Man Utd midfielder Toone returns to England squad

Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone has returned to the England squad for the crucial Women's World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine.

The 26-year-old has not featured for the Lionesses since November because of a hip issue that ruled her out for the second half of the Women's Super League season.

Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze is also included despite missing Saturday's WSL win over United and having been seen wearing a protective boot.

Bronze, 34, has started three of England's four qualifying matches but is a doubt for next week's World Sevens tournament.

Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones and London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey, who both missed the last camp through injury, also return.

However, 18-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson is not included after her surprise call-up in March, while in-form Everton defender Ruby Mace again misses out.

England's 25-player squad travel to Spain on 5 June (20:00 BST), before hosting Ukraine at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on 9 June (20:00).

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The Lionesses currently sit top of their qualifying group with four wins from four matches, including avital 1-0 victory over Spainat Wembley in April.

Should England win their remaining two matches, they will automatically qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil and avoid the play-off route.

• Focus on errors can 'tarnish' goalkeepers - Hampton

Full England squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Leah Williamson (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Jess Park (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea).

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Jess Park (Manchester United), Beth Mead (Arsenal).

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May 19, 2026

Man Utd midfielder Toone returns to England squad

Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone has returned to the England squad for the crucial Women's World Cup qualifiers against Spai...

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Win probabilities for every Colts game on 2026 NFL schedule

On paper, anyway, theIndianapolis Coltshave one of the easier schedules in football for this 2026 NFL season.

For starters, theColtswill play just four playoff teams from the 2025 season. Based on their opponents' projected win totals, the Colts' strength of scheduleranks ninthin the NFL.

ESPN's analytics have the Colts with the sixth-easiest schedule in the league.

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However, will that translate to wins? Perhaps not enough, with ESPN's projected win total for the Colts sitting at 8.5.

Mike Clay recentlywent game-by-game, sharing the win-probability projections for the Colts. In only seven of these matchups is the Colts' win probability greater than 50%.

These probabilities also highlight the very difficult start to the season that the Colts face.

Colts' 2026 win probabilities for each game

• Week 1: vs. Baltimore: 39%

• Week 2: at Kansas City: 31%

• Week 3: vs. Houston: 49%

• Week 4: at Washington (London): 58%

• Week 5: at Pittsburgh: 40%

• Week 6: vs. Tennessee: 76%

• Week 7: at Minnesota: 48%

• Week 8: at Jacksonville: 38%

• Week 9: vs. Dallas: 43%

• Week 10: vs. Miami: 87%

• Week 11: at Houston: 34%

• Week 12: vs. New York Giants: 60%

• Week 13: BYE

• Week 14: at Philadelphia: 26%

• Week 15: at Tennessee: 63%

• Week 16: vs. Cincinnati: 47%

• Week 17: at Cleveland: 57%

• Week 18: vs. Jacksonville: 53%

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire:2026 NFL schedule: Colts' game-by-game win probabilities

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May 19, 2026

Win probabilities for every Colts game on 2026 NFL schedule

On paper, anyway, theIndianapolis Coltshave one of the easier schedules in football for this 2026 NFL season. For starters, theCo...

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WHO chief concerned at speed and scale of Ebola outbreak as cases rise

GENEVA, May 19 (Reuters) - The head of the ‌World Health Organization ‌on Tuesday expressed concern at ​the speed and scale of the Ebola outbreak, as number of ‌cases rises.

There ⁠are at least 500 suspected cases ⁠and 130 suspected deaths from Ebola since ​the new ​outbreak ​began, WHO ‌Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

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That is in addition to one confirmed death and one ‌confirmed case in ​Kampala, Uganda, ​and ​30 cases being confirmed ‌in the Democratic ​Republic of ​Congo, from the northeastern province of Ituri, ​he ‌said.

(Reporting by Olivia ​Le Poidevin, Editing by ​Linda Pasquini)

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May 19, 2026

WHO chief concerned at speed and scale of Ebola outbreak as cases rise

GENEVA, May 19 (Reuters) - The head of the ‌World Health Organization ‌on Tuesday expressed concern at ​the speed and scale of the Ebol...

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Blanche will face questions from lawmakers over a nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear on Capitol Hill Tuesday for his first congressional testimony since taking the reins at the Justice Department as the law enforcement agency faces intense scrutiny over its plans to create a$1.776 billion fund to pay allies of the Republican presidentwho believe they were targeted politically.

Vance Police Week

Blanche's testimony before a Senate appropriations subcommittee follows Monday's announcement about the creation of the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which critics decried as an illegal abuse of power designed to line the pockets of Trump supporters with taxpayer dollars.

In the weeks sinceassuming control of the Justice Department, Blanche has moved aggressively to advance the president's priorities —pushing forward casesagainst Trump's political foes, cracking down on leaks to media outlets and establishing the new fund to compensate those who believe they were mistreated by the Biden administration Justice Department.

Tuesday’s hearing is meant to address the Trump administration's budget request for the Justice Department but is likely to delve into other controversies that have escalated concerns about theerosion of the law enforcement agency's tradition of independencefrom the White House.

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Blanche is expected to face tough questions from lawmakers about the fund designed to resolve Trump's lawsuitagainst the Internal Revenue Serviceover the leak of his tax returns. Nearly 100 Democrats in the House of Representatives signed onto a legal brief urging a judge to block what they described as an unprecedented resolution that they said would unjustly enrich people close to the president and open the door to meritless claims of political persecution.

“Let’s call this what it is: a billion-dollar slush fund for Trump to reward felons, insurrectionists, and cronies, paid for by YOUR taxpayer dollars,” Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the subcommittee from Delaware, wrote on X. “It’s bad enough that this DOJ believes it works for Donald Trump. Now, it’s giving him its budget to use as his piggy bank.”

Blanche said Monday the fund will allow for people who believe they were targeted for prosecution for political purposes to apply for payouts, creating what he described as “a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

“The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said in a statement.

The fund is a further demonstration of the administration’s eagerness to reward allies who before Trump came to power were investigated and in some cases charged and convicted. Most notably,the president on his first day back in office pardoned or commutedthe sentences of supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His Justice Department since then hasapproved payouts to supporters entangled in the Trump-Russia investigationandinvestigated and prosecuted some of his perceived adversaries.

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May 19, 2026

Blanche will face questions from lawmakers over a nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear on Capitol Hill Tuesday for his first congressional testimony since ...

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Derek Lowe comments on Patrick Mahomes choosing football over baseball

This week,ChiefsWire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series Champion Derek Lowe.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Lowe discusses his participation in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 10-12 at Edgewood Tahoe and air on NBC and Peacock. He expressed the fun, competitive atmosphere at the event each year and his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes choosing football over baseball.

"It took me a long time to be comfortable around these guys, but I'm very competitive. I mean, don't let people fool you. I'm going to the range and putting in my time. We are with the Stephen Curry's of the world, we make fun of it every year, like when he used to win championships because it was mid-June, and then he didn't have time to practice. Well, he has time to practice now, unfortunately," said Lowe. "But yeah, Joe Pavelski, Mardy Fish, John Smoltz, I'd love to see Annika (Sörenstam) get close one year. Throw my hat in the ring, too, to try to be competitive. But it's just a great week."

Mahomes' father notably played in Major League Baseball from 1992 to 2003, briefly crossing paths with Lowe as pitchers in the same era. The three-time Super Bowl champion was also a promising college baseball player, but decided to stay on the football path. Lowe reflects on speaking with Mahomes briefly during past golf tournaments.

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"I mean, I saw him (Mahomes) there. I've never technically played with him, per se. I've talked to him on the range, about him and his career," said Lowe, "I obviously mentioned his dad, who had an historic career, but let's be honest, I think Patrick picked the right sport. Let's be honest."

The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, over $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC/Peacock and a first-place prize of $150,000 make the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in golf.

Check out the website for more information about theAmerican Century Championship.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire:Derek Lowe comments on Patrick Mahomes choosing football over baseball

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May 18, 2026

Derek Lowe comments on Patrick Mahomes choosing football over baseball

This week,ChiefsWire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series Champion Derek Lowe. ...

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China denounces Taiwan foreign minister's Geneva visit amid WHO assembly

BEIJING/TAIPEI, May 18 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it opposed countries providing platforms for "Taiwan independence separatist" activities, after Taiwan's foreign minister arrived in Switzerland for events on ‌the sidelines of a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting.

China said last week it would once again ‌not allow Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, to take part in the WHO's annual World Health ​Assembly (WHA), which takes place this week.

But as in previous years, Taiwan has sent a delegation to hold its own meetings and this year Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has also gone, joining Health Minister Shih Chung-liang.

"The Taiwan authorities' practice of sending people around the world to wedge into conferences to grab attention ‌is nothing more than the behaviour ⁠of petty clowns," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

"It will only bring humiliation on themselves and is doomed to fail," Guo ⁠said.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says China has no right to represent or speak for the island internationally.

Lin announced his arrival in Geneva on Facebook on Sunday, and on Monday President Lai Ching-te ​sent ​a video message to a forum Taiwan is holding ​in Geneva.

"By joining the WHO, Taiwan could ‌better ensure the right to health for all our people, and do even more to support the rest of the world," Lai said.

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PARTICIPATION BLOCKED SINCE 2017

In his current capacity Lin is not known to have previously visited non-EU member Switzerland, which like most countries maintains formal diplomatic ties with Beijing rather than Taipei and has a free trade agreement with China.

However, since becoming foreign minister ‌in 2024, Lin has made several trips to other ​European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, the ​Netherlands and Italy, drawing anger in Beijing.

Taiwan ​attended the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016 under the administration ‌of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark ​trade and tourism pacts ​with China.

But Beijing began blocking Taiwan's participation in 2017, after then-President Tsai Ing-wen won office, for her refusal to agree to its position that both China and Taiwan were part ​of "one China".

Lai has continued Tsai's ‌policy.

"International organisations, including the WHO, must handle Taiwan-related issues in accordance with the one-China ​principle," Guo said.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing ​by Christian Schmollinger, Kate Mayberry and Thomas Derpinghaus)

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May 18, 2026

China denounces Taiwan foreign minister's Geneva visit amid WHO assembly

BEIJING/TAIPEI, May 18 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it opposed countries providing platforms for "Taiwan independence separati...

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Xabi Alonso coup shows Chelsea and BlueCo now see the value of aura

The Chelsea end was mostly empty by the time the players went to collect their losers’ medals. There was no grand ovation for the beaten team. The disconnect was evident afterdefeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final, underlining how one of Xabi Alonso’s first challenges as Chelsea’s new manager will be to lift the mood and get players, fans and owners pulling in the same direction after a hugely disappointing season.

Many people are wondering why Alonso has agreedto take over on a four-year deal. Why, after running into player power and reluctance to build a project at Real Madrid, would you choose Chelsea? Just how big is the payoff?

Related:Xabi Alonso confirmed as Chelsea manager on four-year contract

The 44-year-old is the sixth permanent manager to work for Chelsea since the takeover by the BlueCo consortium in 2022. Alonso cannot plead ignorance if this move fails. The accusation that Chelsea are unmanageable could have put him off. Then again, there is an obvious appeal to the manager with the self-belief to ignore the pitfalls and instead focus on the positives. Alonso, bruised after his unhappy spell at Madrid, is ready to make the leap.

It is a coup for Chelsea, the most prestigious appointment these owners have made. They have had their eye on Alonso for four years. They watched his work at Bayer Leverkusen, saw howhe led them to the Bundesliga titleat the expense of Bayern Munich in 2024, and hoped to make him theirs one day.

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Now the dream is a reality. There was an easy rapport between Alonso and Chelsea’s leadership team when they met in London. One theory is that his appointment represents a shift in club policy. It is not just that, though. Alonso sought assurances but he has not made demands about power. In a break with previous appointments Alonso has taken the title of manager rather than head coach but that was Chelsea’s idea. It is because they see him as a leader with the potential to be more than a coach. Their ears pricked up when Alonso spoke about culture. Chelsea loved it when the former Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Madrid midfielder talked about wanting to sign and create mentality monsters.

Players will want to sign for Alonso. Perhaps Chelsea, who are set to miss out on Champions League qualification for the third time in four years, have slightly underestimated the power of the manager. It is time to get away from that infamous line from one director about there being no statistical link between managers and results. The problem with that theory is the unquantifiable impact made by the very best. Chelsea see it now: the value of aura. Their scepticism was quashed by the way Liam Rosenior was swallowed up by the demands of the role before his sacking last month.

There is a recognition that mistakes have been made during the past four years. Although there has never been an official policy to focus solely on signing young players, there is an acceptance that recruitment needs to be more flexible when it comes to age. Alonso is not alone in thinking Chelsea must sign some experienced players this summer.

Yet this does not have to be a drastic rebuild. What cannot be lost in the discussion is that the biggest reason for Chelsea’s season falling apart isEnzo Maresca walking awayon New Year’s Day. They had been moving in the right direction before that split. They were world champions. Alonso sees a squad that can be shaped in his image. It will take a few tweaks – a world-class goalkeeper, sharper wingers, consistency in central defence and more support for João Pedro up front – but Chelsea are not that far away from competing with the best sides.

How to make the leap? Chelsea know they need more stability. It starts with giving the manager the authority to build. It does not mean Chelsea have to rip up their model and start again. Contrary to speculation they are not handing complete control to the new man. What they have done, though, is look at Alonso’s stature and conclude that this is someone who must have a significant say in the club’s future. The only way to build a team of mentality monsters is to empower the manager.

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May 17, 2026

Xabi Alonso coup shows Chelsea and BlueCo now see the value of aura

The Chelsea end was mostly empty by the time the players went to collect their losers’ medals. There was no grand ovation for the beate...

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