McGregor can cause Mayweather problems - Holm

Singapore - American MMA fighter Holly Holm has backed Conor McGregor to cause Floyd Mayweather problems on Thursday after their cross-over boxing showdown was confirmed.
Ireland's McGregor will be the heavy underdog against 49-0 Mayweather but Holm knows a few things about upsets, after she ended Ronda Rousey's unbeaten run with a brutal knockout in 2015.
"I'm one of those who believes in being able to cross over," said Holm, a former boxing world champion, ahead of her UFC fight in Singapore on Saturday.
"Boxing is a whole different world... but Conor really believes in himself, and I think he's going to put up a good fight."

Mayweather and McGregor - kingpins of their sports - will face each other over 12 rounds at Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena on August 26.
Neither has fought this year. Mayweather, 40, retired from pro boxing in 2015 after defeating Andre Berto, while McGregor (21-3) beat Eddie Alvarez last November.
Mayweather is the strong favourite but Holm, who will face Brazil's Bethe Correia in Singapore, said fights can be unpredictable.
"Anything can happen so that's why I like to watch from the outside, it's unknown, you don't know what's going to happen," the American said.
Li Jingliang, a leading Chinese MMA prospect who is also on Saturday's card, said McGregor had the tools to upset Mayweather.
"It's a very good opportunity to show an MMA fighter is a well-rounded fighter, they can win in MMA fights, and also in boxing," Li said through a translator.
"I've been watching him, Conor has a reach advantage and he's more powerful."
Joe Carr, head of international and content at UFC - the organisation that made McGregor a star - also tipped the Irishman to cause an upset.
"The difference in combat sport is that one punch can change everything and what you need to do is to land that one punch.
"What we know is that Conor McGregor is a huge hitter and he's been knocking people out for the last few years," Carr said.

Walthamstow fire: Huge blaze breaks out at restaurant in north-east London

The blaze erupted just before midnight at the Arabian Nights shisha bar on Walthamstow high street on Wednesday night.
London fire crews raced to the scene and no one was injured in the blaze but three families have been displaced from their homes.

It came just hours after a deadly inferno ripped through a west London tower block killing at least 12 people on Wednesday morning.
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy tweeted that the fire had broken out just before midnight and warned people to stay away from St James’ Street.

Selena Gomez's Many 'Bad Liar' Faces: 11 Other Videos Where the Star Plays Multiple Characters

Most music videos are basically an excuse to play dress-up. Unless the artist is rocking it out on stage while pretending to play, most promo clips find a way to create a fantastical world where we can all escape from the daily grind for a few minutes. That goes a long way toward explaining why Selena Gomez plays nearly a dozen different characters in the throwback clip for her new single "Bad Liar."
Stay-at-home mom, mustachioed teacher, dorky dad, 1970s pin-up-worthy basketball coach -- veteran child actor Gomez literally tries on a closet full of wigs in the Jesse Peretz-directed clip for the sensual single. But she's just the latest singer to try on multiple personas in a video, joining a long tradition of character-swapping clips from the likes of the Beastie Boys, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, The Jonas Brothers, Eminem, Lily Allen, Beyoncé and, of course, the Foo Fighters, who never tire of putting on weird outfits, sometimes in the service of, yes, director Peretz.

India vs Pakistan Final, Champions Trophy 2017: Rohit Sharma Unveils His Trainer Ahead of Title Clash

Having hit a superb century in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy on Thursday, India opener Rohit Sharma decided to introduce his fans and well-wishers to his trainer ahead of the much-awaited final between India and Pakistan. With the two teams set to clash in a high-intensity clash at the Oval on Sunday, Rohit is once again expected to start well against the Pakistan.


Taking to Instagram, Rohit posted a video where he is seen running with none other than opening partner Shikhar Dhawan’s son Zoravar in the hotel lobby and the opener says that the youngster prepared him for the game against the Bangla Tigers. The post reads: “Introducing my trainer Zoravar! Got me game ready for the semis.

On Thursday, it was a classic case of the master giving a lesson to an upstart apprentice as India thrashed Bangladesh by 9-wickets to book a place in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. The high flying Bangla Tigers were brought back to the ground as the 'Men in Blue' outclassed their opposition with both bat and ball.

The victory also means India will take on Pakistan in the final on Sunday at The Oval in London, in what would be a first meeting between the arch-rivals in the final of an ICC 50-over tournament. After their bowlers had restricted Bangladesh to a below par total of 264, the Indian top order of Rohit Sharma (123*), Shikhar Dhawan (46) and Virat Kohli (96*) made a mockery of the target, chasing it down with 59 balls to spare.

Bangladesh needed to put pressure on India by picking up early wickets but the old firm of Dhawan and Rohit didn't allow the opposition to make any in roads. Both batsmen attacked Mustafizur Rahman to defang the 'mystery' bowler early as runs came at a brisk pace for India. Dhawan launched an aggressive attack in the eighth over as he hit Taskin Ahmed for two boundaries and a six, as the Bangladeshi paceman was guilty of pitching the ball too short.
 
The duo, who are the most successful opening pair in the history of Champions Trophy, were all-set to put on another century stand until Dhawan had a brain snap. He walked down the pitch to Mashrafe Mortaza in search of a boundary that would take him to his fifty, but ended up getting a leading edge, which was caught at backward point, to depart for 46. India had lost their first wicket with 87 runs on the board and Bangladesh sniffed an opportunity. But Rohit Sharma, in the company of Indian captain Virat Kohli, ensured Bangladesh never had a chance. India chased the target down on the first delivery of the 41st over with Virat Kohli hitting the winning boundary.

U.S. Open 2017: Golf world's biggest stars struggle and nine Round 1 thoughts

ERIN, Wis. -- If you want a summary of the first day of the 2017 U.S. Open, here it is: There were as many amateurs under par on the day (2) as there were top 10 golfers in the world.
Texas Longhorn Scottie Scheffler shot a 3-under 69, and Texas A&M Aggie Cameron Champ posted a 2-under 70. The best the OWGR top 10 could do was Rickie Fowler (1st, -7) and Sergio Garcia (T19, -2). The rest of that top 10 was a combined 26 over. What in the world?!
It all happened for different reasons, too. Dustin Johnson (T102, +3) couldn't hit a fairway. Neither could Rory McIlroy (T143, +6). Jon Rahm (T114, +4) was kicking his bag all over Erin Hills. Henrik Stenson (T82, +2) went out in 40. Hideki Matsuyama (T82, +2) needed an eagle hole-out to shoot something respectable. Jason Day (T151, +7) nearly finished last in the field. The whole thing was a mess except for Fowler and Garcia.
"We might have a pillow fight putting contest, just to see if we can spark anything," joked Jordan Spieth (T61, +1) of his pairing with Johnson. "But, yeah, it was just off with putter and he had one bad hole. Yeah, I played a lot of golf with him and have seen him at his best. And everybody has off days one way or another."

Spieth, incredibly, hit 13-of-14 fairways and couldn't throw it in the ocean on the greens. Johnson only hit 11-of-18 greens in regulation, so his 75 was actually probably decent considering how penal the rough is at this course.
Add it all up and we get a leaderboard that is strong but not star-studded other than Fowler, who leads by one over Paul Casey and Xander Schauffele (more on that in a second).
U.S. Open leaderboards, especially early on in the week, are almost always quirky. But this is bizarre even for this tournament. On a new, unknown track that values hitting tons of fairways and greens, it seems the balance of power would tilt towards the best in the world. This is not the type of tournament that levels the playing field. It is the type of tournament that produces historic, elite winners.
And yet, we're looking at a Friday in which 80 percent of the 10 best players on the planet will be on cut watch. That's bad news for them and bad news for the tournament ... but tremendous news for your Round 1 leader.

1. Rickie Fowler's 65 was historic: The 7-under 65 from Fowler early on Friday for the first-round lead tied the best score to par in U.S. Open history (Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf in 1980 at Baltusrol), and the scary part is that it could have been even better.
All of a sudden this is Fowler's tournament to lose with nobody in the world top 10 within four strokes of him. Can he run out in front like Martin Kaymer did in 2014 to his first major championship? He could, but I don't think he will. This course is going to get nasty over the next 54 holes, and Fowler is going to have to brawl for his first big one.
Still, if he drives it like he did on Thursday (12-of-14 fairways), he'll be there until the very end on Sunday afternoon.

Recapping @RickieFowler's first-round 65 in under two minutes. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/jKZRUqfncw

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017

2. There were 44 golfers under par in Round 1: In the last three U.S. Opens, there have been 50 golfers under par after the first round ... combined. This broke the previous record of 39. It will be interesting to see if the USGA takes this as an affront and lights them up the rest of the week or if the scores actually stay steady or, gulp, even get better from here.

U.S. Open record for sub-par scores in 1st round is 39 at Medinah in '90. On pace for 42 at Erin Hills. #USOpen

— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) June 16, 2017

3. Fairway accuracy was paramount: Of the golfers in the top 10 on the leaderboard, only Marc Leishman hit fewer than 10 fairways on the day. It was accuracy (and not distance) that separated those who played great from those who did not. That shouldn't be super surprising considering how long the rough around Erin Hills is this week.

Compared to recent US Opens, scoring is lower & more fairways/greens hit, but only Merion was tougher after missing the fairway #USOpen pic.twitter.com/80qCVVXHiT

— 15th Club (@15thClub) June 15, 2017

4. Paul Casey lurks: Maybe the most interesting player currently in the top 10 other than Fowler is Casey, who dropped a filthy little 66 late on Thursday afternoon that included an eagle and six birdies (along with two bogeys). Fox dropped a great stat that nobody has more top-5 finishes (11) than Casey since the 2014-15 season started without a win. He only has one PGA Tour win in his career and no top 10s since 2007 so this would be unexpected to say the least.
5. All the hole-outs: It seemed that there were an inordinate number of hole-outs on Thursday. Here is a collection of them all.

Throw it in long and let it spin back.

Hideki Matsuyama with the touch from the fairway on the par-4 15th. #USOpen https://t.co/RPZIf0MNV6

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017

A first-hole eagle is a heck of a start for @Paul_Casey on No. 1 at the #USOpen. https://t.co/sygzJpyPo4

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017

.@henrikstenson even impresses Henrik Stenson. #USOpen https://t.co/B6GaeHBbI5

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017

Shania Twain releases her first new song in 15 years ‘Life’s About to Get Good,’ the first single off the artist’s new album, came out on Thursday.

Canadian country superstar Shania Twain abruptly released her first single in 15 years on Thursday.

“Life’s About to Get Good” arrived Thursday on YouTube and the Spotify streaming service, as Twain posted “The day is finally here!!” on her social-media accounts. The single is from the artist’s new album Now, slated to come out on Sept. 29.

Between 1995 and 2002, Twain had few peers commercially: 1995’s The Woman in Me sold 12 million records in the U.S. alone, while 1997’s Come on Over went double-diamond, signifying 20 million copies sold.

Her last album of new material was Up! from 2002. Since 2002 she retired from live performance, divorced her husband and producer, Robert “Mutt” Lange, battled dysphonia — a condition that robbed her of her voice — and then unretired and began performing again in Vegas.

“Life’s about joy, life’s about pain,” Twain sings on the new track. “Life’s about to get good.”

What's the deal with Asians?' Red Symons under fire over controversial interview

ABC Radio has gone into delayed damage control following presenter Red Symons' offensive remarks to a fellow broadcaster.
The former Hey Hey It's Saturday star, who hosts ABC Radio Melbourne's Breakfast slot, came under fire over an interview with ABC Radio podcaster Beverley Wang, in which he asked the presenter if she was "yellow" and "What's the deal with Asians?".

Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said while it is important to discuss race, those conversations must be respectful.
"Racism doesn't require malice in your heart. It is as much about impact as it is about intent," he said.

"It's important we're able to talk about race, but let's do it with respect. Too often prejudice is tolerated as good-natured banter, when it should be rejected for the racism it represents."
The full audio of the interview, shared online by Wang, has since been pulled from the Radio National website, along with an edited interview from Symons' show that originally aired on the station on Monday.

"A review of the editorial processes around this content and its use is in progress," ABC Radio said in an official statement.
"ABC Radio apologises for the content going to air."

The station has not responded to questions on whether Symons will face any disciplinary action over his comments.
However, when pressed on whether the review included the remarks made by Symons a spokesman for ABC said "the whole thing is under review".
Symons will return to his show on Monday.
Wang had been a guest on Symons' show to discuss her new podcast It's Not a Race, when the conversation took an immediate uncomfortable turn.
Opening the interview, Symons told Wang he was "not happy" over her show because he had a similar idea for a radio segment about "contemporary race issues in Australia".
"Except my segment was called 'What's the deal with Asians?'," he said.
"Well, let's tackle that," Wang replied. "What is the deal with Asians, Red?"
"No, I ask the questions," the host replied.
"It's just a useful general question about the nature of our culture, and how one should, can, might interact with people who might have a different cultural background.
"First question is, are they all the same?" he asked.
The uncomfortable exchange continued when Symons asked Wang – who was born in Canada, of Taiwanese descent – if she was "yellow", where she was from in China, and if "they" spoke "Mandarin or Cantonese".
"Who's 'they'?" Wang replied.
"The people in Taiwan!" Symons responded, voice rising.
"They speak Taiwanese and they speak Mandarin. And in Canada where I'm from, they speak English and French," Wang replied.
"I knew that. But you're probably from the west coast of Canada..." Symons said.
"Why's that, Red?" Wang countered.
"Because it's closer to Asia."

Review: Interstellar virus makes trouble in new sci-fi novel

Story's love interest proves more tedious than interesting.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON Associated Press

Thursday, June 15, 2017 12:01 am

“The Space Between the Stars” (Berkley), by Anne Corlett.Jamie Allenby, veterinary scientist on the planet Soltaire, has a lot on her mind in “The Space Between the Stars,” a debut novel by Anne Corlett.
She’s not sure if she misses Daniel, her lover of 13 years. His last known address was on another planet. When they separated, she told him she needed space. Now she has more space than she bargained for because she may be the only survivor of an interstellar supervirus.
Finding other survivors is Jamie’s first concern. Then she needs to get to Earth. Jamie and Daniel once promised to meet on the Northumberland coast of England in the event of an apocalypse. She must fulfill that pledge.
But she’s reluctant. Daniel wasn’t all that great. Jamie ponders her relationship troubles with Daniel when more pressing problems need to be solved. Like finding food, staying warm, rebuilding a culture. No, it’s Daniel who is on her mind. Daniel. His name — in a single-word sentence — plunks again and again. Daniel. This becomes tedious.Fortunately, Jamie isn’t the only survivor so other characters provide relief from her Daniel obsession.
She makes her way to a spaceport. She and the others hitch a ride on a spaceship. They make another stop and find someone unexpected. Daniel. In all his plunking glory.
Corlett sets up a hero’s journey narrative so at this point Jamie, our hero, is tempted to abandon her quest. After all, she’s found Daniel, not on Earth, but on another planet called Alegria. Why go on? That isn’t sufficiently answered, but it’s a hero’s journey, so she must get to Earth. She must go on. She must gain wisdom and mastery.
In sci-fi, the science doesn’t need to be fully spelled out or even plausible, but some of the fun is missing when it lacks this much substance. Corlett has spaceships travel magically between worlds without explanation except that this is the distant future. The supervirus turns victims to dust.
We learn that colonization of other worlds involved forced emigration and that authorities applied travel IDs onto people’s ring fingers with lasers. We don’t learn much, however, about how that history played out or how it affects Jamie.
In short, “The Space Between the Stars” disappoints. As a beach read, it’s too easy to put down in favor of a nap in the sun.

Beyoncé fans spark Twitter frenzy after speculating she has given birth to her twins

Beyoncé's fans are convinced their Queen Bey is currently in Labour and on the brink of giving birth to her two twins.
The Beyhive, the shared moniker given to the pop superstar’s fans, sent Twitter into a meltdown on Tuesday after they began speculating Beyoncé was either about to welcome her twins into the world or had already done so.
This was further heightened by US Weekly’s report there is a significant amount of security in an LA-based hospital.

India vs Bangladesh semifinal 2017: Rohit, Kohli help India cruise into final

India vs Bangladesh Champions Trophy semifinal 2017

How easy was that? A target of 265 could have been tricky had India lost a few early wickets but Bangladesh somehow didn't look like taking any. This would have to rank as one of Rohit's most stylish knocks - effortless and chanceless. Virat Kohli was unstoppable too and the Bangladesh players lost the game fairly early because they looked flat on the field. Their slide began when Kedar Jadhav claimed the wickets of Mushfiqur and Tamim. It sucked the momentum out of their innings and in the end they were, well, 80-90 short?
We've had two one-sided semifinals. How will the final turn out? India will meet Pakistan for the final and the league match between them was anything but competitive.  Pakistan have improved since that game so if their bowlers can repeat that sort of performance in the semis, things will get interesting. This will be India's 4th final and Pakistan's first in the Champions Trophy. Join us again on Sunday. Goodbye.
Click here for the full scorecard

Updates

Virat Kohli: "We didn't expect to win by nine wickets. Says a lot about the quality of our batsmen. Jadhav is not a surprise package. He's a smart guy, he knows where to pitch the ball. Today was an opportunity for me to play the way I want. Rohit was outstanding. We might be tested in the final. It's not a worry if the middle order has not had much opportunities to bat. It's a worry if the middle order is batting too much."
Mashrafe: "When Kedar took the two set batsmen out it was a huge setback for us. Hopefully next Champions Tropjhy we will be even stronger. Skill wise we are fine but mentally we need to be a bit stronger. Otherwise, spot on." 
Rohit Sharma is the Man of the Match: "It's special since my hundred has come in a winning cause. I missed out the last few games so I was determined to score a hundred this time. As soon as Virat walked in you felt like he was batting overnight. This was such a good wicket to bat on. You had to make a mistake to get out." 
40.1 overs - India 265/1. Target 265
No Kohli can't get a century but he's anything but disappointed here. A four driven through the covers seals the win, he punches the air and India have decimated Bangladesh by 9 wickets to set up their date with Pakistan on Sunday for the final at The Oval.
Can Kohli somehow get a century?
39 overs - India 256/1. Target 265
Dropped short and Kohli pulls Sabbir ro deep midwicket. A single to long-off brings up 8000 ODI runs for Kohli! The fastest to get there. Sorry Sachin
38 overs - India 249/1. Target 265
Shakib drifts on the pads and Kohli nudges it down to fine leg. Then Rohit scoops one over extra cover. India making this look ridiculously easy
37 overs - India 239/1. Target 265
Short and wide and slashed over gully and down to third man. Four easy runs for Kohli. Taskin then bowls the short one to Rohit and he pulls to deep square leg to bring up the 150 stand. Virat Kohli is ten away from 8000 ODI runs.
35 overs - India 224/1. Target 265
The field is up so all you need to do is find the gap and the ball does the rest. That's how easy batting has been today. Rohit gently pushes Taskin wide of mid-off and the fielder didn't feel the need to dive
34 overs - India 218/1. Target 265
Even Bangladesh want to get this over with quickly. Kohli drives Shakib to wide long-off, the fielder chases, doesn't put in a dive and the ball rolls over the ropes
33 overs - India 212/1. Target 265
Rohit gets to his century with a boundary but his heart would have been in his mouth as he hooked it towards fine leg. The fielder was running to his right and the ball just about beat his dive and landed on the rope. Rohit's 11th hundred and perhaps his most attractive one. Sublime and (almost) chanceless
31 overs - India 198/1. Target 265
This Bangladesh attack is as flat and deflated as England's yesterday. Mahmudullah comes on and he starts off with a half tracker that's bashed by Virat bisecting two fielders at deep square leg. Then the bowler tries the fuller length but he gives width and the ball rockets to sweeper cover
30 overs - India 188/1. Target 265
Fifty for Kohli and he gets there with a swat in front of square on the on side, beating the midwicket fielder. He didn't even make that shot look all that aggressive - relied on timing and placement
28 overs - India 177/1.
Target 265Nothing going Bangladesh's way. A top edge by Rohit lands safely at extra cover, Shakib gave that some air; then Kohli gets a thick outside edge looking to dab it to third man but Mishfiqur failed to get his hands behind that
27 overs - India 173/1. Target 265
Mossadek and Taskin bowling in tandem. Mossadek tosses one up and Kohli drives with ease to sweeper cover. 6 bowlers have been used.
23 overs - India 156/1. Target 265
At this rate we'll all be home quickly. Three more boundaries off the over from Rubel. Kohli sends the first to sweeper cover; Rohit effortlessly cuts the second to backward point; the third is also helped on its way square on the off side
22 overs - India 140/1. Target 265
Not a good day for the Fizz. Pitched up on the pads and Virat easily works it wide of midwicket, half volley outside off and a text book cover drive by Kohli costs another boundary. Looking at the way the Indian batsmen have progressed, you wonder if Bangladesh are 70 short.