The best week of the NFL playoffs is here, as divisional round football will be played this weekend. Two teams have already punched their ticket to Championship Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs knocked off the Houston Texans and the Washington Commanders stunned the Detroit Lions.

On Sunday, two NFL MVP favorites face off in Buffalo and the Eagles and Rams get ready for a potential snow game. Are you wondering how to bet this weekend? We got you covered.

As we do every week, we’ve collected all of the best picks and gambling content from CBSSports.com and SportsLine and put them in one place, so you can get sports betting picks against the spread from our CBS Sports experts as well as additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff and more. Ready? Let’s jump in.

All NFL betting courtesy of SportsLine consensus.  

Which picks can you make with confidence this week? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine, as its incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

Time: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET (NBC and fubo, try for free)
Open: Eagles -6, O/U 45.5

“The Rams got stuck playing in the dreaded Monday night game during the wild-card round, which has been a nightmare for almost everyone who has ever played in it. Over the past two years, three teams have won on Monday in the wild-card round and they’ve combined to go 0-3 in the divisional round, which makes it sound like I should stop thinking about this pick right now and just take the Eagles.

Of course, if there’s any team that can overcome the Monday night curse, it’s the Rams and that’s because they’ve already done it before. The Rams won the Monday night wild-card game in 2021 and that victory ended up propelling them all the way to a win in Super Bowl LVI. 

This time around, if it’s going to propel them to the Super Bowl, they’re going to have to get through the Eagles first, and to do that, they’re going to have to figure out how to tackle Saquon Barkley. If you want to know what it’s like to try and tackle Saquon Barkley, go out in your street right now and try to tackle a car. Actually, don’t do that, I don’t need CBS Sports getting sued. DON’T TACKLE A CAR. The only reason I brought that up is because when these two teams met back in Week 12, the Rams looked like they were trying to tackle a car every time Barkley touched the ball. They couldn’t tackle him and that was a big reason why he rushed for a franchise-record 255 yards in a game where the Eagles rushed for 314. 

If Barkley gets anywhere near that number again, the Eagles are going to roll. If Barkley gets near 200, the Eagles will probably roll, but he might have trouble putting up a huge number against the Rams defense this time around and that’s because they’ve stepped up their game since Week 12. Apparently, the Rams have been using that game as motivation, because in the seven games since the Eagles’ loss, the Rams have only surrendered 104.1 rushing yards per game. 

The Rams defense is playing at a completely different level right now: They Rams have held four of their past five opponents to SINGLE-DIGIT points and the only time a team scored more than 10 came in Week 18 when the Rams were resting their starters.

As good as the Rams have been on defense, the Eagles have been better. They’ve been playing at a completely different level than everyone else all season: They gave up the fewest yards per game during the regular season, fewest passing yards per game and the second fewest points per game. They beat up every one they face. If they can get after Matthew Stafford, it’s going to be a long day for a Rams team that went just 1-5 this year in games where Stafford was sacked at least three times. The Eagles went 6-0 when recording three or more sacks this year, including Week 12, when they sacked Stafford five times. 

With both defenses playing so well, this basically comes down to which offense I trust more, and right now, that’s the Rams. The Rams could struggle in the cold weather, but it’s expected to be 40 degrees in Philadelphia on Sunday, which is about as close as it gets to tropical weather in Philly during the month of January.”

John Breech is calling for an upset in Philly this week! To check out his picks for the divisional round, click here

How about a player prop? Will Brinson encourages you to take Kyren Williams Over 12.5 receiving yards.

“The usage is going to be there for Williams, who has zero competition in the Rams backfield now after Blake Corum broke his forearm. He got 19 touches in a blowout Rams win where Los Angeles’ defense scored a touchdown (both reduce the number of opportunities for starters in theory). Williams played on 87 percent of the Rams’ offensive snaps in their domination of Minnesota, so it’s a good bet he could be even higher in a game where the Rams are big underdogs. Additionally, he hit this number against a good Minnesota run defense last week by being utilized as a passer, getting three targets from Matthew Stafford and securing all three for 16 yards. I think we can get here multiple ways. If the Rams come out passing early against a stout Philly run defense, Williams will be involved to some degree. And if the Rams are trailing, you better believe Williams will see some targets as Philly starts to get home with the pass rush and Stafford needs easier looks. There’s a world where he’s forced to stay in and block, but even then we should get some screens or quick-hitters when he chips and releases. One early catch could clear this number, honestly.”

To check out Brinson’s best bets for the divisional round, click here.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Time: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Open: Bills -1.5, O/U 52.5

“Baltimore ran for 271 yards in the first meeting. It won’t be that easy Sunday in Buffalo against a healthier Bills’ defense, but Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry give the Ravens a substantial edge on the ground. Baltimore also gives up the fewest rushing yards per game. Even if No. 1 wideout Zay Flowers (knee) does not return, Jackson still has plenty of weapons led by Henry, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman. Look for the Ravens to win a high-scoring classic.”

SportsLine NFL expert Larry Hartstein, who tied for 52nd out of 1,598 entries in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest after going 53-34-3 against the spread, has three top plays for a Divisional Round NFL parlay. The Ravens are one of his picks. To check out his other best bets, head on over to SportsLine

“This is a heavyweight battle that should be fascinating to watch unfold. Remarkably, the oddsmakers have made the Bills a home underdog at Highmark Stadium. While jarring at first glance, I think it’s warranted as the Ravens are a force at the moment. The combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry as a rushing duo in the backfield was built for playoff games like this. It’s also a favorable matchup with the Bills allowing 4.5 yards per rush this season, which ranks in the bottom half of the league. While Jackson and Henry rightfully take the lion’s share of attention, do you know who the No. 1 scoring defense, total defense and third-down defense has been in the NFL since Week 11? Baltimore. Their resurgence defensively is what has them as a bona fide Super Bowl contender and live to come out of Buffalo with their ticket stamped for the AFC Championship.”

Tyler Sullivan believes the Ravens are favored for good reason. To read his breakdown of each game this weekend, click here.

Mike Tierney, who is on a 53-27-2 roll with Ravens games, has just released his best bets for the divisional round. We can tell you he’s leaning Under when it comes to the total, but to check out Tierney’s official pick on the spread, head on over to SportsLine





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Demonstrators hold torches as they gather during a protest calling for the release of all hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Demonstrators hold torches as they gather during a protest calling for the release of all hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Oded Balilty/AP


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Oded Balilty/AP

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The deadline for the start of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip passed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release later on Sunday in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners.

The list had not been handed over when the deadline for the truce to begin passed at 8:30 a.m. local time, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top Israeli military spokesman, said. He said the army “continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena,” and would until Hamas complies with the agreement.

Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.

An Israeli official said mediators have provided assurances that the list will be delivered and the deal is still expected to go forward, though the timing remains in question. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing efforts to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, Israel announced that it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier who was killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, in a special operation. The bodies of Shaul and another soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained in Gaza after the 2014 war and had not been returned despite a public campaign by their families.

Delay underscores fragility of the agreement

The planned ceasefire, agreed after a year of intensive mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, is the first step in a long and fragile process aimed at winding down the 15-month war.

Netanyahu said he had instructed the military that the ceasefire “will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide.” He had issued a similar warning the night before.

The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. Israeli forces should pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians should be able to return home. The devastated territory should also see a surge in humanitarian aid.

This is just the second ceasefire in the war, longer and more consequential than the weeklong pause over a year ago, with the potential to end the fighting for good.

Negotiations on the far more difficult second phase of this ceasefire should begin in just over two weeks. Major questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the six-week first phase and how the rest of the nearly 100 hostages in Gaza will be freed.

Palestinians celebrate despite delay

Dozens of people took to the streets in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis to celebrate the ceasefire, according to an Associated Press reporter.

Four masked and armed Hamas fighters arrived in two vehicles as the celebrations were underway, with people welcoming them and chanting slogans in support of the militant group.

The Hamas-run police began deploying in public after mostly lying low for months due to Israeli airstrikes. Gaza City residents said they had seen them operating in parts of the city, and the AP reporter in Khan Younis saw a small number out on the streets.

Palestinian residents began returning to their homes in parts of Gaza City early Sunday, even as tank shelling continued to the east, closer to the Israeli border, overnight. Families could be seen making their way back on foot, with their belongings loaded on donkey carts, residents said.

“The sound of shelling and explosions didn’t stop,” said Ahmed Matter, a Gaza City resident. He said he saw many families leaving their shelters and returning to their homes. “People are impatient. They want this madness to end,” he said.

Israel’s Cabinet approved the ceasefire early Saturday in a rare session during the Jewish Sabbath, more than two days after mediators announced the deal. The warring sides were under pressure from both the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump to achieve a deal before the U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday.

The toll of the war has been immense, and new details on its scope will now emerge.

Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the war killed over 1,200. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died.

Some 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced. The United Nations says the health system, road network and other vital infrastructure have been badly damaged. Rebuilding – if the ceasefire reaches its final phase – will take several years at least. Major questions about Gaza’s future, political and otherwise, remain unresolved.



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The UFC is at Intuit Dome for tonight’s UFC 311 pay-per-view fight card. UFC 311 features two title fight at the top of the card. In the headlining bout, which came together on weigh-in day, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev faces Renato Moicano. Meanwhile, in UFC 311 co-headliner, UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili puts his title on the line against Umar Nurmagomedov. Also on the PPV fight card is an important light heavyweight scrap between former UFC champions Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. UFC 311 results, winners and losers and more will be updated live throughout tonight’s pay-per-view card.

The main card for UFC 311 streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 311 Main Event – Islam Makhachev Vs. Renato Moicano

Makhachev (26-1) has compiled a 15-1 record with the UFC, racking up 10 finishes (seven submissions, three knockouts) and five decisions. Makhachev captured the vacant UFC lightweight title in October 2022 with a submission win over former UFC 155-pound titleholder Charles Oliveira.

Makhachev has defended his crown three times since defeating Oliveira. His first two title defenses were a decision win and knockout of then-UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. In his most recent outing, Makhachev submitted former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302.

Renato Moicano (19-5-1) is riding the first four-fight winning streak of his UFC career. The 35-year-old opened his run with the promotion at 3-0 record between 2014 and 2017. Since then, Moicano has been up and down. He followed that by going 5-5 over his next 10 outings before beginning his current unbeaten streak in 2022.

Moicano is 6-1 dating back to June 2021. His only loss during that time was a March 2022 unanimous decision setback to former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a 160-pound catchweight battle.

In April 2024, Moicano picked up his first knockout as a member of the UFC, decking Jalin Turner on the early prelims of the UFC 300 fight card.

Then, in September 2024, the UFC tapped Moicano for the first main event of his UFC career against Benoît Saint Denis. That fight ended after the second round after Moicano left Saint Denis’ face bloody and swollen. The damage Moicano put on his opponent forced the doctor to wave off the fight as Saint Denis’ right eye was nearly swollen shut.

Moicano enters UFC 311 as the No. 10 fighter in the UFC’s 155-pound weight class.

UFC 311 Fight Card Co-Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili Vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Merab Dvalishvili (18-4), a long-time training partner of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped into the spotlight of the promotion’s 135-pound division in September 2014 when he scored a unanimous decision win over then-champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306.

The 33-year-old Dvalishvili joined the UFC in 2017 as much-hyped prospect. At the time, Dvalishvili was 7-2 and had won and defended the Ring of Combat bantamweight crown.

Dvalishvili did not have a smooth start to his UFC run, losing his first two fights. Falling to Frankie Saenz by decision, and the second, to Ricky Simon, via submission. In September 2018, things clicked in place for the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, and he has not lost since.

Heading into UFC 306, Dvalishvili was on a 10-fight winning streak. Prior to his matchup against O’Malley, Dvalishvili had defeated Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight. Even with one of those victories coming at a catchweight of 140 pounds, Dvalishvili holds the record for longest winning streak in the division at 10, beating Sterling’s mark of nine wins in a row.

Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) is the brother of Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and the cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is currently the No. 2 fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.

The 28-year-old joined the UFC in January 2021 with a submission win over Sergey Morozov. Since that win, he has picked up another five victories in the UFC most recently beating former interim UFC title challenger Cory Sandhagen in a five-round main event scrap in August.

The win over Sandhagen answered any questions about Nurmagomedov’s upside. Before the fight there was some criticism that Nurmagomedov had not defeated anyone of note. However, his dominant win over the then No. 2 ranked bantamweight put that talk to rest.

Nurmagomedov looked the part of a future champion against Sandhagen. He went five rounds, never lost his cool, stayed within himself, and stuck to a strong game plan.

UFC 311 results, winners and losers will be updated live throughout tonight’s pay-per-view card.

UFC 311 Results – Winners

Bogdan Guskov: The No. 13 ranked UFC LHW, Bogdan Guskov, had a rough first four minutes against late replacement Billy Elekana, getting taken down, cut, and dominated on the mat against an opponent he was heavily favored against. He turned the tables with 45 seconds left in the round, scoring a reversal and then nearly finishing the fight with a choke.

Guskov picked things up in the second stanza, using pressure and power on the feet to take over the fight. That approach left Elekana gassed. With the fight clearly in hand, Guskov applied a guillotine choke that brought a quick tap from his depleted foe.

Grant Dawson: Grant Dawson is on a three-fight winning streak since Bobby Green knocked him out in October 2024. Dawson’s game is to get the fight to the mat and keep it there. He did that at UFC 311, picking up six takedowns and nearly 11 minutes of control time for a dominant decision win.

Ailín Pérez: Ailín Pérez used her wrestling and aggression against Karol Rosa, and that was enough for her to get the win. Look for Perez to make it into the top 10 with the next update of the UFC rankings.

Muin Gafurov: Rinya Nakamura had something he wanted to prove at UFC 311, and that was that he could strike as well as wrestle. That played right into the hands of his opponent Muin Gafurov, who was simply a better striker who threw with power while mixing up his targets and techniques.

Bernardo Sopaj: The 24-year-old Bernardo Sopaj picked up his first win under the UFC banner on Saturday night (1-1) with a spirited performance against a game Ricky Turcios.

Sopaj did an excellent job mixing up high and low kicks early. His low kicks forced Turcios to attempt to implement his wrestling, but Sopaj showed some decent takedown defense and an unwillingness to accept the position Turcios wanted to establish.

Sopaj began to fade during the late stages of the second stanza, but he stayed in the fight.

Sopaj hurt Turcios early in the third round and was aggressive in looking for a finish, but Turcios, bloodied but unbowed, got back to his feet and took the fight to Sopaj.

This was an entertaining scrap.

Tagir Ulanbekov: Tagir Ulanbekov entered UFC 311 as the No. 11 flyweight in the UFC. While Ulanbekov looked slightly slower than his opponent, Clayton Carpenter, in the striking department early in the fight, he dominated things on the ground.

Ulanbekov looked excellent on the mat, using control but also scoring with strikes, mixing up elbows and punches when he postured up and created space. With the win, Ulanbekov is on a three-fight winning streak, a run that began after a decision loss to Tim Elliott in 2022.

UFC 311 Results – Losers

Billy Elekana: Billy Elekana scored a quick takedown and body lock against Bogdan Guskov. Once on the mat, Elekana didn’t force the position. Instead, he rolled with his opponent while looking to land strikes and find an opening for a choke. Elekana was backing up to start the second round while looking like he didn’t have much gas in the tank, and the finish came in the second stanza.

Diego Ferreira: Diego Ferreira had no answer for the wrestling and ground control of Grant Dawson at UFC 311. Despite that, he didn’t avoid tangling with his opponent on the mat, much to the chagrin of his coaches.

The decision loss for Ferreira ended his two-fight winning streak.

Karol Rosa: Karol Rosa is a good, technically sound fighter. However, on Saturday night, she seemed more focused on defense than offense, which hurt her against the more aggressive Ailín Pérez.

Rinya Nakamura: A massive betting favorite against Muin Gafurov, Rinya Nakamura’s commitment to the striking game at UFC 311 hurt him in a big way. He had nothing to offer his opponent on the feet, and by the time he could switch to his wrestling, it was too late, although he did have a submission attempt in the third round.

With the loss, Nakamura’s perfect record was no more. He fell to 9-1 as a pro.

Ricky Turcios: Ricky Turcios gave everything he had against Bernardo Sopaj, but outside of his cardio and pace, Turcios didn’t have much to offer Sopaj. With that said, Turcios’ style pushed his opponent, never allowing him to rest.

With the loss at UFC 311, Turcios fell to 2-3 in the UFC, but his fast-paced approach, heart, and willingness to scrap make him a tough opponent for any UFC bantamweight who wants to prove their mettle.

Clayton Carpenter: Clayton Carpenter looked good in the opening moments of his UFC 311 opposite Tagir Ulanbekov. He was fast with his hands and showed a lot of power. He also scored well with kicks to the lead leg of his foe. However, Carpenter could not compete with Ulanbekov on the mat.

Another thing that hurt Carpenter was that he didn’t show a sense of urgency going into the third round when he seemed to need a knockout win.

With his loss on Saturday, Carpenter is 2-1 in the UFC.

UFC 311 Fight Card Results

UFC Tonight: UFC 311 Pay-Per-View Card Results

Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill

Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac

Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder

UFC Tonight: UFC 311 Fight Card Prelims Results

Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos

Zach Reese vs. Azamat Bekoev

Bogdan Guskov defeats Billy Elekana via submission (Guillotine choke at 3:33 of Round 2)

Grant Dawson defeats Diego Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

UFC Tonight: UFC 311 Fight Card Early Prelims Results

Ailín Pérez defeats Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Muin Gafurov defeats Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Benardo Sopaj defeats Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Tagir Ulanbekov defeats Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

UFC 311 Video Highlights

UFC 311 Scorecards

UFC 311 Bonuses

UFC 311 Pay-Per-View Card Odds And Predictions

UFC 311 Main Event

The betting odds for the fight favor Makhachev (-1100) over Moicano (+700).

The betting pick is for Makhachev to win via stoppage. Moicano is a good fighter, and he is on a decent winning streak, but the step up in competition he faces in the UFC 311 main event is immense. There is nowhere that he is better than Makhachev, and he will struggle mightily with the champs skill set. A knockout or submission is not out of the question for Makhachev.

UFC 311 Co-Main Event

The opening odds for the UFC 311 co-main event saw Nurmagomedov open as the -300 favorite over the +240 Dvalishvili. Those odds have shifted slightly. Today, the challenger is listed at -275 and the champ comes in at +200.

Eighty-three percent of the bets have been placed on Dvalishvili, while 85 percent of the handle is on the champ.

The betting pick is for Nurmagomedov to take the title via decision.

UFC 311: Prochazka Vs. Hill

The opening odds for this light heavyweight contest saw Prochazka open as a -120 betting favorite over the +100 Hill. Those odds have flipped. Today, Hill is the -140 favorite over the +115 Prochazka.

Most of the bets (54 percent) and money (92 percent) are on Hill.

The betting pick is for Hill to beat Prochazka via knockout.

UFC 311: Holland Vs. De Ridder

The opening odds for this matchup saw Holland as the -145 favorite over the +120 De Ridder. Today, the fight is a pick ‘em with Holland at -105 and De Ridder at -115. Holland has the majority of the bets (63 percent) in his favor. Slightly more money has also come in on Holland (51 percent.)

The betting pick is for Holland to win via knockout.

UFC 311: Almeida Vs. Spivac

This heavyweight fight landed on the main card with the removal of Dariush vs. Moicano. Almeida (21-3) opened as a -300 betting favorite over the +260 Spivac (17-4), who came in at +260. Today, Almeida is -450 over Spivac at +340.

Spivac has most of the bets in his favor (61 percent), while most of the money is on Almeida (52 percent).

The betting pick is for Almeida to pick up a submission win.

UFC 311 results, winners and losers and more will be updated live throughout tonight’s pay-per-view card.



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Two judges have been killed in a shooting on Saturday at the supreme court building in Tehran, Iranian state media has reported.

“This morning, a gunman infiltrated the supreme court in a planned act of assassination of two brave and experienced judges. The two judges were martyred in the act,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website reported.

Mizan said the assailant killed himself after the “terrorist” act. The state news agency, IRNA, said one other person was wounded.

The two slain judges have been identified by Mizan as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, both of whom handled cases “fighting crimes against national security, espionage and terrorism”.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on state television that “a person armed with a handgun entered the room” of the two judges and shot them.

“Individuals have been identified, summoned or arrested in connection with the incident,” he added, without providing further details.

The motive behind the killing was not immediately clear, but Mizan said the assailant was not involved in any cases before the supreme court.

Authorities said an investigation into the attack was underway.

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences over the deaths, calling on the authorities to act swiftly.

He said: “I strongly urge the security and law enforcement forces to take the necessary measures as soon as possible by examining the dimensions and angles of this reprehensible act and to identify its perpetrators.”

Veteran judge Moghisseh, 68, was sanctioned by the US in 2019 for having “overseen countless unfair trials, during which charges went unsubstantiated and evidence was disregarded”, according to the US Treasury.

Razini, 71, held several important positions in Iran’s judiciary and was previously targeted in a 1998 assassination attempt by assailants “who planted a magnetic bomb in his vehicle”, according to Mizan.

Though attacks targeting judges are rare, Iran has seen a number of shootings targeting high-profile figures in recent years.

In October, a Shiite Muslim preacher was shot dead in the southern city of Kazerun after leading Friday prayers.

In April 2023, a powerful cleric identified as Abbas Ali Soleimani was shot dead at a bank in the northern province of Mazandaran.



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The march that started it allpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time

Holly Honderich
Reporting from Washington DC

Thousands of people march in Washington DC in January 2017Image source, Getty Images

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s surprise 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton, the first march came together at an impressive clip, transforming from a couple of disconnected Facebook posts from women calling for a protest into a blueprint for a national movement within weeks.

By 21 January, hundreds of thousands of people were pouring into the nation’s capital, bringing crowds nearly three times the size of Trump’s inauguration the day before.

In Washington and at coordinated events across the US, women carried signs railing against Trump and sported pink knit “pussyhats” – a pointed reference to the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged about grabbing women’s genitals.

“I had never seen anything this crowded, you could barely move,” said Sharon Baseman, a Democratic activist in Michigan who travelled to DC for the 2017 march.

“It was overwhelming and it was inspiring.”

In the years that followed, the Women’s March remained the face of the fight against Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda. The movement helped unite the Democratic Party against Trump, a strategy enabled them to retake the White House in 2020.

But in the wake of Trump’s victory in November, leaders must grapple with the resistance’s failures, and its future.



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Fresh from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry being called “disaster tourists” for visiting the smoldering ruins of people’s homes lost in the Eaton fire, the couple face new scrutiny over the personal, professional and reputational challenges they’ve dealt with in the five years since they left royal life and moved to California.

Unfortunately for the Montecito-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex, “American Hustle,” a new cover story in Vanity Fair, appears to confirm previous reports about Meghan being a “terrible,” “difficult” and even “bullying” boss to her employees. For the 8,000-word piece, the magazine spoke to dozens of people, a number of whom could only be interviewed anonymously because they were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

While Harry can be “charming,” if giving off the air that he “has no inner life” other than polo, Vanity Fair reported that Meghan seems eager to be “a good person” and to engage “in world-improving (if also brand-building) activities.” And yet, the former TV actor has become a polarizing figure in America. She also tends to engage in what writer Anna Peele described as retaliatory behavior against “people so below her in status.”

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex member of the British royal family with mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo at a home at 2858 Highview Ave. and Altadena Dr. that was destroyed during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex member of the British royal family with mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo at a home at 2858 Highview Ave. and Altadena Dr. that was destroyed during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG) 

Someone who struggled to work on Meghan and Harry’s troubled Netflix and Spotify media projects told Vanity Fair that her relationships with employees tended to follow a familiar pattern. She would “be warm and effusive at the beginning, engendering an atmosphere of professional camaraderie.”

When something didn’t work out, often due to Meghan and Harry’s own demands— such as a teaser for her Spotify podcast being released months before she had even taped any episodes — she “would become cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible,” the source told Vanity Fair.

The source said it was “really, really, really awful. Very painful. Because she’s constantly playing checkers — I’m not even going to say chess — but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave as they leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 19: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave as they leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images) 

Meghan’s treatment of underlings could be “undermining,” the source also told Vanity Fair. “It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, ‘Mean Girls’ teenager.”

Before working with Meghan, the person had a hard time believing the stories about Meghan bullying palace aides or yelling at them after she married Harry in 2018. The initial reports came from the Times UK in 2021, a year after Meghan and Harry left Britain, decrying cruel and racist treatment by the tabloid media and the royal family. But after working with Meghan, this person found such behavior happened “on any given Tuesday.”

Vanity Fair reported that one person took a leave of absence after working with Meghan on three episodes of her Spotify “Archetypes” podcast, while “several others’ said they took extended breaks, left their jobs or underwent long-term therapy after working with the former TV actor.

“I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better,” one person told Vanity Fair, before the person half-jokingly said, “But who am I to criticize Meghan Markle? She’s doing great.”

The Vanity Fair report comes at a crucial time for Harry and Meghan’s efforts to make a success of themselves as media moguls, entrepreneurs and global do-gooders.

Britain's Meghan (C), Duchess of Sussex, and Britain's Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, arrive at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP) (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Britain’s Meghan (C), Duchess of Sussex, and Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, arrive at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP) (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images) 

Meghan’s plan to launch herself this past week as a lifestyle guru, with her new Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” was put on hold following the outbreak of the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles on Jan. 8. Meghan announced the series would be pushed to March 4, “as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.”

Her critics said she and Netflix clearly had no choice but to delay a show that would depict the duchess celebrating her lavish, Southern California lifestyle with her celebrity friends, after so many others in Pacific Palisades and Altadena had lost everything.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan initially received glowing headlines for dropping into Pasadena last Friday to serve meals, leave donations and give hugs to Eaton fire survivors. But they soon began to engender harsh criticism online from actor Justine Bateman and others who were outraged that they were photographed, receiving a personal tour of burned-out neighborhoods from Pasadena’s mayor.

Bateman called them “disaster tourists” and “ambulance chasers.” TMZ founder Harvey Levin and his producers also lambasted the couple on their show earlier this week. “I find it crazy that there are people, most people cannot get into these areas, especially in Altadena and don’t even know if their homes are still there,” Levin said. “For Meghan and Harry to show up from Montecito, and they get a tour? For what purpose?”

Executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere agreed that it seemed like “an ill use of resources,” while senior news producer Charlie Neff said their visit isn’t “sitting well with people in the community…. To be going there doing that feels not genuine and not necessary.”

It remains to be seen whether the “disaster tourist” criticism will stick. But the Vanity Fair story raises questions about their marriage, with Harry depicted as a naive, lonely figure who has failed to make many friends in American and is desperate to reconnect with his family. One source suggested that he did not necessarily realize the damage his tell-all memoir, “Spare,” would have on his relationships with his family. He’s also described as having such a strange, privileged upbringing that he doesn’t “know what life really is” or understand the idea of having to earn a living.

And, the story could also revive Meghan’s alleged bullying controversy. Her representatives initially brushed off the 2021 TImes UK report as part of a “calculated smear campaign,” hatched by a royal establishment and British press that had grown hostile to her. The bullying allegations seemed to die down after Buckingham Palace said in 2022 that it would not release the findings of an internal investigation in Meghan’s alleged bullying.

But The Hollywood Reporter resurrected the issue with a scathing report in September, in which one source said that Meghan “belittles people,” doesn’t take advice and is a “dictator in high heels” who fumes and barks out orders. Both she and Harry are “poor decision-makers,” a source also said, which would explain why the two only managed to produce one 12-episode podcast after two years and a reported $20 million contract. The Daily Beast followed up with another report that quoted employees who described her as “a demon” who had “psycho moments.”

For its report, Vanity Fair talked to people who had good experiences working with Meghan, including producer Jane Marie, who tried to help them develop podcasts for their Archewell productions. “She’s just a lovely, genuine person,” Marie said about Meghan.

Peele, the Vanity Fair writer, tried to offer a sympathetic take on why Meghan might have trouble managing employees or have a chip on her shoulder about people judging her or looking down on her. It goes back to when she claims she was an outsider in high school, Peele noted.

“Is it any surprise that a sense of victimhood and righteousness could continue to exist in a person who had been treated so horribly by the press and her husband’s family?” Peele wrote.

Meghan also may view certain people as enemies or interlopers, and not just “the loathsome” media or “her pitiable father and half sister,” who sold stories about her to the tabloids, Peele said. Meghan’s perceived enemies also could be professionals who work for her, from palace aides to those who “actually knew how to make a podcast,” Peele suggested. She might begin to see them as more powerful than she is, “despite her immense fame and wealth and privilege, “Peele wrote.

“And then whatever happened to them, well…they shouldn’t have gotten between Meghan and her good work,” Peele concluded.

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The 2025 NFL playoffs continue this week with the 2025 Divisional Round NFL schedule, featuring two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday. Top AFC seed Kansas City hosts No. 4 seed Houston at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by top NFC seed Detroit vs. Washington at 8 p.m. ET. The Chiefs are 8.5-point favorites in the Divisional Round NFL odds, up one from the opener, while the Lions are 9.5-point favorites with an over under of 55.5. Texans running back Joe Mixon is questionable with an ankle injury, but will reportedly play. Which Divisional Round NFL spreads should you include in your Divisional Round NFL bets?

The No. 2 seed Eagles are 6-point favorites against the Rams on Sunday (3 p.m. ET) with an over-under of 43.5, while the weekend concludes with an AFC showdown between the No. 2 seed Bills (+1, 51.5) and No. 3 seed Ravens on CBS and Paramount+. Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson have been the top two MVP candidates this season. Before locking in any Divisional Round NFL picks or NFL prop bets, be sure to check out the Divisional Round NFL best bets and predictions from SportsLine’s red-hot Vegas experts. 

SportsLine has more than 40 hand-picked Vegas experts who excel in multiple spots. The NFL, however, is a strength for the site as SportsLine currently has five total experts who are on NFL runs that have returned $1,700 or more for $100 players and one who has returned more than $2,600. Anybody following has seen huge returns. 

Now, with the Divisional Round NFL schedule quickly approaching, SportsLine’s top NFL experts are already locking in their picks. Go to SportsLine to see them all now.

Top Divisional Round NFL expert picks from Jason La Canfora

La Canfora has been covering the NFL since 2004 and spent 10 years as CBS’s NFL Insider for “THE NFL TODAY” and across all platforms. He continues to cover the NFL as an analyst and insider for The Washington Post and gather information from a plethora of sources throughout the game. La Canfora is 9-7 (+493) in his last 16 NFL ML picks and has already locked in picks for multiple games throughout the weekend. 

One bet that La Canfora has already placed is the Lions (-9.5, 55.5) to cover against the Commanders on Saturday. The Lions have been a dominant team throughout the season, and the Commanders have a rookie quarterback going on the road in a massive playoff game. La Canfora has also locked in a pair of anytime touchdown scorer bets for that game. See all of La Canfora’s picks here.

Top Divisional Round expert NFL picks from Matt Severance 

Severance is a well-connected writer and high-volume handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. After joining SportsLine, Severance quickly established himself as a top expert in multiple sports. He went 121-93-2 (plus $589) during the 2023 NFL season, and he is 36-12 (+1738) in his last 48 NFL ML picks. 

He has already placed his bet for the Lions (-9.5, 55.5) vs. Commanders on Saturday. Detroit closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak, clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 31-9 win over Minnesota in Week 18. Washington is riding a six-game hot streak after beating Tampa Bay in the wild-card round. Severance placed an early bet on a team total for this showdown. See the rest of Severance’s picks here.

Top Divisional Round NFL expert picks from R.J. White

White is a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushing against-the-spread picks by going 643-543-34 on his ATS betting picks from 2017-23, which returned more than $4,600 to $100 players. He also went 101-84-4 (+1366) on all NFL spread picks last season. Additionally, White is 18-8 (+987) in his last 26 NFL picks. 

He has locked in his bet for the Eagles vs. Rams (+6, 43.5) on Sunday. Philadelphia maintained its momentum with a 22-10 win over Green Bay last week, as running back Saquon Barkley had 119 rushing yards on 25 carries. Los Angeles is coming off an impressive performance of its own, cruising to a 27-9 win over Minnesota as a 2-point underdog. White thinks one stat from last week is being overlooked, creating value on one side of this spread. See the rest of White’s picks here.

Top Divisional Round NFL expert picks from Mike Tierney

Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. He is 154-124-9 in the NFL the past two seasons, returning $1,586 to $100 players (every bet one unit). Tierney enters the Divisional Round on a 59-36-3 run in his last 98 NFL ATS bets (+1917). 

The veteran sportswriter has already placed his bet on the Bills vs. Ravens (-1, 51.5) showdown on Sunday. This game has all the makings of a classic, as Allen and Jackson are both looking to win a Super Bowl to cap off MVP-caliber seasons. Buffalo is coming off a 31-7 win over Denver, while Baltimore cruised to a 28-14 win over Pittsburgh. Tierney thinks injuries are going to play a pivotal role in the result of this game. You can find all of Tierney’s picks here.

How to make Divisional Round NFL against the spread picks

SportsLine’s team of experts also includes Larry Hartstein, whose NFL best bets column has hit at a strong 62% clip since its inception in 2022. He has been red-hot with NFL prop bets, going 146-102 (+2108) in his last 248 picks at SportsLine. This week, Hartstein is targeting a first-half prop bet, targeting a team that has come out “strong” against “elite” teams. Anyone who backs this prop could hit it big. You can find out who his NFL picks are this weekend here. 

If you are looking for NFL picks, NFL props, or NFL best bets for the Divisional Round, SportsLine has you covered with its proven team of experts. Visit SportsLine now to see who which teams you should back in the Divisional Round, all from a staff that includes five experts who are on NFL runs that have returned $1,700 or more for $100 players.





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Figuring out how to win in the Big Ten was something that always seemed to escape the Gophers men’s basketball team, but the players never stop believing it would come.

Gophers fans also sensed something might be different Thursday night as the game came down to the final stretch against No. 20 Michigan.

With no timeouts in the waning seconds of a tied game in overtime, Lu’Cye Patterson took the inbounds pass and raced past midcourt. He wasn’t open, though, so he kicked the ball back to Dawson Garcia.

Garcia did just about everything for his team, so why not hit a buzzer-beater, too?

Garcia’s logo shot from a few steps inside the halfcourt line gave the Gophers their first Big Ten victory this season and first ranked victory under fourth-year coach Ben Johnson, 84-81 in overtime over the Wolverines in front of announced crowd of 8,877 at Williams Arena.

“Just a lot of emotions in how bad we wanted to win and seeing it come into fashion like that,” said Garcia, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds, including the tying free throws with 7.4 seconds left in regulation. “Lu’Cye trusts me to knock down the shot. Really just thankful for my teammates and God that I’m in that position.”

Danny Wolf’s layup tied the score for Michigan at 81-81 with 7 seconds left in OT, but Garcia wouldn’t let the Gophers lose. The 6-11 senior was swarmed by fans and his teammates after probably the biggest shot of his college career.

Patterson added 22 points and Mike Mitchell 20 for the Gophers, who only led for 8 minutes, 4 seconds. But they never trailed in OT, with Garcia calling for the ball as Patterson dribbled down the court on the game’s final possession.



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Figuring out how to win in the Big Ten was something that always seemed to escape the Gophers men’s basketball team, but the players never stop believing it would come.

Gophers fans also sensed something might be different Thursday night as the game came down to the final stretch against No. 20 Michigan.

With no timeouts in the waning seconds of a tied game in overtime, Lu’Cye Patterson took the inbounds pass and raced past midcourt. He wasn’t open, though, so he kicked the ball back to Dawson Garcia.

Garcia did just about everything for his team, so why not hit a buzzer-beater, too?

Garcia’s logo shot from a few steps inside the halfcourt line gave the Gophers their first Big Ten victory this season and first ranked victory under fourth-year coach Ben Johnson, 84-81 in overtime over the Wolverines in front of announced crowd of 8,877 at Williams Arena.

“Just a lot of emotions in how bad we wanted to win and seeing it come into fashion like that,” said Garcia, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds, including the tying free throws with 7.4 seconds left in regulation. “Lu’Cye trusts me to knock down the shot. Really just thankful for my teammates and God that I’m in that position.”

Danny Wolf’s layup tied the score for Michigan at 81-81 with 7 seconds left in OT, but Garcia wouldn’t let the Gophers lose. The 6-11 senior was swarmed by fans and his teammates after probably the biggest shot of his college career.

Patterson added 22 points and Mike Mitchell 20 for the Gophers, who only led for 8 minutes, 4 seconds. But they never trailed in OT, with Garcia calling for the ball as Patterson dribbled down the court on the game’s final possession.



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