PHILADELPHIA, June 20 — Brazil eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti in Philadelphia in their 2026 World Cup Group C match today, extending their strong start to the tournament while keeping nerves – and superstition – firmly in check.

The result this morning added fresh fuel to a growing fan theory that Brazil’s cautious approach to the so-called “Rocky curse” may have helped preserve their winning momentum.

The “Rocky curse” is a long-running superstition among visiting supporters in Philadelphia, centred on the bronze statue of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Traditionally, fans of visiting teams gather on the famous steps to celebrate and often dress the statue in their team colours, turning it into a pre-match ritual.

But over time, some supporters have come to believe that interfering with the statue brings bad luck, after a string of visiting teams reportedly failed to win following such displays.

The idea gained renewed attention last week when Ecuador fans decorated the statue in national colours before their 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on June 14, a result sealed by a late Amad Diallo goal in the 90th minute.

Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in its first World Cup appearance in a dozen years.

That outcome quickly became part of online folklore, with fans jokingly attributing Ecuador’s loss to the “curse”, even as others dismissed it as coincidence.

Brazil supporters, aware of the growing superstition, opted not to dress the statue or stage the usual mass celebrations on the Rocky Steps ahead of kickoff.

Even Philadelphia tourism voices joined the tongue-in-cheek narrative, reminding visiting fans that “Rocky does not need your kit”, as thousands still gathered across the city.

Kickoff took place at 8pm local time in the United States (8am Malaysia time today), with Brazil delivering a controlled, dominant performance from start to finish.

The 3-0 win over Haiti strengthened their position in Group C and maintained their perfect discipline on and off the pitch.

While there is no evidence linking superstition to performance, supporters embraced the narrative that avoiding the “curse” had kept Brazil’s campaign on track.

For now, Rocky remains untouched, Brazil remain unbeaten, and the myth – at least among fans – continues to linger.

 

Wealth tax criticized by billionaires and Gavin Newsom would levy a one-time 5% tax on residents worth over $1bn

A popular proposal in California to impose a wealth tax on billionaires has gained enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in November, state officials announced on Wednesday.

The news is set to intensify an already heated debate around the tax, which has pitted tech moguls and the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, against the labor union backing the measure.

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© Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP

© Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP

© Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP

Two days after we left Philip Inlet last June, we reached our second “new-to-us” anchorage – a secluded little hurricane hole in the Kittyhawk Group of islands in the Hakai Recreation Area. The spot we’d chosen was guarded by an even narrower entrance than at Philip. Luckily it was low tide when we entered, so […]

I captured the photo above as we were cruising along the north side of Pooley Island, after leaving BC’s fabled Fiordland on BC’s North coast, in the heart of the Great Bear Sea. The deep greens and smooth curves of Pooley’s rainforest slopes and valley were less dramatic than Fiordland’s massive snowy peaks, but no […]

Defense says no evidence occasional Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht ignited deadly blaze on New Year’s Day 2025

The trial of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of starting last year’s deadly Palisades fire, kicked off on Wednesday with opening arguments. Prosecutors cast him as a vengeful arsonist who sought to hide his role from authorities, while his defense attorneys argued that the fire was caused by fireworks.

On New Year’s Day in 2025, firefighters extinguished a small blaze in the Pacific Palisades, a coastal Los Angeles enclave. But the flames continued to smolder underground, before reigniting as they were picked up by strong winds. The Palisades fire, the most destructive wildfires in city history, tore through roughly 23,000 acres, incinerating thousands of buildings and killing 12 people.

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© Photograph: Mona Edwards/Reuters

© Photograph: Mona Edwards/Reuters

© Photograph: Mona Edwards/Reuters

Former UK political operative endorsed by Trump will face off against Democrat Xavier Becerra in November election

Republican Steve Hilton, the former UK political operative turned Fox News personality, has advanced to the November general election in the race to become California’s next governor, facing off against Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former congressman, state attorney general and US health secretary.

Hilton’s success, a remarkable achievement for a recent immigrant, came after he was endorsed by Donald Trump.

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© Photograph: Benjamin Hanson/AP

© Photograph: Benjamin Hanson/AP

© Photograph: Benjamin Hanson/AP

With another Arctic front heading our way, I find myself thinking about sea otters – specifically, how well suited (literally) they are for winter. Their incredibly thick, waterproof coats must be cozy even on unseasonably chilly days. Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on earth, which is why they were hunted almost […]

I got a particular laugh out of this RWO, because I worked at a paper where they had mugshots of the staff on a bulletin board in the break room. It was handy, because you could learn the names of people in other departments who you ran into in only a superficial way.But it became […]

Former xAI engineer Devin Kim alleges he was illegally fired for trying to implement safety mechanisms for the chatbot

A former engineer at Elon Musk’s xAI who now heads a thinktank focused on AI safety filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired from the SpaceX subsidiary for raising concerns about the risks artificial intelligence poses to humanity.

Devin Kim claims in the lawsuit filed in California state court on Tuesday that his efforts to place guardrails on the development of the chatbot Grok made him a target for company leadership.

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© Photograph: Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images

© Photograph: Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images

© Photograph: Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, June 20 — High-scoring Germany face a powerful Ivory Coast side at the World Cup today with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32, while Sweden can also book their ticket.

Those three nations can join co-hosts the United States and Mexico who are already through.

Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as Group E winners if they defeat Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City.

Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

So tight are the margins that Ivory Coast could lock up their place in the next round too, if they beat the Germans.

Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast’s athleticism.

“Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that’s what I think they do best,” he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe.

“During the last game, he was everywhere,” Nagelsmann said of Pepe.

Ivory Coast could also count on forward Elye Wahi who has been authorized to enter Canada after initially being denied a visa over reported spot-fixing allegations in France.

Sweden face the Netherlands in Houston knowing that a win will secure a place in the knockout round—an extraordinary turnaround for the Scandinavians who only qualified for the World Cup through the Nations League, essentially the back door.

Coach Graham Potter warned that Sweden striker Alexander Isak will get “stronger and stronger” as the tournament goes on.

Isak had a poor season by his standards, interrupted by frequent injuries, after Liverpool paid Newcastle United a British record £125 million ($165 million) for him.

He made a strong start to the World Cup, though, as the 26-year-old scored one goal and set up two in the 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.

“Alex has had a season that has been interrupted,” Potter said. “Most football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we’ve had to try to build Alex up. I think there’s more to come from him.”

1,000th game 

History will be made in another of Saturday’s games as Japan face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico for the 1,000th game at a World Cup.

Hajime Moriyasu warned his Japan side they will need to match the intensity of a Tunisia team fired up by the introduction of coach Herve Renard after Sabri Lamouchi became the first coach in World Cup history to be sacked after one game.

On Friday, the United States marched into the knockout round with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle.

A day of raucous celebrations for the co-hosts got even better when Paraguay’s 1-0 win against Turkey confirmed that the US would clinch top spot in Group D, ensuring a theoretically easier draw in the last 32.

A Cameron Burgess own goal in the 11th minute and a headed effort from Alex Freeman two minutes before half-time sealed a comfortable three points for Mauricio Pochettino’s USA side, who have won the group with a game to spare.

After an unconvincing build-up to the World Cup, the Americans have made a dream start to the tournament with Friday’s victory following a stylish 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in their opener.

“It was a fantastic game again, very good first half,” Pochettino said. “I think we dominated the game against a very tough team.

“When the draw happened in December I thought it was going to be a really difficult, a really tough game.”

In other games on Friday, Brazil took control of their destiny in Group C with a 3-0 victory over Haiti that ended the Caribbean nation’s chances of progressing. Haiti join Turkey in exiting the tournament.

Two goals from Matheus Cunha and a Vinicius Junior strike sealed an easy win for the Brazilians in Philadelphia.

Brazil are now level on four points with Morocco, but lead the North Africans on goal difference.

Morocco secured their first win of the tournament on Friday with a 1-0 defeat of Scotland at Foxborough.

Morocco face Haiti in their final Group C game on June 24, while Brazil take on the Scots in Miami. — AFP

 

 

Mother and brother were rescued after wave engulfed trio in Laguna Beach, as mayor calls news ‘heartbreaking’

California officials have recovered the body of a five-year-old girl who earlier this week was swept into the ocean by turbulent waters.

On Tuesday evening, the girl, her mother and brother were walking along the shore of Treasure Island Beach in Orange county, when a wave reportedly engulfed them.

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© Photograph: Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register/AP

© Photograph: Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register/AP

© Photograph: Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register/AP

Yesterday was Bloomsday, in which people who have read Ulysses say “It’s Bloomsday” and if they’re in Dublin they can dress up as Leopold Bloom and walk around the places Joyce wrote about. And I suppose they might eat a kidney, masturbate, be cuckolded and get drunk to recreate the entire day. Keyes is unimpressed […]