The move comes ahead of the crucial 2022 midterm elections where Republicans will be aiming to take back the House of Representatives and potentially stymie President Joe Biden’s agenda. Garland has suffered criticism in the past for not pursuing charges against former President Donald Trump over the January 6 Capitol riot but the DOJ’s announcement may show that the attorney general understands the big picture on GOP strategy. The Republican Party has long been accused of drawing gerrymandered congressional districts in order to give GOP candidates advantages in House races and Garland’s comments on Monday seemed to indicate he is moving to tackle the practice....

This time, heartache came in the semi-finals on penalties. The particular nature of Ronaldo’s role in the Selecao’s downfall also provided a weighty stick for detractors of the polarising superstar to dish out some beatings. “Cristiano Ronaldo demanded the last penalty,” said Nani, who scored Portugal’s third spot-kick before Bruno Alves hit the crossbar and Cesc Fabregas ensured Spain got out of an often dicey 0-0 draw with a 4-2 shoot-out triumph....

MORE: Gerrard can’t resue lousy Liverpool | Ronaldo on track to beat Messi record Barca began with three at the back, with Pedro and Jeremy Mathieu as wing backs and Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano in a three-man midfield behind Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. But nobody seemed to know how it would work and even the press team at Camp Nou printed out two possible formations on their official team sheets....

The Argentine has been lethal from dead-ball situations in 2018, scoring six in all competitions since the start of the calendar year. Leganes goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar became the latest goalkeeper to feel his wrath on Saturday, as Messi opened the scoring at Camp Nou with a stunning effort that gave him no chance. It was his sixth in this year’s Liga campaign alone, bringing him level with another Blaugrana idol....

Messi is already joint-third with Puyol on Barca’s all-time list with 593 and will move on to 594 when Barca host Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday. Barcelona 10/1 to beat Las Palmas 2-0 Speaking at his pre-match media conference, Valverde said of the Argentina international: “His capacity for pulverising records - it’s one record after the other, beating record after record after record. “Puyol was here for lots of years, and Messi is just 30 and he is already past Puyol....

Messi shocked the football world last week by submitting a formal transfer request at Camp Nou, which saw him outline his desire to activate the release clause in his current contract, which expires in 2021. A number of possible next destinations have been mooted for the 33-year-old in the wake of the news, including Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but Goal learned that City boss Guardiola had been in contact with Messi prior to him dropping his transfer bombshell....

Many younger fans discovered Metallica when its 1986 single “Master of Puppets” appeared in Stranger Things. Actor Joseph Quinn, who plays lovable metalhead Eddie Munson in Season 4, shreds the banger during a key finale scene. The show’s popularity helped to catapult “Master of Puppets” onto the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. Ulrich told the The New Yorker in a Metallica feature published Monday that things have changed in the years since the band’s early success....

According to a report from the Bay Village Police Department, which was provided to Newsweek, the incident occurred on July 9 at around 5:40 p.m. local time. Officers with the Bay Village Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the area following reports of a man in cardiac arrest. “Investigation revealed that the male had been seriously assaulted and was semi-unconscious and barley able to speak,” the police report said....

Smith took a knee during the national anthem in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., and after the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Marlins, the New York first basemen/outfielder had a tearful, raw, emotional response to the shooting and civil unrest in the U.S. FAGAN: Consider listening before you react to MLB players joining protest “I think the most difficult part is to see that people still don’t care,” Smith said....

A day after Matt Harvey complained that the extra rest between starts left him feeling “out of whack” during a loss to the Dodgers, Collins was succinct in his response: “They’ve got to get over it.” MORE: All-Star Game starters for AL, NL | Memorable Mets moments Harvey needed 100 pitches to get through five innings Saturday, walking five along the way. “With the six-man and the day off, it’s tough," Harvey said, via the New York Post....

Earlier Tuesday night, Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera. Later, Phillies pitcher David Buchanan hit Mets batters Wilmer Flores and Michael Cuddyer on the hands during the second inning in New York. Flores was plunked with a 1-2 pitch that appeared to hit him on the back of his left hand. Flores stayed in the game, but Cuddyer, the Mets left fielder, was forced to exit after a nearly identical inside pitch hit the 36-year-old on the left hand....

Wednesday was the fifth anniversary of the arrest of Bernie Madoff, which threw things into disarray for the Mets because of owner Fred Wilpon's significant investments with the Ponzi schemer. New York has not had a winning record since then, and while it is debatable whether the Mets will get over .500 in 2014, they are clearly pointing in the right direction. MORE: M’s still need more after Hart, Morrison | Scherzer still available...

World Peace was issued a two-game suspension for his actions and although his team’s season ended with the 88-73 loss, the suspension will carry over to next season. That being said, don’t leave after the video, because what happened prior to the scuffle is even more bizarre. MORE: Celebs at the NBA Playoffs | Riley Curry is the best | Roy Hibbert does jiu jitsu Artest did something only someone like him could do....

MORE: Cavs, Wolves agree to Love trade | ‘You’re welcome LeBron’ billboard in Akron World Peace later deleted the tweet, but the jokes were already in motion. It didn’t help that World Peace’s former teammate, Carmelo Anthony, has a hilarious viral photo with a panda. At the moment, World Peace is known as “Ci Shiping” in China, which is a literal translation of Metta World Peace. That name won’t stand for long, however....

Panama, playing a man down, held a 1-0 lead and just needed to sit on the ball to claim a spot in the final. Unfortunately, Roman Torres — who scored Panama’s goal — fell on the ball in the box and was called for a hand ball. Torres’ teammates began arguing with the referee and things quickly fell apart. MORE: International soccer rivalries | Jurgen Klinsmann blames bad luck on U....

Save a brief resurgence in 2016, the legend hasn’t been the ideal player for El Tri to have on the field, whether it’s at center back, defensive midfielder or elsewhere. Now that he’s on the World Cup team, what is Osorio planning for Marquez? As much of a romantic about the game as Osorio is, he’s also too pragmatic to bring Marquez along for the ride without having a plan to use him on the field....

Walmart de Mexico announced in a statement that the coronavirus pandemic and changing consumer habits have forced the chain to do away with grocery baggers over 60. They were expected to return to stores last month amid easing COVID-19 restrictions, but the retailer said in a statement that those plans have been scrapped, the Associated Press reported. Walmart de Mexico said Mexico City’s ban on plastic bags and the pandemic meant customers no longer want other people touching their groceries....

Farrow resurfaced a photo of Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump posing with a dead leopard during a hunting trip in Zimbabwe in 2010. The Rosemary’s Baby star wrote alongside the image that she posted on Tuesday: “@realDonaldTrump ⁩tell your sons that animal cruelty is now a crime.” The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act was signed into law by President Trump on Monday. People convicted of acts of animal cruelty—including suffocating, burning, crushing and/or drowning animals—can now face up to seven years in prison....

Mayor Carlos Gimenez is due to sign the declaration Wednesday evening, and it will take effect Thursday. Though there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 in the county, the location is a very popular tourist destination. “As we all know, COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. Miami-Dade-County has been aggressively dealing with this health threat in a proactive manner. Science, along with the recommend of the CDC, are guiding all our actions....

Now comes the hard part. Starting Friday, Carter-Williams is set to embark on what can only be described as point-guard hazing. Through nine games, and fewer than two weeks, Carter-Williams will face John Wall, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker. Take that in for a second... MORE: Carter-Williams approaches quadruple-double | Philadelphia 76ers schedule | Sixers preview One would assume it'd be tough for a rookie to approach such an open to his career, but Carter-Williams has thought about the challenge that lies ahead....