Daily News 19

Category: Around the World

International news, world events, society, travel, and stories beyond the other editorial categories.

  • Xabi Alonso Defends Leaving Enzo Fernández Out Amid Manchester City Interest

    Xabi Alonso Defends Leaving Enzo Fernández Out Amid Manchester City Interest

    London (AP) — Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso defended his decision to leave Argentina international Enzo Fernández out of the squad for the League Cup victory over Luton amid reported interest from Manchester City.

    Alonso explains Fernández omission

    Alonso said Chelsea need players who “sientan el deseo de jugar” when discussing the midfielder’s situation on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Brighton.

    “Necesitamos a los jugadores que estén en la mejor situación para jugar”, señaló Alonso. “Tenemos que tenerlo todo en cuenta: jugadores que están en un buen momento, jugadores que no están sintiendo esa energía para jugar. Para mí es muy importante que sientan ese deseo de jugar y que tengan una buena preparación”.

    “Hablamos y decidimos que (para el Luton) era mejor no formar parte de la convocatoria. Es un jugador de primer nivel, no hay duda de eso”.

    Chelsea beat third-tier Luton 2-0 without Fernández, relying on a debut goal from new signing Danny Welbeck and a Luton own goal.

    Any deal for Fernández, who reached the World Cup final with Argentina last month, would leave Chelsea with little time to sign a replacement before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

    See AP’s complete soccer coverage here.

  • Intel 14A Defect Density Falls Faster Than Expected: ‘we have not seen this performance since 22nm,’ CFO Says

    Intel 14A Defect Density Falls Faster Than Expected: ‘we have not seen this performance since 22nm,’ CFO Says

    Intel’s confidence in its 14A, or 1.4nm-class, semiconductor manufacturing process is growing as defect density continues to decline. Intel’s internal design teams are developing products for the node, while external customers are beginning to ask how much 14A production capacity the foundry can provide, according to Intel Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner.

    Speaking at Deutsche Bank’s 2026 Technology Conference, Zinsner compared 14A’s development favorably with Intel’s highly successful 22nm process. However, the comparison comes with important qualifications: 14A is still expected to enter risk production in the second half of 2027, with high-volume manufacturing planned for 2028.

    “When you look at the defect density, 14A is tracking better than the target curve we had for 14A,” Zinsner said at Deutsche Bank’s 2026 Technology Conference. “It is also doing better than any of the previous nodes in terms of how quickly we are bringing down the defects. In fact, we have not seen this performance since 22nm, which is arguably one of the best nodes Intel has ever put out.”

    Zinsner’s comments indicate that, at this stage of development, 14A’s defect-reduction trajectory is at least as healthy as 22nm’s was at a comparable point in its development. That does not necessarily mean that 14A’s current defect density is equivalent to the 22nm process’s defect density two years before mass production.

    Manufacturing and inspection equipment have also advanced significantly since 2010, meaning that a defect counted today may not be directly comparable with one Intel counted 16 years ago. In addition, defect density does not directly translate into final product yield.

    Intel 14A process technology shows early progress

    Intel’s 22nm process was the company’s first node to use FinFET transistors and was the world’s most advanced manufacturing technology when it launched. Other chipmakers did not adopt FinFET devices until their 14nm- and 16nm-class nodes arrived in 2014 and 2015.

    Intel 14A will use second-generation gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and second-generation backside power delivery, known as PowerDirect. The process will also support High-NA EUV lithography, enabled by highly complex patterning requirements.

    Against that backdrop, Intel’s report of unusually strong defect-density reduction well ahead of high-volume manufacturing is encouraging. The comparison is particularly notable given Intel’s difficult experience with several successors to 22nm. Mass production of the company’s 14nm process was delayed by a year because of inadequate yields, its first-generation 10nm node failed to meet expectations, 20A was cancelled, and 18A had high defect density even as it reached a high-volume manufacturing milestone.

    Intel has also disclosed very little information about the development progress of its Intel 4 and Intel 3 nodes.

    External customers begin planning Intel 14A products

    There are signs that 14A is gaining practical customer traction. External customers are developing products for the node, while their discussions with Intel have shifted from general interest to questions about capacity and supply.

    “We are now seeing demand from our internal customers on 14A [and] they are actually probably the most cynical bunch out of anybody,” Zinsner said. “The fact that they are now designing products on 14A was a good confidence boost for us as well. Then, engagements with customers externally, from a foundry perspective has significantly increased. Lip-Bu and the team are now meeting on weekly basis with customers. They are moving away from just looking at data to thinking about ‘how much capacity can I get?’ ‘what does that supply look like?’ So, we are now at a point where we have conviction around customers on 14A externally as well.”

    Intel began mass-producing its 22nm-based Ivy Bridge processors in late 2011 and early 2012, before releasing them commercially in late April 2012. The processors were highly successful, although overclockers criticized the inefficient thermal interface material between the die and integrated heat spreader.

    Intel continued using its 22nm manufacturing technology for many years, first for CPUs from 2012 through 2016 and later for other products. The company similarly expects 14A to become a long-lasting process node.

  • Steph Curry Faces a Crucial Decision With the Warriors’ Future at Stake

    Steph Curry Faces a Crucial Decision With the Warriors’ Future at Stake

    Stephen Curry once again holds the key to the Golden State Warriors’ future.

    Saturday marked the first day the 38-year-old superstar could sign a maximum contract extension with the Warriors. As he prepares for his 18th NBA season, Curry is entering the final year of his current deal, which is worth nearly $63 million.

    Golden State has made no secret of its desire to reach another agreement with Curry before the season begins. General manager Mike Dunleavy has repeatedly said over the past year that the organization wants to keep its franchise player, whose importance extends well beyond the basketball court to the entire Bay Area.

    Curry has also said repeatedly, including after last season, that he would be open to signing a new contract. On the surface, the decision appears straightforward: the Warriors want Curry, and Curry has long maintained that he would prefer to wear only one jersey during his NBA career.

    Curry extension could define the Warriors’ next chapter

    The real intrigue begins if the future Hall of Famer does not sign a new deal before the season starts.

    There has been growing frustration among Warriors fans that the salary-cap-constrained team did not do more this summer to reshape a roster that missed the playoffs last season. But the clearest measure of that frustration has always been, and will continue to be, Curry himself.

    If Curry signs an extension before the season, it would be the strongest indication yet that he still trusts Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob to do everything possible to maximize the final years of his career.

    The Warriors should have significantly more flexibility next summer, when additional cap space and a collection of future first-round picks could give them more opportunities to overhaul the roster than they had in recent months. However, the team took a high-profile swing this summer by pursuing LeBron James and came away empty-handed, leaving Curry with largely the same supporting cast he had a year ago.

    LeBron headed to Philly, leaving Warriors fans disappointed

    That supporting cast includes head coach Steve Kerr, who signed a two-year extension this summer, and Draymond Green, who agreed to a one-year deal. If Curry does not sign, speculation and anxiety surrounding the Warriors—from the fanbase and the wider basketball world—would reach a fever pitch.

    Why Curry’s contract decision matters

    The overwhelming expectation has always been that Curry will sign and the Warriors will continue operating with him as the focal point of everything they do. But if he waits, whether to send a message about the roster or simply to see what happens next, the uncertainty would create a lingering distraction over the team until the situation is resolved.

    That is the catch-22 Curry faces.

    He has never been the type of player to publicly disrupt the team, even when he is unhappy with a situation. Instead, he typically lets his performances on the court speak more loudly than his words at a microphone. This latest decision in his legendary career is likely to follow the same pattern.

    With one more signature, Curry would secure his future with the only NBA team he has ever known. He would publicly endorse the organization’s current direction, as well as whatever may come during the final years of his storied career. In return, the Warriors would retain the greatest player in franchise history and one of the most valuable stars the league has ever produced.

    Curry played only 43 games last season because of multiple injuries, including a persistent knee problem that kept him out for two months. Throughout his career, however, he has understood the influence of his words and actions. He knows that every move is watched and analyzed, and that he commands enormous attention while the Warriors remain one of the NBA’s most prominent teams.

    That is why Curry understands the message his decision would send if a new contract is not completed.

    Would he turn down that level of security and spend the season answering questions about his future? Or does he trust the Warriors enough to commit now and leave the organization’s next major decisions for another day?

    Only Curry knows.

    For years, nearly everything the Warriors have done has revolved around him. Now, as the organization tries to determine what the final chapter of this era will look like, Curry once again gets to decide where it begins.

  • September Outlook: Above-Average Fall Heat Expected as Northwest Cools

    September Outlook: Above-Average Fall Heat Expected as Northwest Cools

    September is expected to bring above-average temperatures across most of the United States, according to the latest outlook from Atmospheric G2 and The Weather Company. The Pacific Northwest is the main exception, with cooler-than-normal conditions forecast for the first month of meteorological fall.

    September temperature outlook

    • Hottest conditions from the Dakotas to Texas: The strongest above-average temperature signal extends from North Dakota south through the Plains and into Texas.
    • Warmth from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes: Above-normal temperatures are also expected across the Rockies and the mid-Atlantic.
    • Slightly warmer in the Southwest and Northeast: Both regions are forecast to remain warmer than normal, although the departure from average should be more modest than across the Plains.
    • Coolest weather in the Pacific Northwest: Below-normal temperatures could offer some relief after a difficult stretch of fire weather, making the region the most likely to experience sweater-weather conditions.

    September precipitation outlook

    The wettest conditions relative to normal are expected across the Four Corners, where the North American monsoon should remain active during its final weeks before winding down in late September.

    Above-normal precipitation is also forecast from the northern Rockies and Great Basin eastward through the Plains and into parts of the Midwest.

    The Pacific Northwest coast is expected to remain drier than normal despite the cooler temperatures. That dryness could limit the fire-season relief that a cooler month would otherwise provide.

    Drier-than-average conditions are also projected across the East and Southeast, including the Great Lakes, upstate New York, much of the Northeast, Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast.

    El Niño developing rapidly

    A historically strong El Niño is emerging rapidly, according to Todd Crawford, vice president of meteorology at Atmospheric G2 and chief author of the outlook.

    The current event is clearly outpacing all other events at this point in their development, including the 1997 and 2015 El Niños.

  • What Time Is Real Sociedad Playing?

    What Time Is Real Sociedad Playing?

    Espanyol visit the Reale Arena aiming to secure three points that would keep them in the upper part of the LaLiga EA Sports standings. The Perico side has collected three points from the opening two league rounds and sits eighth in the table.

    Real Sociedad, meanwhile, come into the match after losing their first two games of the season. Those results leave them bottom of the standings with zero points. Despite the difficult start, Pellegrino Matarazzo has said his team is ready to turn the situation around.

    How Real Sociedad arrive for the LaLiga EA Sports match against Espanyol

    Real Sociedad have lost to Betis and Real Madrid in their opening fixtures, leaving them bottom of the LaLiga EA Sports table with no points.

    Calatrava’s goal (1-1) in Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid

    How Espanyol arrive for the LaLiga EA Sports match against Real Sociedad

    Espanyol also suffered defeat against Real Madrid, but they recorded a 3-0 victory over Levante. That result leaves them eighth in the standings with three points.

    What time is Real Sociedad vs Espanyol?

    The LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Espanyol will be played today, Saturday 29 August, at 19:00.

    Where to watch Real Sociedad vs Espanyol on TV and online

    The match between Real Sociedad and Espanyol will be broadcast live on television via Movistar LaLiga. It will also be available through Radio MARCA’s live commentary and MARCA.com’s minute-by-minute coverage.

    The pre-match build-up and starting line-ups will be available from two hours before kick-off. After the game, readers can follow the match report, statements from the key protagonists and a highlights summary featuring the best chances and goals.

  • What Time Is the Mallorca Match?

    What Time Is the Mallorca Match?

    Mallorca face AD Ceuta FC in Matchday 3 of LaLiga Hypermotion looking to respond after losing to Granada. Ceuta also arrive without a point after suffering defeat against Las Palmas.

    How Mallorca arrive for the LaLiga Hypermotion match against AD Ceuta FC

    Mallorca began the season with high expectations after beating Valladolid 2-0 at Son Moix. However, they were brought back down to earth by the same scoreline in their defeat to Granada.

    Luis García’s side will be aiming for another victory to remain close to the top positions in the table. They face a Ceuta team currently at the bottom of the standings, with two defeats and seven goals conceded.

    How AD Ceuta FC arrive for the LaLiga Hypermotion match against Mallorca

    Ceuta, affected to some extent by the situation in the city, were beaten 5-1 by Andorra before losing 0-2 to Las Palmas.

    However, it is important to remember that Ceuta are one of the four teams promoted to professional football this season.

    What time is Mallorca vs Ceuta in LaLiga Hypermotion?

    The LaLiga Hypermotion Matchday 3 fixture between Mallorca and Ceuta will be played on Sunday, August 30, at 19:00.

    Where to watch Mallorca vs AD Ceuta FC on TV and online

    The LaLiga Hypermotion Matchday 3 match between Mallorca and AD Ceuta FC will be broadcast live on television via LaLiga TV Hypermotion.

    The game can also be followed through Radio MARCA’s live commentary and MARCA.com’s minute-by-minute coverage. The build-up and team line-ups will be available from two hours before kick-off. After the match, readers can follow the report, players’ reactions and a highlights package featuring the best chances and goals.

    Source: www.marca.com

  • Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu Remains Off the Mark as Shooting Slump Continues

    Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu Remains Off the Mark as Shooting Slump Continues

    Sabrina Ionescu struggled as the New York Liberty fell 79-60 to the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center, shooting 2-for-12 from the field and 1-for-9 from 3-point range for seven points.

    Ionescu was not the only Liberty player who had difficulty against the Valkyries’ high-pressure defense. Leonie Fiebich went 1-for-6 from behind the arc, while Rebecca Allen finished 1-for-4.

    As a team, New York shot a season-low 30.2 percent from the field and made just seven of 31 attempts from 3-point range.

    Sabrina Ionescu remains in 3-point slump

    The performance was part of a larger slump for Ionescu, who has endured a difficult three-plus weeks. Over the Liberty’s past seven games, she has attempted a team-high 50 shots from beyond the arc despite missing one game with a foot injury.

    However, Ionescu ranks fourth on the team in made 3-pointers during that stretch, converting only eight of those attempts.

    Ionescu was not specifically asked about her slump after the loss. Allen said she was disappointed by Thursday’s performance, but Ionescu said she wasn’t “personally disappointed.”

    “I think we got really good looks,” she said. “We just didn’t make them.”

    Sabrina Ionescu shoots a jumper during the Liberty’s 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on Aug. 27, 2026 at Barclays Center. John Jones-Imagn Images

    Ionescu has dealt with several injuries this season. Most recently, she missed the Liberty’s Aug. 15 game in Connecticut because of a left foot injury. It remains unclear whether a lingering injury is affecting her performance.

    Regardless, Ionescu appears poised to benefit from a break. After Saturday’s game against Natasha Cloud and the Chicago Sky, the Liberty will pause for the FIBA World Cup. The WNBA season resumes Sept. 17.

    Ionescu was left off the U.S. roster and plans to use the break to train and “continue to get really healthy, take care of my body, feel good.”

    “Hopefully, can have really fresh legs, can feel really good and in rhythm come the last four games of the regular season,” she said. “And then start the playoffs feeling good.”

    Sabrina Ionescu reacts during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries
    Sabrina Ionescu reacts after Rebecca Allen’s made basket during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. Michelle Farsi / New York Post

    Liberty drop to eighth in WNBA playoff standings

    The eight playoff teams have already been determined, but teams continue to compete for seeding. Thursday’s loss dropped the Liberty to eighth place, putting them on course to face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in a best-of-three first-round series.

    Ionescu said she is not following the standings because the team cannot control them. Still, the fresh start provided by the playoffs appears to be something she welcomes.

    “We’ve never talked about it as a team, where we fall,” she said. “We understand we got to be peaking at the right time and playing our style of basketball and feeling really good, and I think knowing you can kind of have a fresh start when the playoffs come and put everything behind you in the regular season.”

  • US Open 2026: Why Does Venus Williams Receive So Many Wildcards?

    US Open 2026: Why Does Venus Williams Receive So Many Wildcards?

    Most tournaments prioritise their own national players when awarding wildcards, but places are also offered to players likely to bring commercial value to an event. Hale also refers to agreements as ‘trades’ with other national federations or agencies such as IMG, which manages players and, until recently, also owned the Miami and Madrid Opens.

    The clearest example of a ‘trade’ is the reciprocal wildcard agreement between the USTA, Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation. Each of the three Grand Slam nations offers one men’s and one women’s wildcard to the other two, ensuring that two of their players benefit when their counterparts host the tournament.

    Changing wildcard rules for past champions

    The Open Golf Championship has reduced opportunities for former champions to return. Twenty years ago, champions under 65 could play whenever they wished. Now, winners can return only until they are 55, potentially opening places in the field for younger, higher-ranked professionals.

    Golfers can remain competitive for much longer, but tennis has no equivalent age limit. Martina Navratilova received wildcards for both the 2004 French Open and Wimbledon when she returned to the sport at 47, winning a round on the grass.

    “You never want to put a player out there that you are unsure about,” said Hale, who believes Williams is still capable of winning matches.

    “Venus lost 6-4 6-1 to Kamilla Rakhimova, and the first set was really competitive. She’s still competitive, but just not winning these matches.”

    Should Venus Williams face a wildcard limit?

    The question is whether there should be a point when a tournament director gives a wildcard to a higher-ranked player seeking to advance their career.

    “When the time comes that Venus is not competitive in sets, then I think she will make that call,” Hale responded.

    “Venus and Serena have done so much for women’s tennis and the sport that they should be able to play as long as they want.”

    “I’m very happy they are continuing and they make their decision when they are ready, or each tournament makes their decision when they are ready.”

    British number one Katie Boulter expressed a similar view after partnering the “absolute icon” in the Madrid doubles in April.

    “Venus has given so much to our sport that she deserves to get what she needs back,” she said then.

    “We have to be grateful that she is still out there, doing the best she can.”

  • Neymar to the Rescue: Brazilian Star’s Family Company Pays Santos Debt to Lift Transfer Ban

    Neymar to the Rescue: Brazilian Star’s Family Company Pays Santos Debt to Lift Transfer Ban

    Santos are officially free from FIFA’s transfer embargo after settling an outstanding debt of 12 million Brazilian reais (£1.7 million / $2.3 million) owed to Monaco for midfielder Jean Lucas. The sanction had halted the Brazilian club’s transfer activity since July and was lifted after a vital capital injection from NR Sports. In return, Santos and Neymar’s family agency will jointly negotiate and market the remaining unallocated sponsorship space on the club’s kit.

    Santos confirm resolution of debt

    The club’s board confirmed the lifting of the embargo in an official statement published on Thursday. Explaining the financial resolution, Santos said: «El Santos FC ha resuelto la prohibición de fichar y vuelve a estar autorizado para operar en el mercado de fichajes. La operación fue posible gracias al apoyo de NR Sports, a través del cual el club recibió una inyección financiera inmediata. A cambio, Santos FC y la empresa negociarán conjuntamente el inventario de patrocinio de la equipación que aún no se ha comercializado».

    Brazilian giants pursue reinforcements

    The emergency measure was taken to address a serious shortage of players in the squad while easing pressure on a club that is still managing an estimated total debt of £13 million. FIFA’s decision to lift the sanction allows Santos to move forward with the signing of former Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, who has been identified as the club’s main target, according to Diario Sport.

    The attacking midfielder is expected to provide an immediate boost as Santos attempt to move away from the Brazilian league relegation zone.

    Crucial derby test approaches

    Santos face Corinthians this weekend aiming to extend their precarious two-point advantage over the Campeonato Brasileiro relegation zone. Neymar is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the 3-0 defeat by Palmeiras in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil quarter-final.

    The club’s focus is now split between overturning that aggregate deficit at Vila Belmiro and securing crucial league points against a side led by Memphis Depay.

  • Football 301 predicts NFC West win totals: Seahawks and Rams remain elite as 49ers face uncertainty and Cardinals aim to rise

    Football 301 predicts NFC West win totals: Seahawks and Rams remain elite as 49ers face uncertainty and Cardinals aim to rise

    The NFC West enters the 2026 NFL season with two conference finalists at the top, a proud franchise navigating transition and a rebuilding team with an intriguing collection of talent. On the latest episode of “Football 301,” Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Matt Harmon projected win totals for every team and examined the roster decisions and storylines that could shape the division.

    Team Tice’s win total Harmon’s win total Over/Under
    Seattle Seahawks 12-5 <11.5 10.5
    Los Angeles Rams 11-6 11-6 11.5
    San Francisco 49ers >10.5 >10.5 10.5
    Arizona Cardinals 4-13 4-13 3.5

    Seattle Seahawks win total prediction

    The reigning Super Bowl champions return nearly their entire core, including a dominant defensive front and a dynamic offense that continues to improve. Both analysts see a legitimate chance for Seattle to repeat as NFC West champions.

    Tice highlighted the potential of second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo, while Harmon believes the Seahawks have “just barely scratched the surface of Rashid Shahid’s potential.”

    “There’s enough there for them to sneak out the division title — then a pretty decent gap down to a Niners team that I’m a little concerned about,” Harmon said.

    Los Angeles Rams win total prediction

    The Rams fell just short of the Super Bowl last season, but they enter 2026 looking even stronger despite the retirement of veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein. Head coach Sean McVay is preparing the offense for another championship push, and both analysts regard Los Angeles as one of the NFL’s elite teams.

    “These are the two best teams, not just in the NFC, but in the NFL,” Tice said.

    San Francisco 49ers win total prediction

    Matt Harmon: >10.5 (projected 8-9 win range)

    After years of operating on the edge with a veteran roster, Tice and Harmon see warning signs emerging in Santa Clara. The 49ers’ receiver overhaul, the accumulated mileage on longtime left tackle Trent Williams and questions surrounding the defense have raised concerns about the team’s floor as well as its ceiling.

    Harmon identified the addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans as a potential turning point for the offense. If healthy, Evans could be an ideal X receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s system. However, age and injuries could leave San Francisco’s receiving corps in trouble.

    “This team is a crossroads franchise,” Tice said. “I feel worse about the 2026 49ers than I ever expected to.”

    Arizona Cardinals win total prediction

    The Cardinals have a low over/under, but there are reasons for optimism. Betting markets project Arizona to have the NFL’s worst offense, yet both analysts are “Cardinals curious.”

    They see the possibility of untapped chemistry between Arizona’s revamped skill-position group and new head coach and offensive play-caller Mike LaFleur. His McVay-inspired running game and passing concepts could help Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Trey McBride and Jerimiyah Love play to their strengths.

    “There’s too much talent for them to be a complete disaster,” Tice said. “They’ll sneak a few wins, maybe confound a young QB with schematic funk.”

    For more NFL insight, tune into “Football 301” on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

    Source: sports.yahoo.com