VOUX MAG

Health will undoubtedly be on the side of the Houston Rockets against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, but they had a curious addition to the injury report Friday.

Kevin Durant is questionable for Game 1 on Saturday with a right knee contusion. PerESPN, the injury was sustained in practice this week, but the Rockets are optimistic it won’t be a significant issue this series.

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Durant played all but four games this season for the Rockets, who opted to rest him for their regular-season finale last Sunday. Assuming he does play, he will be seeking his first playoff win since 2023.

It will be the Lakers with the bigger issues, as two of their three stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, remain out indefinitely with a hamstring and oblique strain, respectively. It’s unclear when they will be able to return, if the Lakers even make it past the Rockets.

Even after Durant’s injury was reported,the Rockets remain -600 favorites at BetMGMto reach the Western Conference semifinals, where the defending champion and top seed Oklahoma City Thunder are likely to be waiting.

Two U.S. Embassy staff members, the director of the Chihuahua State Investigations Agency and a state police officer died in a mountain traffic accident following an operation to destroy clandestine drug labs, Mexico and U.S. authorities said.

The "instructors" with the U.S. Embassy were returning after taking part in U.S.-Mexico training in anti-narcotics operations with state police when the accident occurred Sunday morning, April 19, near the town of Morelos in southwesternChihuahua, the state attorney general's office said in a statement.

Chihuahua State Investigations Agency Director Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes also died in the crash, Chihuahua state officials said.

The identities of the U.S. government personnel were not disclosed.

A 'solemn reminder of the risks' faced by Mexican, US officers

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson offered condolences in a statement on X following the deaths of the U.S. and Mexican officials.

"We honor their dedication and tireless efforts to confront one of the greatest challenges of our time," Johnson stated. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.

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"This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by those Mexican and U.S. officials who are dedicated to protecting our communities," Johnson said. "It strengthens our resolve to continue their mission and advance our shared commitment to security and justice, to protect our people."

More:Mexican Americans worry about families after cartel violence

Meth labs raided in the mountains of Chihuahua

The deadly accident occurred a day after Chihuahua state police announced that a pair of large clandestine methamphetamine labs were raided by state investigators along with the Mexican military in the mountain forests between Guachochi and Morelos.

The "narcolab" was divided into five sections, featuring more than a dozen ovens, scores of gas cylinders and campgrounds for crews, the state attorney general's office said.

The rural mountains are in the southwestern corner of the state of Chihuahua near the border with Sinaloa.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and@BorundaDanielon X.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times:US Embassy staff, Mexican officials die in Chihuahua crash

SOFIA, April 20 (Reuters) - Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev is set for a runaway victory in Bulgaria's election, official results showed, potentially ending years of weak coalition governments and sidelining long-dominant political forces.

Bulgarian parliamentary election

The performance, surpassing opinion polls, ‌is one of the strongest results by a single party in a generation and may end, for now, the ‌instability that led to eight elections in five years.

Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party had 44.6% of the vote after 60% of ballots were counted, suggesting it could rule ​alone in a strong minority government, but he has not ruled out a coalition with a pro-European group or a smaller party.

Progressive Bulgaria's tally put it far ahead of the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition with 14.2%, and the long-dominant GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, at 13%.

"This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if ‌you will, a victory of morality," Radev told ⁠a press conference late on Sunday, a day before final election results are expected.

A eurosceptic and former fighter pilot opposed to military support for Ukraine's war effort against Moscow, Radev stepped down from the ⁠presidency in January to run in the parliamentary election after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

He rode a wave of frustration with political instability in the Balkan nation of 6.5 million, where voters are sick of corruption and veteran parties that have dominated politics ​for decades.

"There ​is now an opportunity for the things people have been hoping to ​see change to actually become visible," Evelina Koleva, a ‌manager at digital marketing company in Sofia, the capital, told Reuters.

QUESTIONS OVER FOREIGN POLICY

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Radev's campaign drew comparisons with Hungary's pro-Kremlin former Prime Minister Viktor Orban when he talked about improving ties with Moscow and resuming the free flow of Russian oil and gas into Europe.

He also criticised the European Union for relying too heavily on renewable energy.

However, Radev has been vague on policy and it is not yet clear how much he will change foreign policy in Bulgaria, a NATO member on the EU's southeastern flank which joined ‌the euro zone in January — a move Radev has criticised.

On Sunday he ​said he would be willing to work on judicial reform with PP-DB and ​that Bulgaria would "make efforts to continue on its European path".

Bulgaria ​has developed rapidly since the fall of communism in 1989 and joined the European Union in 2007. ‌Life expectancy has risen sharply, unemployment is the lowest ​in the EU, and the economy ​has greater safeguards since adopting the euro.

But it lags EU countries in other metrics.

The cost of living has become a particular issue since Bulgaria joined the euro. The previous government fell amid protests against a new budget proposing tax ​increases and higher social security contributions.

"The country’s main ‌challenge is the economic crisis and the demographic crisis," said Tihomir Bezlov, a senior fellow at the Centre for ​the Study of Democracy in Sofia.

"There do not seem to be many ideas in the winning camp on ​either of these issues."

(Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

"We are still going to develop other ideas" for the 11:35 p.m. time slot, Paramount Chair of TV Media George Cheeks said on Wednesday.

Key Points

• Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will officially replace The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on May 22.

• The deal between CBS and Allen "made a lot of sense for us right now," Cheeks explained.

Byron Allen may want to keep his comics on a short leash.

A week after announcingComics Unleashed With Byron Allenwould replaceThe Late Show With Stephen Colbertbeginning on May 22, the network has hinted it might be a temporary gig.

“We landed on it for a couple reasons,” said Paramount Chair of TV Media George Cheeks, who oversees CBS, at apress conferenceon Wednesday. “We are still going to develop other ideas, other concepts” for the 11:35 p.m. time slot after Allen’s deal expires.

As Cheeks explained, leasing the late-night hour to Allen (who will earn revenue by selling advertising spots duringComics Unleashed) has “immediate profitability” for CBS and “made a lot of sense for us right now.”

That sentiment echoes recent comments byDavid Letterman, the original host ofThe Late Show.

“They don’t want to spend any money, so they’re going to make money," he said on the April 10 episode ofThe Barbara Gaines Show. “They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for hisComics Unleashed, and it’ll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff.”

Comics Unleashedwill be immediately followed by another of Allen’s programs, the syndicated game showFunny You Should Ask, which has been airing on CBS since last summer.

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“Byron’s been a great partner to us at 12:30, so we feel confident he will continue to be a great partner for us at 11:30, as well,” Cheekssaidon Wednesday. “We will continue to develop.”

When CBSannouncedthe end ofThe Late Showafter three decades, the network acknowledged, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

But the sun has not officially set on late-night television.

“I believe in late-night,” insisted Cheeks, who previously oversaw primetime and late-night programming at NBC. “I think the reality is that the reach is still there, but the reach is there primarily on YouTube, which is undermonetized. So, if we’re going to go back into that space, we have to go back into that space with a different financial model.”

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

For now, Allen is looking forward to making the most of his time on the network’s late-night block.

"I created and launchedComics Unleashed20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love — make people laugh," he said in a statement when the show was announced as Colbert’s replacement. "I truly appreciate CBS' confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block ofComics UnleashedandFunny You Should Ask, because the world can never have enough laughter."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

UConn's sharp-shooting wing Braylon Mullins announced Saturday on social media that he is passing on entering the NBA draft and returning to the Huskies for his sophomore season.

Mullins, regarded as a first-round and possible lottery pick in the 2026 draft in June, made the announcement on Instagram on his 20th birthday.

The slender 6-foot-6 Mullins, a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American out of Greenfield, Ind., was a unanimous pick for the Big East All-Freshman Team after averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 33 games after missing the first six with an ankle injury. He started 29 of UConn's final 30 games.

His 72 3-pointers were second most for a freshman in UConn history. He shot 33.5% (72 of 215), with his most famous the shot of the NCAA Tournament.

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Mullins' 35-footer with 0.3 seconds left beat Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight, sending UConn to the Final Four. The Huskies (34-6) later lost 69-63 to No. 1 Michigan in the national championship game.

Earlier on Saturday, rising sophomore Nikolas Khamenia announced he was transferring from Duke. The 6-foot-8 wing joins a squad returning Mullins and point guard Silas Demary Jr., wing Jayden Ross, transfer Najai Hines (Seton Hall) and incoming freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County.

UConn is waiting on guard Solo Ball to announce his plans and has lost forward Jaylin Stewart and center Eric Reibe to the transfer portal.

--Field Level Media

Ronaldinhois arguably one of the most electrifying players in soccer history.

The Brazilian native has been wowing fans with his effortless dribbling and tight control since his early days growing up in the favelas of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to the pitch at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Ronaldinho reached the pinnacle of soccer in 2002 when he helped Brazil win theWorld Cupand went on to collect multiple prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Ballon d’Or.

However, he has also experienced the heartbreak of losing his father at a young age, and has struggled with legal and financial trouble off the pitch.

The man known to fans as Ronaldinho Gaúcho has made several public appearances since his 2018 retirement, but a newNetflixdocumentary series,Ronaldinho: The One and Only, which premiered on April 16, takes a closer look at the person behind the highlight reels.

So, where Is Ronaldinho now? Here's everything to know about his life today.

He grew up in a soccer family

Ronaldinho, born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, grew up in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

His father, João Moreira, was a shipyard worker, and his mother, Miguelina de Assis, was a salesperson studying to become a nurse, according toBiography.com. But soccer was always in Ronaldinho's blood.

“I come from a family where soccer has always been very present,” he toldSports Illustratedin June 2006. “My uncles, my father and my brother were all players. Living with that kind of background, I learned a great deal from them. I tried to devote myself to it more and more with the passage of time.”

Unfortunately, João died unexpectedly after hitting his head and drowning in the family’s new swimming pool when Ronaldinho was eight, per theBleacher Report.

In a January 2017 letter to his younger self forThe Players’ Tribune, the Brazilian star reflected on the pain of losing his “superhero.”

“You’re not going to feel sadness right away," he wrote. “That will come later. A few years from now, you will accept that Dad is never coming back on earth. But what I want you to understand is that every time you have a ball at your feet, Dad will be with you.”

He became one of the game’s biggest stars in Europe

Ronaldinho was part of the Grêmio system and made his debut for the senior side in 1998. During his time with the hometown team, he scored at a prolific rate and showed flashes of his signature flair.

Ronaldinho’s game started attracting the attention of European clubs, and he eventually signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. But it was his 2003 high-profile move to FC Barcelona that made him one of the most recognizable players in the world, as he played alongsideLionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.

During his five seasons with the club, Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2006. He also earned the coveted Ballon d’Or in 2005, was named FIFA World Player of the Year twice and was awarded the 2005 European Footballer of the Year.

After leaving Barcelona in 2008, Ronaldinho joined AC Milan. He later returned to Brazil, playing for clubs including Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro, helping the latter win the Copa Libertadores in 2013.

Ronaldinho also had brief stints with Querétaro FC and Fluminense FC before stepping away from top-level competition.

He helped win the 2002 World Cup for Brazil

Ronaldinho made a splash on the international stage in 1997 when he brought home Brazil’s first FIFA U-17 World Cup in Egypt.

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“The U-17 World Cup is a very special tournament for me,” he shared 20 years later in a September 2017 interview withGoal.com. “It opened the door for my professional career. I was lucky enough not only to take part in the competition but to win it too. I can honestly say that it opened the door for my professional career.”

Five years later, he starred in a powerful trio with Ronaldo and Rivaldo as part of Brazil’s squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Ronaldinho played a key role in Brazil’s run to the title, scoring twice during the tournament, including a memorable long-range free kick against England in the quarterfinals. Brazil went on to defeat Germany 2–0 in the final, securing the country’s fifth World Cup title.

His son is also a soccer player

Ronaldinho welcomed his son,João Mendes, on Feb. 25, 2005, with professional dancer Janaína Mendes.

João spent time in FC Barcelona’s youth system before making a move to Burnley F.C. in August 2024 on a reported two-year deal, according toESPN. His stint there was short-lived, with reports in May 2025 indicating he would be released early.

Later that year, João continued his development byjoining Hull City’s academyin September 2025.

When João first arrived at Barcelona, a supportive Ronaldinho shared his excitement about seeing his son wear the club’s colors.

“Yes, he [João] is coming [to Barcelona] now,” he said in a 2023 interview with RAC-1, viaMarca. “I’m never out of the club. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go, I take Barcelona with me. With my son arriving at Barça, I’ll be more present than ever.”

The father and son later played together in an exhibition match in 2023, which their team won.

He faced legal and financial issues off the field

The Instituto Ronaldinho Gaúcho, an organization serving underprivileged youth in Brazil, was investigated in 2012 and 2015 for allegedly irregular contracts with the city hall of Porto Alegre, per theAssociated Press.

In 2018, his assets were seized in connection with an unpaid environmental fine related to the construction of the Instituto Ronaldinho Gaúcho,ESPNreported. Among the items seized were two BMW cars, a Mercedes, a painting and televisions.

More trouble followed in 2019, when Brazilian paperFolha de S.Pauloreported that the striker owed $2.51 million in environmental fines after illegally building a pier on the shores of the Guaiba river at his Porto Alegre lake house, according toReuters.

The report also claimed that Ronaldinho had amassed debts amounting to more than $2 million. That same year, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were confiscated due to the unpaid fines and taxes, perESPN.

Despite reportedly regaining access to his passport in September 2019, the star soccer player and his brother Roberto were arrested in March 2020 for entering Paraguay with fake passports,the BBCreported. The brothers agreed to a plea bargain that included hefty fines and stipulations regarding travel.

He retired in 2018

Ronaldinho officially hung up his cleats in January 2018, three years after he last played professionally. The retirement was confirmed by his brother Roberto, who also doubled as his agent.

“He has stopped, it is ended,” Roberto said, according toESPN. “Let’s do something pretty big and nice [to celebrate his farewell] after the Russia World Cup, probably in August."

He continued, “We will do various events in Brazil, Europe and Asia and, of course, we are arranging something with the Brazilian team as well.”

Read the original article onPeople

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) —Pope Leo XIVsaid Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to debateU.S. President Donald Trumpabout the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola as part of his11-day tour of Africa.

He addressed thespiraling back-and-forth sagaof Trump’s critiques of his peace message, which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight, insisting that his preaching isn’t directed at Trump, but reflects the broader Gospel message of peace.

“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.

“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”

Trump launched the criticism on his social media platform Truth Social on the night of April 12, when hecriticized Leo’s preachingabout peace asthe war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 and was followed by Iran’s retaliation, raged on. Trump accused Leo of being soft on crime, cozy with the left and said that the first American pontiff owed his election to Trump.

Leo has issued consistent calls for peace and dialogue, and has denounced the use of religious justification for war. Specifically, he called Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable.”

The Vatican has stressed that when Leo preaches about peace, he is referring to all wars ravaging the planet, not just the Iran conflict. The Russian Orthodox Church, for example, has justified Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war.”

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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Leo referred specifically to his remarksearlier this weekto a peace meeting in Bamenda, Cameroon. The city is the epicenter of a separatist conflict that has been raging in the western, Anglophone region of the country for nearly a decade.

Leo said that his remarks, in which he blasted the “handful of tyrants” who were ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, were written two weeks ago, long before Trump’s criticisms began.

“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.

Looking ahead, however, he said that he would continue preaching the Gospel.

“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa,” he said.

He drew attention to some upcoming liturgical readings about what it means to be Christian and to follow Christ, promote fraternity and brotherhood, “but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world,” he said.

Leo arrived later Saturday in Angola, the third stop on his four-nation tour. A message of peace would be especially relevant forthe southern African country, which was ravaged by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 but has left deep scars.

Leo will meet with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and deliver his first speech before government authorities, when he hopes to bring joy and encouragement to Angola's long-suffering people.