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Iran-US-Trump-World Cup

Instead, a post on theteam's official Instagram accountThursday suggested maybe the U.S. team should be excluded after Trump indicated that the host country couldn't guarantee the safety of the Iranian players.

Trump wrote in a social media post Thursday that the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cupdespite the ongoing war with Iranbut that "I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

Iran is set to play all three of its World Cup group games in the U.S., which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.

The regional war has put doubt on Iran's ability to fulfil its World Cup entry, andsports minister Ahmad Donyamalitold state TV this week the current circumstances meant it was not possible to play.

But the Iran team's riposte on Instagram confirmed it still wants to participate, and pointed out that the tournament is run by FIFA — not Trump or the U.S.

"The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual, country," the post said. "Certainly, no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of 'host' yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event."

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Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.

Mixed messages

Trump's mixed messages on the subject include saying last week "I really don't care" if Iran plays, thenassuring FIFA President Gianni Infantinoat the White House on Tuesday that Iran's team was welcome.

Iran is a power in Asian soccer, ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and has qualified for its fourth straight World Cup edition.

Iran's soccer federation has planned to use a tournament base camp in Arizona, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.

Before the World Cup, Iranian soccer officials are due to attend FIFA's annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. The Iranian federation was unable to attend meetings in Atlanta last week to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Brown, 29, said he doesn't engage in the practice, which he believes isat odds with the way the game should be played, per ESPN.

"So it's like, we commend players for playing the game the right way, but we give the benefit to those who necessarily are trying to manipulate the game into their advantage. I just don't think it's basketball. Let's just play basketball. All the foul baiting, I think it's whatever for me."

Brown's comments came after he was ejected from Tuesday's game for arguing with officials over a no-call. During the contest, Brown believed he should have received a foul callafter being knocked out of boundswith under four minutes to go in the second quarter. He received two technical fouls for arguing and was ejected from the contest. Brown wasn't pleased about that, hopping on social media at halftime to express his displeasure with the way the game was called.

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Brown's displeasure also came moments after theCeltics' narrow 104-102 lossto the Thunder on Thursday. The contest featured a record-setting performance by Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who passed Wilt Chamberlain for themost consecutive NBA games with at least 20 points scored.

Gilgeous-Alexander happens to be one of the names at the center of the "foul baiting" debate, with some arguing he searches for and exaggerates contact in order to get to the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander ranks third in free-throw attempts per game with 9.2.

Brown did not specifically mention Gilgeous-Alexander following the Celtics' loss.

That was probably a good thing. In this particular contest, Brown managed to get to the free-throw line more. He attempted 14 free throws during the game, making 13 of them. Gilgeous-Alexander got to the line eight times, making seven free throws.

While Brown said he might have to consider flopping more after Thursday's game, he's done pretty well for himself without employing the tactic this season. Through 59 games, Brown is averaging a career-high 28.4 points and 7.1 rebounds. He finds himself firmly in the discussion for league MVP … even without trying to get more foul calls to go his way.

Milan Cortina Paralympics Snowboard

He knew it was a special gold-medal run in what he calls his "redemption Games."

It capped a successful day for the United States at the conclusion of the Para snowboarding competitions at Milan Cortina; Kate Delson also won gold at her first Games,Brenna Huckabyjoined Delson with her fifth Paralympic medal, andMike Schultzearned a bronze in his final Paralympic participation.

"Oh my God, my emotions. It was so hard for me not to cry coming across that finish line," Elliott said after winning the men's banked slalom. "I've worked so hard, and this is my 'redemption Games.' And to be able to stand atop the podium today, hear our national anthem, I couldn't be more proud.

"This is what it's all about," the 2025 ESPY winner added. "This is why we do what we do to try to get that top position. It just all hit me."

Elliott, now a four-time Paralympic medalist in three Games appearances, said it wasn't easy to come back from a gruesome 2022 injury when his femur bone came through his amputated leg.

"I didn't think I was going to even be able to go and do it but it was just a great Games for me," he said. "I couldn't be more proud to come back after a surgery, get back on the grind, work hard, set those goals in the gym, work out, and just get better at snowboarding and show up here."

The 28-year-old Elliott's left leg was amputated at age 15 because of cancer. He won the silver medal in the Para snowboard cross race earlier in these Games. He also won the gold in banked slalom in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in addition to a bronze in snowboard cross.

"This is my 'redemption Games' because I'm finally healthy again," he said. "And that's why these medals mean so much to me."

Delson's first

The 20-year-old Delson, the youngest member of the American Para snowboarding squad at Milan Cortina, won the women's banked slalom to add to her silver in Para snowboard cross.

She was thrilled to share the podium with Huckaby.

"It's just amazing," said Delson, who was born with a congenital disability that left her missing most of the muscles in her right leg, including her calf.

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"I'm just so happy we get to share this moment with someone who I've literally been watching and has been my role model and my friend and my roommate, and now we get to stand on the Paralympic podium together," Delson said. "The best thing ever."

The 30-year-old Huckaby, whose right leg was amputated because of bone cancer at age 14, has won all five of her medals at Milan Cortina. Of Delson she said there was "no one I would rather see on that gold medal spot."

"I'm super stoked for her, she's put in the work, she's put in the time. We were all there at the bottom giving her a hug because I think we were all freaking excited for her."

The silver medalist in banked slalom was three-time Paralympic medalist Lisa Bunschoten-Vos of the Netherlands, a fellow mother like Huckaby.

"I get to share the podium with two of the biggest legends in this sport," Delson said. "So that's pretty freaking cool."

Schultz goes out with a medal

Schultz ended his Paralympic career by winning his fourth medal across three Games.

"These boys are fast. You know, over the last couple of seasons, they've been pushing me beyond my comfort zone and that's one of the reasons why I'm like, you know what, it's time," he said. "But to be on the podium and bring home a medal in my last Paralympic Games is, man, that feels good."

Schultz said he now wants to focus on his business of building the prosthetics that many of the Para athletes have been using at Milan Cortina.

"My goal this year was to be at my best during these Games, and I believe I achieved that," he said.

The 44-year-old Schultz made his Paralympic debut at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, winning gold in snowboard cross and silver in banked slalom. He won a silver medal in snowboard cross at the 2022 Beijing Games. He was sixth in snowboard cross in Italy.

The final day of racing for Para snowboarding was moved from Saturday to Friday because of a forecast of rain amid warm weather conditions in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

AP Winter Paralympics:https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

And while the governor and other leaders said law enforcement is trying to comb through more evidence about the incident, more information is coming to light about the man who was killed by security guards after he rammed his truck into the temple.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun said that 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, who lived in his city, had "lost several members of his own family ... in an Israeli attack on their home in Lebanon."

Truck ramming at synagogue being investigated as targeted act of violence against Jewish community: FBI

Baydoun joined other leaders in condemning the attack, which took place as children were inside the temple.

"This tragedy comes at a time when communities everywhere are confronting rising hate and senseless violence. No matter where violence occurs, whether in West Bloomfield or anywhere around in the world, harm against innocent people is something we must all stand firmly against," he said.

"The tensions we see across the world too often find their way into our own neighborhoods, reminding us how deeply connected our shared safety is," the mayor added.

The suspect was armed with a rifle, and the truck contained fireworks and an unidentified chemical agent that ignited soon after the crash, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

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'Criminal explosion' strikes synagogue in Belgium, official says

Nobody inside the synagogue was hurt, and the synagogue noted that all 140 students as well as staff, teachers and security all returned home, Whitmer told reporters Friday morning.

The sheriff's office said one synagogue security guard was hit by the suspect's truck in the incident and was "knocked unconscious" but was expected to be okay.

Whitmer said she was angry at the situation and said the Jewish community has been on heightened alert because of the rise in antisemitic attacks, threats and rhetoric over the last couple of months.

"People like the person who attacked this community yesterday get fulminated by rhetoric that they see online and they see on television and hear on the radio. It radicalizes them," she said.

The governor reiterated that there were children under a year old inside the synagogue during the incident.

"My friend Brian said this could have looked a lot more like Sandy Hook. Let's not lose sight of that," Whitmer said.

"This is not a political debate, this is targeting babies who are Jewish. This is antisemitism at its absolute worst," she added.

The Lakers are third in the Western Conference with a 41-25 record, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

Coach JJ Redick credited the team for beginning to understand the importance of playing united during the stretch.

"It goes back to the human element and what they are comfortable doing as basketball players," Redick said about his players before the Lakers' 120-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

The team followed up that performance with a 142-130 win against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday and have won seven of its last eight games.

The trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves has led the way for the team – but often not all at the same time.

"The human struggle to want what you want while also having the emotional maturity and recognition that you have someone next to you hasn't been so clean, but losing a training camp and the start of the year (without James), then losing AR for a long stretch, I think we are starting to get it," Redick said.

"... thats just the nature of it and that's the nature of every big three that's played together and we are going to get there and I think we have seen some positive signs. With LeBron, I know he recognizes the importance of having Luka as the engine and all he really wants is to impact winning and I've said that now for the past two weeks, but we are going to get there."

James is dealing with a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis, which caused him to miss the first three games during the streak, leaving Doncic and Reaves to take on a bulk of the workload offensively.

The trio was back on the court together Thursday, with Doncic falling just short of a triple-double performance.Doncic produced 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Chicago Bulls.

Doncic received MVP chants in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when heading to the bench.

Doncic also led a strong second-half effort on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, just hours after a report surfaced regarding hisbreakup from his fiancéeand a potential custody battle. The couple has two children together.

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Doncic produced a triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds against the Timberwolves. He scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half. Reaves also added 31.

Reaves followed that performance up with 30 against the Bulls.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

The duo's scoring ability was not taken lightly by Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who mentioned before Tuesday's game that he expected Reaves and Doncic to take on the bulk of the offensive workload while James was out.

With James back on the court for the Lakers on Thursday against the Bulls, he scored 18 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds.

What has impressed players such as Doncic the most this week is the team's defensive performance, which held Minnesota to 45 points in the first half.

"I think we played some of our best basketball games of the season," Doncic said after the Minnesota game. "It starts on defense. Everybody's putting in the effort and that's not easy to do. I think we're doing it now."

The Lakers have averaged 41.1 rebounds per game this season, which ranks 26th in the league, but collected 47 against Minnesota.

Lakers center Deandre Ayton led the team in rebounding with 12, to go with his 14 points against the Timberwolves.

"It's great for his teammates to see him have a really good performance on both ends of the floor," Redick said. "It's better for (Ayton) to have a game like that against a really good team, one of the best teams in basketball. … It's good for his confidence."

He also had a double-double (23 points and 10 rebounds) against the Bulls.

While the Lakers remain focused on winning a potential playoff run, Doncic and James were among the members to spend time with patients at a UCLA Health medical center.

"You go there, and you realize that you'd really have problems in your life," Doncic told reporters on Thursday. "Health is the most important thing in your life, so you realize you don't have problems at all. Just having interactions with them was super amazing and I'm really appreciative for that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:LA Lakers beat Chicago Bulls, peaking before NBA playoffs

Videos and records released by Texas officials are raising new questions about theDepartment of Homeland Security's version of events that led to the killing of Ruben Ray Martinez during a chaotic traffic scene.

Nearly a year has passed since the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent fired at close range into Martinez's car at the scene of a late-night traffic accident on March 15, 2025, in South Padre Island, a resort town off the southern coast of Texas. Officials said Martinez, 23, accelerated his vehicle at an agent, an account his family had long disputed.

Little was known about the case − which involved local, state and federal law enforcement − for months. Martinez, an Amazon and Walmart worker from San Antonio, was the first U.S. citizen killed by federal agents amid theTrump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.

Protests, anger in Minneapolis after 2nd person fatally shot

But Martinez's case came into the spotlight only after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January. Good and Pretti's killings have drawn scrutiny by Americans andcongressional lawmakers from both partiesabout federal agents' tactics.

Though the killings occurred during immigration enforcement operations, agents shot Martinez while they were helping local law enforcement control traffic at an intersection in a popular spring break destination.

Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, has brought attention on her son's case, even as she said she supported PresidentDonald Trump.

Information on Martinez's case came through a watchdog group's release of an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement document. ICE's internal report,obtained by the nonprofit watchdog American Oversight, said Martinez "accelerated forward" into an officer. HSI Supervisory Special Agent Jack Stevens told Texas officials he shot Martinez three times out of fear, according to a memorandum.

Martinez's family and his best friend, Joshua Orta, the lone passenger in the vehicle, have strongly disputed the government's account. Family lawyers said video footage released by state officials backs up their suspicions, but they are seeking more evidence.

"It is clear that these ICE officers have used, in their statement, dramatic language," Butch Hayes, one of Reyes' lawyers, said in an interview. "And that dramatic language does not match up with the videos that we have seen."

On Feb. 25, a Cameron County grand jury didn't find probable cause to indict the federal agent in the shooting, the Texas Tribune reported. Orta, 25, died in an unrelated car accident days before the grand jury decision.

Todd Lyons, acting ICE director, said the agency stood "by the grand jury's unanimous decision that found no criminality."

"This incident was investigated from every possible angle by an independent body, and it cleared our officer," Lyons said in a statement.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, which investigated the shooting and releasedevidence on March 6, didn't respond to emailed questions. The South Padre Island Police Department didn't respond to requests for comment. It was unclear whether the federal agents in the shooting had body cameras.

Local police body-worn cameras and local businesses' surveillance videos paint a grainy and incomplete picture of what happened in the intersection.

In a statement, Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, said the case was part of a "troubling pattern" of escalating use of force, delaying disclosures and "misleading information about incidents involving deadly force."

What happened in Martinez's killing?

Nearly a year ago, Martinez and Orta visited their friends' condo in South Padre Island, according to a draft witness statement by Orta before his death, which Reyes' lawyers provided to USA TODAY. Local and state investigators also interviewed Orta, the substance of which was included in the state evidence released in March.

Martinez's birthday was days before the shooting, and he and Orta went out on a late birthday celebration. That night, Martinez and Orta drank alcohol, failed to get into a club, and had gone to eat at Whataburger, Orta's statement said.

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On their way back, they arrived at the scene of the accident. They had a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey and marijuana in the car, evidence records showed. Toxicology results later showed Martinez's blood alcohol content was 0.124%, above the legal limit, and he had marijuana and the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, in his system.

Orta said Martinez seemed nervous about alcohol in the car, and he told investigators Martinez was "jittery" with police and he panicked. Orta said Martinez never meant to hurt anyone.

In surveillance footage, Martinez's Ford Focus is seen driving slowly behind an ambulance as local law enforcement officers from different agencies slowed traffic. The footage shows a line of cars in a left turning lane, while Martinez's vehicle is in open lanes near police vehicles. Martinez brakes at several points.

In body camera footage, an officer is heard saying he saw an open container in Martinez's car. In footage, an officer tells Martinez to keep going. Officers from behind Martinez's car yell to stop the vehicle.

"Stop him," one officer yells repeatedly, according to the video, and then yells, "Get him out."

Martinez slows at one point as an officer waves pedestrians through, another video shows. "Where is he going?" the officer at the crosswalk says toward Martinez's vehicle. "Hey, where you going?"

Then Martinez's car rolls forward. "Hey, stop him," the officer at the crosswalk says.

Video disputes agents' accounts

In the middle of the intersection, two HSI agents appear to try to stop him.

Martinez's car is then seen stopped. HSI Special Agent Hector Sosa is seen standing in front of the vehicle. Sosa told Texas Rangers, "The driver accelerated forward, striking myself and ended up on the hood of the vehicle."

The video shows Martinez's car slowly turn left as officers move toward the car. Orta's statement said Martinez had tried to turn the car around to leave.

Inan angle captured by The New York Times, video shows Sosa pressed against the front of the car and he appeared to be on the hood. Orta told investigators that the car was moving slowly and that Sosa was on the hood, as if the car caught his feet.

Sosa's email signature said he is a "Defensive Tactics Instructor Coordinator" and "Body-Worn Camera Coordinator." It was unknown whether he or Stevens, who shot Martinez, had body-worn cameras. When reached by phone, Sosa declined to comment.

Video shows Stevens, who was close to the driver's window, open fire into the vehicle. There were no warnings or commands when Stevens fired into the car, Orta said in the witness statement. Stevens didn't respond to requests for comment.

In his memorandum to Texas Rangers, Stevens said that he could smell marijuana, that he could see "the driver's eyes were open widely, his fist clenched to the steering wheel," and that Martinez looked past the officers on the scene while failing to comply with verbal commands from multiple law enforcement officers.

Stevens said he feared for the "safety and life of SA Sosa, myself, the local law enforcement officers immediately in the path of the vehicle, and the pedestrians present in the area traversing the crosswalks and sidewalks in the path of the vehicle." He said the 2025 New Orleans vehicle ramming attack was "still fresh on my mind."

In the aftermath of the shooting, footage shows Stevens pulling Martinez out of the vehicle. He forces Martinez face down on the pavement and handcuffs him. Sosa said he took Orta out of the passenger side.

After Martinez was handcuffed, first-responders began giving Martinez CPR compressions, video shows. In footage, Orta is seen sitting in the middle of the crosswalk with his hands cuffed behind his back, on the other side of the car from Martinez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What video of Ruben Ray Martinez killing by DHS agent shows