SpaceX Rocket Launch Captivates Californians as It Lights up The Evening Sky -

Rocket launches are always guaranteed to make people look up to the sky in awe, but the latest SpaceX liftoff might have just raised the bar for a long time.

Elon Musk's company on Sunday successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket into the evening California sky, prompting locals to post pictures and videos of the spectacular light show on social media.

The rocket delivered the Argentine satellite SAOCOM 1A into orbit about 12 minutes after liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was one of the many Californians posting stunning videos and photos of the rocket as it lit up the evening skies over the West Coast.

Musk, who's been under fire recently for taunting the Securities and Exchange Commission shortly after reaching a deal with them over his prior tweets, also tweeted pictures of the launch.

Dortmund Deny Sancho Release Clause

Jadon Sancho’s new contract at Borussia Dortmund is “without a release clause”, claims the club’s head of the licensed player department.

The talented teenager has seen his rapid rise to prominence in Germany rewarded with fresh terms through to 2022.

Sancho has starred in the Bundesliga this season, contributing one goal and six assists, and he has also been drafted into the senior England squad for the first time.

He has achieved all of that at just 18 years of age, with there still plenty of potential to be unlocked in an exciting prospect.

Dortmund intend to be the ones to benefit from that development, although they are prepared to admit that interest is being shown in the youngster.

Sebastian Kehl told Sky Deutschland after denying the presence of a buyout fee in Sancho’s deal: "We are not naïve to not take note of other clubs' interest.

"The lads are doing a grand job right now. And thus, there will always be enquiries for the players we have here.

"Especially for players like Jadon Sancho, who has been invited to the England senior squad for the first time."

Payet Replaces Fekir in France Squad

Dimitri Payet has replaced the injured Nabil Fekir in France's squad for their friendly against Iceland and Nations League tie with Germany.

Fekir was substituted just seven minutes into Lyon's 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after injuring his left ankle.

Payet has been in fine form for Marseille this season – scoring four goals in nine Ligue 1 appearances – and last played for his country in October 2017.

The former West Ham playmaker was not selected for Les Bleus' triumphant World Cup campaign after he was injured in Marseille's Europa League final loss to Atletico Madrid.

Didier Deschamps has also recalled Mamadou Sakho, Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne for October's double-header.

Hazard Torn Between Chelsea & Real Madrid

Eden Hazard says he is torn between signing a new contract at Chelsea and a move to Real Madrid.

The Belgium international insists he is ready to discuss extending his deal with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, but says he still has the ambition to pursue his dream of playing for the Spanish giants.

Hazard will enter the final year of his current contract at the end of this season, but insists he does not want to go down the same route as Thibaut Courtois, who fell out with Chelsea as he pushed through a move to Real Madrid this summer.

"I want what's good for me, but I want what's good for the club because the club has given me everything.

"I don't want to say: 'Yes, I am signing a new contract' and then in the end I don't end up signing. So I will see. Sometimes in my head, I wake up in the morning and think I want to go.

"Sometimes I think I want to stay. It is a hard decision. It is my future. I am 27 and I will turn 28 in January."

Hazard spoke of his desire to leave for Real Madrid after the World Cup, and he still believes he has one big move left in his career.

"That's why I spoke after the World Cup and I said that I think it is time to change because I played a great World Cup," he said.

"I am really in the game, I am playing good football at the moment. Real Madrid is the best club in the world. I don't want to lie today.

"It is my dream since I was a kid. I was dreaming about this club. We will see. I don't want to talk about this every day. I don't have time but we will talk about my future soon. I think so."

Arsenal Announce £300m Adidas Kit Deal

Arsenal have announced a new kit sponsorship deal with Adidas, which will take effect from next season.

The agreement, which is worth around £300 million over five years, becomes active from July 1, 2019.

It is claimed the new deal will bring in double that which they have earned from Puma since 2014, although it is still less than the reported £75m per year Manchester United earn from Adidas.

Arsenal's last kit deal with the German sportswear giants was back in the 1993-94 season, two years before Arsene Wenger, the longest-serving manager in the club's history, took charge.

Arsenal have spent the last five years working with Puma.

Ballon d'Or 2018: First 15 Nominees RRevealed

*Ballon d'Or 2018🏆: First 15 Nominees Revealed

Ballon d'Or season is in full swing, and the first nominations have been revealed!

It is 10 years since Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo first won the award, marking the start of an unprecedented duopoly between the Portuguese and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The last winner outside of the superhuman pair is Kaka, the Brazilian playmaker who won the prize in 2007.

Here are the first 15:

🔰 Gareth Bale 
🔰 Sergio Aguero 
🔰 Thibaut Courtois 
🔰 Alisson Becker 
🔰 Karim Benzema 
🔰 Edinson Cavani 
🔰 Cristiano Ronaldo 
🔰 Kevin de Bruyne 
🔰 Roberto Firmino 
🔰 Deigo Godin 
🔰 Antoine Griezmann 
🔰 Harry Kane 
🔰 Eden Hazard 
🔰 N'Golo Kante 
🔰 Isco