The Frenchman captained his side to their third FA Cup final in four years on Sunday after Arsene Wenger’s men scored a winner in extra-time against to beat Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.Still want to join Man City, Alexis? Wenger’s decision to field three defenders at the back in Monday’s match against Middlesbrough, which he hasn’t done for 20 years, saw the Gunners end a run of four away defeats on the trot amid an improved defensive performance....

During times of dispersal, exile, persecution and discrimination—right down to the present—the ability to carry out the biblical injunctions to engage in these practices has served to hold the Jewish community together and has contributed greatly to shaping its collective identity. In recent years however, there have been attempts—some of which have been successful—to curb the right of Jews in Europe to observe these obligations. Animal rights groups and anti-circumcision activists are lobbying throughout the continent, pressing parliaments and governments to ban shechita and brit milah....

And that is why his friend Milot Cakaj fears for Kurti’s life. “He’s too young, and he’s too smart, so he’s too dangerous,” says Cakaj, 25. No one knows for sure what has become of Kurti. Late last week three men who were released from a prison in Lipljan and made their way to Blace, Macedonia, told NEWSWEEK that they’d shared a cell with Kurti, who was very much alive....

Putin’s health has faced questions in recent months, especially since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in late February. People have raised concerns that the president, facing significant scorn for the conflict, is dealing with a slew of conditions, though the Kremlin has denied any reports that he is ill. However, Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Kremlin keeps control over the air conditioning around their president so that he does not get sick amid high temperatures in Moscow, according to a new report from state-controlled Russia Today....

As noted last week regarding the first rookies added to the game , players are not eligible to be included in a licensed video game until they are a member of the MLBPA, and that requires a single Major League appearance. Once Bryant entered his first game, he became a member and could be added to the video game immediately. MORE: MLB 15: The Show review | Team rankings in MLB 15: The Show...

The Knicks finished their Las Vegas summer league with a 4-1 record and made the decision not to play their much-maligned first-round pick Kristaps Porzingis in their final win — not because he was injured or played poorly, but because he earned the rest. MORE: Draft grades for every team | D’Angelo Russell is ’not Magic Johnson' The 7-3 Latvian averaged 10.5 points, 1.8 blocks and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 48 percent from the field....

The Wales international has been with the Blancos since 2013, but has struggled to get to grips with the language barrier at the Santiago Bernabeu. Over the course of his five years in Madrid, the 28-year-old has rarely endeavoured to carry out press duties in Spanish. In contrast, an international cast of colleagues have been able to master the language – with German star Kroos among those comfortable outside of his homeland....

“After reviewing the Senate Budget Committee’s outline, I have told Senate leadership and President Biden that I support many of the goals in this proposal to continue creating jobs, growing American competitiveness, and expanding economic opportunities for Arizonans,” she wrote. As part of the Democratic party’s moderate wing, which also includes West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and her Arizona colleague Senator Mark Kelly, among others, Sinema’s commitment plays a crucial role in getting Democrats the 51 votes needed to pass the reconciliation....

BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter Despite playing against a team that have been beset by wage issues; Kuantan FA, Pulau Pinang could only record a goalless draw in their Malaysia Premier League match on Tuesday. The home team had only two foreigners in their starting line-up, Alexandru Tudose and Andrezinho. Peculiarly, they had only four players on the bench as a number of their players have departed the side after not having their wages paid for three months....

But he quickly grew disillusioned with the Bush White House for what he saw as its political manipulation of Christian groups—and the failure to fund a policy that the president portrays as his personal priority. His new book, “Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction” (Free Press), is a tell-all book dissing the administration’s dealings with social conservatives . Officially released today, it has left the White House struggling to defend its record, as well as its relationship with evangelicals....

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., wrote a letter to NASCAR and the race team and issued a news release requesting that Busch be suspended over allegations of domestic assault by Busch’s former girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll. MORE: Lawmaker’s criticism | France promises tougher stance | Busch facing another career crossroads Busch has denied the allegations and the Dover (Del.) Police Department is investigating. No charges have been filed, and NASCAR chairman Brian France said Friday morning that NASCAR would not act before law enforcement completes its investigation, which began Nov....

There are few better subplots for the Chase for the Sprint Cup’s race, which begins at 2:31 p.m. ET with Busch at the rear of the field. MORE: Starting lineup | Five desperate drivers | 10 to watch Busch enters the Hollywood Casino 400 with the best average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season. He didn’t qualify particularly well but had good speed in Saturday practices, with the second-best lap in Saturday’s first practice at 194....

He told a St. Louis radio station it would be a “travesty” if the Gateway City was left without a team. The Rams are one of three teams who could wind up in Los Angeles by next year. MORE: Who is Rams’ most beloved player? | Warner: Off-field impact greatest gift athletes can offer Speaking with CBS Sports Radio 920, the former Rams and Cardinals quarterback said his heart is in St....

Busch and his wife Samantha welcomed their new boy, Brexton, to the world Monday night. MORE: Busch reveals different side of comeback | Busch ruled eligible for Chase Busch, who missed the first 11 races of the 2015 season with a broken right leg and broken left foot, returned to racing last week. He competed Saturday in the Sprint All-Star Race and finished sixth. He expressed how excited he was about his soon-to-be-child earlier this month....

Justin Allgaier passed Dillon on the last lap Saturday for second place, and it cost Dillon a point in the standings. Dillon takes an eight-point lead over Sam Hornish Jr. into next week's season finale at Homestead. MORE: Sprint Cup lineup breakdown | Kenseth vs. Johnson | Mark Martin finished? Hornish finished fifth. Busch, meanwhile, needs a win at Homestead to match his career best 13-win 2010 season. He has a record 63 victories in the series....

Brad Keselowski got into the rear of Kyle Busch in Turn 2 during the first practice Friday before Sunday’s Coke Zero 400. The bump caused Busch to get loose, resulting in a huge chain reaction wreck involving Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman. MORE: Reliving Kyle Busch’s first win of the season | Memorable crashes at Daytona “Looks like (Keselowski) got into my left rear,” Busch, told NBCSN after watching a replay....

Busch is now 6-1 to capture NASCAR’s Sprint Cup championship, trailing only Kevin Harvick, who is listed at 4-1 by the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook in odds released earlier this week. Busch has won three of the last four Sprint Cup races and has an average finish of 14.9 in eight starts this season. MORE: 2015 winners | Dale Jr.’s heated exchange at N.H. | Indianapolis odds and betting preview...

But he accidentally became part of the sideshow recently when ESPN’s Keith Olbermann confused the two brothers when promoting his TV commentary on Kurt’s problems with ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll. MORE: Olbermann insults fans | Wallace chimes in | Busch-Driscoll saga | Busch won’t discuss ex-girlfriend at event And Kyle is none too happy about it. “I think it is stupid,” Kyle said Monday on the Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour....

The first practice took on a little more importance than usual with rain a possibility for Friday afternoon. If qualifying, scheduled for 5:10 p.m. ET, is rained out, the starting order would be determined by practice speeds from the first practice on the 0.75-mile track. MORE: Petty surviving after wife’s death | Bowyer apologizes to Busch | Bowyer putting scandal behind | Picks Following Larson (126.880 mph) on the speed chart were Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Truex, Paul Menard and Jimmie Johnson....

Ease into the postseason like their coach wants? Nope. They knew who was on the other end of the floor. They knew they couldn’t go half-speed. And so the defending league champs exerted themselves against the top team in the West, the Lakers. Toronto left with a 107-92 win after outscoring LA 24-9 in the final six minutes. PLAYOFF BRACKET: Updated standings, seeds & Round 1 projections ‘’(Raptors coach) Nick (Nurse) says he’s going to kind of ease us back in and use it as an exhibition,’’ Lowry told reporters, per The Associated Press, after Toronto’s 11th win in a row over the Lakers....