19 hours ago
The 2026 high school football season has reached nearly half the states.
While Hawaii was the first state to kick off last week two weeks ago, 22 total states have now joined in action continues this week, which is officially Week 1 of the season.
Eighteen teams from the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 are in action this week, including the top-ranked IMG Academy and a matchup between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country.
Catch up with the results of all of the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 teams in action on Friday, Aug, 21, here:
8/21: IMG Academy 35, Lone Peak (UT) 0 - Q2
#action #sports #hawaii
While Hawaii was the first state to kick off last week two weeks ago, 22 total states have now joined in action continues this week, which is officially Week 1 of the season.
Eighteen teams from the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 are in action this week, including the top-ranked IMG Academy and a matchup between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country.
Catch up with the results of all of the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 teams in action on Friday, Aug, 21, here:
8/21: IMG Academy 35, Lone Peak (UT) 0 - Q2
#action #sports #hawaii
1 day ago
Eighteen years ago, the Blue Jays traded Robinzon Diaz to the Pirates in exchange for Jose Bautista. At the time, the trade received little fanfare—even Bluebird Banter didn't cover it immediately. Only later did we discuss its significance. In hindsight, it became the best trade of J.P. Ricciardi's tenure.
The news did get into a post I did a couple of days later:
With Diaz sent to Pittsburgh to complete the Bautista trade, he comes off our top 11 prospect list. I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Diaz had struggled that year and J.P. Arencibia likely surpassed him, but I still thought Diaz was closer to being major league ready. Looking ahead, we'd need a catcher for next season—or risk a lot of passed ****** .
I missed that one.
The next day, I posted a poll about the trade: 48% of readers liked the move, while 52% did not. Amusingly, I had thought Bautista was a middle infielder back then.
#next #eighteen #robinzon
The news did get into a post I did a couple of days later:
With Diaz sent to Pittsburgh to complete the Bautista trade, he comes off our top 11 prospect list. I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Diaz had struggled that year and J.P. Arencibia likely surpassed him, but I still thought Diaz was closer to being major league ready. Looking ahead, we'd need a catcher for next season—or risk a lot of passed ****** .
I missed that one.
The next day, I posted a poll about the trade: 48% of readers liked the move, while 52% did not. Amusingly, I had thought Bautista was a middle infielder back then.
#next #eighteen #robinzon
2 days ago
Crossroads Capital LLC, an investment management firm, published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund increased by 11.5% net of fees and expenses during the quarter. Since its founding, the fund has compounded at a net rate of 17.9%. By the end of June 2026, the fund's overall non-delta-adjusted gross and net exposures were 115.0% and 86.9%, respectively. In Q2, the S&P 500 rebounded 14.9%, its best since 2020, as market uncertainty eased. The oil market showed a transition, with Brent crude prices fluctuating. AI and semiconductors thrived, with 25% earnings growth. The quarter underscored a key principle: risk is priced continuously but resolved discontinuously. Small-cap benchmarks hit new highs, though the Magnificent 7 saw modest gains. In Q2, market activity focused on adjustments rather than facts, capitalizing on high option premiums. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI). FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) is an aviation company that owns, acquires, and sells aviation equipment. On August 19, 2026, FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) closed at $210.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $21.66 billion. FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) posted a one‑month return of -6.95%, while its shares gained 38.10% over the past 52 weeks.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) entered the book eighteen months ago as a special situation, as a short seller campaign had marked the stock into the low $80s. However, it has since graduated to "emerging compounder." Today. FTAI is the leading independent MRO franchise for the CFM56, the most widely-flown engine on earth. It runs a vertically-integrated platform that manufactures "green time" (remaining usable life) by tearing down older engines and rebuilding them with proprietary PMA parts and used serviceable material into modules that swap in days rather than months. In a supply-constrained aftermarket, that speed can be the difference between an airline flying or remaining idle. FTAI captures the demand for that speed with high-margin Aerospace Products revenue layered on top of leasing, with the whole model migrating towards capital-light through its Strategic Capital vehicles.
The first quarter, reported in late April, showed the 2026 guidance of $1.625B in segment EBITDA was table stakes: Adjusted EBITDA came in at $325.6M and Aerospace Products revenue more than doubled with segment EBITDA up 70%. And 270 CFM56 modules were refurbished, up 96% year-over-year. The second quarter, reported late July, saw the Aviation Leasing segment guidance cut from $575M to $475M as part of the company's shift toward a more ***** et-light business model. With the Aerospace Products segment holdin
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI). FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) is an aviation company that owns, acquires, and sells aviation equipment. On August 19, 2026, FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) closed at $210.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $21.66 billion. FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) posted a one‑month return of -6.95%, while its shares gained 38.10% over the past 52 weeks.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) entered the book eighteen months ago as a special situation, as a short seller campaign had marked the stock into the low $80s. However, it has since graduated to "emerging compounder." Today. FTAI is the leading independent MRO franchise for the CFM56, the most widely-flown engine on earth. It runs a vertically-integrated platform that manufactures "green time" (remaining usable life) by tearing down older engines and rebuilding them with proprietary PMA parts and used serviceable material into modules that swap in days rather than months. In a supply-constrained aftermarket, that speed can be the difference between an airline flying or remaining idle. FTAI captures the demand for that speed with high-margin Aerospace Products revenue layered on top of leasing, with the whole model migrating towards capital-light through its Strategic Capital vehicles.
The first quarter, reported in late April, showed the 2026 guidance of $1.625B in segment EBITDA was table stakes: Adjusted EBITDA came in at $325.6M and Aerospace Products revenue more than doubled with segment EBITDA up 70%. And 270 CFM56 modules were refurbished, up 96% year-over-year. The second quarter, reported late July, saw the Aviation Leasing segment guidance cut from $575M to $475M as part of the company's shift toward a more ***** et-light business model. With the Aerospace Products segment holdin
2 days ago
Crossroads Capital LLC, an investment management firm, published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund increased by 11.5% net of fees and expenses during the quarter. Since its founding, the fund has compounded at a net rate of 17.9%. By the end of June 2026, the fund's overall non-delta-adjusted gross and net exposures were 115.0% and 86.9%, respectively. In Q2, the S&P 500 rebounded 14.9%, its best since 2020, as market uncertainty eased. The oil market showed a transition, with Brent crude prices fluctuating. AI and semiconductors thrived, with 25% earnings growth. The quarter underscored a key principle: risk is priced continuously but resolved discontinuously. Small-cap benchmarks hit new highs, though the Magnificent 7 saw modest gains. In Q2, market activity focused on adjustments rather than facts, capitalizing on high option premiums. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS). Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) is a technology company focusing on developing full-stack infrastructure to service the global AI industry. On August 19, 2026, Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) closed at $223.90 per share. The one-month return of Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) was 1.33%, and its shares gained 238.32% over the past 52 weeks. Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) has a market capitalization of $60.87 billion.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Eighteen months ago, Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) was a Russian-adjacent carve-out of Yandex, the Russian Google, with no anchor customer, a cash burn, and an open question as to whether capital markets would touch it. You had to squint at it in order to see a viable business that was arguably trading below liquidation value. On August 12th, the company reported a second quarter with $582.3 million in revenue and a 50% adjusted EBITDA margin in its core AI cloud business. Today Nebius is an AI infrastructure platform with roughly $46B of committed contract value from Microsoft and Meta, priority Nvidia silicon secured through Nvidia's own $2B equity stake, and a target of almost 5 GW of contracted power by year-end(with over 75% of it owned rather than leased). Moreover, it has a funding structure in which roughly 50-60% of capex is covered by customer prepayments; the balance was raised this spring as $4B of oversubscribed convertibles with coupons of 1.25% and 2.625%. Sub-1.3% paper to 2031 is the bond market's answer to any question regarding Nebius' long-term prospects—and a question we couldn't have fully answered a year ago at any price.
The Meta relationship remains the keystone: $27B over five years, split between $12B of dedicated capacity on one of the first large-scale Vera Rubin deployments (starting early 2027) and $15B on w
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS). Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) is a technology company focusing on developing full-stack infrastructure to service the global AI industry. On August 19, 2026, Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) closed at $223.90 per share. The one-month return of Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) was 1.33%, and its shares gained 238.32% over the past 52 weeks. Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) has a market capitalization of $60.87 billion.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Eighteen months ago, Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) was a Russian-adjacent carve-out of Yandex, the Russian Google, with no anchor customer, a cash burn, and an open question as to whether capital markets would touch it. You had to squint at it in order to see a viable business that was arguably trading below liquidation value. On August 12th, the company reported a second quarter with $582.3 million in revenue and a 50% adjusted EBITDA margin in its core AI cloud business. Today Nebius is an AI infrastructure platform with roughly $46B of committed contract value from Microsoft and Meta, priority Nvidia silicon secured through Nvidia's own $2B equity stake, and a target of almost 5 GW of contracted power by year-end(with over 75% of it owned rather than leased). Moreover, it has a funding structure in which roughly 50-60% of capex is covered by customer prepayments; the balance was raised this spring as $4B of oversubscribed convertibles with coupons of 1.25% and 2.625%. Sub-1.3% paper to 2031 is the bond market's answer to any question regarding Nebius' long-term prospects—and a question we couldn't have fully answered a year ago at any price.
The Meta relationship remains the keystone: $27B over five years, split between $12B of dedicated capacity on one of the first large-scale Vera Rubin deployments (starting early 2027) and $15B on w
4 days ago
On August 18, 2008, a 19-year-old Virat Kohli walked out at Dambulla and scored 12 on his India debut. Eighteen years later, the boy who was once a surprise selection has become one of the defining figures of modern cricket: a batter, captain, standard-setter, survivor and, perhaps most importantly, a player who changed what Indian cricket expected from itself.
Virat Kohli is not just an athlete; he has become a brand of cricket, inspiring a generation through his mindset, skills and, most importantly, his hunger for the game. That hunger made him more intense, more furious and, at his best, almost unbeatable. Across his career, Kohli has achieved almost everything: the U19 World Cup, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.
There was nothing particularly prophetic about Virat Kohli's first international innings.
On that day at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, the teenager walked out to open India's innings. He faced 22 **** , made 12 and was trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara.
India lost by eight wickets. There was no century. No match-winning chase. No hint, at least in the scorecard, that something extraordinary had begun.
Eighteen years later, the numbers have become difficult to ignore.
As of August 2026, Kohli has played 314 ODIs and scored 14,941 runs at 58.59, with 54 hundreds and 79 fifties. He has 9,230 Test runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries, and finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches. Across international cricket, that is 28,359 runs and 85 centuries.
Long before Dambulla, there was a December morning in 2006 that revealed something about Kohli that statistics never could. He was 18, playing for Delhi against Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He was unbeaten on 40 overnight when his father, Prem Kohli, died suddenly. Kohli returned to the ground the next morning. He scored 90. It was not just an innings. It was an early declaration of character.
Two years later, he was leading India at the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. India won the tournament. Kohli scored 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.
He had a modest start to his international career during the Sri Lanka tour. In the fourth ODI of that 2008 series, Kohli made 54, his first international half-century. A year later came his first hundred: 107 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
By 2011, Kohli was no longer a prospect. He was part of India's World Cup-winning side. He scored a century against Bangladesh in India's opening game and later walked into the **** hede dressing room during the final when India were 31 for 2.
He made 35. Not the sort of number that usually survives in a career built on hundreds. His 35 helped India recover alongside Gautam Gambhir, before MS Dhoni's 91 finished the job against Sri Lanka.
India won the World Cup. Kohli was just 22.
#kohli #dambulla
Virat Kohli is not just an athlete; he has become a brand of cricket, inspiring a generation through his mindset, skills and, most importantly, his hunger for the game. That hunger made him more intense, more furious and, at his best, almost unbeatable. Across his career, Kohli has achieved almost everything: the U19 World Cup, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.
There was nothing particularly prophetic about Virat Kohli's first international innings.
On that day at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, the teenager walked out to open India's innings. He faced 22 **** , made 12 and was trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara.
India lost by eight wickets. There was no century. No match-winning chase. No hint, at least in the scorecard, that something extraordinary had begun.
Eighteen years later, the numbers have become difficult to ignore.
As of August 2026, Kohli has played 314 ODIs and scored 14,941 runs at 58.59, with 54 hundreds and 79 fifties. He has 9,230 Test runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries, and finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches. Across international cricket, that is 28,359 runs and 85 centuries.
Long before Dambulla, there was a December morning in 2006 that revealed something about Kohli that statistics never could. He was 18, playing for Delhi against Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He was unbeaten on 40 overnight when his father, Prem Kohli, died suddenly. Kohli returned to the ground the next morning. He scored 90. It was not just an innings. It was an early declaration of character.
Two years later, he was leading India at the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. India won the tournament. Kohli scored 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.
He had a modest start to his international career during the Sri Lanka tour. In the fourth ODI of that 2008 series, Kohli made 54, his first international half-century. A year later came his first hundred: 107 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
By 2011, Kohli was no longer a prospect. He was part of India's World Cup-winning side. He scored a century against Bangladesh in India's opening game and later walked into the **** hede dressing room during the final when India were 31 for 2.
He made 35. Not the sort of number that usually survives in a career built on hundreds. His 35 helped India recover alongside Gautam Gambhir, before MS Dhoni's 91 finished the job against Sri Lanka.
India won the World Cup. Kohli was just 22.
#kohli #dambulla
7 days ago
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandt Bronico scored in the first minute and Pep Biel had a goal contribution in a sixth straight match to spark Charlotte FC to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.
Bronico took passes from defender David Schnegg and Liel Abada and scored 29 seconds into the match for his first goal this season and his eighth in 204 career appearances. Schnegg's ******* ists was his fifth and Abada collected his fourth — both career highs.
Abada scored his second goal of the campaign on a penalty kick in the 9th minute for a 2-0 lead. The kick was awarded after he was fouled by Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost.
Eighteen-year-old rookie Chase Adams used his head in the 41st minute to score his first career goal and Columbus trailed 2-1 at halftime. Adams made his first start and fourth appearance. Defender Brooks Lennon picked up his first ******* ist this season and rookie Lautaro Giaccone snagged his first in his first start and second appearance.
Biel scored in the 73rd minute for a 3-1 advantage. It was the 10th goal for the midfielder — matching his career high set last season. Nineteen-year-old rookie forward Rodolfo Aloko earned his first ******* ist in his ninth appearance and rookie defender Will Cleary added his second in his fifth.
#season
Bronico took passes from defender David Schnegg and Liel Abada and scored 29 seconds into the match for his first goal this season and his eighth in 204 career appearances. Schnegg's ******* ists was his fifth and Abada collected his fourth — both career highs.
Abada scored his second goal of the campaign on a penalty kick in the 9th minute for a 2-0 lead. The kick was awarded after he was fouled by Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost.
Eighteen-year-old rookie Chase Adams used his head in the 41st minute to score his first career goal and Columbus trailed 2-1 at halftime. Adams made his first start and fourth appearance. Defender Brooks Lennon picked up his first ******* ist this season and rookie Lautaro Giaccone snagged his first in his first start and second appearance.
Biel scored in the 73rd minute for a 3-1 advantage. It was the 10th goal for the midfielder — matching his career high set last season. Nineteen-year-old rookie forward Rodolfo Aloko earned his first ******* ist in his ninth appearance and rookie defender Will Cleary added his second in his fifth.
#season
7 days ago
MacKenzie Scott has spent the past several years making headlines for giving away billions. Now, the billionaire philanthropist is returning to the work she was doing long before her fortune became the story: writing fiction.
According to The New York Times, Scott revealed that she has written a new novel, Last Days in Two Nations (A History in Eighteen Minds), and plans to release it serially throughout August through a newly launched Substack newsletter. The 80,000-word, 317-page book will be her first novel in 13 years, following 2013's Traps.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
Scott offered only a glimpse of what's coming, publishing four introductory pages containing the ***** le, table of contents, characters and epigraphs. On Instagram, she directed followers to "read and subscribe" and shared a schedule for the book's rollout.
The release represents an unusual return to public-facing work for Scott, who has largely avoided interviews and appearances even as she became one of the world's most closely watched philanthropists.
#scott #release #mackenzie #york
According to The New York Times, Scott revealed that she has written a new novel, Last Days in Two Nations (A History in Eighteen Minds), and plans to release it serially throughout August through a newly launched Substack newsletter. The 80,000-word, 317-page book will be her first novel in 13 years, following 2013's Traps.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
Scott offered only a glimpse of what's coming, publishing four introductory pages containing the ***** le, table of contents, characters and epigraphs. On Instagram, she directed followers to "read and subscribe" and shared a schedule for the book's rollout.
The release represents an unusual return to public-facing work for Scott, who has largely avoided interviews and appearances even as she became one of the world's most closely watched philanthropists.
#scott #release #mackenzie #york
13 days ago
PHOENIX — Hezly Rivera cemented her place as the leading U.S. female gymnast — for now — with a historic comeback to repeat as U.S. all-around champion.
Rivera, an 18-year-old 2024 Olympian, jumped from fourth place after the first night of competition to win after the second and final day Sunday. She is the second woman to repeat as U.S. all-around champion in the last 13 years after Simone Biles, who won a record nine ******* les.
Rivera totaled 111.95 points over both days, edging Dallas-area training partner Claire Pease by 1.15 points. Rivera trailed by six tenths after day one, when she fell off the uneven bars.
The last comeback from fourth or lower to win nationals was when Courtney Kupets went from fourth to win in 2003. Eighteen of the last 20 editions, a first-day leader won nationals.
GYMNASTICS: Results
#comeback #first
Rivera, an 18-year-old 2024 Olympian, jumped from fourth place after the first night of competition to win after the second and final day Sunday. She is the second woman to repeat as U.S. all-around champion in the last 13 years after Simone Biles, who won a record nine ******* les.
Rivera totaled 111.95 points over both days, edging Dallas-area training partner Claire Pease by 1.15 points. Rivera trailed by six tenths after day one, when she fell off the uneven bars.
The last comeback from fourth or lower to win nationals was when Courtney Kupets went from fourth to win in 2003. Eighteen of the last 20 editions, a first-day leader won nationals.
GYMNASTICS: Results
#comeback #first
13 days ago
United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shares surged in premarket trading on July 28 after the package-delivery company reported a second-quarter beat and raised its 2026 outlook. Revenue reached $22.83 billion, above the $21.81 billion consensus estimate, while adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share exceeded the $1.66 estimate. UPS now expects full-year revenue of approximately $91.2 billion, up from $89.7 billion, and adjusted earnings of approximately $7.22 per share.
The more important development was operational. Eighteen months after announcing an accelerated reduction in lower-margin Amazon volume, UPS said it had completed the planned "glide down" and the related phase of its network reconfiguration. That did not end the Amazon relationship: Amazon had accounted for more than 13% of UPS revenue at its peak, but its contribution had fallen to 8.8% by the end of the first quarter.
That strategy was always supposed to make UPS smaller before making it more profitable. The second quarter offered the clearest evidence yet that the second part may finally be starting. U.S. Domestic average daily package volume fell 3.3%, but revenue rose 6% as revenue per piece increased 9.3%. Adjusted domestic operating profit increased 21%, lifting the segment's adjusted margin to 8% from roughly 7% a year earlier.
Still, the margin remains well below the International segment's 12.4%, and fuel surcharges contributed to the stronger revenue-per-piece result. The core tension is whether UPS has created a durably more profitable domestic network, or whether fuel surcharges and temporary restructuring effects made one quarter look better than the underlying cost structure.
The bull case is that UPS has begun to prove the logic behind sacrificing Amazon volume: fewer packages can produce more revenue and profit when the packages that remain carry better yields.
#revenue #Margin
The more important development was operational. Eighteen months after announcing an accelerated reduction in lower-margin Amazon volume, UPS said it had completed the planned "glide down" and the related phase of its network reconfiguration. That did not end the Amazon relationship: Amazon had accounted for more than 13% of UPS revenue at its peak, but its contribution had fallen to 8.8% by the end of the first quarter.
That strategy was always supposed to make UPS smaller before making it more profitable. The second quarter offered the clearest evidence yet that the second part may finally be starting. U.S. Domestic average daily package volume fell 3.3%, but revenue rose 6% as revenue per piece increased 9.3%. Adjusted domestic operating profit increased 21%, lifting the segment's adjusted margin to 8% from roughly 7% a year earlier.
Still, the margin remains well below the International segment's 12.4%, and fuel surcharges contributed to the stronger revenue-per-piece result. The core tension is whether UPS has created a durably more profitable domestic network, or whether fuel surcharges and temporary restructuring effects made one quarter look better than the underlying cost structure.
The bull case is that UPS has begun to prove the logic behind sacrificing Amazon volume: fewer packages can produce more revenue and profit when the packages that remain carry better yields.
#revenue #Margin
17 days ago
Surrendering a whole-life policy can trigger a taxable gain that spikes MAGI and pushes Medicare beneficiaries into higher IRMAA brackets two years later.
A $52,000 taxable gain hidden inside an $84,000 surrender check doubled one widow's Part B premium from $203 to $406, costing her roughly $2,885 extra that year.
Before surrendering, ask the insurer for the estimated taxable gain, add it to projected MAGI, and consider a Section 1035 exchange to defer the tax hit.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A 68-year-old widow surrendered a whole-life policy her late husband bought in 1988. The insurer sent her roughly $84,000. Her basis, the premiums paid over 37 years, adjusted for any prior distributions, was about $32,000. She spent the money on a kitchen remodel and a grandchild's tuition, filed her tax return, and moved on. Eighteen months later, her Medicare notice arrived. The Part B premium had doubled.
#gain #whole
A $52,000 taxable gain hidden inside an $84,000 surrender check doubled one widow's Part B premium from $203 to $406, costing her roughly $2,885 extra that year.
Before surrendering, ask the insurer for the estimated taxable gain, add it to projected MAGI, and consider a Section 1035 exchange to defer the tax hit.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A 68-year-old widow surrendered a whole-life policy her late husband bought in 1988. The insurer sent her roughly $84,000. Her basis, the premiums paid over 37 years, adjusted for any prior distributions, was about $32,000. She spent the money on a kitchen remodel and a grandchild's tuition, filed her tax return, and moved on. Eighteen months later, her Medicare notice arrived. The Part B premium had doubled.
#gain #whole
21 days ago
San Diego FC's Saturday night road trip to Allianz Field ended in a drawing point after a cagey 1-1 clash against Minnesota United FC.
Leaving Minnesota with a point. pic.twitter.com/9bxFXwcpmm
SDFC were on the road Saturday night for their eighteenth matchday of the 2026 MLS Regular Season, facing off against Western Conference side Minnesota United in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The Chrome & Azul got back into the win column last time out, earning a slim 1-0 victory at Snapdragon Stadium against visiting FC Dallas last Saturday off the back of an outside-the-box strike from midfielder Alejandro Alvarado.
This meeting between SDFC and Minnesota marked their second encounter of the 2026 season, with Minnesota claiming the first game, a 2-1 victory at Snapdragon Stadium back on April 11.
#stadium
Leaving Minnesota with a point. pic.twitter.com/9bxFXwcpmm
SDFC were on the road Saturday night for their eighteenth matchday of the 2026 MLS Regular Season, facing off against Western Conference side Minnesota United in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The Chrome & Azul got back into the win column last time out, earning a slim 1-0 victory at Snapdragon Stadium against visiting FC Dallas last Saturday off the back of an outside-the-box strike from midfielder Alejandro Alvarado.
This meeting between SDFC and Minnesota marked their second encounter of the 2026 season, with Minnesota claiming the first game, a 2-1 victory at Snapdragon Stadium back on April 11.
#stadium
1 month ago
NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has bid an emotional farewell after ending his 18-year ***** ociation with the five-time IPL champions.
On Monday, CSK announced that they had mutually decided to part ways with the long-serving coach.
Fleming had been with CSK since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, first as a player and then as head coach from 2009.
During his tenure, he guided the franchise to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League T20 trophies, while helping the team reach the playoffs 12 times and the final on 10 occasions.
In a statement released by the franchise, Fleming reflected on his long journey with CSK and thanked everyone ***** ociated with the team.
132361548
"Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude. My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved," Fleming said.
He also spoke about the memories he created with the franchise.
— ChennaiIPL (ChennaiIPL)
On Monday, CSK announced that they had mutually decided to part ways with the long-serving coach.
Fleming had been with CSK since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, first as a player and then as head coach from 2009.
During his tenure, he guided the franchise to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League T20 trophies, while helping the team reach the playoffs 12 times and the final on 10 occasions.
In a statement released by the franchise, Fleming reflected on his long journey with CSK and thanked everyone ***** ociated with the team.
132361548
"Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude. My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved," Fleming said.
He also spoke about the memories he created with the franchise.
— ChennaiIPL (ChennaiIPL)
1 month ago
The 41-52 Athletics take on the 47-45 Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago today. The Southsiders are in the midst of the most dramatic turn-around from last season, currently sitting in first place in the American League (AL) Central, while the visiting A's are mired in a six-game losing streak and open the day in fourth place in the AL West.
Taking the mound this afternoon for the A's is Jacob Lopez. The 28-year-old lefty is 4-3 in thirteen appearances with a 7.04 ERA. He has had forty-two strikeouts in 53.2 innings this year. He'll go up against 26-year-old righty Sean Burke for the Pale Hose. Burke is 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA over the course of eighteen appearances this season. The White Sox will be thrilled to see rookie phenom Munetaka Murakami return to their lineup today after more than a month on the Injured List (IL) with a right hamstring strain.
Burke will face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay's Athletics:
Lopez will battle this lineup for Will Venable's White Sox:
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Taking the mound this afternoon for the A's is Jacob Lopez. The 28-year-old lefty is 4-3 in thirteen appearances with a 7.04 ERA. He has had forty-two strikeouts in 53.2 innings this year. He'll go up against 26-year-old righty Sean Burke for the Pale Hose. Burke is 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA over the course of eighteen appearances this season. The White Sox will be thrilled to see rookie phenom Munetaka Murakami return to their lineup today after more than a month on the Injured List (IL) with a right hamstring strain.
Burke will face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay's Athletics:
Lopez will battle this lineup for Will Venable's White Sox:
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1 month ago
This article was originally published on ETFTrends.com.
First Half of 2026 Sees a Shift in Leadership
Despite conflict in the Middle East, sharp oil price swings, and resurging inflation concerns, equity markets posted positive returns in the first half of 2026 amid de-escalating geopolitical risk, strong corporate earnings led by the AI infrastructure buildout, and a still-resilient economy. The Nasdaq-100 Index and S&P 500 Index recovered sharply within the period, each rallying over 32% and 18%, respectively, since the March lows. Notably, US small-caps via the Russell 2000 Index saw their strongest first half since 1991, gaining over 22%. US mid-caps (+17.4%) and international developed equities (+15.1%) followed. Bonds mostly fared well as high yield credits rose 1.9%, municipal bonds gained 1.8%, and Treasury Inflation Protected Notes were up 1.2%. Aside from silver (-17.0%) and gold (-7.0%), commodities posted positive returns as crude oil surged 53.9% and broad-based commodities rose 14.4%.
Fed Holds, Warsh Signals Less Guidance
The Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate steady at the June FOMC meeting, keeping the target range at 3.50–3.75%. This marks the 4th consecutive hold in 2026 and was the first meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh, who succeeded Jerome Powell as Chair. While the decision to hold was widely expected, the accompanying communication shifted in a more hawkish direction. The policy statement was shortened to roughly 130 words from 341 in April, removed prior language signaling a bias toward future cuts, and emphasized that the Committee "will deliver price stability." Consistent with his prior skepticism of forward guidance, Chair Warsh also declined to submit his own projection in the dot plot. The economic backdrop offered little reason to ease, as May PCE rose 4.1% year-over-year, its highest reading since April 2023, while Nonfarm Payrolls remained firm at 172,000 and the unemployment rate held at 4.3%. The updated Summary of Economic Projections reflected the shift, with nine of eighteen officials now penciling in at least one 25 bps hike in 2026 and six projecting at least two, lifting the median year-end funds rate forecast to 3.8% from 3.4% in March and reversing the cut previously expected. Looking ahead, market pricing via the CME FedWatch Tool implies another hold at the July meeting, with the next move now priced as a hike rather than a cut.
First Half of 2026 Sees a Shift in Leadership
Despite conflict in the Middle East, sharp oil price swings, and resurging inflation concerns, equity markets posted positive returns in the first half of 2026 amid de-escalating geopolitical risk, strong corporate earnings led by the AI infrastructure buildout, and a still-resilient economy. The Nasdaq-100 Index and S&P 500 Index recovered sharply within the period, each rallying over 32% and 18%, respectively, since the March lows. Notably, US small-caps via the Russell 2000 Index saw their strongest first half since 1991, gaining over 22%. US mid-caps (+17.4%) and international developed equities (+15.1%) followed. Bonds mostly fared well as high yield credits rose 1.9%, municipal bonds gained 1.8%, and Treasury Inflation Protected Notes were up 1.2%. Aside from silver (-17.0%) and gold (-7.0%), commodities posted positive returns as crude oil surged 53.9% and broad-based commodities rose 14.4%.
Fed Holds, Warsh Signals Less Guidance
The Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate steady at the June FOMC meeting, keeping the target range at 3.50–3.75%. This marks the 4th consecutive hold in 2026 and was the first meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh, who succeeded Jerome Powell as Chair. While the decision to hold was widely expected, the accompanying communication shifted in a more hawkish direction. The policy statement was shortened to roughly 130 words from 341 in April, removed prior language signaling a bias toward future cuts, and emphasized that the Committee "will deliver price stability." Consistent with his prior skepticism of forward guidance, Chair Warsh also declined to submit his own projection in the dot plot. The economic backdrop offered little reason to ease, as May PCE rose 4.1% year-over-year, its highest reading since April 2023, while Nonfarm Payrolls remained firm at 172,000 and the unemployment rate held at 4.3%. The updated Summary of Economic Projections reflected the shift, with nine of eighteen officials now penciling in at least one 25 bps hike in 2026 and six projecting at least two, lifting the median year-end funds rate forecast to 3.8% from 3.4% in March and reversing the cut previously expected. Looking ahead, market pricing via the CME FedWatch Tool implies another hold at the July meeting, with the next move now priced as a hike rather than a cut.
2 months ago
Record-setting Washington Huskies pole vaulters Hana and Amanda Moll returned to Eugene, Oregon, where they just went 1-2 in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, on Friday for the senior-level Prefontaine Classic in the Diamond League, track and field's top tier of meets.
In a nine-woman competition comprised almost entirely of Americans, the twins were the youngest competitors by about eighteen months, but that didn't stop them from finishing 4th and 6th. They finished in the opposite order from last month's NCAA Championships, with Hana leading the way with a clearance of 4.70m while Amanda bowed out with a clearance of 4.60m.
The meet was won by Sandi Morris, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the event, who matched her jump from that day in Rio de Janeiro with a clearance of 4.85m. Katie Moon, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist and reigning Olympic silver medalist, was second at 4.80m. Gabriela Leon, the 2022 NCAA champion in the pole vault, was third at 4.70m, while veteran Emily Grove, a former Diamond League meet winner, tied with Hana for fourth.
Neither twin was quite at their best, as both are in the top five clearances in the world this year. Morris' 4.85 vault on Friday pushed her into a tie for third-best mark in the world with Great Britain's Molly Caudery, who cleared that bar in March at a meet in Poland. Hana's 4.88m mark in Dempsey Indoor this January is the second-best clearance in the world, however, trailing only Polina Knoroz of Russia, who cleared 4.91m at a Russian meet two weeks ago. Amanda's 4.84m clearance to win the NCAA **** le last month is the fifth-best clearance in the world.
Amanda told reporters after the meet that both sisters expect to compete in the Monaco Diamond League event on July 10 before Amanda likely ends her season.
In a nine-woman competition comprised almost entirely of Americans, the twins were the youngest competitors by about eighteen months, but that didn't stop them from finishing 4th and 6th. They finished in the opposite order from last month's NCAA Championships, with Hana leading the way with a clearance of 4.70m while Amanda bowed out with a clearance of 4.60m.
The meet was won by Sandi Morris, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the event, who matched her jump from that day in Rio de Janeiro with a clearance of 4.85m. Katie Moon, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist and reigning Olympic silver medalist, was second at 4.80m. Gabriela Leon, the 2022 NCAA champion in the pole vault, was third at 4.70m, while veteran Emily Grove, a former Diamond League meet winner, tied with Hana for fourth.
Neither twin was quite at their best, as both are in the top five clearances in the world this year. Morris' 4.85 vault on Friday pushed her into a tie for third-best mark in the world with Great Britain's Molly Caudery, who cleared that bar in March at a meet in Poland. Hana's 4.88m mark in Dempsey Indoor this January is the second-best clearance in the world, however, trailing only Polina Knoroz of Russia, who cleared 4.91m at a Russian meet two weeks ago. Amanda's 4.84m clearance to win the NCAA **** le last month is the fifth-best clearance in the world.
Amanda told reporters after the meet that both sisters expect to compete in the Monaco Diamond League event on July 10 before Amanda likely ends her season.
2 months ago
Reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earned top marks from Martina Navratilova after brushing aside Karolina Pliskova to reach the third round.
The world number three was in tears on court after her ******* le defence began with a stuttering three-set victory over world number 79 Taylor Townsend.
She delivered a far more accomplished display on Thursday and wasted little time in wrapping up an impressive 6-1, 6-3 win over 2021 runner-up Pliskova.
Eighteen-time grand slam singles champion Navratilova graded Swiatek’s performance an A+.
“When legends like that say nice things about you, it means a lot,” the third seed said in her on-court interview.
The world number three was in tears on court after her ******* le defence began with a stuttering three-set victory over world number 79 Taylor Townsend.
She delivered a far more accomplished display on Thursday and wasted little time in wrapping up an impressive 6-1, 6-3 win over 2021 runner-up Pliskova.
Eighteen-time grand slam singles champion Navratilova graded Swiatek’s performance an A+.
“When legends like that say nice things about you, it means a lot,” the third seed said in her on-court interview.
2 months ago
Eighteen City players have progressed to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 across 11 nations
England’s contingent is the largest, with four City players advancing from the group stage
Incoming Man City manager Enzo Maresca will be keenly looking on from England
Eighteen Manchester City stars have progressed to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 across 11 nations as the tournament in North America enters its knockout phase.
The scale of City’s representation at the FIFA World Cup underlines the club’s continued standing as one of European football’s pre-eminent producers of international talent, with players across every area of the pitch featuring prominently for their respective nations throughout the group stage.
England’s contingent is the largest, with four City players advancing from the group stage
Incoming Man City manager Enzo Maresca will be keenly looking on from England
Eighteen Manchester City stars have progressed to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 across 11 nations as the tournament in North America enters its knockout phase.
The scale of City’s representation at the FIFA World Cup underlines the club’s continued standing as one of European football’s pre-eminent producers of international talent, with players across every area of the pitch featuring prominently for their respective nations throughout the group stage.
2 months ago
Sunderland are set to enhance their backroom recruitment operation by appointing highly experienced Italian Matteo Serra to a senior role.
Serra arrives on Wearside from Greek top-tier club PAOK Salonika, where he most recently served as head of recruitment. He’ll be stepping into a vital and highly specific position at the Academy of Light — overseeing player exits and loan management.
The 42-year-old Italian is a highly experienced recruitment and scouting specialist who’s steadily built a strong reputation as an elite talent identifier across Europe, working with some of the biggest clubs in Italy and France before moving to Greece.
The son of former Cagliari sporting director Luciano Serra, football administration runs in his blood; growing up immersed in the inner workings of Italian football, he’s since developed his own elite continental pedigree at several top-tier European clubs.
His resume includes scouting and recruitment positions at Juventus, PSG and Lille, as well as a stint as chief scout for Spezia Calcio, where he unearthed Jakub Kiwior, who later signed a £25 million deal with ******* nal within eighteen months of joining the club. Serra also signed rumoured Sunderland target Emil Holm for Spezia, and the club eventually sold him to Bologna for a substantial profit.
Serra arrives on Wearside from Greek top-tier club PAOK Salonika, where he most recently served as head of recruitment. He’ll be stepping into a vital and highly specific position at the Academy of Light — overseeing player exits and loan management.
The 42-year-old Italian is a highly experienced recruitment and scouting specialist who’s steadily built a strong reputation as an elite talent identifier across Europe, working with some of the biggest clubs in Italy and France before moving to Greece.
The son of former Cagliari sporting director Luciano Serra, football administration runs in his blood; growing up immersed in the inner workings of Italian football, he’s since developed his own elite continental pedigree at several top-tier European clubs.
His resume includes scouting and recruitment positions at Juventus, PSG and Lille, as well as a stint as chief scout for Spezia Calcio, where he unearthed Jakub Kiwior, who later signed a £25 million deal with ******* nal within eighteen months of joining the club. Serra also signed rumoured Sunderland target Emil Holm for Spezia, and the club eventually sold him to Bologna for a substantial profit.
2 months ago
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Eighteen months is a workable timeline if you start today and do the right things in the right order. A 581 score is not a life sentence. It is a snapshot of specific behaviors and history that can be improved with deliberate action. The question is not whether it can move. It is whether you understand what is driving it and whether you are willing to make the changes that shift it.
Credit scores in the 580 range almost always reflect one or more of the following: late payments in the past 24 months, high credit utilization on revolving accounts, collections or charge-offs that are still active, or a thin file with limited positive history. The most important thing you can do right now is pull your full credit report from all three bureaus and read it carefully.
Don't Miss:
See if you can cut your monthly debt payments by 40% — check your eligibility in minutes.
Eighteen months is a workable timeline if you start today and do the right things in the right order. A 581 score is not a life sentence. It is a snapshot of specific behaviors and history that can be improved with deliberate action. The question is not whether it can move. It is whether you understand what is driving it and whether you are willing to make the changes that shift it.
Credit scores in the 580 range almost always reflect one or more of the following: late payments in the past 24 months, high credit utilization on revolving accounts, collections or charge-offs that are still active, or a thin file with limited positive history. The most important thing you can do right now is pull your full credit report from all three bureaus and read it carefully.
Don't Miss:
See if you can cut your monthly debt payments by 40% — check your eligibility in minutes.
2 months ago
Tottenham Hotspur are accelerating plans to hijack Manchester United's pursuit of Mateus Fernandes, according to a new report.
Having come perilously close to suffering relegation last season, Tottenham are prepared to spend big this summer to back Roberto De Zerbi after he steered them to safety on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton.
A £52 million deal has been struck to reunite the Italian manager with Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, while an £80 million offer for Sandro Tonali has been rejected by Newcastle United.
However, the Lilywhites have also stormed into the race for Fernandes, despite Manchester United having established themselves as frontrunners for the West Ham United starlet, who enjoyed a stellar campaign despite his side finishing eighteenth.
Source: Sofascore
Having come perilously close to suffering relegation last season, Tottenham are prepared to spend big this summer to back Roberto De Zerbi after he steered them to safety on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton.
A £52 million deal has been struck to reunite the Italian manager with Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, while an £80 million offer for Sandro Tonali has been rejected by Newcastle United.
However, the Lilywhites have also stormed into the race for Fernandes, despite Manchester United having established themselves as frontrunners for the West Ham United starlet, who enjoyed a stellar campaign despite his side finishing eighteenth.
Source: Sofascore
2 months ago
Shubman Gill, the face of the Indian cricket team and the man appointed captain of both the Test and ODI sides, has clearly justified the BCCI's decision. Since taking over the captaincy, Gill has transformed himself from a promising opener into one of India's most dependable batters in the longer formats.
In less than a month, Shubman Gill has already scored three centuries across different formats.
He first struck a century against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on May 29, scoring at a strike rate of 196.23. Just a week later, in the one-off Test against Afghanistan on June 6, Gill registered another hundred, a patient knock that marked his 11th Test century. Then, only 10 days later in the second ODI on June 17, he produced his first century since taking over as permanent ODI captain. Gill smashed 22 fours and two sixes, and although he fell short of a double century, he anchored India to a massive total of 402 and sealed the series victory.
All three centuries came as captain, raising an intriguing question: was Gill already on this trajectory before leadership, or has captaincy unlocked another level in his game?
With Afghanistan currently touring India for a Test and ODI series, Gill has already amassed 364 runs in just three innings on home soil at a staggering strike rate of 182. However, this is not the first time his scoring rate has surged as captain.
Eighteen months ago, he was a batter averaging 35 in Tests, often labelled by critics as a serial under-achiever. Then India handed him the Test and ODI captaincy, and he began rewriting the record books.
Gill's first ******* ignment as captain came on the tour of England, where he entered the history books like no Indian captain before him. Prior to the 2025 England tour, Gill was something of a puzzle. After 32 Tests, he averaged just 35.05 — ordinary numbers for a player of his immense talent. In fact, only one player in Test history with a lower average after 32 Tests, Chris Gayle, went on to finish with a career average above 40.
Across 2025, his first year as captain, Gill scored 983 runs in nine Tests at an average of 70.21, almost double his previous mark and the steepest before-and-after jump of any Indian captain in the modern era.
Shubman Gill has never hidden his admiration for Virat Kohli, and the cricketing world knows the standard Kohli set as India's Test captain. During his first major ******* ignment as Test captain after MS Dhoni stepped down in 2014, Kohli scored 692 runs in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Gill, however, went one better. He amassed 754 runs at an average of 75.40 during the five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, won the Player of the Series award, and surpassed Kohli's tally. In doing so, he became the first Asian batter to score more than 700 runs in a Test series in a SENA country (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia).
The centrepiece of that campaign came at Edgbaston. Gill scored 269 in the firs
In less than a month, Shubman Gill has already scored three centuries across different formats.
He first struck a century against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on May 29, scoring at a strike rate of 196.23. Just a week later, in the one-off Test against Afghanistan on June 6, Gill registered another hundred, a patient knock that marked his 11th Test century. Then, only 10 days later in the second ODI on June 17, he produced his first century since taking over as permanent ODI captain. Gill smashed 22 fours and two sixes, and although he fell short of a double century, he anchored India to a massive total of 402 and sealed the series victory.
All three centuries came as captain, raising an intriguing question: was Gill already on this trajectory before leadership, or has captaincy unlocked another level in his game?
With Afghanistan currently touring India for a Test and ODI series, Gill has already amassed 364 runs in just three innings on home soil at a staggering strike rate of 182. However, this is not the first time his scoring rate has surged as captain.
Eighteen months ago, he was a batter averaging 35 in Tests, often labelled by critics as a serial under-achiever. Then India handed him the Test and ODI captaincy, and he began rewriting the record books.
Gill's first ******* ignment as captain came on the tour of England, where he entered the history books like no Indian captain before him. Prior to the 2025 England tour, Gill was something of a puzzle. After 32 Tests, he averaged just 35.05 — ordinary numbers for a player of his immense talent. In fact, only one player in Test history with a lower average after 32 Tests, Chris Gayle, went on to finish with a career average above 40.
Across 2025, his first year as captain, Gill scored 983 runs in nine Tests at an average of 70.21, almost double his previous mark and the steepest before-and-after jump of any Indian captain in the modern era.
Shubman Gill has never hidden his admiration for Virat Kohli, and the cricketing world knows the standard Kohli set as India's Test captain. During his first major ******* ignment as Test captain after MS Dhoni stepped down in 2014, Kohli scored 692 runs in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Gill, however, went one better. He amassed 754 runs at an average of 75.40 during the five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, won the Player of the Series award, and surpassed Kohli's tally. In doing so, he became the first Asian batter to score more than 700 runs in a Test series in a SENA country (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia).
The centrepiece of that campaign came at Edgbaston. Gill scored 269 in the firs
