In a series of uploads by Denmark-based company Mystery Makers, one player is seen being backed into a fridge by her teammates. Another group holds hands and chants as they prepare to “sacrifice” a player who is splayed across a table. In another scene, a young man kisses what seems to be a human skull and performs a ritual dance to regain access to the outside world. Mathilde Brix, 24, the brand’s content creator, provides thoughtful reactions to contestants’ problem-solving skills....

After Iran’s Tuesday missile attack against an airbase in Iraq that housed U.S. soldiers, Iran seemed amenable to de-escalating the tensions between the U.S. and Iran. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday morning that sanctions would be levied against Iran and would remain in place “until Iran changes its behavior.” Other aspects of U.S. policy towards Iran in the future are still unclear and Wednesday’s intelligence briefing may not have clarified matters....

The company-wide memo was sent from ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro and was obtained by the New York Post. From the Post: REPORT: Entire Fox Sports pregame crew out because of COVID-19 protocol For example, as previously reported, former morning talk-show host and NFL Draft host Trey Wingo will not have his contract extended as it runs out at the end of the year." “We are parting ways with many exceptional teammates, all of whom have made important contributions to ESPN,” Pitaro said in the memo....

“Since my appearance on LA radio Tuesday, I’ve spoken to many people and now realize that I inappropriately oversimplified a very complicated and emotional situation. I sincerely apologize for that mistake and to the city of New Orleans,” Shelburne said in a statement sent to The Times-Picayune. Her apology stems from her appearance on ESPN’s Radio Show Mason and Ireland. While on the show, she discussed the drama that occurred between the New Orleans Pelicans and former team member Anthony Davis prior to his offseason trade to the Los Angeles Lakers....

McFarland spoke on “Monday Night Countdown” ahead of the Bills vs. Patriots game with a message that began about Haskins but expanded more generally into a statement about the NFL’s current generation of players. McFarland, who played in the NFL from 1999 to 2007, said he felt young players are too focused on brand building and not worried enough about growing their game. “Unfortunately I’ve seen this too many times," McFarland began, “… often times young players — especially young African-American players, because they make up 70 percent of this league, they come in to this league and they ask themselves the wrong thing....

ESPN college football analyst and former Wolverine Desmond Howard ran into a very passionate Buckeyes fan while on Ohio State’s campus Friday. The fan said something about, as Howard described it, having “some sort of weird sexual relations with Michigan.” The actual word used was not fit for national television. MORE: Best rivalries in college football | Five things to watch: Ohio State has a lot to prove Not only was the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner called out by the fan, but he was also challenged to a fight....

Levy, ESPN’s play-by-play announcer for the game, was explaining how Harris overcame homelessness in his youth to be a star at Alabama. He also shared an anecdote about Harris’ sleeping arrangements during his first year at the school. “Even when he got to Alabama on the full-ride [scholarship], got the fancy dorm room, he spent the first few months in Alabama sleeping on the floor,” Levy said on the broadcast....

The flagship “SportsCenter” has been losing TV audience as more sports fan get their news/highlights from their mobile devices. Monday’s shakeup is meant to stabilize and set a new direction for “SportsCenter” in the wake of the mass layoffs that saw 100 ESPN anchors and reporters lose their jobs. MORE: ESPN layoffs: Updated list of biggest names laid off ESPN is smartly giving the witty, popular Mayne a regular “SportsCenter” role....

While over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help with bronchitis symptoms like coughing and congestion, some people are seeking natural alternatives to help with their symptoms, such as essential oils. Essential Oils for Cough Essential oils can help with coughing by soothing your sore throat. They are oils distilled from plants and contain the beneficial chemicals of the plant they are derived from. When choosing an essential oil, make sure it’s a pure essential oil, not just a fragrant oil, which smells nice but doesn’t have any of the compounds....

The episode where Klein made these comments was posted on Apple podcasts on October 18, though it was recorded on October 17. The YouTube link to this episode appears to have been removed from the platform. During the show, Klein and his podcast producer Dan Swerdlove reflected on Kanye West’s latest controversy, where he made antisemitic comments on social media and in interviews. West was locked out of his Instagram and Twitter accounts for several antisemitic comments, including a tweet in which he stated he was “going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” most likely in reference to DEFCON, which refers to one of five levels of U....

We often say that dementia does not discriminate, meaning that it doesn’t just skip over certain groups of people, only hitting those with certain characteristics. However, when the numbers are looked at closely, dementia does indeed appear to hit some groups harder than others. Here’s a summary of what multiple studies have concluded about race and dementia risk: According to research published in 2016, African Americans have the highest risk of dementia— 38 percent over a 25-year period beginning at age 65....

On Thursday, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said there is “an obvious risk that differing approaches between countries could endanger confidence in the COVID certificate system, and harm free movement in the Union.” The recommendation comes as Europe faces a rise in coronavirus cases and seems to be the only region in the world where the spread of the virus continues to escalate. The World Health Organization reported that infections spiked 11 percent in Europe over the past week and officials have warned there will be more COVID deaths—an estimated total 2 million by the spring—if urgent measures aren’t taken soon....

A contract between AstraZeneca and the EU’s European Commission was signed for 300 million doses to be distributed among all 27 countries, with an option for a further 100 million. Though the doses were scheduled to be delivered throughout 2021, the EU says only 30 million were sent during the first quarter. The company increased deliveries for the second quarter and is set to provide 70 million doses, although the commission says the promise had been for 180 million....

Breton spoke to the Atlantic Council on Tuesday as he visits the U.S. amid tensions over a recent defense agreement between the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, known as AUKUS. Australia canceled a $65 billion contract for French-made submarines last week in favor of the new agreement. The commissioner, who served as France’s minister for the economy, finance and industry from 2005 to 2007, said some EU member states were saying “maybe we need to pause” following recent events including the U....

Asylum applications from Afghans rose by one-third since February and EU foreign ministers held emergency discussions Tuesday to discuss the security impact of the Taliban’s rule. The EU estimates that since 2015, around 570,000 Afghans have applied for asylum. They comprise one of the biggest groups seeking refuge in Europe, after Syrians. On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France, Germany and other European partners would work on a “robust response” to a new wave of migrants that do not have asylum approval but said, “Europe cannot alone assume the consequences....

The EU’s ratification of the multibillion-dollar investment deal with China will likely be delayed. Chinese sanctions on EU legislators were placed after the EU, Britain, Canada and the U.S. coordinated sanctions against Chinese officials amid concerns about human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. China’s EU sanctions are “an attack on fundamental freedoms,” the parliament said, adding that it is urging “Chinese authorities to lift these wholly unjustified restrictive measures....

Fears loom over a potential second wave of the outbreak in Europe, with new case numbers continuing to surge in Spain, France and Germany. The three European nations have all seen increases in new cases, according to the latest figures reported Wednesday by WHO. Spain reported more new cases per week over the past month, from July 13 to August 9, than the weekly case totals reported in France and Germany....

Quietly and without fanfare, the Turks are demonstrating that on the international stage, at least, they are a full member of the Western world’s post-September 11 alliance against terror. The West tends to take that friendship for granted. It shouldn’t. Turkey is heading for a major crisis in its relations with the European Union, and that could in turn trigger a major rethink of just who its real friends are–and where its best strategic interests lie....

Earlier this week, U.S. captain Davis Love III announced that Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker will be vice captains at next year’s international golf competition, joining Tom Lehman. MORE: PGA Tour winners of 2015-16 | Positives and questions in U.S. picks The 2016 Ryder Cup competition begins the week of Sept. 27 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Paul McGinley, Europe’s victorious 2014 captain, is among those baffled by the decision to name vice captains at this juncture....