault.
A third alleged that she had **** with Leto at his home in California when she was 17 and he was 34, and he "shrugged off" a conversation about the state's age of consent being 18. She visited his house two or three more times.

#sexual #assault #jared

Elizabeth Hurley formed an opinion on Miley Cyrus way before they were introduced by Billy Ray Cyrus.
While appearing on Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live, the Bedazzled actress, 61, revealed Miley was a well-known name in her house for years prior to her becoming her boyfriend's daughter. She recalled, "I'd never met her, but my son used to love Hannah Montana, so he loved Father Montana," speaking of her son Damian, who she shares with businessman Steve Bing.
"He loved Miley too, so I always knew who she was, and when he was a young teen, he used to love all her music," she continued. "I used to have to watch her music videos, like "Wrecking Ball," a zillion times with him, so we were very familiar with who she was, and I knew I was going to like her."
Since meeting the Grammy winner, the actress' thoughts haven't changed much.
"I do like her," Elizabeth said. "She's adorable."

#miley #actress #love #loved

When one considers the investment case for Tesla (TSLA), one hears about electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, Optimus humanoid robots, and energy storage. The company's "Megapod" business is not something that is discussed in the annals of Tesla folklore frequently.
But in the company's latest earnings call, CEO Elon Musk explained how it can aid its AI ambitions. Describing it as a data center hardware system to be used for heavy AI compute, Musk commented, "This allows us to scale AI compute with aggregated electricity production. We can place Megapods at Superchargers and have distributed AI."
Dear ****** eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 6
Amazon Stock Just Hit a Major Hurdle Ahead of Earnings
Elon Musk Just Revealed a Quiet Win for Tesla's AI Ambitions

#compute #optimus

Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let's start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Former UFC ******* le challenger (and current ******* yst) arrested for alleged felony domestic violence, faces 20 years in prison: Anthony Smith seemed to be in a weird mental ******* e after his UFC retirement, but this is SHOCKING!
Reinier de Ridder 'never going back' to middleweight after UFC Sacramento — 'Dumbest s—t I've ever done': I can't help but think de Ridder's best chance at UFC gold was at Middleweight, but I cannot blame him for not wanting to suffer the misery and longterm affects of that drastic cut.
Sean Strickland details disturbing Russian Roulette incident: 'It still gives me chills': I'm genuinely happy Strickland is in a better mental ******* e nowadays.

#mental #midnight #mania

Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Boring wins again. Italgas, the pipe company ***** ody talks about at parties, just posted a record 81% margin and 25% EBITDA growth by doing something shockingly simple: buying a rival and actually integrating it well.
Italgas, Europe's largest gas distributor, posted first-half adjusted EBITDA of €1.07 billion, up 25% year over year. Total adjusted revenue climbed to €1.32 billion, up 17.5%, and adjusted net profit rose 27.3% to €398.6 million. CEO Paolo Gallo called the margin the highest in company history.
The engine behind all of it is last year's acquisition of 2i Rete Gas. Italgas has already banked roughly 42% of its 2032 synergy target, capturing about €130 million in savings in just six months, against €35 million for all of 2025 combined. Total operating costs fell 6.4% even after absorbing the new company's cost base, and dropped more than 20% on a like-for-like basis. Full-year guidance and the long-range strategic plan both stayed intact.
There's no oil-price guessing game here, no battery race, no app anyone needs to fall in love with. Italgas owns pipes under regulated contracts and gets paid to keep them running. The 2i Rete Gas numbers prove something specific: this deal wasn't just about scale, it was about actually finding the overlap in networks, contracts, IT systems, and procurement, and squeezing real money out of it, faster than the integration playbook usually allows.

#italgas #total #company #posted

The AI memory supercycle has emerged as one of 2026's most defining stories, and also one of its most contested. Hyperscaler capital expenditure is expected to reach $750 billion this year, with Goldman Sachs forecasting $7.6 trillion in total AI infrastructure spending through 2031, resulting in a supply shortage of NAND and DRAM memory as data center demand for high-performance storage clashes against the chipmakers' capacity limitations.
That scarcity has been aggravated by reports that TSMC may boost contract chip manufacturing prices by up to 10% in 2027, with some products facing increases of up to 20%, owing to increased materials, equipment, and overseas facility development expenses.
Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is one of the names that have benefited the most from the supercycle. Since its February 2025 spinoff from Western Digital at $35.06 per share, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) has become the single best-performing stock in the S&P 500, climbing up to 858% at its late-June peak on the back of explosive fundamentals: fiscal Q3 2026 revenue reached $5.95 billion, up 97% sequentially and 251% year-over-year, with datacenter revenue specifically up 645% year-over-year.
Management anticipates continued sequential acceleration in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with total revenue expected to range between $7.75 billion and $8.25 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share between $30 and $33, as gross margins increase to near 80%. More crucially, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) reported that its remaining performance obligations and contracted backlog came in between $41.6 billion and $42 billion. Sandisk's entire 2026 enterprise AI storage capacity is sold out under long-term agreements, thus locking in multibillion-dollar cash flows for the rest of the calendar year.
Despite its strong operational reports, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) has not been immune to macroeconomic turbulence. In mid-July, shares fell 8% to 15% across a number of sessions, contributing to a 39% slide from late-June record highs, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell more than 20%. According to market ****** ysts, this pullback is the result of an industry-wide valuation adjustment rather than a structural decline in memory demand or corporate earnings power.

#sandisk #corporation #june

Mexico all but booked their ticket to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U20 Championship after defeating Costa Rica by a 2-0 score. Mexico overcame going down to 10 players to get a victory that place them at 6 points, basically guaranteeing them to be at worst one of the two best third placed teams and thus the ticket to the Quarterfinals. Mexico will look to win the group against Guatemala on Thursday while Costa Rica faces off against Antigua and Barbuda earlier that day.
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with most of the starting 11 from their opener against Antigua and Barbuda. Off a free kick, a cross into the area was almost deflected in by Gabriel Sibaja, as Costa Rica had the first chance of the match. Off a counter, Kionell Estrada got off a right footed shot in the area that went wide. A right footed shot from outside the area from Hugo Camberos went well wide. Both teams traded possession as the match became very even. A bad clearance allowed Matias Cordero to get the ball in the area but his shot was well saved by Mexico's goalkeeper, Juan Liceaga. After a harsh foul, there was a short scuffle between teams that ended with David Carro getting a Yellow card. The match continued to be extremely chippy as Mexico couldn't get going against Costa Rica's physical play. From outside the area, Samir Inda got off a great left footed shot that was deflected off the post. Mexico started to dominate possession as Costa Rica sat back and waited to counter. After a cross into the area was won by Santiago Sandoval, he would get brought down in the area by Adrian Espinoza and a Penalty Kick was given to Mexico. Hugo Camberos stepped up to take the PK and got off a thunderous right footed shot that went past Costa Rica's goalkeeper, Ian O'Rourke to score and give Mexico the 1-o lead. From outside the area, Juan Echivelstre got off a great right footed shot that forced O'Rourke to make a great save. Emmanuel Hernandez answered with a right footed shot from outside the area that Liceaga made a great save on it. The halftime whistle blew and after a slow start to the match, Mexico ended the half being the better team.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Carlos Hernandez for Yohan Orozco. Strangely three minutes into the half, Mexico subbed out Aldahir Valenzuela (possibly because of an injury) for Diego Reyes. A bad clearance from Liceaga ended up with him clearing the ball and kicking Sibaja in the face which earned him a straight red card. It was a terrible mistake from the goalkeeper that now placed the match in extreme danger with only 10 players. Mexico would sub out Juan Sigala for Cristo Navarrate, which because of the strange substitution of Valenzuela, meant that Mexico only had one window for subs for the rest of the match. Off a counter, Inda would make a great pass to Santiago Sandoval, whose left footed shot would be deflected by Emmanuel Brenes past O'Rourk and into the net to score and give Mexico the surprising 2-0 l

Trying to describe what happened when the St. Louis Cardinals played a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night is like trying to explain what it looked like when you see a dumpster on fire. It wasn't pretty, but it happened so let's begin.
The Chicago Cubs made St. Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy look like a batting practice pitcher. It started out promising enough (for the first out, anyway) when Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out gloriously. From there, it was downhill at blazing speed. I'll keep this as brief as possible. Suzuki singled. Two batters later, Bregman hit a ground rule double then Ian Happ hit a double which made it 2-0 Cubs before most of the Busch Stadium crowd had even taken their seat.
The top of the 2nd inning was worse. So much worse. Conforto singled. Kelly walked. Two batters later, PCA hit a sacrifice fly then Suzuki doubled, Busch singled, Bregman singled, Happ walked, then Nico ******* ner singled to right. By the time the carnage was over, it was 7-0 Cubs. Even the all-you-can-eat Busch Stadium food deal isn't enough to redeem this type of experience. Michael McGreevy didn't even finish the 2nd inning. That was Gordon Graceffo's job and, to his credit, he kept the Cubs from piling on any more runs until he was replaced by Justin Bruihl in the top of the 5th inning.
The Cardinals would manage to scrounge around for a run in the bottom of the 4th inning when they loaded the bases with an Alec Burleson walk, a Nootbaar infield single, a Masyn Winn single and a Nathan Church sacrifice fly with the bases loaded slightly reducing the humiliation making it 7-1 Cubs.
The Cubs were determined to squash whatever faint hopes the Cardinals might have managed with that menial 1-run bottom of the 4th by grabbing another run in the top of the 5th inning when Nico ******* ner walked then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch by Justin Bruihl and then scored on an infield single from Ramirez restoring the 7-run lead making it 8-1 Chicago. The Cubs added another run in the top of the 8th to make it 9-1 and another in the top of the 9th to make it 10-1, but who really cares? Oh, the Cardinals did add a run in the bottom of the 9th inning when Masyn Winn doubled in Lars Nootbaar who had walked to make the final score 10-2, but we still don't care.

#even

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers made official the inevitable move with end Micah Parsons due before the official start of training camp.
They placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list July 28.
Parsons is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered against Denver in Week 15 last season. The move allows the Packers the right to keep Parsons from counting against the 53-man roster when the season starts if he is still rehabbing.
Parsons has said that he doesn't expect to be ready until after the first month of the season, so the Packers are expected to keep him on PUP once final cuts are made. He would be forced to miss the first four games.
The Packers would have to have an open roster spot or must create one when he returns to game action.

#packers

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers made official the inevitable move with end Micah Parsons due before the official start of training camp.
They placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list July 28.
Parsons is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered against Denver in Week 15 last season. The move allows the Packers the right to keep Parsons from counting against the 53-man roster when the season starts if he is still rehabbing.
Parsons has said that he doesn't expect to be ready until after the first month of the season, so the Packers are expected to keep him on PUP once final cuts are made. He would be forced to miss the first four games.
The Packers would have to have an open roster spot or must create one when he returns to game action.

#green #official

Keyshia Cole and Skrilla shared romantic photos on Instagram, sparking speculation about their relationship
In an Instagram Stories post, Cole wrapped her arms around Skrilla
In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, the singer opened up about challenges in her love life, describing it as "rough out here"
Is Keyshia Cole in "Love"?
Over the weekend, the "Let It Go" singer and rapper Skrilla sparked dating rumors when they posted coinciding romantic photos on social media.

#romantic

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Monday as investors welcomed signs of a pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran, helping to ease pressure on energy markets ahead of a crucial week for corporate earnings and central bank decisions.
By 05:49 GMT, Dow Jones futures had gained 398 points, or 0.8%, while S&P 500 futures were up 66 points, or 0.9%. Nasdaq 100 futures led the advance, climbing 406 points, or 1.4%.
Wall Street ended last week on a mixed note as rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on investor sentiment. However, indications that the White House is seeking to avoid a broader military escalation have improved market confidence, pushing oil prices lower while supporting both equities and bond markets.
Investors are now turning their attention to one of the busiest weeks of the earnings season, with around one-third of S&P 500 companies scheduled to publish quarterly results. Overall earnings are forecast to increase by approximately 26.5% compared with the same period last year.
Several of the world's largest technology companies are due to report this week, including Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Their results are expected to provide fresh insight into whether the rapid pace of investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure can continue, as markets increasingly debate the long-term profitability of AI-related spending.

#points #investors #prices

The company spent the past year going from survival questions to one of the market's biggest gainers, which makes its retreat from the high the more interesting story.
What Changed To Send Intel (INTC) Up More Than Fourfold?
Over the past year, Intel stock more than quadrupled, climbing about 308%, while the broader market managed nearly 18%. The move was not built on hope. By the company's own account, the conversation flipped from whether Intel could survive to how fast it can add capacity to keep up with demand. Revenue over the last twelve months reached about $57 billion and grew 7.5%, an acceleration from a three-year average near 2%. The businesses tied to AI now make up about 60% of revenue and grew 40% year over year, and management says the CPU is reclaiming ground inside AI systems, with the ratio of processors to accelerators shifting from one-in-eight toward one-in-four.
Is This Just The AI Chip Trade Lifting Everything?
Only partly. AMD rode the same wave and roughly tripled, up about 222%, but Nvidia gained only about 19% and Qualcomm about 7% over the same stretch, a fraction of that. The gains concentrated in the two biggest movers, and Intel outran even AMD. What set it apart was progress in its own factories: management says its 18A manufacturing process is yielding ahead of internal plans, and the company has pointed to multiyear deals with customers such as Google, a slot for its Xeon server chips inside Nvidia's flagship AI systems, and a headline tie-up with Elon Musk's ventures.

#year #inside

The U.S. dollar, euro and British pound enter a pivotal week as investors prepare for the Federal Reserve's July 29 to 30 meeting and the ECB's decision last week while new data comes through. Most **** ysts expect that the Fed will leave rates where they are, although the market will be watching out for clues from Chair Jerome Powell given that the latest US data has confirmed the strength of the economy.
June retail sales were up by 0.2% on the month, while the control group increased by 0.4%, and initial claims for unemployment benefits dropped to 208,000, a three-month low, underlining the strength of the consumer and the labour market. This week brings out the second-quarter GDP, the PCE inflation print for June and July non-farm payrolls which could alter thinking around the second half of the year.
The ECB decided to keep its deposit rate at 2.25% as it sees inflation edging toward its 2% target while remaining data-dependent. ECB President Christine Lagarde said growth remains weak, with members continuing to **** s the impact of the economic effect of trade and higher energy costs on the economic environment.
Sterling remains supported by expectations that the Bank of England will proceed cautiously after it kept Bank Rate at 3.75%, and it sees the UK policymakers juggle between curbing inflation and a steady wage-growth and a cooling labour market. UK mortgage approvals, consumer credit and business surveys are released this week as they provide evidence for the economy ahead of the next Bank of England meeting.
The U.S. Dollar Index is maintaining a healthy uptrend after bouncing off support in the 100.50 zone along the uptrend line. Currently, the index trades at 101.28, keeping the 50-day EMA (101.12) and 100-day EMA (101.01) beneath the index level. The RSI is sitting at 53.

#market #inflation #england

The suspect subdued after allegedly stabbing three women in Paris on Monday uttered, "it is Allah who commanded me" to a crowd that appeared to be holding him down after the apparent terror attack.
The incident comes just days after another stabbing attack in England and a vehicular attack on a Pride parade in Berlin, Germany.
A 31-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was seen on the ground after allegedly stabbing three women, one of whom was reportedly pregnant.
Witnesses Recount 'Scary' Nyc Stabbing After Suspect Allegedly Yelled 'Allahu Akbar' During Attacks
French outlet "Le Figaro" reported his utterances translated to "it is Allah who commanded me" as police sources told the outlet the suspect has an "unbalanced" profile.

#women

With training camp here, the excitement for football season is about to ramp up to a fever pitch. For the Dallas Cowboys, it's been an offseason where more noise has come from their roster moves, free agent acquisitions, and draft picks than any off the field drama, which is a welcome change for a team that will begin the regular season 973 days removed from their last playoff game appearance.
That playoff game was the now-infamous 48-32 home loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys and Packers have met just once since that January game in AT&T Stadium, and it was memorable for a whole other host of reasons, ending in a 40-40 tie on Sunday Night Football last season in week four.
The Cowboys and Packers will meet again on Sunday night primetime this season, at Lambeau Field, this time in week six. As we continue our season preview series, Dallas' division rivals are now all behind us, and our focus will shift to some of the potential toughest games on the schedule against either other rivals or expected playoff contenders at large.
Also for the second year in a row, the Cowboys and Packers early season meeting will be marked by a trade between the two sides involving a pass rusher. Last season, it was Kenny Clark coming over to the Cowboys from the Packers (plus some draft picks) in exchange for Micah Parsons, and this year the Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary after seven seasons with the green and gold. With Parsons still rehabbing from a week 15 ACL tear last season against the Broncos, the Cowboys may not be playing against their own former pass rush star this time around. The Packers scored 40 points on the Matt Eberflus defense in 2025; this game will be a very important early comparison point to just how much of a difference new defensive coordinator Christian Parker is making.
Another theme both of these teams will have going into 2026 is the expectation for their all-important QB/HC pairing to prove they are the right men for the jobs. The Packers will go into year four of Jordan Love as the starting quarterback and year eight for Matt LaFleur having lost in the Wild Card round the last two postseasons. For the Cowboys, it will be just year two of Brian Schottenheimer but year 11 for Dak Prescott. There was a point when Love was an up-and-coming quarterback and Prescott was in the midst of the three straight 12 win seasons under Mike McCarthy, and both were seen as potentially battling for supremacy at the position in the NFC, but so far it still hasn't manifested for either.

#cowboys #packers #year #week

Raiders' Fernando Mendoza unveils true feelings on getting invaluable Tom Brady mentorship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tom Brady has skin in the game when it comes to the Super Bowl race once again. He used to root for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but that was only because his legacy in those areas preceded him. This time around, he is confidently rooting for and actively trying to help the Las Vegas Raiders win the Super Bowl. The first step? Mentoring the former Indiana Hoosiers star and 2026 NFL first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
A lot of pressure is on the shoulders of Fernando Mendoza. After a five-year drought, he became the first player to win the Heisman Trophy while also nabbing the College Football Playoff National Championship. Mendoza also led the greatest program turnaround during his stay with the Indiana Hoosiers. Now, he also has Tom Brady giving him advice as he navigates the NFL as the Raiders' new quarterback.
Obviously, all of this can be a lot for the Raiders' rookie quarterback. But, the mentorship with Brady seems to be helping Mendoza a lot. He even discussed his feelings when it came to his newfound relationship, via Grant Gordon of NFL.com.
"It's surreal. However, you know, he's been such a great resource and he's been, from a young age, he's been a big idol of mine and then now it's, OK, Tom is a human being. Yes, he's an exceptional human being, but he's a human being. So, take what you can, learn from him, and make sure that you value that relationship, rather than looking at him with googly eyes every second," the Raiders quarterback declared.

#super

Big news in the sports world this week as LeBron James finally made his decision about where he is going to play next year, and as you know he decided on the Philadelphia 76ers. So, what does that mean for his sports card and collectibles market?
Shrug emoji.
His cards were already starting to go up-up-up over the last few weeks or so in anticipation of not only his latest decision but in response to the massive Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant card market boom that has happened in the last few months. It seemed only right that the nostalgia and fomo would carry into the LeBron market.
And while many of his flagship Topps rookie cards are in the thousands of dollars, there are still some fun LeBron collectibles on the market that I think are worth grabbing and holding for the long run.
The Campioni di Futuro (mini) rookie card is maybe my all-time favorite. It's odd, it's adorable and it's under $100 for a raw. There's also numbered and different color variations, and while it may not bring you generational wealth, it certainly remains relatively rare for a LeBron rookie.

#market

Oil prices gave up earlier gains on Friday after reports that Pakistan is trying to broker a return to U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. China is strongly backing the effort as the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten its energy security and weigh on its economy.
Brent crude for September delivery fell 4.4% to trade at $96.36 per barrel at 1.35 pm ET while WTI crude for September delivery was down 3.6% to change hands at $88.86/bbl.
However, Standard Chartered says the latest pullback may prove temporary as Middle East oil market risk has expanded from one strategic chokepoint to two.
On Monday, Yemen's Houthi militant group imposed a targeted maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, threatening to enforce it by blocking Saudi-linked vessels from transiting the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group claimed the blockade was a direct retaliation for a decade-long Saudi containment of Yemen as well as a recent Saudi-backed airstrike targeting Sanaa International Airport.
The threat immediately rattled oil markets, prompting multiple Saudi-linked very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to abandon planned transits through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and instead reroute around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to each voyage. Two days later, the Houthis followed through. The group launched ballistic missiles and drones at two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday, damaging both vessels and igniting fires onboard. Brent crude surged nearly $20 per barrel, briefly climbing above $100.

#brent #september

Finally, it's back to football for Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots.
Veterans reported to the facility Friday, July 24, for the unofficial start of training camp, with the first practice set for July 25.
It's been a long offseason for New England, which won the AFC championship last season. But much has happened since the drubbing the Patriots received from the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.
MORE: 1 key storyline for each NFL team entering training camp
"When you don't have a lot of expectations, you can't be disappointed," head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters in June. "I just felt like there hasn't been much complacency. I think the guys have worked. We've had great leadership, added some good leaders and good pieces, and we are continuing to build and hopefully prepare for a long journey."

#england #much

Shreyas Iyer finally ended his wait for a victory as India's T20I captain after leading the side to a convincing seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three-game series in Harare on Thursday.

The result marked Shreyas' first win since taking over the captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav earlier this year. India had endured a difficult run under his leadership, beginning with a shock 2-0 series defeat to Ireland before suffering a 4-0 drubbing against England in a five-match T20I series.

Former India opener Sadagopan Ramesh said the celebrations following the Zimbabwe win were understandable given the team's recent struggles, insisting the victory would come as a major relief for the skipper.

"Many are saying India shouldn't be so excited for just a win over Zimbabwe. Yet, when you are starving for a victory for so long in T20Is, even leftover food will taste like a wedding meal. Shreyas Iyer will be relieved, considering India's fall under his captaincy. He would have reached a point where a win over anyone would have been enough for him," Ramesh said in a video uploaded on Instagram.

Ramesh also reserved praise for VVS Laxman, who is serving as India's interim head coach for the Zimbabwe tour. He credited the former India batter for consistently delivering positive results whenever he takes charge of the national side.

"VVS Laxman also deserves high praise. India perform well every time he's the head coach. Under him, India seem to always whitewash the opponents, even at a time the other teams are constantly whitewashing India otherwise. It got to the point where India just needed a win of any kind and hence their elation after beating even Zimbabwe," he added.

India's victory was further highlighted by a historic knock from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old blazed his way to a maiden international half-century in just 18 ****** , becoming the youngest player to score a fifty in men's international cricket.

Sooryavanshi reached the milestone at the age of 15 years and 118 days, eclipsing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. The batting great was 16 years and 213 days old when he registered his maiden international fifty against Pakistan in a Test at Faisalabad in 1989.

#shreyas #victory #series

Jose Mourinho had a very successful first spell at Real Madrid, going toe-to-toe with a super Barcelona team, and now he is back for his second spell.
During his time in the Spanish capital back then, several players played and trained under him, and anecdotes from them are always interesting to hear.
One of them is Borja Mayoral, who spent a stint at Los Blancos and is currently playing for city rivals Getafe.
In an interview with MARCA, the current Getafe striker spoke openly about his experience with Mourinho, describing both the positive influence the coach had on his development and the moments that left him uncomfortable in the dressing room.
Despite not always enjoying regular playing time, Mayoral spoke warmly about Mourinho's work on the training ground. He said:

#mayoral

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs watches the action with son, Bronze, during the first inning between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) Getty
The Kansas City Chiefs officially kicked off training camp on July 24 with quarterbacks and rookies reporting to Missouri Western State's campus.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid started the day with incredible news during his press conference, revealing Patrick Mahomes was cleared to be a full participant in practice. After Mahomes tore his ACL and MCL against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, the normal timeline for recovery would force the three-time Super Bowl MVP to miss the start of the 2026 NFL season.
However, starting Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football seems to be in play. "I feel stronger than I've ever felt, as far as strength and lifting [weights]," Mahomes told reporters. "I feel amazing."
"I'm excited just to be able to play football," he continued. "I've been seeing cinderblock walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City. Now, to be on that practice field with my teammates, it's going to be a lot of fun."

#patrick #getty #i 've

Interested in Ladder Capital Corp? Here are five stocks we like better.
Ladder Capital reported distributable earnings of $30.8 million, or $0.24 per share, in Q2 2026, while management said the stock still trades at a meaningful discount to book value. The company's dividend yield was highlighted as above 9%.
The firm is continuing to rotate capital into higher-yielding balance sheet loans, with more than $800 million of new investments in the quarter and $1.2 billion of loans originated year to date. Management said the loan portfolio grew 75% over the past 12 months and expects net portfolio growth to continue through year-end.
Ladder ended the quarter with $1.1 billion of liquidity and repurchased $8 million of stock at a 25% discount to book value, with $92 million still available under its buyback authorization. Book value per share was $13.44, and management said it remains focused on buybacks, balance-sheet strength and narrowing the valuation gap.
Ladder Corporation: Climbing Higher And Paying 9% Yield

#Stock

Updated July 23, 2026 4:56 pm ET
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1010 ET – Fewer apartments are sitting empty, rents are climbing, and yet the deals keep coming, Zillow says. The typical U.S. asking rent rose to $1,965, up 2.2% compared to a year ago, and nearly 2 in 5 rental listings came with a concession attached. A concession is a move-in discount, commonly a free month’s rent, waived fees or free parking. For renters who land a freebie, the real cost of renting can be softer than the asking price suggests. The 2.2% annual rent growth in June is a slight acceleration from the previous month. Yet the increase in concessions-39.7% of rental listings on Zillow offered one in June, up from 35.2% a year ago—softens the blow for renters. The backdrop is a rental market that has added significant new inventory over the past few years, giving renters more choices.(chris.wackwsj.com)

#concession

On July 21, during CNBC's Mad Money program, host Jim Cramer used the daily chart **** ysis by options trader Bob Lang, founder of Explosive Options, to examine American Express Company (NYSE:AXP). Cramer pointed to the company's distinct cardholder demographic and high-margin annual fee structure, as he highlighted why the premium card issuer remains a long-time favorite for core portfolio allocations:
Now finally, there's one that I have been near and dear for as long as I can remember, and that's American Express. Now, this only has 10% of purchase volume with fewer cards in circulation, but their cardholders tend to spend a lot more money. Plus, they charge fees for their best cards, basically making you pay for access to their generous rewards programs. It's a fantastic business model. But remember, they do have credit risk.
Under Cramer's framework, American Express occupies a specialized niche compared to rival payment networks Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). While Visa controls 60% of cardholders and Mastercard holds 25% to 30%, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) commands roughly 10% of purchase volume. However, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which operate strictly as neutral tollbooths with zero balance-sheet risk, American Express operates as a direct card issuer. That closed-loop structure allows the company to capture premium annual membership fees and higher per-cardholder spending, though it requires absorbing credit default risk when consumers fall behind on payments.
On the technical side, Cramer highlighted that Lang noted that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has shown exceptional relative strength during recent broader market chop. After breaking out above its 200-day moving average in early June, the stock successfully retested that key support level on multiple occasions before surging higher on heavy volume. With the MACD indicator continuing to flash a buy signal, Lang sees a clear path toward $350, with a secondary upside target at its February peak of $370. It is the exact price level where sellers previously emerged. Furthermore, heading into Friday's quarterly report, Cramer shared Lang's bullish fundamental outlook on travel demand while offering his own tactical trading playbook for retail investors:
Now, I've gotta tell you, in his view, American Express is the best in class. Given that we've seen big numbers in travel here, Lang expects that Amex will shoot the lights out when it reports on Friday… I agree with him that this company's best of breed, but I also want to point out that American Express' stock, no matter what they seem to report, tends to sell off in response to earnings on that Friday even when the numbers are terrific. Then it gradually finds its footing afterwards and mounts strong rallies in between quarters, which is why I always say, you know, around like 10:30, 11, you might want to buy this one. I'm not kidding. It's been a good prediction so far.

#volume

What do an HVAC company and a power-and-cooling equipment supplier have in common? Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX) and Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT) are both riding the artificial intelligence (AI) boom thanks to the data center build-out happening behind the scenes.
The market has noticed. Over the past year, Comfort Systems' stock has risen 214%, while Vertiv's has risen 131%. They're tied to AI infrastructure in very different ways, which matters when you're trying to figure out what's really driving the gains.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Two under-the-radar infrastructure plays have already more than doubled. The question now is whether the fundamentals still support the story. Let's find out.
Comfort Systems is a specialized construction and building services company focused on the systems that make large facilities function. That includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping, controls, modular construction, monitoring, and fire-protection services.

#risen #infrastructure

July 23 (Reuters) - European regulators have launched a series of antitrust, privacy and online-safety investigations into major technology companies in recent ‌years.Below are some of the most significant cases:
GOOGLE The European Commission said ‌on July 23 it fined Google a total of 890 million euros ($1 billion) for breaching European Union rules aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech.
Europe's top court this month largely upheld EU findings that Google used Android to shut out rivals, maintaining a 4.1 billion euro antitrust penalty.
The Commission is also investigating whether ‌Google's use of publishers' content ⁠and YouTube material for artificial intelligence purposes breaches competition rules.
APPLE The European Commission fined Apple 500 million euros in 2025 ⁠under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

#Antitrust #million

Tony Romo, CBS Sports's No. 1 NFL game **** yst, was arrested in Milwaukee on Thursday for OWI (Operating While Intoxicated).
According to the arrest report obtained by Fox6 Milwaukee, the former Cowboys quarterback was pulled over while driving on Interstate 43. The 46-year-old Romo was taken into custody after "performing poorly on standardized field sobriety tests." He's due in court on Monday, Sep. 21.
Romo's arrest comes just weeks before the start of the 2026 NFL season. Given the star power of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Romo is likely to call the Bills-Texans Week 1 game on Sunday, Sep. 13 with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
After quarterbacking the Cowboys for 14 seasons, Romo joined CBS in 2017 and immediately became the network's No. 1 game **** yst, succeeding veteran Phil Simms. Romo quickly became a TV sensation, with viewers dubbing him "Romostradamus" for his uncanny ability to predict play calls just before they played out on the field.
But Romo has faced mounting criticism for his on-air performance in recent seasons. CBS also has a strong No. 2 team with JJ Watt and Ian Eagle.

#game #milwaukee #cowboys #bills