Mbappé's last-gasp penalty lifts Real Madrid to 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in Spanish league

MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty kick deep into stoppage time as Real Madrid salvaged a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano to get back within a point of Spanish league leader Barcelona on Sunday.

Spain La Liga Soccer

Vinícius Júnior also scored for Madrid after again being jeered by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jude Bellingham, also booed when the lineup was announced,had to be replaced10 minutes into the match because of an apparent left hamstring injury.

Madrid was coming offa 4-2 loss against Benficathat dropped the team out of the eight automatic spots for the round of 16 of the Champions League. It will face Benfica again in the playoffs.

Mbappé scored his eighth goal in his last five matches with Madrid with the last-gasp penalty that allowed Álvaro Arbeloa's side to keep pace with Barcelona, whichwon 3-1 at Elcheon Saturday.

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The boos toward Vinícius were subdued after he scored in the 15th minute with a superb goal. The Brazil international cleared three defenders before sending a right-footed shot into the top corner.

Rayo, which played a man down from the 80th after Pathé Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized with Jorge De Frutos in the 49th.

Vallecano, which threatened at times at the Bernabeu, also saw Pep Chavarría shown a second yellow in the final minutes of added time.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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February 01, 2026

Mbappé's last-gasp penalty lifts Real Madrid to 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in Spanish league

MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty kick deep into stoppage time as Real Madrid salvaged a 2-1 win over Rayo...

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ESPN closes deal for NFL Network, rights for RedZone which gives the NFL a stake in the network

ESPN's purchase of NFL Network and other league digital assets has been finalized after government regulators approved the transaction.

The league and ESPN officially announced the closing of the deal Saturday night after the Justice Department and other non-US antitrust authorities completed their reviews.

ESPN acquired NFL Network, NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators and the league will get a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

"With the closing, we will begin integrating NFL employees into ESPN in the months ahead," ESPN and the NFL said in a joint statement. "As we look to the future, NFL fans can look forward to expanded NFL programming, greater access to NFL Network, innovative Fantasy experiences and unparalleled coverage of America's most popular sport."

The approval by government regulators was first reported by The Athletic.

Viewers are not expected to notice changes on NFL Network until April, when those employed by NFL Media become part of ESPN.

NFL Network — which has nearly 50 million subscribers — will be included in ESPN's direct-to-consumer product, which launched last August,shortly after the deal was first announced.

The NFL RedZone channel will be distributed by ESPN to cable and satellite operators. However, the NFL will continue to own, operate and produce the channel as well as retain the rights to distribute the channel digitally. ESPN would also get rights to the RedZone brand, meaning RedZone channels for college football and basketball or other sports could be coming in the future.

NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, giving ESPN the official fantasy football game of the league.

NFL Network will still air seven games per season. Four of ESPN's games, including some that are in overlapping windows on Monday nights, will move to NFL Network. ESPN will license three additional games that will be carried on NFL Network.

The NFL has taken back the rights to four international games, which it is expected to put up for bid. The league has discussed each of its 32 teams playing at least one international game per season if the schedule expands to 18 regular-season games.

The league will continue to own and operate NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the official websites of the 32 teams, the NFL Podcast Network and the NFL FAST Channel (a free ad-supported streaming channel).

With the sale, ESPN is 72% owned by ABC Inc. — an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company — 18% Hearst and 10% NFL.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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February 01, 2026

ESPN closes deal for NFL Network, rights for RedZone which gives the NFL a stake in the network

ESPN's purchase of NFL Network and other league digital assets has been finalized after government regulators approv...

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Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor 'at a loss for words' after being escorted off court in handcuffs

A Division II college basketball game between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College on Saturday ended with Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor being escorted off the court in handcuffs.

In a video obtained by HBCU Gameday, a security officer can be seen escorting the cuffed Taylor past the stands and into a hallway. Another video shows the circumstances that led to the bizarre scene, with Taylor confronting a security officer about the handshake lines and the officer responding by pulling out the handcuffs.

While Taylor is clearly angry, at no point does he appear to present any physical threat to the officer.

We have new new footage and insight from Tuskegee 👀:https://t.co/eDyEz8cuSKpic.twitter.com/WdcYkcaCpE

— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday)February 1, 2026

Taylor later provided a statement to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, criticizing the decision to handcuff him and saying he was simply voicing concerns about Morehouse football players entering the handshake line:

"I am at a loss for words and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today. For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me. I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were following right behind me and the team yelling obscenities! It was a very dangerous situation."

Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffinalso provided more context to HBCU Gameday. After the game, a 77-69 Morehouse win over Tuskegee, a group of Morehouse football players reportedly intermingled with the teams, which Ruffin described as a "security breach."

Taylor reportedly went to the security officer asking for the football players to be removed. Ruffin described his coach's actions as reasonable, but the security officer apparently saw something else, via HBCU Gameday:

"He asked the security officer, 'Can you please remove them from the line?' That's what he asked the security officer," Ruffin said.

Ruffin added that the security officer's account differed, claiming Taylor was "very aggressive" and "the aggressor," which Ruffin said was not accurate. He said the officer cited that perception as the reason Taylor was placed in cuffs.

Taylor was reportedly released and traveled home with the team. He has been Tuskegee's head coach since 2019,per the school's site.

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February 01, 2026

Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor 'at a loss for words' after being escorted off court in handcuffs

A Division II college basketball game between Tuskegee University and Morehouse College on Saturday ended with Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor...

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New US envoy to Venezuela arrives in Caracas as administration aims to reopen embassy

Laura F. Dogu, the United States' new top envoy to Venezuela, arrived in Caracas on Saturday as the Trump administration aims to reopen an embassy there for the first time in nearly seven years.

"I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready to work," Dogu said in asocial media post. It included two photos of the new envoy getting off a plane and walking on the tarmac.

In response to a request for comment on how long Dogu will be staying in the country, a State Department official said, "She will work with individuals from the private and public sector, as well as civic society, to advance the President and Secretary's three-phased plan for Venezuela."

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto celebrated Dogu's arrival, saying in asocial media postthat he welcomes her "as part of the working agenda" between the US and Venezuela governments "aimed at establishing a roadmap for work on matters of bilateral interest, as well as addressing and resolving existing differences through diplomatic dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect and international law."

Dogu is the chargé d'affaires to the US Venezuela Affairs Unit, which is based in Colombia.

Her arrival in Caracas marks a significant public step towards the restoration of US-Venezuela relations. The US withdrew its diplomats and suspended operations at the embassy in Caracas in 2019. Earlier this month, a US State Departmentteam traveled to Venezuelafor the first time sinceNicolás Madurowas captured, according to a US official.

Her arrival also comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday that Dogu would "ultimately" lead from Caracas and that the US wouldestablish a diplomatic presencein Venezuela "very quickly."

Earlier this week, the State Department informed Congress that it plans to use a "phased approach" to potentially resume services at the embassy, which could includeopening a temporary facility.

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The CIA is also working to establish a permanent US presence on the ground in Venezuela,CNN exclusively reportedearlier this week.

Following the capture of Maduro earlier this month, the US has looked to establish and expand its footprint in the country. President Donald Trump said in the aftermath of Maduro's ouster that his administration would "run" the country and assert control over its oil production.

Trump said Thursday that the US would be "opening up" the commercial airspace above Venezuela, even though it is not technically considered closed.

Venezuela's acting government, led by former Maduro deputy Delcy Rodríguez, has recently made moves favorable to Washington, includingapproving a law changethat will make it easier for foreign companies to take part in the country's oil industry.

Rodríguez this week alsoproposed an amnesty lawthat could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners and announced the closure of a notorious detention center. US authorities said the same day that Venezuela had released all known US citizens held in the country. The Trump administration has demanded the release of all political prisoners.

Dogu is a veteran diplomat who previouslyservedas the ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua. She also currently serves as a foreign policy advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

CNN's Dalia Abdelwahab, Jennifer Hansler, Stefano Pozzebon and Uriel Blanco contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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February 01, 2026

New US envoy to Venezuela arrives in Caracas as administration aims to reopen embassy

Laura F. Dogu, the United States' new top envoy to Venezuela, arrived in Caracas on Saturday as the Trump administra...

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'Dedicated' Police Officer and Mom, 42, Killed in Crash Involving Suspected Drunk Driver: 'A Profound Loss'

Nassau County Police Medic Assoc.

NEED TO KNOW

• Patricia Espinosa, a 42-year-old Nassau County Police officer and mother of one, was killed in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver on Saturday, Jan. 31

• She is being remembered as a "dedicated public servant" who served her community "with courage and compassion"

• Matthew Smith, 20, has been charged with a DWI in connection with the fatal crash

A New York community is mourning the loss of a "dedicated" police officer, who was killed in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver while on her way to work.

Patricia Espinosa, a 42-year-old officer with the Nassau County Police Department, was driving a 2019 Alfa Romeo westbound on Route 347 in Suffolk County, N.Y., at 6:06 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the incident occurred, per apress releasefrom the Suffolk County Police.

Twenty-year-old Matthew Smith of Hauppauge, N.Y., was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Alexander Avenue when he failed to stop at a red light and struck Espinosa's vehicle, police said.

Nassau County Police Medic Assoc.

Espinosa was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, per the release. Smith and his passenger, John Andali, 25, of Centereach, N.Y., were both transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Smith has since been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), per the Suffolk County Police. Both vehicles involved in the fatal crash have been impounded, and an investigation is underway.

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Following Espinosa's tragic death, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from Monday, Feb. 2, until the late police officer's burial.

"Heartbroken over the passing of Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, a beloved member of the Fifth Precinct," Blakeman wrote onInstagram. "I had the honor of marching with her in the Puerto Rican Day parade. Condolences to her husband Police Officer Francisco Malaga and her brother Police Officer Christian Almeida."

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Bruce Blakeman/Instagram

Blakeman's tribute was accompanied by a photo of himself posing with a group of police officers at the parade, including Espinosa, who had worked for the Nassau Police Departmentsince 2017.

In alengthy statementon Facebook, Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, remembered Espinosa as a "dedicated" police officer who "served with honor, courage and compassion."

"Her death in a violent crash caused by a driver charged with DWI is a profound loss to our department, our county, and every community she protected," he continued.

Shevlin went on to share that Espinosa leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter, named Mia, "who will grow up knowing her mother was a hero."

"Patricia understood the sacrifices of this profession not just as an officer, but as a wife, a sister, and a mother in blue," he wrote. "That her life was taken in such a senseless act makes this loss even more painful."

Nassau County Police Medic Assoc.

Shevlin concluded: "We stand shoulder to shoulder with her family and our brothers and sisters in uniform, and we will honor her legacy by never forgetting her service, her sacrifice, and the family she leaves behind."

The Nassau County Police Medic Association also shared atributeto Espinosa on Facebook, writing: "We mourn the loss of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, who was tragically killed this morning in an auto accident while on her way into work. Officer Espinosa, a beloved member of the 5th Precinct, was a dedicated public servant and cherished colleague, serving her community with courage and compassion."

The Suffolk County Police are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553.

Read the original article onPeople

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February 01, 2026

'Dedicated' Police Officer and Mom, 42, Killed in Crash Involving Suspected Drunk Driver: 'A Profound Loss'

Nassau County Police Medic Assoc. NEED TO KNOW Patricia Espinosa, a 42-year-old Nassau County Police office...

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Further Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for next week, says Zelenskyy

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The next round ofpeace talksbetween Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday.

Envoys from Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. had been expected to meet Sunday in Abu Dhabi to continue negotiations aimed at endingMoscow's all-out invasionof its neighbor.

"We have just had a report from our negotiating team. The dates for the next trilateral meetings have been set: Feb. 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine is ready for substantive talks, and we are interested in an outcome that will bring us closer to a real and dignified end to the war," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.

There was no immediate comment from U.S. or Russian officials.

On Saturday afternoon, top Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said he had held a "constructive meeting with the U.S. peacemaking delegation" in Florida.

Officials have so far revealed few details of the talks in Abu Dhabi, which are part of a yearlongeffort by the Trump administrationto steer the sides toward a peace deal and end almost four years of all-out war.

While Ukrainian and Russian officials have agreed in principle with Washington's calls for a compromise, Moscow and Kyiv differ deeply overwhat an agreement should look like.

A central issue is whether Russia should keep or withdraw from areas of Ukraine its forces have occupied, especially Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland calledthe Donbas, and whether it should get land there that it hasn't yet captured.

Drones strike Ukrainian maternity hospital

Elsewhere, Russian attack drones struck a maternity hospital in southern Ukraine on Sunday morning, the Ukrainian emergency service reported.

In a Telegram post, it said the strike wounded three women in the hospital in the city of Zaporizhzhia, and also sparked a fire in the gynecology reception area that was later extinguished. Regional administration head Ivan Fedorov later said the number of injured had risen to six.

Days earlier,U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid Putin had agreed to temporarily halt the targeting of the Ukrainian capital and other cities, as the region suffers underfreezing temperaturesthat have brought widespread hardship to Ukrainians.

The Kremlin confirmed Friday it agreed to hold off striking Kyiv until Sunday, but refused to reveal any details, making it difficult for an independent assessment of whether the conciliatory step had indeed taken place.

In the past week, Russia has struck energy assets in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa and in Kharkiv in the northeast. It also hit the Kyiv region on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring four.

Overnight into Sunday, Russia launched 90 attack drones, with 14 striking nine locations, Ukraine's air force said in a Telegram post. A woman and a man were killed in an overnight drone strike in Dnipro, a city in eastern Ukraine, according to local administration head Oleksandr Hanzha.

Russian shelling also hit central Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine, soon after 7 a.m., seriously wounding a 59-year-old woman, according to a Facebook post by the municipal military administration.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Sunday morning said its forces had used operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile forces and artillery to strike transport infrastructure used by Ukrainian forces.

In a separate post Sunday, it said that Russian air defences shot down 21 Ukrainian drones flying over southwestern and western Russia. It did not mention any casualties or damage.

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine athttps://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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February 01, 2026

Further Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for next week, says Zelenskyy

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The next round ofpeace talksbetween Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place on Wednesday ...

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Lou Holtz health update: Read family's statement on legendary coach

A couple of days ago, news emerged that legendaryNotre Dame football coach Lou Holtzhad beenplaced in hospice care. On Saturday, Jan. 31 his family provided an update.

Kevin Holtz, his son, posted an update on the 1988 national champion coach on his Facebook account on Saturday, confirming Lou Holtz is in hospice care.

REQUIRED READING:There's an easy fix for tampering if NCAA has guts to make it happen

Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, has entered hospice care, according to ABC57 and other reports.
Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for the Fighting Irish from 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.
Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach

Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, hasentered hospice care, according to ABC57 and other reports.Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for theFighting Irishfrom 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"The Holtz family, Luanne Altenbaumer, Skip Holtz, Liz Holtz Messaglia, share the difficult news that our father, Coach Lou Holtz, is presently facing a health challenge," Kevin Holtzposted on Facebook. "While this is a challenging time, our focus is on maintaining his comfort, quality of life and care in his Orlando home.

"As family has always been the highest importance to Coach, we are holding to each other and focusing on making every moment and day count. The whole family appreciates your thoughts, prayers, and support but ask for privacy as we navigate this journey. Psalm 41:3.″

Holtz family update:#NotreDamepic.twitter.com/5cYQzmOQIp

— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino)February 1, 2026

Holtz spent 33 seasons as a head coach, posting a 249-132-7 record with stops at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina over his career. He also had a one-year stint in the NFL with the New York Jets.

He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and worked for ESPN as a college football analyst after his retirement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lou Holtz health update: Family releases statement

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February 01, 2026

Lou Holtz health update: Read family's statement on legendary coach

A couple of days ago, news emerged that legendaryNotre Dame football coach Lou Holtzhad beenplaced in hospice care. On S...

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