The unranked Duke Blue Devils produced an incredible season-opener as they beat the No. 9 ranked Clemson Tigers 28-7 on Monday night – and their fans more than enjoyed the occasion.

Playing in front of a vociferous home crowd at Wallace Wade Stadium, the Blue Devils held the Tigers scoreless in the second half for a first victory against a top-10 opponent since last defeating then No. 7 Clemson in 1989, according to The Athletic. Duke was previously 0-28 against top-10 opponents.

The Blue Devils found themselves 7-6 down at halftime but, led by quarterback Riley Leonard, took the initiative thereafter.

In the third quarter, and still trailing 7-6, Leonard broke out for an incredible 44-yard touchdown run. The play of the night put the Blue Devils in the driving seat and they didn’t look back.

Overall, Leonard passed for 175 yards and a touchdown, while notching 98 rushing yards during the game.

The Blue Devils continued to pile onto the score following Leonard’s impressive solo play, while also shutting out the Tigers in the second half to seal the huge Week 1 upset, causing Duke fans to rush onto the field.

When the pressure was on throughout the game, Clemson was guilty of making costly errors, fumbling the ball on two occasions when just yards away from the end zone. These moments encapsulated the sloppy performance from the Tigers.

“That’s the weirdest game I’ve ever been a part of,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said, per ESPN. “I’ve been beat. I’ve had my butt kicked. But that’s the strangest game I’ve ever been a part of.

“It’s almost indescribable what I just saw,” he added. “It’s incredibly frustrating when you had so much opportunity … It’s routine stuff. The basics. The fundamentals. Basic, basic stuff.”

For quite some time, American men have been threatening to break through tennis’ elite and, at this year’s US Open, it appears that time has finally come.

For the first time since 2005, three Americans have progressed to the quarterfinals of the men’s draw. It also means there is guaranteed to be at least one US star in the semifinals.

Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are the trio still harboring dreams of winning a home grand slam. Not since Andy Roddick in 2003 has an American man won the US Open.

Tiafoe and Shelton will play each other on Tuesday, while Fritz has a rather tricky tie against 23-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic on the same day.

Andre Agassi, James Blake and Robby Ginepri were the previous American triumvirate to reach the last eight of the men’s competition. On that occasion, 18 years ago, Agassi made it to the final before being beaten by Roger Federer.

Given Djokovic and Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz are both still in the draw, the likelihood of a home winner this year remains small – albeit not impossible.

World No. 9 Fritz says morale in the US group is high and that watching others be successful helps motivate his own performance.

“I’ve said it for a long time, whenever one of us does something, achieves something, it makes everyone else feel like they can do it, too,” he said, per the US Open website.

Fritz, who has cemented himself inside the Top 10 over the last year, certainly has the hardest opponent on Tuesday.

In Djokovic, he faces arguably the greatest tennis player of all-time, but the 25-year-old American said he would not be overwhelmed by the occasion.

“I’m not going to overplay. I’m not going to do anything different because I’m playing Novak,” he told reporters after reaching the quarterfinal.

“I’m going to play my game, play within myself and trust that if I play well, it’s enough.”

‘He’s Bugs Bunny’

While Fritz must find new levels to get past Djokovic, both Taifoe and Shelton face a very different type of challenge.

The pair know each other well. Bidding to make a second consecutive US Open semifinal, world No. 10 Tiafoe is the likely favorite for the clash and has dropped just one set at the tournament so far.

His 20-year-old opponent, though, certainly has the skills to cause Tiafoe problems. The youngster has a booming serve and an impressive forehand, but will be facing Tiafoe for the very first time in his senior career.

“It’s a big match. He’s Bugs Bunny. He’s got crazy energy, endless energy,” Tiafoe told reporters about facing Shelton.

“He’s going to come after me, and I’m going to come after him. It’s going to be a great battle, we’re going to compete really hard.”

Shelton upset fellow American Tommy Paul to reach his first US Open quarterfinal. The result matches his best run at a grand slam, having reached the same stage at the Australian Open earlier this year.

It’s further evidence of his impressive rise from outside the Top 100 last year to his current position as world No. 47.

“I really learned how to be mentally tough,” Shleton said, explaining how he’s improved since the Australian Open.

“When I was playing in Australia after a long week, I was looking at my box, saying, ‘My legs are dead. I’m tired. I can’t go anymore.’

“I realized how important it is for me to believe in myself, believe that I can go all the way, the full distance, emotionally and physically, and now I have that belief here.”

Travelers looking to rent an apartment for a few days in New York City will find pretty slim pickings now that city officials have started enforcing new rules cracking down on short-term rentals.

The rules, which are being enforced as of Tuesday, mean a whole lot of listings on sites such as Airbnb will no longer be available for stays of less than 30 days unless property owners have gone through the city’s application process and received approval in the form of an official registration number.

Airbnb has called the rules a “de facto ban” on short-term rentals (STRs) that will hurt hosts and the tourism economy. The city says it’s enforcing existing laws and protecting the health and safety of visitors as well as preventing housing from “being lost to the practice of illegal STRs,” according to official documents.

The requirements for approval are strict and follow laws that pre-date the new registration rules. Notably, “short-term rentals are only permitted if the host is staying in the same unit or apartment as the guests, and there are no more than two guests staying with the host,“ the city’s website says. This is true even if the host lives in or owns the building, to the consternation of some homeowners who rely on rental income.

“Registration creates a clear path for hosts who follow the City’s longstanding laws and protects travelers from illegal and unsafe accommodations, while ending the proliferation of illegal short-term rentals,” said Christian Klossner, executive director of NYC’s Office of Special Enforcement, in a statement.

The city has called illegal short-term rentals a “public nuisance” for many residents citing 11,934 complaints from 2017-2021 related to incidents such as late-night partying, excessive noise and crime. The health and safety of visitors is also at risk, the city has said, including from properties that lack fire safety features.

Airbnb and some local hosts filed separate lawsuits to block the city’s enforcement of the registration rules outlined in Local Law 18. Those suits were dismissed last month.

“New York City’s new short-term rental rules are a blow to its tourism economy and the thousands of New Yorkers and small businesses in the outer boroughs who rely on home sharing and tourism dollars to help make ends meet. The city is sending a clear message to millions of potential visitors who will now have fewer accommodation options when they visit New York City: you are not welcome,” Theo Yedinsky, global policy director for Airbnb, said in a statement.

Other property listing sites, such as vacation rental site Vrbo, will all be subject to the new rules. Expedia Group, which owns Vrbo, declined to comment.

Possible effects on tourism

A spokesperson for New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau of the city’s five boroughs, said the claim that the rules will have a chilling effect on tourism is “speculative at this point.”

Yet Bjorn Hanson, clinical professor at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality at New York University, isn’t so sure.

Hanson said that long-term average hotel occupancy in New York City is between 80% and 85%, well above the national average between 62% and 67%. Hanson estimates Airbnb accounts for about 20% of the city’s active transient housing supply – larger than any single hotel company such as Marriott or Hilton and “a significant share of lodging inventory.”

He predicts group travel could take a hit.

“Families traveling together, multigenerational travel, friends traveling together/getting together. As much as cost is a reason to use STRs, the nature of the lodging is as or more important for many: everyone staying together, kitchens, dining rooms, common areas, etc.  That type of demand may be the most affected,” Hanson said.

Hanson suspects that some hosts will be looking for “loopholes,” possibly by listing properties for 30 days at significantly lower rates with the understanding that stays won’t last the full 30-day period.

Thousands of listings across various booking sites will be affected as the new registration rules are enforced. The city said that as of the end of the first quarter of 2023, nearly 11,000 listings citywide violated occupancy laws.

As of early last week, the city had granted registration approval to only about 260 applications out of more than 3,200, many of which were filed after the lawsuit was dismissed in August. Of the 3,200 applications, about 800 had been reviewed and more than half were returned to applicants for additional information or corrections, the city said.

Guidance for Airbnb guests going to NYC

So what should a guest who has an upcoming Airbnb booking in NYC expect?

Existing reservations with a check-in on or before December 1 “will not be canceled to mitigate impact on Hosts and guests,” Airbnb said. The company said it would refund Airbnb fees associated with those stays after check-in to comply with STR regulations. Local Law 18 prohibits booking platforms from processing transactions for unregistered listings.

Airbnb bookings will be canceled for existing reservations for stays that start on or after December 2, and guests will receive refunds.

On September 5, all Airbnb listings without registration numbers or exemptions will be converted to long-term stays of 30-days or more if the host’s calendar settings allow those lengthy stays. Otherwise, those listings will be deactivated.

Dozens of people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week during demonstrations against the United Nations’ mission in the country.

Protesters in the eastern city of Goma on Wednesday criticized the UN’s Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO), the East African Community and other international organizations operating in the country.

At least 43 people were killed and a further 53 were injured during the clashes with local authorities. Over 150 people were arrested, including the leader of the group which organized the protests, the government said.

The DRC government said that the protesters “carried out actions that undermined public order,” and and that law enforcement intervened to “restore tranquility and serenity in the city,” according to a statement Thursday.

According to a MONUSCO press release on Thursday, “Congolese defense and security forces tried to prevent the holding of this demonstration, which promised to be violent by the very admission of its organizers.”

“MONUSCO remains concerned about the threats of violence made before the demonstration and recalls the importance of the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts through inclusive dialogue,” the statement read.

‘People have a right to express themselves’

Goma authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident and the justice ministry has been “instructed to gather evidence.”

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Friday that the UN has received information “indicating that the death toll may be higher.”

Shamdasani also called for an independent investigation into the killings.

“We note the Government’s announcement that an investigation has been opened into this incident and call for it to be thorough, effective, and impartial. Such an investigation must also comprehensively examine the use force by the security forces. Those responsible for violations must be held to account, regardless of their affiliation,” Shamdasani said.

“People have a right to express themselves freely and to assemble peacefully, even if in protest at the United Nations and other actors. Authorities must facilitate the right to peaceful assembly,” she added.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called for DRC authorities to ensure that “future law enforcement actions in the context of the policing of public assemblies fully adhere to international human rights norms and standards.”

Anti-UN protests in the DRC broke out in July and have since escalated. The UN has a longstanding and significant footprint in the country, which has been the object of local demonstrations for years. In 2017, a Congolese military court sentenced 49 people to death following an investigation into the murders of two UN experts in the country.

A Russian military blogger who has written critically of Russia’s conduct in Ukraine was arrested in Moscow Thursday, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.

The blogger, Andrey Kurshin, runs the Moscow Calling Telegram channel, which has some 87,000 subscribers.

“A criminal case was opened against the administrator of the Moscow Calling telegram channel Andrey Kurshin for fake news about the Russian army,” RIA Novosti said Thursday.

“While he is being held as a suspect, the case is being investigated by Moscow investigators,” the agency said, citing law enforcement agencies.

The Institute for the Study of War notes that Kurshin is not a mainstream blogger but an ultra nationalist who “commonly attacks many aspects of Russia’s military conduct of the war in Ukraine while supporting the ultranationalist goals underpinning the war itself.”

ISW said that “the wider Russian ultranationalist information space welcomed Kurshin’s arrest and noted that he routinely discredited the Russian military.”

It follows the arrest of prominent Russian pro-war blogger Igor Girkin in July. Girkin had been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military’s mishaps in Ukraine.

In April, Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in an explosion at a cafe in the center of St. Petersbug, where he was appearing as a guest of a pro-war group.

Anti-war protester Daria Trepova, 26, was arrested and charged with terrorism offenses over the incident. Investigators allege that Trepova, acting at the behest of Ukraine, brought a “statuette filled with explosives” to the venue and handed it to Tatarsky.

Russia’s pro-invasion military bloggers have filled some of the information vacuum left behind by the closure of independent media outlets in Russia. Foreign media is also blocked and most opposition journalists are in jail or out of the country.

Most of the bloggers have unparalleled access to information due to deep sources within the state’s armed forces.

Unlike Russian state media, many have not shied away from criticizing Moscow for its battlefield defeats, although the recent arrests suggest the Kremlin’s patience with dissent has grown thinner in the wake of the Wagner mercenary rebellion.

Ukrainian forces said they had penetrated the “first line” of Russian strongholds in the Zaporizhzhia region, in a sign that Kyiv is edging closer to Moscow’s sprawling network of fortified trenches along the southern front.

The Ukrainian military claimed its forces were pushing towards the village of Novoprokopivka east of Robotyne, a village in Zaporizhzhia that Kyiv secured last week amid a grueling counteroffensive that is yielding incremental gains.

“They have been successful, are consolidating their positions, inflicting artillery fire on the identified enemy targets, and conducting counter-battery operations,” the military’s general staff said on Friday.

Ukrainian soldiers have said they expect battles for control of high ground to the south and east of the village as they approach the next layer of Russian defenses.

Ukraine has the long-term goal of breaking Russia’s “land bridge,” which links territory it holds in the east with annexed Crimea.

“Our partners who are helping us, including the United States, they understand that things are moving in the right direction,” Kuleba insisted. “It’s a tough fight.”

Brigadier General Serhiy Baranov told Ukrainian media on Thursday that the Kyiv had benefited from the longer range of field artillery provided by NATO. He said that while Russian artillery had an average range of 24 kilometers (14.9 miles), weapons provided to Ukraine could fire between 30 and 40 kilometers (18.6 and 24.9 miles).

“This made it possible to destroy or damage the enemy’s guns, as well as to move the enemy’s artillery from the front line into the depths and prevent counter-battery warfare against our artillery,” Baranov said.

Ukrainian units appear to be a short distance to the west of the village of Verbove in the southeast, where Russian military bloggers reported increased activity but said Moscow’s forces were so far resisting Kyiv’s advances.

On Monday, satellite imagery of the village of Solodka Balka – 7 kilometers (4 miles) south of Robotyne – showed steel-reinforced communications trenches, vehicle shelters and “dragon’s teeth” fortifications aimed at obstructing Ukrainian advances.

Kyiv has expanded its units towards the strategic town of Tokmak in recent weeks, a logistic center for Russian forces with a railhead through which resupply is carried out and depots for fuel and ammunition are situated.

Combat has ramped up towards the northern outskirts of Novoprokopivka – a small rural settlement about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Robotyne and close to a line of Russian fortifications in Zaporizhzhia, according to the 46th Brigade, which is fighting in the area.

“Bypassing the heights from the northeast made it possible to put pressure on the enemy’s right flank and reach its first line of defense, located on the heights to the south. The battles for the strongholds on them are ahead,” the brigade’s Telegram channel said.

Units were also stationed on the western edge of the village of Verbove, the brigade said on Telegram. Fighting was already taking place very close to Russian defensive lines, the brigade added.

“(The) Russians are constantly counterattacking and actively defending – we are moving, squeezing out the occupiers, but a month of fighting has shown that the enemy is not going to give up the captured land – there is a lot of work ahead.”

Two Ukrainian assault groups had tried to break through the defensive line on the outskirts of Verbove “and were destroyed,” the Russian-appointed official in control of occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeniy Balitsky, said.

Meanwhile, a well-known Russian military blogger, WarGonzo, said Ukrainian troops had advanced toward Verbove from the west but that Russian units “hold the defense on the outskirts of the settlement.”

Ukraine on Thursday reported multiple Russian air strikes in the area.

The 46th Brigade on Monday also reported heavy losses in the region, amid intense combat on the ground and the persistent use of artillery by both sides.

Kateryna Pylypenko prepared two backpacks for her youngest son’s first day of school on Friday. One with school supplies, and one for the bomb shelter.

As Russia’s brutal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine enters its third academic year, almost 4 million children went back to primary and secondary schools on Friday, according to the country’s education ministry.

According to UNICEF, only about a third of children enrolled in Ukraine will be attending in-person classes this year, with the rest studying at least partially online.

Pylypenko’s two sons, who are 6 and 14, will be going back in person. Their school in Kyiv decided to bring the pupils back in after surveying parents a few weeks ago.

In-person classes involve some risk – Ukraine’s capital has been struck by Russian missiles and drones a number of times in recent months. But Pylypenko said she was keen for her sons to have a school experience that is as close to “normal” as is possible, even though their father, her husband, is currently away fighting in the war.

The first day of school is usually a special occasion in Ukraine. Crowds of parents gather outside the gates, children dress up in their best clothes and present their teachers with flowers.

“We were told that we shouldn’t buy flowers this year, but instead donate to the Ukrainian army,” Pylypenko said. “But I bought a small bouquet for my first-grader anyway. It’s all about the mood.”

“I’m glad that we are in Ukraine and my son is going to the first grade here. It was important for me that we are not in Poland or somewhere else in a foreign country when he starts school,” she said.

“The school is nearby, so I can always get there fast if needed. I am worried though about what it’s going to be like. Whether there will be attacks, whether there will be electricity,” she added.

Hundreds of miles away in Zaporizhzhia, 9-year-old Dmytro Ukrainsky is one of the kids not allowed to return to class. Frequent attacks on the city, near the front lines in southern Ukraine, make in-person education far too dangerous.

Lost childhood

The war has had a horrific impact on millions of children across Ukraine.

According to official data from Ukrainian authorities, 503 children have been killed and 1,117 wounded since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. More than 1,100 remain missing, almost 20,000 have been forcibly displaced or deported, and hundreds of thousands are living abroad as refugees.

On Thursday, Ukrainian prosecutors said the country has opened more than 3,000 criminal cases over Russia’s alleged crimes against children in Ukraine, including dozens of torture cases. Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of torture and human rights abuses.

UNICEF has warned that even children who are physically safe are hurting due to the conflict, struggling with mental health problems and falling behind in their schooling. A UNICEF survey found that a majority of teachers in Ukraine reported deterioration in their students’ skills.

“And it is precisely these children to whom we have no or almost no access who suffer the greatest educational losses,” he said.

Yulia Dolzhanska, who teaches Ukrainian language and literature at a secondary school in Kharkiv, said that it is clear that online learning cannot replace face-to-face interaction. But for many in Ukraine, there simply isn’t another option right now.

Dolzhanska’s school decided to offer both online classes and the opportunity for kids to come in for meetings. “The difficult thing here is that if there is an air raid alarm or, god forbid, explosions, how will the children react to it? Do we go to the shelter with children who are offline? How do we calm down and support the children who are online?” she said.

Gorbachov said that since the beginning of the full-scale conflict last year, Ukraine has invested heavily in making schools safer, building shelters and focusing on improving distance learning. According to the government, 84% of schools are now equipped with bunkers, a requirement for any educational institution that wants to bring students back in.

Aaron Rodgers was among those in the crowd to watch Novak Djokovic advance to the US Open quarterfinals with a straight sets win against Borna Gojo.

The New York Jets’ star quarterback made the short trip to Flushing Meadows and admitted it was a dream of his to watch the world No. 2 in the flesh.

Rodgers took to Instagram to upload a series of stories throughout his day at the US Open alongside some of his Jets teammates. One story included a picture of Djokovic in action and the caption: “Bucket list [green tick emoji] being able to witness the greatness of @djokernole in person at #arthurashestadium”.

Rodgers, who last year admitted to misleading the media about his Covid-19 vaccination status, also commented on Djokovic’s well-known stance on Covid vaccines, adding: “[Goat emoji] #novaxdjokovic,” and crossing out the Moderna advertising that was on display.

Djokovic, who is unvaccinated against Covid-19, is playing at the US Open for the first time since 2021 after the Covid vaccine requirement for non-US travelers was lifted earlier this year.

Djokovic didn’t disappoint with football royalty in the crowd and breezed past his opponent with ease. The 23-time grand slam winner took the victory 6-2 7-5 6-4 in two hours and 26 minutes.

The Serbian is looking to win his first US Open since 2018 and his performances throughout the championship so far would suggest he has every opportunity to reclaim the title.

Djokovic will take on home crowd favorite Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals and the 36-year-old believes it will be a challenge.

“Taylor has been an established Top 10 player for the past couple of years and he’s been playing some terrific tennis, particularly on home soil in hard-court tournaments here in the States,” Djokovic said postgame, per the ATP.

“He’s improved so much over the years. Obviously the matches will only get tougher from here onwards, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

Madison Keys comfortably beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets on Monday to earn a spot in the US Open quarterfinals.

Keys won 6-1 6-3 against world No. 3 Pegula and reach her second straight grand slam quarterfinal – she reached the same stage at Wimbledon earlier in the year.

Pegula had entered the tournament as one of the favorites after an impressive buildup to the tournament, but she was never able to create a head of steam against her compatriot.

World No. 17 Keys will face reigning Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová in the next round.

During her on court interview following her victory, Keys said that playing in the US Open always motivates her to perform at her best.

“Absolutely, I’ve had so many amazing moments in New York,” Keys said. “Being able to, at any moment, come back from difficult positions in matches, in front of these crowds, has been amazing.”

Beating the home favorite

Pegula – born in Buffalo, New York, and whose parents are the owners of the NFL franchise, the Buffalo Bills – was the home crowd’s favorite against Florida resident Keys.

However, even with the majority in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering her on, Pegula never looked settled against Keys.

It resulted in a rampant opening set for the 28-year-old Keys, dropping just one game as she raced into a set lead to put her stamp on their fourth-round clash.

Pegula did show hints of a fight-back in the second set, but it was to no avail and Keys was able to break serve again to grasp control of the match.

Consistent unforced errors continued to extinguish any hopes Pegula had of mounting a comeback, with Keys able to close out the impressive victory in just 61 minutes.

For Keys – a finalist at the US Open in 2017 – it marks the first time that she has made the last eight of consecutive majors since the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2018.

It is also her first win over a top five seed at a grand slam since beating Barbora Krejčíková in the 2022 Australian Open quarterfinals.

Members of Spain’s men’s national soccer team issued a statement on Monday condemning the behavior of provisionally suspended federation president Luis Rubiales.

“We want to reject what we consider unacceptable behavior on the part of Mr. Rubiales, who has not been up to the level of the institution he represents,” the statement from joint captains Álvaro Morata, César Azpilicueta, Rodrigo Hernández and Marco Asensio reads on the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) website.

“We firmly and unequivocally stand on the side of the values that this sport represents. Spanish football must a driving force for respect, inspiration, inclusion, and diversity and must set an example with its behavior both on and off the field.”

The statement also congratulates the triumphant Spanish women’s team at the Women’s World Cup last month, describing the squad’s win as “a historic milestone filled with significance that will mark a before and after in Spanish female soccer, inspiring countless women with an invaluable triumph.”

Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on Spanish forward Jennifer Hermoso after the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup sparked condemnation in Spain. Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA for 90 days while a disciplinary investigation takes place.

In their statement, the Spanish men’s captains go on to express their “regret” that the ongoing saga has “tarnished” the success of La Roja.

The statement closes by saying the men’s team will now “focus on sporting matters” ahead of the upcoming games against Georgia and Cyprus.

The Spanish Court of Arbitration in Sport (TAD) agreed to open a case against Rubiales but rejected the government’s argument that his offenses were “very serious,” preventing his immediate suspension and forcing ministers to ask the tribunal to do it instead.

Hundreds have turned out in protest against Rubiales. Spain’s women’s team has refused to play until Rubiales is removed. Hermoso herself reiterated that she did not appreciate or consent to the kiss.

Spain’s men’s team faces Georgia in Tbilisi and Cyprus in Granada, Spain, on September 8 and 12 respectively in the upcoming round of European Championship qualifiers.