Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s football team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the Iran war began, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Tuesday. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia “to a safe location” by Australian federal police officers in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time. There, they met with Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas was finalized, the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later.

“I say to the other members of the team the same opportunity is there,” Burke said. “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts.”

Local news outlets reported that the squad numbered about 20 women. Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced if they returned to Iran, but the asylum bids followed urging by Iranian groups in Australia and by U.S. President Donald Trump for the Australian government to offer help to the woman.

The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the Iran war began. The team was knocked out of the tournament over the weekend and was facing the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment. Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari on Sunday said the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can,” according to Australia’s national news agency, AAP.

During the tournament, the players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference on Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.

The team’s silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last week was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn’t clarified. They later sang and saluted during the anthem before their remaining two matches.

“These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions that they’re making,” Burke said. “The opportunity will continue to be there for them to talk to Australian officials if they wish to.”

Burke’s announcement came after Trump on Monday in Washington called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it. Earlier that day, Trump had blasted Australia on social media, saying Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the … team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.” Trump called on Australia to grant the team asylum, adding: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”

Less than two hours later, in another social media post, Trump praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying, “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”

Trump also said that some players “feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return.”

Trump’s offer of asylum represented something of a change for the president, whose administration has sought to limit the number of immigrants who can receive asylum for political purposes

Nuggets vs. Thunder at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday is a top option for using the all-new DraftKings promo code, which gives new users $200 in bonus bets instantly after placing a $5 bet. The Thunder and Nuggets have the two shortest NBA odds at DraftKings to win the Western Conference, and instead of backing a side in this one, the SportsLine Projection model has Over 232.5 points as one of its Monday NBA best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Over is 6-3 over the last nine Nuggets games, although the last four Thunder games have failed to reach the point total. 

The model is also projecting another high-scoring affair, taking Over 220.5 points in Knicks vs. Clippers for Monday NBA best bets at DraftKings. The over has hit in three straight Clippers games. One of SportsLine’s top experts has locked in a college basketball best bet on Northern Kentucky vs. Wright State in a Horizon League semifinal at 7 p.m. ET. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $200 in bonus bets instantly with a $5 wager: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 21 on a sizzling 42-19 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Monday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

• Nuggets vs. Thunder: Over 232.5 total points (-105)
• Knicks vs. Clippers: Over 220.5 total points (-110)
• Wright State (+1.5) vs. Northern Kentucky (-115)

Combining the three picks into a Monday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +567 (risk $100 to win $567, odds subject to change). Bet it at DraftKings here:

Nuggets vs. Thunder: Over 232.5 total points (-105)

The Over has hit in each of Denver’s last eight road games, heading into their return to Oklahoma City after a 127-121 overtime loss on Feb. 27, which sailed past the 235.5 total for the contest. It’s also hit in six of Denver’s last nine games overall. The Over is 24-10 for Denver road games this season, largely due to Denver’s No. 1 scoring offense at 120.2 points per game combined with a defensive scoring average barely in the top 20 (116.5 ppg, 19th). Meanwhile, the Over has hit in two of the last three Thunder home games, as OKC has the No. 4 scoring offense at 118.6 ppg. Both sides are filled with offensive starpower, leading the model to project the Over to hit in 58.1% of simulations. Back the Over to cover at DraftKings here:

Knicks vs. Clippers: Over 220.5 total points (-110)

The Knicks are coming off a rough offensive showing in a 110-97 loss to the Lakers on Sunday, but two days before then, New York scored 142 points on the road in Denver. The Knicks aren’t a one-trick pony when it comes to offensive production, as shown with OG Anunoby’s 34 points against the Nuggets. Jalen Brunson, who is a top-10 scorer in the NBA at 26.2 points per game, scored just nine points but had 15 assists in the win. The Knicks are ninth in the league in scoring at 117.0 ppg. Meanwhile, the Over has hit in three straight Clippers games, and is 7-2 over their last nine contest. Kawhi Leonard has scored at least 28 points in three straight games, playing some of his best basketball of the season. For this, the model projects the Over to hit in 68.7% of simulations. Back the Over at DraftKings here:

Wright State (+1.5) vs. Northern Kentucky

“Wright State swept the regular-season meetings, 88-80 at home and 92-91 on the road,” SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein said. “That was the regular-season finale, a thriller the Raiders won on a tip-in at the buzzer after trailing by 18 at half. This game should be a pick-’em. Wright State leads the Horizon in shooting percentage (48.9), ranks third in 3-point shooting percentage (36.2) and ranks second in opponent 3-point shooting percentage (32.7).” Back Wright State to cover at DraftKings here:

Want more NBA and college basketball picks on Monday?

You’ve seen some of the model’s Monday best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for all games, including the NBA, college basketball, NHL, and more, all from the model that’s simulated every game 10,000 times. 

Named after the esteemed Hall of Fame jockey, sprinter Beadman is steadily building his credentials.

With his recent resilient first-up success in the Listed $200,000 Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, trainer Peter Snowden sees strong potential to chase bigger targets with Beadman.

The finish was dramatic as Beadman ($2.30 favourite), partnered by James McDonald, fended off Inkaruna’s ($3.50) late bid to win narrowly by a short head, the early frontrunner Hidden Motive ($9) a short neck adrift in third.

Snowden’s lofty view of the colt leads him to advocate for a shot at the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) on March 21 at Rosehill Gardens.

“It was good to see him do that, he ran smart time, too,” Snowden said.

“He did get a bit keen mid-race and I’m still working him out but he definitely has the talent.

“I think this win might get him into The Galaxy now. I know that is a big aim but that is the belief I have in this horse.”

From seven starts, Snitzel-sired colt Beadman has three wins and three placings to his credit.

Syndicate owner Henry Field from Newgate Farm, including top owners and breeders, is enthusiastic about challenging the three-year-old in Group 1 against older rivals next outing.

“The Galaxy has always been the plan,” Field said.

“He’s a big, gross colt and whatever he did today the expectation is he has a lot of improvement to come.

“James made the comment when he got to the front he started ‘floating’ so he will be better again in The Galaxy.”They always go hard in that race so the tempo will be good for him.”

Sufficiently eye-catching was Beadman’s run to compress into $6 second favouritehip trailing Briasa ($4.50) for The Galaxy.

Snowden shared a jovial remark aimed at the colt’s namesake, Darren Beadman the Hall of Fame jockey, prior to restating his high hopes for the advancing young talent.

“Beadman has always shown me a lot of ability but everything takes time and he is still learning,” Snowden said.

“His race-craft has to get a bit better and I’m sure it will.

“He has all the natural attributes, he’s got the talent, he has a very good demeanour – he has a name that might hold him back a little bit – but he’s very promising.”

Discover racing betting markets for The Galaxy among leading betting sites at betting sites.