The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits rose last week but remains historically low as the labor market continues to show strength amid high interest rates and inflation

The Braves are mocked to a hometown kid in the MLB Draft, which would be entirely par for the course for how Atlanta typically drafts.The Atlanta Braves have rostered a handful of players from Parkview High School in Lilburn, GA over the years. Notably, Matt Olson, batting with a 123 OPS+ this s...

Former president Donald Trump mocked Ron DeSantis, his chief rival in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, by posting a video of the Florida governor wiping his nose with his hand while greeting people. Mr Trump posted the video on his Truth Social site, which featured the children’s song “One of These Things is Not Like the Other” with Mr DeSantis talking with supporters while holding a beer. The video was created on the right-wing video site Rumble by the pro-Trump Dilley Meme Team. The end of the video shows Mr DeSantis wiping his nose with his hand while speaking with people with a voice saying “ew.” The Florida governor has received negative media attention for his supposed social awkwardness, most notably a story in The Daily Beast where he reportedly ate pudding with his fingers. Mr Trump has regularly pilloried Mr DeSantis, accusing the Florida governor of being disloyal after Mr Trump endorsed him in the Republican primary for governor in 2018, and has dubbed him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” During a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, he mocked the fact that Mr DeSantis’s campaign is shedding money and staff, according to multiple news reports. He also said Mr DeSantis ruined his chances to run for president in 2028. “A lot of people say just saying this is dropping out of the race,” Mr Trump said. “I don't know that that's true, but I wouldn't be surprised. He should. Because I think he's absolutely killed himself for [2028].” Mr DeSantis recently laid off multiple members of his staff after raising only $20m and burning through a large part of his campaign cash despite the fact he has only been a candidate for two months. A New York Times/Siena College showed that 54 per cent of Republicans support Mr Trump, with only 17 per cent supporting Mr DeSantis. Read More Georgia DA says Trump 2020 election probe is ‘ready to go’ in strongest hint yet of looming indictment Trump rehearses defence over possible election lies charges at Pennsylvania rally Trump news – live: Georgia DA says Trump 2020 case is ‘ready to go’ as Mar-a-Lago worker heads to court

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It was in Charles Oliveira’s final round of sparring, according to Dana White, that the skin over the Brazilian’s right eye was torn apart – and with it, his chance of redemption against Islam Makhachev. Days out from one of the most-anticipated rematches in recent MMA history, Oliveira suffered a chasmic cut, and from the bloody sinews, Alexander Volkanovski emerged. With that, one tantalising rematch was replaced by another; the MMA gods had taken away Oliveira’s opportunity for redemption against the lightweight champion, but in an instant, they had granted Volkanovski his own opportunity at the same atonement. There were only a handful of grains left to fall on Oliveira, brooding inside his metaphorical sandglass, when the injury occurred; it was on 22 October 2022 that the former champion was submitted by Makhachev, and it was to be 364 days later that he would be locked in a cage with the Russian again – in the very same arena, no less, in Abu Dhabi. But for a reason known only to them, the MMA deities decided to deny this cult hero his chance of defeating Makhachev, and of regaining the UFC lightweight title. Oliveira, for his part, does not acknowledge these gods – only his own. “Once you realise that it’s all part of God’s plan, it’s easier to accept things,” Oliveira told The Independent, coincidentally, days before suffering his injury. “It took me a long time to understand that, but you just have to be able to learn to digest it. God wouldn’t give me something that I can’t carry.” Oliveira will lean all of his weight on that sentiment in the weeks to come, while 145lbs champion Volkanovski will be leaning his own weight – plus an extra 10lbs – on Makhachev in their second clash in eight months. When the Australian, fighting on home turf in February, was ruled a decision loser against Makhachev, the result hardly relayed the razor-close nature of the fight. Volkanovski, 35, landed more strikes than Makhachev, 30, but was marginally less clinical. Makhachev secured four of his nine attempted takedowns, though that actually inspired more praise of Volkanovski than the Russian; in repeatedly denying Makhachev – and in repeatedly rising from the mat when needed – Volkanovski had proven that the defending champion was not the unstoppable force that his friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov so often seemed. Volkanovski even knocked down Makhachev and finished the fight on top, denting the Dagestani’s daunting reputation. The impressiveness of Volkanovski’s performance was only augmented by the fact that he was moving up in weight. In fact, the Australian remained the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1 despite his loss to Makhachev. It was a showing in stark contrast to Oliveira’s against Makhachev, in which the jiu-jitsu specialist was beaten at his own game: submitted by the Russian wrestler in Round 2. Oliveira did not do himself justice that night, but justice was on the agenda for UFC 294. Instead, Volkanovski will bring his well-rounded game to the Etihad Arena, where he weighed in as a back-up fighter for Oliveira’s defeat by Makhachev one year ago. Since that fateful evening, Oliveira has bounced back with a dismissive knockout of Beneil Dariush, while Volkanovski also got back to winning ways by stopping interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in July. While Oliveira vs Makhachev 2 was, for some time, official, Volkanovski vs Makhachev 2 also felt inevitable, just not at this time nor under these circumstances. Those circumstances complicate the question of whether Volkanovski can go one better than he did in his initial clash with Makhachev; this time, the Aussie will challenge the Russian on just 11 days’ notice, having recently undergone hand surgery. Volkanovski is a consummate professional who will arrive as fight-fit as his body will allow, but even “Alexander The Great” has admitted that he does not want to find out how his cardio will hold up. “We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds,” he told Australian media last week. “I want to finish it early, I don’t want to test his gas tank. Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it.” Oliveira would have snapped your hand off for such a finish. Better yet, he would have snapped Makhachev’s arm off for one. If Volkanovski can secure a stoppage, it will be one of the most arresting visuals in UFC history, in part due to the factors surrounding this new main event. The same would apply to the co-main event, in which Kamaru Usman is on a similar venture to Volkanovski. The former welterweight champion will fight at 185lbs for the first time as he replaces Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev, perhaps the fiercest prospect in MMA, on 10 days’ notice. For all of the attributes that the Nigerian-American has exhibited in a Hall of Fame-worthy career, never has his courage been as clear as it is now. The same goes for Volkanovski, although he believes that his rematch with Makhachev is a win-win scenario. “I didn’t get that big moment of the whole underdog story,” he said last week, discussing the pair’s first bout. “I remember thinking just a few days ago: ‘I’m not gonna really get that moment if I fight him again, I’m not gonna be this crazy underdog.’ People [have seen] what I can do, so they’re gonna back me. But now on 11 days’ notice, I’m sort of in the same position, where people are gonna say: ‘There’s no way – short notice, he’s crazy.’” Volkanovski may just be. He is also one of the most courageous fighters in a field full of them. Of course, Makhachev also deserves credit; he, too, is fighting a pound-for-pound talent on short notice. Indeed, many fans have remarked on how the fighters’ gambles have made UFC 294 an even stronger card than it already was. It is the sort of rebound against adversity that boxing, for example, would never be able to execute. However, that is in large part due to the lower prize money on offer in the UFC, and the resultant need for fighters to take risks. Yet it is also partly down to the overemphasis on losses in boxing. If Volkanovski were to suffer a third career loss on Saturday, he would still be in the conversation around modern UFC greats – perhaps all-timers, too. Would a champion or contender in boxing risk their record and reputation by fighting an elite opponent on a compromised camp? There is little evidence for it, monetarily there is no need for it, but there also shouldn’t be an expectation of it; just as there should be no expectation for a UFC fighter to accept a short-notice fight, even when the alternative is fans disputing their bravery. Make no mistake: Although Volkanovski is one of the most-respected fighters in the UFC and is being heralded as a hero right now, he would have had his detractors if he had turned down this fight – even on 11 days’ notice. It is as true as it is hard to believe. When fan favourite Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson refused to fight Michel Pereira in July, after the Brazilian missed weight, Thompson was criticised for not going ahead with the bout and accepting a slight bump to his purse. Never mind the danger to Thompson’s health and prospects of ever challenging for a UFC title again, many fans were quick to turn on the veteran. On that occasion, it was too late for a replacement to be found, and the bout collapsed. Even Oliveira and Costa have had their fair share of criticism for withdrawing from UFC 294, despite their injuries and the calibre of their opponents. Volkanovski has gotten credit in the build to UFC 294, but the last week has highlighted how fans tend to praise the UFC’s recovery in situations like this, rather than focusing on the unideal factors that allow the company to adapt in this manner. And so, a cut above Charles Oliveira’s eye became a tear in the fabric of UFC 294, only for the promotion to stitch the card back together as only they can. Read More UFC 294 live stream: How to watch Volkanovski vs Makhachev online and on TV this weekend Alexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short notice Kamaru Usman to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa withdraws UFC 294 card in full as Chimaev and Usman clash in tantalising co-main event What time does UFC 294 start tonight? How to watch UFC 294 online and on TV tonight

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