McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 16 NRL game between Newcastle Knights and
St. George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Newcastle Knights heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Newcastle Knights vs.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Newcastle Knights vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Odds
Newcastle Knights vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview
The Dragons will be aiming to build on the momentum they generated before the bye when they host a Newcastle side facing uncertainty around the availability of key personnel. St George Illawarra showed encouraging signs in recent outings, producing some of its most consistent football of the season to remain within touching distance of the top eight.
The Knights have demonstrated throughout the year that they can remain competitive despite injuries, with their defensive structures and game management helping them stay in contests. However, the potential absence of star fullback Kalyn Ponga would significantly reduce Newcastle’s attacking threat and place greater pressure on the rest of the spine to create opportunities.
Neither side has been among the competition’s highest scorers in recent weeks, suggesting this contest could develop into a physical, low-scoring battle. In those circumstances, the Dragons’ improving defence and ability to grind through tough periods may give them every chance of challenging a Knights side looking to overcome another key setback.
RFK Racing has locked in Chris Buescher on a multi-year contract extension but has not yet found a third charter for 2027. According to team president Chip Bowers, the team will run three cars next season and it is also prepared to enter races as an open team until a permanent solution is found.
The team, co-owned by Brad Keselowski, is staring at a major charter problem for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. It owns Keselowski’s No. 6 and Buescher’s No. 17 charters, but leased the No. 60 Ford, driven by Ryan Preece, from Rick Ware Racing. And since NASCAR allows charters to be leased for one year at a time, RFK and RWR alternated between Ware’s two charters in 2025 and 2026. That arrangement is set to end after the 2026 season.
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Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Bowers responded to questions about the team’s charter plans and detailed what was non-negotiable inside the company.
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“We’re going to be a tier one team, and you can’t do that running a two-car operation, so we will find a third charter. If we have to run open next season, we will do that. We’ve already communicated that to our staff and organisation and to our partners, and we have wholesale support from our ownership all the way down to the interns in the organisation.”
One of Rick Ware Racing’s charters has been sold to Legacy Motor Club, which will expand its Cup Series program to three full-time entries in 2027. Once that charter moves to Legacy, RFK Racing will lose access to the leased entry.
Brad Keselowski also addressed the charter hunt recently. He said that no charters were available for sale despite the team’s active search.
“He wanted to be here” – RFK Racing president on Chris Buescher’s loyalty after contract extension shuts down rumors
Chris Buescher at Michigan International Speedway on June 6, 2026. – Source: Imagn
Chip Bowers also commented on RFK Racing’s recent contract renewal with Chris Buescher, who has been part of the team since joining its development program in 2009.
“Our organization is excited that Chris has been with us half of his life at this juncture. He’s been a stalwart within the RFK racing family. He’s just an exceptional human being,” Chip Bowers said.
“From day one, we’ve made it clear to him that he was a priority to us. And Brad and the entire organization wanted to make sure that he felt that from the very start of our conversations. And he wanted to be here. He’s excited about the future.”
Knicks fans in New York have a reason to celebrate for the first time in over half a century, and they’re making the most of it.
After the franchise captured its third NBA title last week, snapping a 53-year drought, it was officially time for the customary ticker-tape championship parade on Thursday.
But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and nothing was going to stop New Yorkers — celebrities and local fans alike — from celebrating after waiting so many years to be back on top of the basketball world.
Here are some of the best moments from the Knicks’ championship parade.
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage gathers momentum, June 19 promises another crucial set of fixtures that could significantly shape the qualification race across Groups A and B. Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, and South Korea all enter the day with plenty at stake after contrasting results in their opening matches.
While Switzerland and Canada look to bounce back from frustrating draws, Mexico and South Korea aim to build on impressive winning starts and move closer to the knockout rounds. With qualification scenarios already beginning to emerge, every point could prove decisive as teams battle for a place in the last 32.
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Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Switzerland enter their second Group B fixture under pressure after being held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in their World Cup opener. Murat Yakin’s side dominated large portions of the match and took the lead through a Breel Embolo penalty, but missed several chances before conceding a late equaliser.
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With a potentially tricky final group game against hosts Canada still to come, the Swiss will view Thursday’s clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina as a crucial opportunity to strengthen their qualification hopes. A victory would not only put them in a strong position to reach the knockout stage but also secure their first competitive win over Bosnia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw, sharing the points with Canada. Jovo Lukic’s first-half goal had them on course for victory before Cyle Larin equalised late on. While there was some disappointment at not holding onto all three points, Bosnia extended their unbeaten run to nine matches. Having drawn each of their last six games in regulation time, Sergej Barbarez’s men will be confident of challenging Switzerland and moving closer to a place in the knockout rounds.
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Canada vs Qatar
Canada enter their second Group B match under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Despite high expectations as co-hosts, Jesse Marsch’s side looked nervy in attack and struggled to convert possession into clear chances.
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A major boost could come from the possible return of captain Alphonso Davies, who missed the opener due to a hamstring injury. Canada have now conceded the opening goal in six of their seven World Cup matches and will be eager to make a stronger start against Qatar. They also carry positive memories of a 2-0 win over the Qataris in a 2022 friendly.
Qatar, meanwhile, salvaged a dramatic point against Switzerland thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser. Julen Lopetegui’s men were heavily outplayed but showed resilience to secure a 1-1 draw despite facing relentless pressure. However, the reigning Asian champions arrive on a seven-match winless streak and have struggled for goals in recent outings.
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Qatar will hope to build on the momentum from their late equaliser as they chase a first World Cup victory since joining the global stage, while Canada seek a crucial win to strengthen their knockout-stage hopes.
Mexico vs South Korea
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Mexico head into their second Group A match full of confidence after making a winning start to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Javier Aguirre’s side defeated South Africa 2-0 in their opener, with Julian Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez finding the net to secure Mexico’s first-ever victory in a World Cup opening match.
The result extended El Tri’s impressive run to seven wins and two draws from their last nine matches. Mexico have also recorded three clean sheets in their previous four games, although the suspension of centre-back César Montes could test their defensive solidity against South Korea.
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South Korea also began their campaign in style, coming from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1. After conceding midway through the second half, Hwang In-beom equalised before setting up Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winner. The comeback victory extended the Taegeuk Warriors’ winning streak to three matches and highlighted the resilience within Hong Myung-bo’s squad.
South Korea have won six of their last eight matches and will be encouraged by their recent form despite a poor record against Mexico. Their last meeting ended in a 2-2 draw in September 2025, with Mexico requiring a stoppage-time equaliser to avoid defeat.
FIFA World Cup 2026 June 19 matches
Group
Match
Time (IST)
Group B
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
00:30:00
Group B
Canada vs Qatar
03:30:00
Group A
Mexico vs South Korea
06:30:00
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FIFA World Cup 2026: June 19 matches live streaming and telecast details
Which two teams will feature in the first game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 19?
Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina will kick-start the June 18 action of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at 12:30 am IST.
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Which two teams will feature in the second game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 19?
Canada will take on Qatar in the second match of the day from 3:30 am IST.
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Which two teams will feature in the third game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 19?
Mexico will play their 2nd FIFA World Cup 2026 game against South Korea in the third game of the day at 6:30 am IST.
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Where to watch the live broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 19 matches in India?
The broadcast of the June 18 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels for fans in India.
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Where to watch the live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 19 matches in India?
The live streaming of the June 18 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the Zee5 app and website for viewers in India.
When David Benavidez announced a move up to the cruiserweight division, he had said he would return to light-heavyweight and defend his WBC title soon after, but a stellar performance has made it clear he can stick at 200lbs.
Having held titles at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, Benavidez sought to join Badou Jack as the only man to have reigned in all three of those divisions, taking on WBA and WBO unified champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in a daring title bid.
Come fight night, ‘The Mexican Monster’ showed that not only does his power translate to the cruiserweight division, but his speed does too, dominating the affair to produce an emphatic sixth-round stoppage win.
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Ever since, fans have been left debating whether Benavidez should return to light-heavyweight and take on pound-for-pound rivals, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, or remain in the cruiserweight division – which could turn out to be his optimal weight.
It seems as though the 29-year-old has now made up his mind, at least for the foreseeable, with reports suggesting that the Phoenix-born star is now finalising talks for a three-belt unification with WBC cruiserweight world champion Noel Mikaelian, thus opting to remain at cruiserweight.
A two-time champion, Mikaelian reclaimed his WBC world title when he avenged a controversial defeat to Jack last year. The Armenian-German has never been stopped and is the only other current world champion in the cruiserweight division, after the IBF stripped Jai Opetaia of their title earlier this year.
Still, Opetaia has been another opponent who fans are desperate for Benavidez to take on, but speaking with Boxing Scene, Benavidez’s manager Sampson Lewkowicz explained the decision to pursue Mikaelian instead.
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“We’re not fighting for trophies. We want titles. We want the legacy for Benavidez, Opetaia has nothing [for us] besides making a good fight.”
Lewkowicz also confirmed that a deal ‘is expected to be reached shortly’ following talks with Don King, promoter of Mikaelian, yesterday morning.
England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to return to competitive action after being included in Durham’s 15-man squad for their upcoming County Championship clash against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street, which begins on Friday.The all-rounder has not featured since being left out of England’s ongoing second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were both omitted from the match while investigations continued into a nightclub incident in London following England’s victory in the opening Test at Lord’s.Despite the ongoing inquiries, both players have now been cleared to participate in domestic cricket. Stokes is expected to represent Durham in the Championship fixture, while Atkinson is likely to return for Surrey in their match against Glamorgan in Cardiff.The controversy stemmed from events after England’s 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test. Stokes and Atkinson were found to have breached the team’s midnight curfew while celebrating the victory and were present at a nightclub when a member of England’s security staff was allegedly struck by a player from Saracens Rugby Club.Investigations into the incident are continuing, with both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the independent Cricket Regulator conducting separate reviews.In the days following the controversy, speculation emerged regarding Stokes’ long-term future in international cricket, with some reports even linking the England skipper to a potential retirement. However, those concerns eased considerably after the 35-year-old resumed training with Durham.His appearance against Northamptonshire will mark only his third county outing of the season and could provide a timely boost ahead of England’s next international assignment.With Stokes unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand, Joe Root has stepped in as captain on a match-by-match basis.England’s third and final Test of the series begins at Trent Bridge next Thursday, meaning a decision on the availability of both Stokes and Atkinson is expected in the coming days. Clarity over the ongoing investigations will likely be required before the start of the match, with Monday shaping up as a key date in determining their involvement.
Manny Pacquiao has competed in 73 professional bouts to date, but there is one man who is thankful that his scheduled showdown with the Filipino icon did not take place, labelling his withdrawal as a ‘blessing in disguise’.
A true pound-for-pound legend of the sport, many fighters dream of sharing the ring with one of boxing’s most accomplished combatants; the only boxer to have held a world title in four different decades and the only eight-division world champion.
Pacquiao is now chasing another feat, hoping to break his own as the oldest welterweight champion of all time, having last held the WBA welterweight title at the age of 42 years old before losing it to Yordenis Ugas, who stepped in as a challenger when Errol Spence Jr pulled out.
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Speaking on The Art of Ward Podcast, Spence admitted that he is glad the fight with ‘Pac-Man’ did not go ahead, fearing that the eye injury, which caused his withdrawal, could have seriously impacted both his career and life.
“All through camp I was feeling bad, I was feeling super bad, I was messed up. I’ll say this again, I don’t know if it is life, God or whatever it was; I got hit in my eye during sparring and I really was still sparring during that time and all of that.
“I went to Vegas and I had to do the eye test, it was cloudy, I was seeing clouds, it was messed up and I went to go to the eye doctor and I think he saw it, but he wanted me to tell him, so he was like, ‘do you see any clouds?’, and I was like ‘nah, I don’t see nothing’.
“He said, ‘you sure?’ And I said ‘nah, I don’t see nothing, it looks clear, I am good’. I was trying to get the approval, but he was like ‘man, your eye is messed up’.”
“I was trying to tell the doctor to let me fight and that I will be good, that I will sign whatever you want me to sign, I told him that I will make sure that he [Pacquiao] don’t hit me in my eye!
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“He was like, ‘nah, man, if you get hit in your eye the right way, you could be blind in your eye. I can’t let you fight’.
“I think that was a blessing in disguise because, if I would have took that fight and something would have happened, I would be wearing a patch over my eye right now and I wouldn’t have had the fights that I have had and made the money that I have made.”
Patrice Bergeron will forever be remembered in Boston.
The Bruins made sure of it, announcing the forward’s No. 37 will be retired during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
“Throughout his 20 years with the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron was the ultimate professional, demonstrating a unique blend of leadership, integrity, humility and class,” said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs in a statement. “Patrice consistently set the standard on and off the ice, becoming one of the best players in the game while demonstrating for the next generation what it meant to be a Bruin. As one of the greatest to ever wear the Black and Gold, it is only fitting that his No. 37 makes its way to the Garden rafters.”
Bergeron spent his entire 19-season NHL career with the Bruins after being taken 45th overall in 2003. Before retiring in 2023, the L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., native played in 1,294 regular-season games, posting 427 goals and 613 assists. He was the fourth player in franchise history to record at least 1,000 points.
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The now 40-year-old also ranks third in franchise history in games played, goals and points while sitting fourth in assists. His 14 20-goal seasons are the second-most in franchise history, while he leads the Bruins all-time in shootout goals (25).
“To have my number retired by the Boston Bruins is an honour that is difficult to put into words,” said Bergeron in a statement. “When I arrived in Boston as an 18-year-old, I could never have imagined receiving this recognition one day. I have always believed that any success I had was only possible because of the people around me. I was fortunate to play alongside incredible teammates, learn from outstanding coaches and staff and be supported by an organization that believed in me from the very beginning. I am especially grateful to my family for the sacrifices they made that allowed me to pursue my dream. This honour belongs to all of them as much as it belongs to me.”
Throughout his NHL career, which included captaining the Bruins from 2020 to 2023, he took home the Selke Trophy a record six times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023) and was nominated for the award in 12 consecutive seasons. Bergeron also sits third all-time in league history for face-off wins (14,837).
The three-time all-star helped the Bruins take home the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup in 2011, and made two more Final appearances with the team in 2013 and 2019. He shares the NHL record for most Game 7 appearances (14) with fellow Boston great Zdeno Chara, and ranks second in Bruins franchise history with 170 playoff appearances. Bergeron’s 128 points (50 goals, 78 assists) in the post-season are tied-third for Boston all-time.
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In his final NHL season, Bergeron led the Bruins to the Presidents’ trophy as the team set an NHL single-season record for wins (65-12-5) and points (135). He finished that season with 27 goals and 31 assists for a plus-35 mark that led all Boston forwards.
His No. 37 will be the 14th number to be retired in franchise history, joining Chara (33), Willie O’Ree (22), Rick Middleton (16), Cam Neely (8), Terry O’Reilly (24), Ray Bourque (77), Phil Esposito (7), Johnny Bucyk (9), Bobby Orr (4), Milt Schmidt (15), Eddie Shore (2), Aubrey Clapper (5) and Lionel Hitchman (3).
“To Bruins fans across New England, thank you for welcoming a young French Canadian and making this place feel like home,” Bergerson added. “Every time I stepped onto the ice, I felt the privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing the Spoked-B, and I always tried to represent this organization and community the right way. I am deeply humbled and grateful to be connected to the history of the Boston Bruins. To know that No. 37 will forever be part of that history is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Wilkinson says Wales have learned from their experience at Euro 2025, when they stuggled to make an impact against three of the world’s best teams – Netherlands, France and England.
“I think we all learned a lot through the Euros – myself, my staff, the players,” she said.
“Do I wish I’d coached differently? Parts of it, absolutely. I’m sure they (the players) look back on it and think like ‘what if, what if we could have…’
“But you don’t know until you’ve been to a major event what it’s going to be like, what the pressure feels like, what the stress feels like.
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“We talked about it, we prepared for it, and it still blew us away, but there’s confidence that comes from having done it.
“I also look at our last Nations League A campaign – two draws against Sweden, but also keeping the scores really competitive against some top nations.”
Wales will have to improve their away form if they are to get through the play-offs and make it to Brazil.
Wilkinson’s side sailed through their home qualifiers, with a 6-1 mauling of Montenegro, a 4-0 romp past Albania and a 3-1 win over Czech Republic to wrap up the group.
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On the road, however, they were fortunate to salvage a draw in the Czech Republic in their opening qualifier in March, then scraped a 1-0 victory in Albania before a shock 1-1 draw in Montenegro in the penultimate match.
“We were a bit frustrated when we played Albania away (in April), but this is a good opportunity to improve our performance against a challenging opposition,” said Wilkinson.
“I thought (Albania) played really well in that second leg, so they’ll be tough. It’ll be a good tactical battle between them and us, and who’s learnt the most.
“It was obvious from our campaign that our away form wasn’t what we wanted it to be. There’s definitely some work to be done away from home.
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“It’s about showing up with the best version of ourselves.”
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the U.S. Amateur at age 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the
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President Donald Trump has shared his opinion about the recent announcement regarding rolling back the golf ball, and as is often the case, his opinion on the topic at hand doesn’t necessarily align with the majority.
The USGA and R&A — two governing bodies of golf — originally shared a plan in 2023 that golf ball development would change, making balls travel up to 15 yards shorter at the professional level and up to five yards shorter for amateurs. This was a direct approach to combat distance, and the opinion that it has gotten out of hand with new technology.
The original announcement nearly three years ago involved a staggered start that would take effect at the professional level in 2028 and all other golfers in 2030.
U.S. President Donald Trump tees off at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland. President Trump is visiting Scotland in a trip that’s part-vacation, part-work, as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 to 29.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
On the eve of the 2026 U.S. Open on Wednesday, the USGA and R&A announced that plans for a golf ball rollback have been paused until at least 2030.
Trump praised the decision to pause the efforts to roll back the golf ball in a Truth Social post on Wednesday evening.
“Congratulations to Commissioner Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour, and the Governing Bodies, and also, the Great U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, for a BIG VICTORY where the USGA wanted to roll back the distance of a Golf Ball, for whatever reason, and now they are precluded from doing so, at least for a long number of years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It was a ridiculous idea, that nobody wanted, especially PGA Tour Players, and people that don’t want to go to a Course to be told that their drives will be going 20 yards shorter. What the USGA should do is agree that, far into the future, they will not allow the current ball to go further. In other words, they will keep the ball the same! The game of Golf is “hot as a pistol.” The last thing we should do is tell people that, for no reason whatsoever, you will not be able to hit a ball as far as you used to. Has anyone ever heard of anything so ridiculous?”
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U.S. President Donald Trump tees off after opening his new golf course at his Trump International Golf links resort on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, Scotland. U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting his Trump Turnberry golf course, as well as Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, during a brief visit to Scotland from July 25 to 29.(Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Trump’s suggestion that “nobody wanted” golf ball technology to change to combat distance isn’t true. The debate in golf, especially at the professional level, is completely divided.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. In his second term, Trump has attended several major sporting events(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Many, if not the majority, of folks involved with golf recognize that the technology in both golf balls and modern drivers has gotten out of hand. Several golf courses have become “too short” for elite and professional players.
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As for the approach golf’s governing bodies have taken to address the issue, well, that’s where opinions differ even more. The “how” of effectively reining in the distance golf balls possess nowadays is the million-dollar question, and this delay proves the powers that be need time to tinker as well.
At about 6 p.m. on August 21, 2025, the former Belarusian diplomat and sports official Anatol Kotau boarded a private yacht in northeastern Turkey. He said he would be home in a few days.
The yacht was officially bound for Russia — one of two countries with a warrant out for his arrest — but it is unclear whether Kotau knew its intended destination. What is known is that three hours into his journey, he stopped responding to messages.
Kotau spent much of his early political career as a diplomat at the Belarusian Embassy in neighboring Poland. In 2015, he was appointed secretary-general of the Belarusian Olympic Committee, serving under Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s longest-ruling autocrat. Kotau was also deputy director of the organizing committee for the 2019 multisport European Games in Minsk, a prestige project for Lukashenko.
He quit his job as government forces suppressed protests after Lukashenko declared victory in the 2020 presidential election. He fled to Poland, where he registered as a refugee, and, from Warsaw, began pushing for change in Belarus.
Kotau was an outspoken critic and was widely believed by fellow dissidents to be among those behind the “Nick and Mike” Telegram channel, which exposed the regime’s secrets. He was a key part of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, a movement for athletes that actively lobbied to have Minsk stripped of the honor of co-hosting the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship — in part on the grounds that Lukashenko could use the global spotlight on his favorite sport to rehabilitate his image following the bloody clampdown of 2020.
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“He was a person who worked for many years in the state system,” said Ales Mikhalevich, a Belarusian human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate. “People like me, for example, are simply enemies for the regime, whereas people like him are traitors. And that is much more serious.”
In 2024, a Belarusian court sentenced Kotau in absentia to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way and promotion of extremist activities. Arrest warrants were issued by the governments of Belarus and Russia.
“Without a doubt, this was a person the Belarusian authorities wanted to get back — legally or illegally,” Mikhalevich said.
Anatol Kotau was deputy director of the organizing committee for the 2019 European Games in MinskImage: Privat
Kotau’s travel tendencies
Friends said Kotau was often secretive about his travel plans. In April 2025, he traveled to Dubai, where he held at least two meetings. DW and its partners were unable to identify everyone he met on that trip.
Kotau had another visit to Dubai scheduled for July 2025, one month before he disappeared, but canceled the trip when he developed appendicitis, according to his wife.
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“He usually didn’t say in advance where he was going or why,” Kotau’s friend and fellow opposition activist Ruslan Khazin said. “But we always knew that after he’d gone somewhere to meet someone, there would be some interesting news.”
Before Kotau disappeared in August, he told his wife that he was traveling to Turkey for business; his boss at a Polish events agency believed that he was going for personal reasons.
Several people told DW and its partners that, shortly before the trip to Turkey, Kotau indicated to various people that things were about to change in Belarus and that “soon we are all going home.”
“I just didn’t understand,” Khazin recalled. “I said: ‘What do you mean?’ He has this usual manner — he smiles and says: ‘Well, you’ll find out later.’ That’s it.”
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A fellow Belarusian
After landing in Istanbul on August 21, Kotau flew to the northeastern port city of Trabzon, where the yacht awaited. The boat itself had departed from Istanbul earlier, carrying a small crew, two Russian passengers and Yuryy P., a Belarusian karate judge and instructor with connections to the Belarusian secret service, which still goes by its Soviet initials, KGB.
Social media photos indicate that Kotau could have met Yuryy P. at the Vozrozhdenie (Renaissance) sport club, which can be linked to the KGB during its four years in existence, from 2017 to 2021, according to information provided by the Belarusian civil society group Rabochy Ruch.
Yuryy P. was also employed by a company called Tres International, which is headquartered near Dubai but has a representative office in Minsk, according to leaked data from Cyber Partisans, a dissident hacker collective formed after the 2020 election in Belarus. Several people at Tres International were found to be affiliated with the KGB, according to more leaked documents. Yuryy P. did not reply to queries from DW and its partners.
Many of the company’s employees also work for BTS Global, which is in business and management consulting, according to the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but also sells weapons, according to military documents provided by Rabochy Ruch. Tres International and BTS Global are both registered at the same address on Smolenskaya Street in Minsk.
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It is not clear whether Kotau and Yuryy P. crossed paths in Trabzon. However, when the yacht left the port city with Kotau on it, Yuryy P. was not on board.
The last known images of Kotau were taken by CCTV at the Trabzon portImage: Staatsanwaltschaft Trabzon
Details about the yacht Kotau boarded
The last known image of Kotau, 45 at the time, is a CCTV capture of him at the Trabzon port, unshaven and wearing a dark T-shirt. He then would have boarded the 30-meter (100-foot) yacht named Shells, a $2.8 million (€2.4 million) private vessel with two dining areas, a bar and a top-deck jacuzzi.
According to the passenger manifest, which DW has obtained, the yacht was bound for Sochi, on Russia’s Black Sea coast, although it is unclear whether Kotau knew that. He may have been told a different destination or thought that the ship would enter international waters and then return to Turkey.
The yacht’s movements are difficult to trace. There is no record of its location in the Marine Traffic database in August 2025 or in satellite imagery over its route. The yacht was last recorded months earlier, in March 2025, in Istanbul.
The owners on paper in August 2025, MGA Yachting Ltd., insist that they sold it at the end of 2024 and know nothing about Kotau’s disappearance. DW and its partners confirmed that the boat was up for sale in early 2025.
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By January 2026, the boat had been renamed the YS Legacy and registered to SSL Yachting Group Ltd. In March 2026, BTS Global bought the trademark for the same name: YSLegacy.
A Belarusian businessman, Yuryy S., is listed as the head of two BTS Global companies — the one registered in Belarus and another in the United Kingdom — and lives in the United Arab Emirates, where the yacht last appeared on the Marine Traffic database in March 2026.
He knew Kotau personally. There are photos of the two at the Vozrozhdenie sports club in 2019, at what appears to be an event connected to the Minsk 2019 European Games. Yuryy S. is identified in leaks as having worked for the KGB’s Operational Analytical Center and at the Belarusian Olympic Committee during Kotau’s tenure as secretary-general. He is connected to the Dubai-based Tres International. He did not reply to queries by DW and its partners, nor did BTS Global or Tres International.
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Kotau’s mysterious shipmates
When Kotau boarded Shells, he was accompanied by a woman named Qahira E., whose nationality is listed as Jordanian in the passenger manifest. Qahira E. lives in Dubai and is originally from Azerbaijan. She and Kotau had known each other since at least 2023, according to information obtained by the BIC. The two had messaged about meeting, and appeared in a cozy photo in what looks like a bar.
She did not answer questions sent by DW and its partners.
The other passengers were two Russians who had entered Turkey on the same flight from Moscow on August 5, according to leaked passport data, and traveled on the yacht from Istanbul.
According to leaked databases, one of the men, Pyotr G., is former military and now works as a private security specialist. DW and its partners gathered little information about the other, Yuriy G., but could confirm that the two men traveled together shortly before and after the yacht trip. Neither man replied to queries by DW and its partners.
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According to the manifest, the only other people on the vessel were the four crew members — none of whom could speak Russian.
Russian FSB base and coast guard vessels in Ochamchire, AbkhaziaImage: Strength in Unity Movement
Yacht intercepted off Russia-occupied Abkhazia
DW and its partners have learned from sources and a letter obtained from the Sochi port authorities that the yacht never arrived there.
Sources familiar with the operation told DW and its partners that the yacht instead headed toward Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia. The government of Georgia — as well as the US, EU and several other governments — considers the region to be occupied by Russia, which maintains a heavy military presence there.
Abkhazia is a “well-known gray zone,” the Georgian political analyst Mamuka Komakhia said. “There’s a lack of control in Abkhazia from an international point of view.
“Abkhazia is a very good place to do any illegal activity because it’s open sea. You do not need to register anything. If you don’t want to register something, you can do it.”
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There, around 1:30 p.m., in waters where no vessel-tracking signals appear, the yacht was intercepted by Russia’s Coast Guard, a division of the FSB. Sources familiar with the operation say agents boarded the vessel and conducted a search of the yacht, at which point Kotau was removed.
Although there are no images covering the area at the time when the yacht was likely intercepted, there are images from the nearby port of Ochamchire, a coal transportation hub where Russia has had an FSB base since 2009.
According to the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, also known as the Rondeli Foundation, the FSB has stationed up to 10 Sobol- and Mangust-class patrol boats at the Ochamchire port. Armed with machine guns and surface-to-air missiles, these vessels are tasked with securing Russia’s coastal borders.
In satellite images, a boat matching the size and shape of one of these Coast Guard vessels is seen leaving Ochamchire port and turning west toward Sukhumi about one hour before sources said Kotau was removed from the yacht.
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“It is quite strange Belarusian opposition activists [would] visit Abkhazia,” Komakhia said. “It is quite clear [that] Abkhazia is in very good and close cooperation with Russian law enforcement. It is definitely not a safe place for such people.”
Neither the Russian FSB nor the Belarusian KGB replied to requests for comment.
About an hour after the time sources say Kotau was removed from the yacht on August 22, Pyotr G. and Yuriy G. also disembarked.
Although it is unclear exactly where and when they got off the yacht, the leaked passport data lists Pyotr G. as crossing the port border in Sukhumi at 2:42 p.m. and Yuriy G. four minutes later.
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The boat returned to Turkey with only Qahira E. and the crew on board.
Not only do the presidents of Belarus and Russia, Alexander Lukashenko (left) and Vladimir Putin, maintain close relations. So do their secret servicesImage: The Kremlin Moscow/SvenSimon/picture alliance
Did Russia and Belarus work together?
It would not be without precedent for Belarus, which has limited resources, to ask its primary ally for help securing Kotau’s return.
“Belarusian intelligence is not so well-developed, it’s not so skilled,” said Kamil Klysinski, a senior fellow at the Center for Eastern Studies in Poland. “They don’t have so many people, money [or] other assets to do such operations out of the region.”
Belarusian and Russian security agencies cooperate closely on intelligence sharing, border security and joint operations — including handing over political opponents.
“In case of more ambitious operations, as with Kotau, of course Russian support was needed, at least the support of FSB,” Klysinski said.
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What authorities have said about Kotau’s disappearance
Kotau’s family and friends have sought answers for nearly 10 months.
Turkish authorities replied to DW, saying only that Kotau arrived in and left the country on August 21, 2025, and did not respond to questions about an investigation. The Polish authorities said they were not investigating Kotau’s disappearance.
“If the crime was committed in Poland, then the Polish prosecutor’s office would have jurisdiction,” a spokesperson wrote in an email.
Mikhalevich disagrees with that assessment: “The crime connected with his disappearance began on Polish territory.”
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“The state system works the way it works,” Mikhalevich said. “No prosecutor, no civil servant, wants additional work. If there was the political will, initiating a criminal case on the disappearance of Anatol Kotau would be quite easy.”
For his part, Kotau’s friend Khazin says he thinks Kotau is still alive.
“If they wanted to eliminate him, it would have been much easier to do it here, in Warsaw, and stage an accident,” Khazin said. “The circumstances of his disappearance and those who could have carried out this operation … speaks to the fact that the forces who captured him needed him alive and well.”
The long wait: The Belarussian opposition in exile in Poland
Additional research by: Halil Taskin Edited by: Carolyn Thompson Copyedited by: Milan Gagnon Fact-checked by: Esther Felden Legal consultation: Florian Wagenknecht
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