ESPN writer Seth Wickersham and Phoebe Schecter explain the thought processes behind the likes of legendary quarterback Tom Brady transforming themselves from backups to Super Bowl winners.
How to go from backup quarterback to Super Bowl glory
How will Donald Trump enforce his plan for Gaza?
The US President has urged leaders in the Middle East to move past conflict.
United States President Donald Trump says his Gaza ceasefire deal will bring peace to the Middle East.
Some 20 world leaders, including Trump, signed the agreement at a special summit in Egypt on Monday.
The deal outlines the steps both Hamas and Israel must take to maintain the ceasefire and end the war in Gaza.
But it does not quite address the bigger question of what will happen in the Palestinian territory beyond the next few months.
What about Israel’s larger occupation? And the establishment of a viable Palestinian state?
How will Trump’s plan address these important issues?
Presenter: Nick Clark
Guests:
Ori Goldberg – political commentator
Phyllis Bennis – fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies
Syria’s al-Sharaa to meet Russia’s Putin in Moscow on Wednesday
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Russia on Wednesday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, Syria’s state news agency reports, as part of a broader diplomatic push to bolster the Damascus transitional government’s international legitimacy.
It will be al-Sharaa’s first official visit to Moscow, a longtime ally of the former Bashar al-Assad regime that al-Sharaa’s forces ousted in December.
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During the visit, al-Sharaa and Putin will discuss “regional and international developments” and “ways to strengthen cooperation”, Syria’s SANA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the presidential media directorate. Al-Sharaa will also meet with members of the Syrian community living in Russia, the report said.
The Reuters news agency cited a Syrian official as saying that al-Sharaa will hold talks on the continued presence of Russia’s naval base in Tartous and its air base in Khmeimim. The source added that al-Sharaa also plans to formally request that Moscow hand over al-Assad, who has been living in exile with his family in Moscow since fleeing Syria in December.
Al-Sharaa, who once headed the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda under the name Abu Mohammed al-Julani, commanded rebel forces that seized Damascus and installed a new government late last year, ending al-Assad’s decades-long rule.
Since then, Russia has sought to build ties with Syria’s new leadership, including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
SANA reported that Putin called al-Sharaa in February, expressing support for Syria’s “unity, sovereignty and stability”. In July, Putin and his minister of foreign affairs, Sergey Lavrov, met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow.
The Syrian president’s visit to Moscow follows his September trip to New York, where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), declaring that Syria was “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world” and urging for an end to sanctions.
England Rout Latvia To Qualify For World Cup
Harry Kane scored twice as England secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 5-0 thrashing of Latvia on Tuesday.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in Riga before Kane took his tally for club and country this season to 21 goals in 13 games.
A Maksims Tonisevs own-goal and Eberechi Eze’s strike rounded off the scoring as the Three Lions guaranteed top spot in Group K of UEFA qualifying with two games to spare.
Thomas Tuchel has completed his first task with ease as his side became the first European nation to qualify.
England have won all six of their qualifiers since the German took charge, scoring 18 goals without conceding.
“It comes rarely that you qualify for a World Cup, so the mood is very, very good,” said Tuchel. “In the dressing room, it’s all smiles, music. It’s a moment to enjoy because it’s a special moment.”
After a slow start to Tuchel’s reign with unconvincing victories over Albania and Andorra, plus a friendly defeat to Senegal in June, England have clicked into gear over the past two international breaks.
“Of course we expect us to win against Latvia, but the way we won first of all gives us a lot of satisfaction,” added Tuchel.
“We did it six out of six wins, six clean sheets. We are there and to have this feeling is a very unique feeling.”
Tuchel’s decision to leave out fit-again Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden from his squad this month was questioned.
But the former Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss has been rewarded for implementing continuity with his selection.
Gordon is one of those to benefit from a run of games on the left of a front three.
The Newcastle winger opened the floodgates when he cut inside to curl into the far corner for just his second England goal on 26 minutes.
‘Building Momentum’
Kane had uncharacteristically missed a glorious early chance when he steered a Gordon cross wide.
The Bayern Munich striker soon found his range with two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half to take his international tally to 76 in 110 caps.
Despite losing his balance, Kane steered a shot into the far corner off his weaker left foot to double England’s lead.
Kane then accepted the gift of a soft penalty award for holding of his shirt by Latvia captain Antonijs Cernomordijs.
“I spoke before about building momentum, no matter who we play,” said Kane.
“We hold on to that. Hold on to winning games, to clean sheets, to pressing high, scoring goals and we’ve done all of that.”
England were able to coast through the second period despite five substitutions disrupting the visitors’s attacking flow.
The fourth goal was a self-inflicted blow by Latvia as the ball looped into his own net off Tonisevs after goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris failed to connect with Djed Spence’s cross.
Eze was one of those introduced after the break and the Arsenal playmaker rounded off the scoring with a fine run and finish on 86 minutes.
England have not failed to qualify for a World Cup since it was last in the USA back in 1994.
The hard work for Tuchel now starts in trying to deliver his adopted nation’s first major trophy since 1966.
Hard decisions lie ahead with Bellingham, Foden, Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer among those not even in the travelling squad to Riga.
Police Foil Kidnap Attempt, Recover Weapons In Forest Operation
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping and armed attack at Byazhin Forest, Abuja.
The police disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday by the FCT Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh.
The force said the operation, conducted on October 10, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and thirty rounds of live ammunition.
The operation followed credible intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Headquarters.
The intelligence revealed that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as “Mai Duna,” planned coordinated attacks on villages around Byazhin Forest.
Acting swiftly, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams and mounted an ambush along the identified routes of the suspects, the force said.
READ ALSO: Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen
According to the police, at about 1:00 a.m. on October 11, operatives sighted two groups of heavily armed bandits advancing towards the area, and they engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted about twenty minutes.
The police said, despite strong resistance, they overpowered the criminals, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds, adding that reinforcement teams from nearby Police and Military formations immediately joined the operation.
According to the force, the joint effort secured the area and blocked all possible escape routes. A thorough search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine, and thirty live 7.6mm rounds.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism during the operation. He noted that their prompt response prevented a major security breach within the Federal Capital Territory.
‘Humour made me smile’ – Tuchel enjoys fans’ chants
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Thomas Tuchel said he accepted the pointed chants aimed in his direction by fans during the win over Latvia that secured England’s place at the World Cup.
Travelling supporters targeted Tuchel with numerous songs throughout the game after the German manager criticised fans after last week’s win over Wales.
The England boss had said he felt underwhelmed by the home support at Wembley during Thursday’s 3-0 friendly win, comments that prompted a vocal response from fans who made the trip to Riga.
Supporters chanted “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll sing when we want” and “Thomas Tuchel, are we loud enough for you”.
After the 5-0 win in the Latvian capital that booked England’s place at the World Cup next summer, Tuchel said: “I got a bit of stick in the first half, so fair enough. I take it in good humour, with a good sense of humour. I accept it.
“They had a reason from my last comments and I guess that’s fair enough.
“I found it quite creative. It made me smile and this is how it has to be. It’s British humour and I surely can take it. No harm done.”
On the impact of England’s fans between now and the World Cup, he added: “It’s so important. They are here and I said the support in Serbia was brilliant.
“The support was brilliant and we are very sure the support in America will be absolutely brilliant. We need it.
“It makes such a difference if you go out as a player or as a coach and you see the fans behind the team and singing. This is also part of what we do.
“We want to make them proud, we want to make them happy. They should be happy to watch us and they should be able to identify with how we play.
‘Kane sets the example’
Captain Harry Kane scored twice in the first half in Riga, taking him to 20 goals this season in 11 games for England and club Bayern Munich.
But it was his work rate and leadership that impressed Tuchel most.
“Harry just gave a speech when he said that everyone will be ready to keep this thing going in November, that no-one will step back and take this thing for granted. They feel they’re building something,” said Tuchel.
“If you just look at the goal in the 85th minute, the goal from Ebs (Eze), we have a ball lost and Harry goes all the way back to his own half and puts his head down in another sprint defensively.
“As a captain, as number nine, there is no real need to do this. No-one would ever blame him if he did not do it but he does it and that is the standard and that is the example that he sets and what everyone feels at the moment.
“And that is so brilliant to see as he helps us win the ball and in the end results in the goal from Ebs, a brilliant goal.
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