Thursday 31 October 2019

Paralympics not planning to follow Olympic marathon switch

BONN, Germany (AP) - The International Paralympic Committee says it isn't planning to follow the Olympics in moving next year's marathons out of Tokyo because temperatures are cooler in September.

The International Olympic Committee said two weeks ago it was going to move the marathons and race walks to the ...
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3-time Olympic rowing champion Reed paralyzed after stroke

LONDON (AP) - Three-time Olympic rowing champion Pete Reed says he has become partially paralyzed from a stroke.

Reed won a gold medal for Britain at each of the last three Olympics before retiring last year. He says on Instagram he is paralyzed from the chest down after suffering a ...
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England, Boks meet in a RWC final not for the faint-hearted

TOKYO (AP) - During one of England's practice sessions this week, front-rower Kyle Sinckler donned a hoodie and a pair of boxing gloves and started vigorously sparring with a strength-and-conditioning coach.

What better way to prepare for what could prove to be the most brutal Rugby World Cup final there ...
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Gareth Bale back on transfer watch after trip to London

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Gareth Bale's future is once again in doubt.

The Welsh winger traveled to London with the permission of Real Madrid to see his agent this week, reigniting speculation about a possible departure after coach Zinedine Zidane said in July it would best for the player and ...
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Germany's president wraps up US charm offensive in Boston

BOSTON (AP) - Germany's president is visiting Boston as his country wraps up a yearlong charm offensive designed to ease tensions with the United States.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to deliver brief remarks Thursday afternoon at the Goethe Institute in Boston. He's then expected to attend a joint concert of ...
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Li delights home crowd and takes lead in Shanghai

SHANGHAI (AP) - Li Haotong gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about Thursday with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the HSBC Champions.

Li practically grew up with this World Golf Championship, posing with Phil Mickelson as a junior 10 years ago and threatening to win in ...
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2 plead guilty in $60M film financing fraud scheme

MIAMI (AP) - A film producer and a former banker have pleaded guilty to participating in a $60 million movie financing fraud scheme in South Florida.

Court records show 30-year-old Benjamin Rafael pleaded guilty Wednesday in Miami federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 37-year-old Benjamin McConley pleaded ...
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Apple TV Plus joins streaming wars with Oprah but no library

LOS ANGELES (AP) - As the streaming wars near a fever pitch and viewers are targeted from every vantage point - Disney Plus has the Marvel and Star Wars brands! HBO Max counters with "Game of Thrones" and DC superheroes! - Apple TV Plus could be cast as the highly ...
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Tip Ins: Tigers, Buffs, Wildcats all likely tourney hopefuls

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway went 22-14 and led the Tigers to an NIT berth in his debut season. His biggest wins came on the recruiting trail.

Hardaway added the nation's No. 1 recruiting class by signing five top-60 prospects and seven top-115 players as measured by composite rankings of recruiting ...
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At last, Nats are champs

With a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 7, the underdog Nationals became the first team in major league history to win the World Series by claiming four games on the road. The win secured the franchise's first title and Washington's first World Series championship since 1924.
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Twitter pulls back on political ads, but pitfalls await

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twitter announced an end Wednesday to political campaign and issue ads on its service, calling it an important step in reducing the flow of election-related misinformation.

But some of its users might face an unintended consequence or two.

Among those potentially affected could be public-interest nonprofits ...
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Wednesday 30 October 2019

Kenan Thompson: America is dealing with 'Trump fatigue'

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson said the U.S. may be getting tired of President Trump.

"I think anything overly repetitive gets a little tiring," he said Sunday about the show's portrayal of President Trump, according to The Hill. "But it seems like there's just Trump fatigue ...
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Ex-treasurer ordered to repay youth league $175K restitution

SPRINGBORO, Ohio (AP) - The former treasurer of a youth baseball league convicted of stealing from the organization in Ohio has been ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution or face a three-year prison sentence.

The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reports Renee Nichols, of Springboro, agreed at her sentencing Tuesday in Warren County ...
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Buster Douglas to promote long odds against Tyson to inspire

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Buster Douglas is marking the 30th anniversary of his upset boxing victory over Mike Tyson with a campaign aimed at inspiring others who face long odds.

The 59-year-old Douglas plans to announce his "42 to 1" initiative at the Ohio Statehouse Wednesday, alongside city and state ...
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Taylor Swift to receive artist of the decade award at AMAs

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Superstar singer Taylor Swift will receive the artist of the decade award at the American Music Awards next month.

Dick Clark Productions announced Wednesday that Swift will be honored during an ABC live telecast on Nov. 24 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. At the ...
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Former NBA, Alabama player Farmer arrested on sex charges

SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) - Former NBA player and one-time University of Alabama basketball standout Jim Farmer has been arrested on human trafficking charges in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the 55-year-old resident of Franklin, Tennessee, was among 16 men arrested on charges of seeking sex from minors. A ...
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Christian group tries to ban naked Joan of Arc oratorio

BRUSSELS (AP) - A Christian group is trying to prevent the La Monnaie opera house in Brussels from staging a production of Arthur Honegger's oratorio "Joan of Arc at the Stake" in which the heroine appears dressed in men's clothes and at one point naked.

The Pro Europa Christiana Federation ...
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Former surfing executive to be sentenced in admissions case

BOSTON (AP) - A former California business executive is returning to court to be sentenced in the college admissions scandal.

Jeffrey Bizzack, of Solana Beach, California, is scheduled to appear in Boston's federal court Wednesday. The 59-year-old pleaded guilty in July to a single count of fraud and conspiracy.

Authorities ...
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Grammy winner Marty Stuart to hand out gifts on Santa Train

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Country star and Grammy winner Marty Stuart will be the celebrity guest on the annual CSX Santa Train, which visits towns in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia in November to hand out gifts for families.

The holiday train, which has run every year since 1942, makes a ...
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AT&T says HBO Max streaming service to launch in May for $15

AT&T said Tuesday that its HBO Max streaming service will launch in May for $15 a month, joining a crowded field.

The company has said HBO Max will become the "workhorse" for its video business as cord-cutting of traditional TV expands. It hopes to migrate people who pay for HBO ...
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Nationals react to Trea Turner interference debacle as Torre defends call

HOUSTON — Dave Martinez began to step away from home plate umpire Sam Holbrook, appearing ready to wrap up his diatribe and return to the Washington Nationals' dugout. Crew chief Gary Cederstrom then pointed at Martinez's chest and began to shout, to which Martinez responded in kind.

Washington bench coach ...
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'Friday' actor-comedian John Witherspoon dies at 77

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actor-comedian John Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube's father in the "Friday" films, has died. He was 77.

Witherspoon's manager Alex Goodman confirmed late Tuesday that Witherspoon died in Los Angeles. No cause of death was released.

The actor had a prolific career, appearing in three ...
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Tuesday 29 October 2019

Concert promoters turn away from facial recognition tech

BOSTON (AP) - Major concert promoters in the U.S. are stepping back from plans to scan festival-goers with facial recognition technology - at least for the time being.

Live-entertainment giants AEG Presents and Live Nation both say they have no plans to use facial recognition at music festivals, despite earlier ...
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Oklahoma fan dies after heart attack at Kansas State game

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - An Oklahoma football fan died after suffering an apparent heart attack at Saturday's game against Kansas State.

David Adams, director of Riley County emergency services, said paramedics were called to the stadium for a patient experiencing chest pain, and the fan collapsed after they arrived. He ...
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Vindman offers a firsthand account of episodes in alleged quid pro quo

He appeared to corroborate key comments in the testimony of William B. Taylor Jr., the top diplomat in Ukraine, and challenge some of Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon Sondland's testimony.
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The Nats should play better in Houston, but maybe not better than the Astros

Washington's only shot to win two more games on the road starts with getting a lead in the first one.
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Halloween hallucinations at the chessboard

We write this two days before Halloween, a celebration of disguise, delusion and things unseen that haunt the mind.

Chess may be a rigorously logical game, but one also prone to phantasms and hallucinations in the heat of battle. World champions have hung queens, overlooked mates-in-one, botched the most elementary ...
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John Wall, Isaiah Thomas go all out for Halloween

The Washington Wizards' backcourt knows how to pull off a Halloween costume. 

John Wall and Bradley Beal dressed up as different versions of the Joker at a recent Halloween party, while Isaiah Thomas, in a nod to his 5-foot-9 frame, showed up as an Oompa Loompa.

All three committed to ...
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Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw dazzles with sheer variety of jobs

Sometimes it seems like Gugu Mbatha-Raw is playing some crazy version of showbiz Bingo.

This is a woman who has assembled an astonishing variety of roles in her 36 years. Big-budget Hollywood blockbuster? Sure, "A Wrinkle in Time." What about an 18th-century English drama? Of course, "Belle." Any romantic comedies? ...
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White House official feared Trump’s Ukraine demands would undermine national security

"I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen," Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, who is testifying before House impeachment investigators, says in a draft of his opening statement.
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Demolition halted again for building with music legacy

ATLANTA (AP) - An Atlanta man's fight to save a downtown building where the first country hit song is believed to have been recorded has gotten another chance at survival.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker granted Kyle Kessler a temporary restraining order Friday. ...
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LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger flee California wildfires

LOS ANGELES — A wildfire swept through the star-studded hills of Los Angeles on Monday, destroying several large homes and forcing LeBron James and thousands of others to flee. Meanwhile, a blaze in Northern California wine country exploded in size.

The flames that roared up a steep hillside near the ...
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Athlete compensation comes front and center for NCAA

A key NCAA task force is expected to provide an update on whether it would be feasible to allow athletes to profit from their names, images and likenesses while still preserving amateurism rules for the nation's largest governing body for college athletics.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith and Big ...
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Monday 28 October 2019

MLB bans two models for flashing breasts at World Series game at Nationals Park

Major League Baseball banned two models from all MLB stadiums indefinitely after they attended Game 5 of the World Series at Nationals Park and flashed their breasts on Fox's telecast.

One of the women, Julia Rose, shared on social media a letter written and signed by David Thomas, the vice ...
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Allison Moorer details tragic family legacy in memoir

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer has long been hesitant to talk about the deaths of her parents when she was just 14, but it was no secret. The murder-suicide in 1986 was something Moorer and her older sister, Grammy-winning singer Shelby Lynne, avoided questions about their entire careers.

...
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Rhode Island youth football team suspended from playoffs

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island youth football team has been suspended from the playoffs after an opposing team's parents accused them of illegally taping a game.

WJAR-TV reports the Oakwood Raiders team from Pawtucket was supposed to play North Providence in their first playoff game on Sunday.

The ...
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DC police: WV Man sold $2K in fake World Series tickets

WASHINGTON (AP) - Police in Washington have arrested a West Virginia man accused of selling $2,000 in fake World Series tickets.

Metropolitan D.C. police said Sunday they charged 54-year-old Ondre Nelson of Huntington, West Virginia, with first-degree fraud. The Washington Post reports Nelson sold five counterfeit tickets for $400 each ...
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John Wall, Adidas discussing contract buyout after two years: Report

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall soon may no longer represent Adidas.

The shoe and apparel company is discussing buying Wall out of his contract after less than two years, ESPN reported.

Wall has dealt with injuries for most of the time since signing with Adidas in January ...
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UFC heavyweight's stepdaughter reported missing in Alabama

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - The stepdaughter of Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight Walt Harris has been reported missing out of Auburn, Alabama.

Nineteen-year-old Aniah Haley Blanchard was reported missing last week. City police announced Saturday that they had found the teen's car abandoned and damaged at Montgomery apartment complex. Police said ...
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Inside the operation that left Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dead

The "dangerous and daring" raid targeting Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi started with a tip and ended in a tunnel.
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Review: 'Classic Krakauer' is pure adventure and risk

"Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk," Anchor Books, by Jon Krakauer

The essays are older - primarily from the mid-1990s - for publications such as Smithsonian's Air & Space Magazine and Outside magazine, but "Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk" is very Jon Krakauer: At once astute and ...
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The Latest: LeBron James among evacuees as LA fire grows

SANTA ROSA, California (AP) - The Latest on California fires (all times local):

5 a.m.

A Southern California fire has grown to more than 250 acres and around 3,300 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Capt. Erik Scott says at least two structures were burning ...
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With Baghdadi in their sights, U.S. troops launched a ‘dangerous and daring nighttime raid’

The operation targeting Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi started with a tip and ended in a tunnel.
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Richmond to be featured on Food Network capital cities show

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A show filmed in Richmond by celebrity chef Guy Fieri will air next month on the Food Network.

A news release says that "a classic deli" cooking modern tastes like duck pierogis and Jewish egg rolls will be feature on the "Cruisin' Capital Cities" episode of ...
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Sunday 27 October 2019

In a slipping World Series, the Nationals have two big reasons to believe things could turn

The Astros have managed a split. What's left is this: a best-of-three series, with Sunday night's Game 5 the last at Nationals Park
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Juventus beats Fiorentina 2-0 to win Women's Super Cup

CESENA, Italy (AP) - Juventus Women lifted one of the few trophies missing from the team's collection after beating Fiorentina Women 2-0 in the Italian Super Cup on Sunday.

Cristiana Girelli fired Juventus in front in the 11th minute and substitute Andrea Stasková sealed the result in stoppage time, two ...
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For an encore, 'Joker' is No. 1 again at the box office

NEW YORK (AP) - "Joker" narrowly bested "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" to regain the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office in its fourth week of release.

The R-rated comic-book hit earned an estimated $18.9 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That came ...
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Trump says Islamic State leader Baghdadi blew himself up as U.S. troops closed in

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in Syria, a breakthrough more than five years after he launched the Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate.
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New Mexico farmer, writer starts a global garlic war

DIXON, N.M. (AP) - Among the residents of Dixon, New Mexico, Stanley Crawford has long been known as a gentleman farmer and a thoughtful man of letters.

He's the author of such books as "A Garlic Testament: Seasons on a Small New Mexico Farm" and "Mayordomo: Chronicle of an Acequia ...
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Masterpiece found in elderly French woman's kitchen on sale

PARIS (AP) - A masterpiece attributed to the 13th-century Italian painter Cimabue that was discovered earlier this year in an elderly French woman's kitchen is expected to sell for millions at auction Sunday.

Stephane Pinta, a painting specialist with the Turquin gallery in Paris, said an auctioneer spotted the painting ...
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Dave Chappelle to receive Mark Twain prize at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

WASHINGTON — Boundary-pushing comedian Dave Chappelle is the latest recipient of the Mark Twain prize for lifetime achievement in comedy, an honor being bestowed Sunday night at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The event is a homecoming for Chappelle, who was raised in suburban Silver Spring, ...
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Boundary-pushing Dave Chappelle set to receive comedy award

WASHINGTON (AP) - Boundary-pushing comedian Dave Chappelle is the latest recipient of the Mark Twain prize for lifetime achievement in comedy, an honor being bestowed Sunday night at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The event is a homecoming for Chappelle, who was raised in suburban Silver ...
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Texas university confirms shooting at off-campus party

GREENVILLE, Texas (AP) - A Texas A&M University-Commerce spokesman has confirmed reports of a shooting at an off-campus party as the school east of Dallas celebrated homecoming weekend.

Local television stations and reporters at the scene cited unnamed officials in reporting multiple injuries at a party in Greenville. Greenville is ...
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Hospital uses music therapy to reduce sedation for kids

MIAMI (AP) - It was early afternoon on the first day of October at the Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami, and Elizabeth Foley's room was quiet.

Amy Foley, Elizabeth's mom, leaned over her 2-year-old daughter's crib-like hospital bed.

"We're gonna do some music," she said. "And then you're going to ...
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After a five-month climb, Nats are showing signs they may be afraid of heights

The past two losses at Nationals Park reveal a team feeling the pressure to perform in front of an adoring home crowd.
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Saturday 26 October 2019

Bournemouth draws 0-0 with winless Watford in EPL

WATFORD, England (AP) - Bournemouth drew 0-0 with bottom-placed English Premier League club Watford on Saturday, continuing its decline after strong early season form.

Harry Wilson was closest to scoring when the Bournemouth winger hit the post with a free kick in the 86th minute.

Earlier, Gerard Deulofeu had one ...
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‘All my friends are dead’: The survivors of the Tree of Life shooting still ache a year later

The Pittsburgh synagogue's sanctuary is still a crime scene. No service has been held within its walls since Oct. 27, 2018, when a gunman killed 11 men and women and wounded six others in the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of the United States.
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Developer envisions arts hub for historic Vegas movie house

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A developer who grew up going to the Huntridge Theater is poised to get city approval to buy the shuttered former movie in central Las Vegas, renovate its damaged roof and convert it to an arts hub.

The architecture won't change, but the building dating to ...
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The Astros deliver a counterpunch in Game 3, foreshadowing what could be a long, bruising World Series

Houston rediscovered its mojo with a gritty win in Game 3 that suggests the Nationals could be in for a long, tortuous World Series.
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Pheasant, quail hunters urged to try public access listings

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says abundant hunting opportunities and access await hunters as the pheasant, quail and partridge seasons open this weekend.

Hunters seeking new places to hunt are encouraged to check the 2019-20 Public Access Atlas, which displays nearly a million acres (0.41 ...
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City considers cash shift to promote TV and movie production

NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) - Some officials in a southwest Mississippi city want to shift money earmarked for business recruitment and to promote film and television production.

Natchez aldermen this week voted 5-1 to research whether up to $100,000 in property tax revenue could be redirected.

The money now goes to ...
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Wheelchair athlete participating in cross-country meet

CUMBERLAND, Maine (AP) - A high school cross-country athlete who competes in a wheelchair is getting an opportunity participate in the regional meet.

A year ago, the state denied Jonathan Schomaker's petition to compete. But this year the Maine Principals' Association reached an agreement to let him participate in regional ...
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Indiana Pacers holding off on expected arena name change

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Pacers aren't yet taking the Bankers Life name off their arena even though the company's naming-rights deal expired in June.

Team marketing executive Todd Taylor says changes won't be made at the downtown Indianapolis arena until a new sponsorship contract is signed. Carmel-based CNO Financial ...
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Snow jobs: In tight labor market, ski areas up the ante

WARREN, Vt. (AP) - It used to be that a free ski pass was enough to lure workers to seasonal jobs at mountain resorts. No longer.

In the current tight labor market, ski areas across the country are having a tough time filling jobs, so they're upping the ante by ...
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Bumps and breaks: Inside the world of sports injuries

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) - There was a fresh energy present on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho on Friday, Sept. 15, one that was not there over the summer. Students had returned to the college, and fans packed the gym for the first home athletic event of ...
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Thomas Bryant scores 21 as Wizards earn first win of season

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thomas Bryant scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Washington Wizards beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, 97-85.

Rookie forward Rui Hachimura scored 19 points and Bradley Beal added 17 for Washington (1-1). The Wizards posted a 14-2 run to finish the game ...
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Friday 25 October 2019

Bruce Springsteen: Donald Trump lacks 'deep meaning of what it means to be an American'

Bruce Springsteen stated in a recent interview airing Friday that President Trump fails to fully understand "what it means to be an American."

"We're living in a frightening time," Mr. Springsteen told CBS. "The stewardship of the nation has been thrown away to somebody who doesn't have a clue as ...
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Obama, Clintons to eulogize Elijah Cummings in final farewell

Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and former U.S. senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, are among the speakers scheduled for the funeral at a Baltimore church.
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Are the Nats winning because they’re dancing or dancing because they’re winning? Yep.

You don't necessarily have to get along to win a World Series, but Washington is showing it can't hurt.
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In Apple TV's 'Morning Show,' women rebel, men misbehave

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Apple TV Plus, a new streaming service, is making a high-profile debut with the drama series "The Morning Show."

The behind-the-scenes look at a network program is part of the first wave of shows that will launch the streaming service on Nov. 1.

"The Morning ...
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Tom Brady jersey stolen _ again

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Authorities say a Rhode Island man visiting the New England Patriots Hall of Fame took a Tom Brady jersey off a display and walked off with it.

Zanini Cineus, of Providence, was freed on personal recognizance after a not guilty plea to a larceny charge was ...
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The last climb up Australia’s majestic Uluru

The Outback monolith is sacred to indigenous people, who have long implored visitors not to ascend the rock and have now imposed a ban on climbing it.
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New Jersey megamall adds travel challenges to crowded region

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The success of the long-delayed American Dream megamall and entertainment complex is tied directly to an existential question residents here face daily: How do you get there from here with the least strain on your wallet and blood pressure?

The mall's official opening on Friday ...
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High school slow pitch softball discontinued in Mississippi

CLINTON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi's high school activities association will no longer sanction slow pitch softball as participation dwindles across the state.

New outlets report the discontinuation was effective following the 2019 season's recent completion. The association said in a statement Thursday that its executive committee of school administrators made ...
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Elementary school gets 765 new books through $10K donation

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana elementary school has added 765 new books to its library thanks to a $10,000 donation.

The Advertiser reports J.W. Faulk Elementary hosted a ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the new books and the people who made it possible. Librarian Violet Smith says the elementary school ...
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Forced abortions, IUDs and sexual humiliation: Muslim women who fled China for Kazakhstan recount ordeals 

The Kazakh women's stories reveal a wider pattern of abuse aimed at China's Muslim minority, including Uighurs and others, advocates say.
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Redskins fall short vs. Vikings, lose 19-9 as Dwayne Haskins throws a key interception

Washington had its chances to pull the upset, but instead drops to 1-7. Starting QB Case Keenum left with a concussion.
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Thursday 24 October 2019

Joe Girardi hired to be Phillies manager

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies got their man.

Philadelphia hired former Yankees manager Joe Girardi to replace Gabe Kapler on Thursday. Girardi will be introduced at a news conference Monday.

"I'm excited for this next chapter of my career," Girardi said in a statement. "The Phillies have a strong commitment to ...
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Stretchy, lovable slime takes up residence in New York City

NEW YORK (AP) - Slime, the bedazzled, stretchy sensation that has spawned its own social media influencers and fans of all ages, is taking up residence in New York City.

An immersive, 8,000-square-foot (743.22-sq. meter) museum dedicated to all things slime opens Friday for a nearly six-month celebration complete with ...
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Mississippi State confident after ending long NCAA drought

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - After earning its first NCAA Tournament invitation in a decade one year ago, Mississippi State returns a veteran lineup as it chases a second straight bid.

The Bulldogs finished 23-11 last season and posted a 10-8 mark in the SEC, good enough for a sixth-place showing ...
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Ter Stegen criticizes Barcelona for up-and-down season

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is getting tired of coming to the rescue of his teammates.

Ter Stegen made key saves in Barcelona's 2-1 win at Slavia Prague on Wednesday night in the Champions League group stage.

"We didn't play up to the level that we ...
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Weak profit, revenue, overshadow Twitter user growth

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Disappointing third-quarter profit and revenue numbers at Twitter are overshadowing surprisingly strong user growth, sending shares of the social media company plummeting 20% before the opening bell.

The San Francisco company also lowered its outlook for the fourth-quarter and the year.

Net income was $37 million ...
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After 2½ years of planning, England finally gets hands on NZ

TOKYO (AP) - England's players only began thinking about their Rugby World Cup semifinal match against New Zealand when the final whistle sounded on the defending champions' win over Ireland on Saturday night.

For Eddie Jones, the planning began 2½ years ago.

The England coach figured after the pool-stage draw ...
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Nashville sheriff reveals Johnny Cash was once deputized

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Nashville's sheriff says there's proof that Johnny Cash was granted law enforcement authority four decades ago.

At the Johnny Cash Museum this week, Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall unveiled a blown-up image of the late musician's September 1979 deputy sheriff commission card, issued by then-Davidson County Sheriff ...
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Relief at Leipzig after ending 4-game winless run

BERLIN (AP) - After a winless month, Leipzig is back to its best.

The German club came from behind to beat Russian team Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 in the Champions League and put itself in position to progress from its group - something that was looking increasingly difficult after a ...
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Italy's female soccer players aim to change law limiting pay

ROME (AP) - Italy's surprise run to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup this year went a long way toward changing misconceptions about the female game in a country where the most popular sport is dominated by men.

Out of a population of 60 million, more than 20 million ...
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China confirmed as 2021 Club WCup host, slots to be settled

FIFA selected China as host of the inaugural edition of the expanded Club World Cup in 2021 but delayed a decision on how the 24 slots for the tournament will be distributed.

A proposal on how many teams would qualify from the six confederations was shared with FIFA Council members ...
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Australian Minjee Lee takes 1-stroke lead at LPGA tournament

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) - Minjee Lee overcame a series of changing weather conditions at the Buick Ladies Championship to take a one-stroke lead with a bogey-free 6-under 66 after the first round of the LPGA tournament.

"Sometime we had sunshine, wind, rain ... we had a little bit of ...
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Morant among the NBA rookies who made noise in their debuts

MIAMI (AP) - The first three baskets of the season for the Memphis Grizzlies were all reminders of why the team wanted Ja Morant.

Getting free inside for a layup.

An acrobatic reverse layup off a lob.

A swooping score over two defenders in transition.

Those were his first three ...
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Wednesday 23 October 2019

NC State aims to avoid bubble, return to NCAAs in 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The motivation for North Carolina State is clear this season: don't be on the wrong side of the bubble come NCAA Tournament time.

The drive to return there for the second time in three seasons under Kevin Keatts will lean on a deep perimeter led by ...
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Very complex: Nats, Astros share spring site, meet in Series

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Asked how his Washington Nationals figured out Gerrit Cole in the World Series opener, Juan Soto didn't have to look far for an answer.

"I'm glad I face him in spring training," Soto said.

In fact, all of the Houston Astros and Nationals see ...
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‘Alarming circumstances’: A distressed diplomat describes how shadow policy warped U.S. policy on Ukraine

William Taylor, who had taken the job of U.S. ambassador to Ukraine reluctantly, indicated to lawmakers that he arrived certain that he was being put in place to deliver implacable American support, but gradually came to understand that the entire U.S. relationship was being subverted for President Trump's political gain.
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'Dawson's Creek' creator producing Russell Crowe horror film

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - The creator of the television series "Dawson's Creek" is returning to North Carolina for a horror movie starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports that Kevin Williamson confirmed his plans to produce the movie Tuesday on the EUE/Screen Gems Studios lot. The working ...
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Nationals fans, welcome to the World Series. Here’s hoping you make it to the end.

Game 1 was a heart attack of a win in Washington's first Fall Classic appearance in 86 years. Are you ready for more?
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23 is the new 15 in a tactical sense at the Rugby World Cup

TOKYO (AP) - The English call them finishers. The Springboks called them the bomb squad.

"Replacements" is a more reserved description for the eight players each team picks to warm the bench at the start of each Rugby World Cup game. England's Australian coach Eddie Jones got quite adamant about ...
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Astros reliever James uses mental training to succeed

HOUSTON (AP) - Josh James slowly walks slightly off the mound, turns around and fixes his gaze on the foul pole in right field.

A few seconds pass before the hard-throwing Houston Astros reliever returns to the rubber and delivers his next pitch.

It's a scene James repeats again and ...
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Brand Name: 76ers GM goes full circle in championship hunt

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - While his front office contemporaries enjoyed the spoils of splashy signings and bold trades, Elton Brand flew halfway across the world to serve as perhaps the most overqualified ball boy for the league's most enigmatic talent.

As Joel Embiid hoisted jumpers in his offseason workouts in Cameroon, ...
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Prince Charles pops in to see Welsh rugby team at World Cup

TOKYO (AP) - Over in Japan to attend an enthronement ceremony for the country's new emperor, Britain's Prince Charles has popped in to see the Welsh rugby team ahead of its World Cup semifinal match against South Africa.

The Prince of Wales, who is first in line to the British ...
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Ron Francis diving right in as NHL GM in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) - Now that he is a couple months into the job, Ron Francis has gained a little more appreciation for the task he signed up for.

The easy decision for the 56-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer would have been to take a consulting or scouting gig, keep his ...
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Leonard, Clippers pull away from Lakers in season opener

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kawhi Leonard began a new chapter with the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 30 points to go with a strong bench effort in a 112-102 victory over LeBron James and the Lakers on Tuesday night in the teams' season opener.

Lou Williams added 21 points and Montrezl ...
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Tuesday 22 October 2019

Column: Tavatanakit takes fast track to LPGA Tour

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - If everything had gone according to plan, Patty Tavatanakit would be in North Carolina this week preparing for two weeks of the LPGA Q-Series in her bid to earn status on the LPGA Tour.

It didn't work out that way. It went much better.

That's ...
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Ex-AMC exec alleges she was fired for seeking equal pay

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A former female executive of the Kansas-based movie theater company American Multi-Cinema Inc. alleges in a lawsuit that she was fired in retaliation for asking for equal pay.

The Kansas City Star reports that Tonya Mangels, of Kansas City, Missouri, contends that as vice president ...
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Golf glance

PGA TOUR

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Chiba, Japan.

Course: Accordia Golf Narashino CC. Yardage: 7,041. Par: 70.

Television: Wednesday-Thursday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Purse: $9.75 million. Winner's share: $1,755,000.

Defending champion: New event.

FedEx Cup leader: Lanto Griffin.

Last week: Justin Thomas won the ...
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Review: Bosch and Ballard combine forces in "The Night Fire"

"The Night Fire," Little, Brown and Co., by Michael Connelly

In "The Night Fire" by Michael Connelly, John Jack Thompson, Harry Bosch's first mentor when he became a police officer, dies. He leaves behind a gift for Bosch: a murder book that highlights a cold case from almost 30 years ...
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Ballon d'Or organizer explains why Neymar was left off list

PARIS (AP) - Too many injuries. A Champions League ban for insulting match officials. Hitting a fan after losing the French Cup final. Agitating for a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar's absence from the list of 30 Ballon d'Or candidates was explained Tuesday by France Football magazine which organizes the ...
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South Africans finding their way at Rugby World Cup

TOKYO (AP) - After finishing off the home team's remarkable run at the Rugby World Cup in the quarterfinals, the Springboks are feeling more comfortable about taking on Wales in Japan.

Assistant coach Matthew Proudfoot says they're just more comfortable, anyway, now that they're playing the South African way.

The ...
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North Korea loses hosting soccer match amid TV concerns

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - North Korea lost the right to host the final of Asia's second-tier club competition on Tuesday, one week after a media blackout of its World Cup qualifying game against South Korea.

The Asian Football Confederation said it moved the AFC Cup final on Nov. 2 ...
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Hotel challenges pale in comparison to Boks threat for Welsh

TOKYO (AP) - As if it's not a busy enough week for Wales' rugby team, the Tokyo hotel where the players are staying is also being used by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the festivities surrounding the enthronement of the country's new emperor.

Roads around the hotel have been ...
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Firefly Music Festival to return to 4-day format in 2020

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware's Firefly Music Festival is set to return to its four-day format next year after having cut this year's festival to three days.

Marketing director Kyla Lombardo tells Delaware State News that fans overwhelmingly requested the return of the fourth day, and "we just couldn't resist ...
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Louvre exhibit acclaims Da Vinci, 500 years after his death

PARIS (AP) - The Louvre, home of the "Mona Lisa," is commemorating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci's death with a landmark new exhibit.

The show, which opens Thursday and runs through February, brings together some 160 works by the Italian master and associated artists, including masterpieces like "The ...
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10 storylines to follow in the 2019-20 NBA season

The NBA season starts Tuesday night, and here are 10 storylines to follow for the 2019-20 campaign:

___

NO. 2 IN 3'S

Golden State's Stephen Curry is about to become No. 2 on the league's all-time 3-pointers made list.

Curry enters this season with 2,483 made 3-pointers, leaving him 78 ...
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Monday 21 October 2019

Jones says spy filmed England training, piles pressure on NZ

TOKYO (AP) - England coach Eddie Jones believes his squad's training session at the Rugby World Cup on Tuesday was filmed by someone in a nearby apartment block.

Jones didn't explicitly accuse semifinal opponent New Zealand of spying - "it might have been a Japanese fan, I don't care," he ...
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Nyong'o honors her mother for fueling her passion for art

NEW YORK (AP) - As Lupita Nyong'o accepted an award from the Harlem School of Arts - and entered the stage to Beyoncé's anthemic hit "Brown Skin Girl" - the actress mainly had two people to thank for fueling her passion for the arts as a child: her parents.

"I ...
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Andy Murray chosen to represent Britain in Davis Cup finals

LONDON (AP) - Andy Murray has been chosen to play for Britain in the Davis Cup finals.

The three-time Grand Slam champion, who won a title on Sunday for the first time since hip surgery in January, has not played in the team tournament since 2016.

Britain will play the ...
Source

Ali Wong's Raunchy Humor Charms in 'Dear Girls'

"Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life," Random House, by Ali Wong

In comedian Ali Wong's "Dear Girls," Wong opens by declaring that she was nervous to write a book because she didn't feel smart enough. She found her groove, she says, when she ...
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Prose is crisp, compelling in 'Agent Running in the Field'

"Agent Running in the Field: a Novel," Viking, by John le Carre

With his 25th novel, "Agent Running in the Field," John le Carre drops the reader into the current moment of Brexit and Donald Trump and pressing issues of national identity and foreign influence.

Famous for his George Smiley ...
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Study highlights fresh dementia concerns from playing soccer

LONDON (AP) - British scientists who assessed the causes of death of soccer players have found higher dementia rates that raise fresh concerns about long-term health dangers from playing the sport.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow looked into the causes of death of 7,676 Scottish men who played soccer ...
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Sen Martha McSally of Arizona has a book coming out next May

NEW YORK (AP) - Sen. Martha McSally, the Arizona Republican appointed to the seat once held by John McCain, has a book deal.

William Morrow announced Monday that McSally's "Time to Fly" is coming out next May. Like McCain, who died in 2018, the 53-year-old McSally has a military background. ...
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Pioli already identifies problems of struggling AC Milan

ROME (AP) - Stefano Pioli has his work cut out for him at struggling AC Milan.

One match into his new job as coach and he knows things need to improve.

The Rossoneri twice allowed promoted Lecce to equalize in a 2-2 draw at home on Sunday in Pioli's debut ...
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Television's Weather Channel wades into climate debate

NEW YORK (AP) - The Weather Channel will step away from cold fronts and heat waves next month to wade into the politics of climate change.

The network will air a special that includes interviews with nine presidential candidates discussing proposed solutions. The network has done specials on climate change ...
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Jason Day beats Tiger in Japan Skins _ and also with quips

INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) - Not only did Jason Day win the inaugural "The Challenge: Japan Skins" game on Monday, beating Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama, he also won the needling contest.

Turning to Woods after receiving the trophy, Day asked how many similar events Woods had played ...
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Duchess of Sussex calls 1st year of marriage difficult

LONDON (AP) - The Duchess of Sussex says her first year of marriage to Britain's Prince Harry has been hard because of Britain's tabloids.

The former Meghan Markle tells ITV news that her British friends warned her not to marry the prince "because the British tabloids will destroy your life."

...
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Real Madrid chases 1st win of season in Champions League

BERLIN (AP) - Real Madrid faces a tough test at Galatasaray as it chases its first Champions League win of the season.

Madrid is in last place in Group A after losing 3-0 at Paris Saint-Germain before barely saving face in a 2-2 draw with visiting Club Brugge.

Coach Zinedine ...
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Addressing growing fan behavior problem top priority for NBA

About a dozen NBA players gathered for a teleconference with officials in the league office this summer, making their case about what they believe is one of the biggest problems in the game.

Fan behavior, they said, is getting worse.

The numbers show they're right, and if that isn't troubling ...
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Sunday 20 October 2019

New Illinois State Capitol architect to continue renovations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The new architect of the Illinois State Capitol says she wants to continue the renovation of the historic statehouse, preserve most of the surrounding buildings and make all the structures more sustainable.

Andrea Aggertt of Newton started her new position this week. She was a project ...
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Trump’s season of weakness: A president who prizes strength enters key stretch in fragile state

With his administration engulfed by crisis, the president can no longer control the forces once solidly arrayed behind him.
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Moment of madness: Senseless red card ruins French RWC hopes

OITA, Japan (AP) - It was savage, it was reckless and - gallingly for the French - it was so unnecessary.

France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina's sending-off against Wales in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday will go down as one of the most mindless acts of violence in the 32-year ...
Source

Maine children's museum sells building in prep for big move

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A Maine children's museum has sold its downtown Portland building to help clear the way for a move into a new space.

The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine sold the building to the Portland Museum of Art for $2.1 million. The sale means the museum ...
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Biden’s aggressive efforts to reform Ukraine yielded successes but also earned him enemies

The former vice president spent three years pushing Obama administration policy on Ukraine, but that may have laid the groundwork for questions now being raised by political opponents about his and his son's behavior.
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North Carolina Republicans return for session likely end

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina General Assembly could soon be done wrestling with legislation this year, but that doesn't mean they'll pin down a broad budget law or path forward on Medicaid expansion.

Lawmakers return Monday following a 10-day break. Senate leader Phil Berger says his chamber will ...
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Wales rallies to beat 14-man France, reaches World Cup semis

OITA, Japan (AP) - Wales took advantage of the second-half sending-off of France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina to rally for a 20-19 win Sunday and a place in the Rugby World Cup semifinals.

Trailing 12-0 after eight minutes, the Welsh were also 19-10 behind and being dominated by France when Vahaamahina ...
Source

Marquez wins MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan

MOTEGI, Japan (AP) - Marc Marquez of Spain held off an early challenge from second place finisher Fabio Quartararo to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday.

Marquez started from pole and briefly gave up the lead to Yamaha rider Quartararo on the opening lap at the Twin ...
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Rawlings throws for 4 TDs; Yale rallies, beat Richmond 28-27

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Kurt Rawlings threw four touchdown passes and Yale scored 14 points in the final 83 seconds to beat Richmond 28-27 on Saturday night.

Rawlings was 25-of-42 passing for 249 yards with no interceptions and Reed Klubnik had eight receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns - ...
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Schmidt accounts for 4 TDs, Air Force beats Hawaii 56-26

HONOLULU (AP) - It's likely that Mike Schmidt won't soon forget his first trip to Hawaii.

Air Force's backup quarterback came off the bench to account for four touchdowns and the Falcons beat Hawaii 56-26 on Saturday night.

Air Force (5-2, 3-1 Mountain West), which had 324 total yards by ...
Source

Schmidt leaves Irish in good place despite quarterfinal exit

The pause in play is an ideal time for fresh rapid-fire instructions from the coaches' box.

Joe Schmidt had nothing to say.

Coming up to halftime in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, Schmidt the taskmaster, the meticulous planner, the man who can easily rattle off a 500-word answer to a ...
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Saturday 19 October 2019

IU-Kokomo's 'Phoenix' sculpture gets facelift after 54 years

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - A bird-like sculpture that's been a fixture at the Indiana University-Kokomo campus since 1965 has gotten a much-needed face-lift.

Decades of exposure to the elements had left the sculpture known as "The Phoenix" riddled with cracks that marred the stainless steel, epoxy and fiberglass artwork.

But ...
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Not giving up his shot: Ben Simmons' jumper could lift 76ers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The crowd screamed for Ben Simmons to shoot as he dribbled near the perimeter in a preseason game against a team from China. Joel Embiid motioned for him to let it fly. Simmons took a couple more steps, stopped and popped.

Swish.

Fans celebrated Simmons' first career ...
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Big 3 score to give Barcelona 3-0 win at Eibar

EIBAR, Spain (AP) - Lionel Messi teamed up with Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suárez as Barcelona's big three all scored in a commanding 3-0 win at Eibar in the Spanish league on Saturday.

The trio of star forwards lifted defending champion Barcelona into first place ahead of Real Madrid's match ...
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Exhibit on Jefferson's architecture weaves in slavery's role

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - As an architect, Thomas Jefferson envisioned buildings for a new republic - not old-world kings. The domes and columns in his designs recalled ancient Greece and Rome to symbolize liberty and democracy.

And yet enslaved Americans were involved in the actual construction. They helped build everything ...
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Hong Kong protesters pray, gird for unauthorized march

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong anti-government protesters are set for another weekend of civil disobedience as they prepare to hold an unauthorized protest march to press their demands.

Supporters held a prayer rally on Saturday night to call for international help for their cause. The protest march is planned ...
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Korda takes 1-shot lead in Shanghai with 6-under 66

SHANGHAI (AP) - Jessica Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the third round, with eight birdies and two bogeys, to take a one-shot lead at the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Saturday.

"I've been struggling a little bit with my swing, so I've been working on it every day. It's slowly ...
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Japan's team takes on South Africa in World Cup knockout

TOKYO (AP) - Before each match, Michael Leitch and his Japan squad have left the field in a battle-like formation after their warmup, each man in widening ranks behind the captain and with his right hand gripping the shoulder of the teammate in front.

After each match, the entire squad ...
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England beats Australia 40-16, reaches Rugby World Cup semis

OITA, Japan (AP) - England reached the Rugby World Cup semifinals for the first time in 12 years by overwhelming Australia in a 40-16 win on Saturday, tying a record for the biggest margin of victory over its bitter rival.

The English outscored Australia four tries to one to match ...
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England beats Australia 40-16 to reach Rugby World Cup semifinals

OITA, Japan (AP) - England beats Australia 40-16 to reach Rugby World Cup semifinals.


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Thomas, Lee tied for 3rd-round lead at CJ Cup in South Korea

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) - Justin Thomas was looking at a three-stroke lead at the CJ Cup with one hole to play Saturday, which would have set him up nicely for his second win in three years at South Korea's only PGA Tour event.

But the 18th hole saw ...
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Hokit runs for 3 TDs, Fresno State beats UNLV 56-27

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Josh Hokit had two of his three touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to help Fresno State pull away from UNLV for a 56-27 win on Friday night.

The Bulldogs (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West Conference) took the lead for good on Hokit's first TD run that ...
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Friday 18 October 2019

Brooke Henderson hits hole in 1, leads LPGA Shanghai

SHANGHAI (AP) - Brooke Henderson hit a hole-in-one and shot an 8-under 64 to take the lead in the second round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Friday.

The Canadian hit her ace on the 175-yard second hole. She followed that with a bogey, but then birdied four more holes ...
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FIFA claims 82M TV audience for Women's World Cup final

ZURICH (AP) - FIFA research says the Women's World Cup final drew an average audience of 82.18 million in-home viewers - 56% more than the 2015 final.

FIFA says the United States' 2-0 win over the Netherlands in Lyon, France, reached 263.62 million viewers for at least one minute of ...
Source

Penalty shootout looms as tiebreaker in World Cup knockouts

The history of football is full of dramatic penalty shootouts but rugby has never come to the point at which kicks at goal decide a World Cup knockout match.

The possibility exists that it might happen this weekend when eight teams contest quarterfinals in Tokyo and Oita.

All Rugby World ...
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Ole Miss to begin selling beer at Saturday's football game

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Beer will begin being sold inside a Mississippi college's football stadium at a game this weekend.

The Oxford Eagle reports the first shipment of beer was delivered to Ole Miss' Vaught-Hemingway stadium on Thursday. The match against Texas A&M on Saturday marks the first time in ...
Source

China denies it asked for Morey's firing over HK tweet

BEIJING (AP) - China is refuting NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's claim that it demanded the firing of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey over a tweet that supported anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says the "Chinese government never posed this requirement."

During an appearance ...
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Fantasy Fest kicks off annual celebration in Key West

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Key West's decadent annual Fantasy Fest celebration is kicking off 10 days of masquerade parties, elaborate costume contests, street fairs and other festivities.

The 2019 festival, which begins Friday, is themed "In Tune But . Off Key." Participants are encouraged to design costumes and parade ...
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The Wonderwall: Minnesota United has steep backing behind it

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - When Minnesota United takes the pitch for the franchise's first match in the MLS playoffs, the Loons will have a stadium full of fired-up fans behind them.

If the home team wins, the scene at Allianz Field will become, for a few minutes, a 19,400-person ...
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No. 15 Texas set to regroup against Kansas for Big 12 chase

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Nothing stings Texas like losing to Oklahoma. And last Saturday carried with it the double whammy that the No. 15 Longhorns likely have no shot at the College Football Playoff.

Winning the program's first Big 12 title since 2009 is still possible.

Texas players said this ...
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‘Get over it’: Mulvaney puts Trump at the center of controversies about emoluments and Ukraine

In saying that President Trump personally intervened to award a summit to his own company, and that the president used military aid as leverage to push a Ukrainian investigation into Democrats, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney embraced a Trumpian tactic: saying the previously unsaid — and potentially illegal — part out loud.
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Megan Rapinoe enjoys whirlwind, focuses on soccer pay fight

NEW YORK (AP) - Megan Rapinoe is enjoying the whirlwind of a two-time World Cup winner.

She picked up the FIFA Player of the Year award in Milan rocking a deeper shade of lavender hair, sent off retiring U.S. coach Jill Ellis with an undefeated victory tour and kept up ...
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O'Keeffe Museum wins grant for 'Spring' conservation

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum has won a grant from Bank of America that will support conservation of the artist's pivotal painting entitled "Spring."

In addition to supporting research and conservation, the funding will enable the museum to share its work online.

Officials say "Spring" marks ...
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Thursday 17 October 2019

Wizards, Beal agree on 2-year, $72 million extension

Bradley Beal has agreed on a two-year extension worth nearly $72 million with Washington, a major victory for the Wizards and a move that will keep the All-Star guard out of free agency for at least the next three summers.

The agreement was confirmed Thursday by Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein. ...
Source

Bestselling author to hold conference at Crystal Bridges

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A bestselling author and wellness expert is holding a symposium at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in northwest Arkansas.

Author Deepak Chopra and Crystal Bridges founder Alice Walton announced Thursday that the Sages and Scientists 2019 Symposium will be held Nov. 14-17 at the ...
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Police: Secret videos of female athletes posted to porn site

GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) - Police say female athletes were secretly recorded while changing and showering at a South Carolina Christian college, and now some of those videos have been posted online.

Citing a Gaffney police report, news outlets report the athletes were filmed while using Limestone College's men's soccer locker ...
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Dubai bets billions that Expo 2020 won't be a desert mirage

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - It rises out of what were once rolling sand dunes stretching toward the horizon, a feverish construction site by tempo and temperature that has tens of thousands of workers building what looks like a new city in the desert of Dubai.

This is the ...
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Rep. Elijah Cummings, a forceful Trump opponent, dies at 68

The Democrat chaired the powerful House Oversight and Reform Committee and helped lead the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
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UK's Prince William, Kate see Pakistani cultural hub Lahore

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate are touring Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, where they will visit a cancer hospital previously visited by William's mother, the late Princess Diana.

The hospital was started by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose first wife Jemima Goldsmith was ...
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Tale of 2 Cities: Sapporo likes race move; Tokyo not much

TOKYO (AP) - Sapporo officials are thrilled with a proposal to move next year's Tokyo Olympic marathons to the northern Japanese city to avoid the summer heat in the city.

That was not the case in Tokyo, where the reaction to the move seemed to catch city and organizing committee ...
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Farrow books sells across Australia despite legal threat

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Ronan Farrow's new book is being sold in Australia despite threats of defamation lawsuits that the Pulitzer-winning journalist believes led some Australian retailers to drop the bestseller.

"Catch and Kill" covers events leading to Farrow's New Yorker magazine expose of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual ...
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Jason Day shoots 66 to trail by 2 strokes at CJ Cup

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) - Jason Day's attempt to impress International team captain Ernie Els for a spot at the Presidents Cup took a positive turn on Thursday when the Australian shot a 6-under 66 to sit two strokes off the lead after the opening round of the CJ ...
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Women are having a greater impact on NBA than ever before

Practice is over and Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson is still working.

She stands under the basket rebounding and giving feedback to rookie guard Carsen Edwards as he shoots from different spots on the court. After swishing his final three attempts he jogs over to her.

"Thanks, coach," Edwards ...
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NBA--Women Influence-List

A list of women serving as majority team owners, assistant coaches, referees and team broadcasters during the 2019-20 season:

MAJORITY OWNERS

Gail Miller, Utah Jazz

Jeanie Buss, Los Angeles Lakers

Gayle Benson, New Orleans Pelicans

BASKETBALL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVES

Sue Bird, Phoenix Suns front office associate

Swin Cash, New Orleans Pelicans ...
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Wednesday 16 October 2019

Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine

At critical moments, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney circumvented the National Security Council and assisted those pressing Kiev to produce "deliverables" that could help President Trump politically.
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Britain scraps plan aimed at blocking minors' access to porn

LONDON (AP) - The British government has abandoned a plan to require pornography websites to verify that their users are adults.

The government said Wednesday that its goal of protecting children from online porn will be better achieved through broader legislation tackling "online harms."

Nicky Morgan, the cabinet minister responsible ...
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Bencic beats Herzog to keep WTA Finals bid on track

MOSCOW (AP) - Belinda Bencic won six of the last seven games and beat Polona Hercog 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals at the Kremlin Cup.

The 10th-ranked Bencic needs to reach the final in Moscow to overtake Serena Williams and Kiki Bertens for the last WTA Finals ...
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Hollywood 'fixer' Scotty Bowers dies; he wrote tell-all book

NEW YORK (AP) - Scotty Bowers, a self-described Hollywood "fixer" whose memoir offered sensational accounts of the sex lives of such celebrities as Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, has died. He was 96.

Bowers' agent, David Kuhn, said he died Sunday of natural causes ...
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Olympic marathons set to move out of Tokyo to cooler north

TOKYO (AP) - The International Olympic Committee wants to move the Tokyo Games marathons 800 kilometers (500 miles) north to avoid the searing heat in the city.

The IOC detailed a new plan Wednesday to stage the marathons and race walking events in Sapporo, the host city of the 1972 ...
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Turkey: Patriotic sentiment on display amid Syria operation

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) - National soccer team players give military salutes during international matches, Turkish flags flutter from balconies and storefronts, songs extolling the glory days of the Ottoman Empire blare from a border town's loudspeakers, punctuated by the occasional boom of outgoing artillery.

Since Turkey announced its incursion into ...
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Musicians Hall of Fame to honor group with New Jersey roots

HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey-based group of former A-list session musicians that has toured together since 2012 is receiving an award.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville is giving The Hit Men its "Road Warrior" award later this month. The group will play a concert ...
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SEC media day: New stars, familiar favorites, NCAA concerns

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The Southeastern Conference has a new wave of highly rated recruits to replace departed stars, Kentucky remains the favorite and two programs could be in the NCAA crosshairs.

Those are among the storylines for SEC men's basketball media day held Wednesday in Birmingham.

Among those taking ...
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'The President is Missing' pilot to be filmed in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The pilot episode for a potential new Showtime series will be filmed in Maryland.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday that the pilot for "The President is Missing" is expected to begin in the state early next year.

The pilot is based on the 2018 novel by ...
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Speed test: Kolbe to challenge Japan wings in quarterfinals

TOKYO (AP) - Cheslin Kolbe got a real kick out of watching Kenki Fukuoka and Katoro Matsushima burn off the Scottish defenders last weekend. Now the Springboks winger wants to show the Japanese flyers what he can do with the ball in a bit of space.

In an age when ...
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Go for 2: In today's NBA, a powerful pair beats 3 of a kind

In today's high-stakes NBA, a powerful pair beats three of a kind.

Teams who longed to build a Big Three are now striving for a dynamic duo, hoping two premier players are good enough to win a championship when the belief used to be that it required a trio.

And ...
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Tuesday 15 October 2019

Russia says its units are patrolling between Turkish and Syrian forces following pullout of U.S. troops

The Russian Defense Ministry's announcement was a sign that the country was moving to fill a security vacuum after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria.
Source

Artist confronts how people judge each other

WENDELL, Mass. (AP) - When Genevieve Gaignard creates a photograph, she says she tries to present new ways of "addressing and unpacking" the issues surrounding race, class and gender - and she's the subject of her own work.

"So often, these topics are avoided because we don't know where to ...
Source

North Korea holds South Korea to 0-0 in World Cup qualifier

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea held South Korea to a 0-0 draw Tuesday in a World Cup qualifying soccer match, though it is unclear how many people saw the game in Pyongyang.

South Korean soccer officials were unable to watch a telecast of the historic game and believe ...
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Scots charged over cancellation comments at Rugby World Cup

TOKYO (AP) - Rugby World Cup organizers have issued misconduct charges against the Scottish Rugby Union over comments made about the potential cancellation of its last group-stage match against Japan last weekend, when the destructive Typhoon Hagibis left dozens of people dead.

There was wide speculation that Sunday's game would ...
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Local debut scheduled for movie shot in North Platte

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) - The local debut of a movie shot in North Platte is scheduled for Friday night.

The film is titled "Frances Ferguson" and is described as a dark comedy about a substitute teacher. The character named Frances Ferguson is unhappy with her life. The movie story ...
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Broncos LB Johnson making most of chance after long layoff

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - If Alexander Johnson is indeed rusty, his Denver Broncos teammates can't wait to see how he'll play when he shakes that rust off.

Johnson's first two NFL starts this month have produced 18 tackles, two pass breakups, two quarterback hits, 1½ sacks, a tackle for loss ...
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Koreas meet in historic World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The rival Koreas are set to meet in an historic soccer World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang, but the match has been cast into media darkness in the South, with the North disallowing South Korean reporters and spectators and refusing a live broadcast from Kim Il ...
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With their World Series dreams nearing reality, the Nats are suddenly a machine

Washington is one win from an NLCS sweep and its team is a runaway train right now. Time to get off the tracks.
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Prince William, Kate visit school before meeting Pakistan PM

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate are visiting a school for girls in Pakistan's capital, in their first engagement on a five-day tour of the country.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are strong advocates of girls' education, were greeted by teachers and children on ...
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Cole trying to join list of great postseasons on mound

Even on a team with three stars in the starting rotation, Gerrit Cole has stood out in these playoffs.

The 29-year-old right-hander won twice for Houston in the AL Division Series, allowing only one run in 15 2/3 innings. He'll take the mound Tuesday in Game 3 of the AL ...
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Franchise players? NBA sophomore class full of rising stars

Deandre Ayton strolled around the practice court, talking and laughing with coaches and teammates following a two-hour workout with the Phoenix Suns.

It is clear he is comfortable operating in lofty surroundings, even on a morning in the mountains of Flagstaff, despite a sign on the wall that warned of ...
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Monday 14 October 2019

New stories of an aging Olive in 'Olive, Again'

"Olive, Again," Random House, by Elizabeth Strout

It should come as no surprise that Olive Kitteridge does not mellow with age.

The large, gruff woman who was the propelling force in Elizabeth Strout's book of short stories that won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction - the simply titled "Olive ...
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Barcelona criticizes Spanish Supreme Court's decision

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona has criticized the Spanish Supreme Court's conviction of 12 Catalan politicians and activists for their role in a 2017 secession attempt, saying "prison is not the solution."

In a statement, the soccer club says the resolution of the independence debate in Catalonia must come "exclusively ...
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Royal Pomp: UK tradition on display for Parliament opening

LONDON (AP) - Brexit may have Britain's political system in turmoil, but the State Opening of Parliament Monday provided a return to reassuring rituals dating back centuries.

The new parliamentary session was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, in the magnificent setting of the ...
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Syrian troops enter towns in northeast as Erdogan warns of wider offensive

The arrival of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad to areas once controlled by Syrian Kurdish authorities followed an 11th-hour agreement between the two sides to ward off a Turkish offensive. Syrian state media on Monday published photos of flag-waving troops entering the Syrian Kurdish administrative capital of Ain Issa, on the outskirts of Raqqa.
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Ntamack learning to cope with pressure of a famed rugby name

It's not easy to follow in your father's footsteps when he is one of the best wingers to have played for France.

Nor is it any easier to shoulder a huge burden of expectation at the age of 20.

It's impossible to escape the spotlight when a rugby great such ...
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Report: South Korean pop star Sulli found dead at home

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - News reports say South Korean pop star and actress Sulli has been found dead at her home south of Seoul.

A report by Yonhap news agency said the 25-year-old was found Monday afternoon. The report said police have said there were no signs of foul ...
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Kentucky Downs about to begin expansion, renovation project

FRANKLIN, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky racetrack plans to start construction soon on the first phase of an expansion and renovation project.

Kentucky Downs in southern Kentucky will begin the first of three phases in the coming weeks, investing approximately $25 million to add 18,000 square feet. A track statement ...
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Weekend Sports in Briefs

MLB

HOUSTON (AP) - Carlos Correa hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning and the Houston Astros won a battle of the bullpens, beating the New York Yankees 3-2 Sunday night to tie the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.

The slumping Correa, who earlier hit an ...
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Nobel awards season comes to an end with economics prize

STOCKHOLM (AP) - The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will announce the last Nobel winner later Monday, when it awards its prestigious economics prize.

The prize - officially known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel - wasn't created by the prize founder, ...
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STAT WATCH: Midseason leaders a mix of familiar, new names

A review of college football statistics at midseason shows a lot of familiar names at or near the top of the charts, and a few surprises, too.

Oklahoma is on track to lead the nation in offense for a third straight year. Then there's LSU, which has ranked in the ...
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Atwood, Ellmann favorites to win fiction's Booker Prize

LONDON (AP) - Booker Prize winner Margaret Atwood is the bookies' favorite to win the coveted fiction trophy again for "The Testaments," her follow-up to dystopian saga "The Handmaid's Tale."

Atwood, who won in 2000 for "The Blind Assassin," is one of six finalists for the 50,000-pound ($63,000) prize, whose ...
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Sunday 13 October 2019

NFL's Week 6 starts with Panthers-Buccaneers in London

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers got the NFL off to an early start with their meeting in London.

The two NFC South rivals are playing Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second of four games this season in London.

Carolina made defensive Efe Obada an honorary captain ...
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Still working '9 to 5,' Dolly Parton marks 50 years at Opry

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Country superstar Dolly Parton is still working "9 to 5," and doing what she loves as she celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member.

The 73-year-old actress, singer and songwriter, who first played the Opry when she was just a teenager, played the ...
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Neymar limps out of Brazil friendly against Nigeria

SAO PAULO (AP) - Striker Neymar has limped out of Brazil's friendly against Nigeria in Singapore after only 12 minutes of play.

The 27-year-old was replaced by midfielder Philippe Coutinho on Sunday after feeling an injury in his left thigh. The match was 0-0 after 30 minutes.

Neymar missed this ...
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U.S. troops evacuate Syrian town as Turkish-led forces advance, potentially marooning other U.S. soldiers

Hundreds of Islamic State supporters may have escaped from a camp housing displaced people in the town of Ain Issa, taking advantage of the mayhem.
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