Today: September 24, 2024
Today: September 24, 2024

World

World

Knicks are trading former lottery pick and fan favorite Obi Toppin to Pacers, AP source says

The New York Knicks are trading Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers, dealing away a former lottery pick who was loved by fans but never as much by coach Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks will get back two second-round picks, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet official. It was first reported by ESPN. Toppin was the No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft after winning national player of the year honors at Dayton. But

July 01, 2023
Knicks are trading former lottery pick and fan favorite Obi Toppin to Pacers, AP source says
World

Denny Hamlin wins pole for NASCAR Cup Series' first street race in downtown Chicago

Denny Hamlin won the pole Saturday for the NASCAR Cup Series’ first street race, edging Tyler Reddick on the tricky course in downtown Chicago. Hamlin led the way for the race Sunday with a lap of 88.435 seconds at an average speed of 89.557 mph on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course. It’s his third pole of the season and No. 39 for his career. Reddick was second at 88.479 seconds, followed by Shane van Gisbergen in his first NASCAR event and Christopher Bell. Daniel Suárez rounded out the top five in 89.322 seconds. With Hamlin, Reddick and Bell,

July 01, 2023
Denny Hamlin wins pole for NASCAR Cup Series' first street race in downtown Chicago
World

June's greatest Sho: A look back at Ohtani's best month in the majors

Shohei Ohtani’s walkup music most of last season was the theme to “The Greatest Showman.” After the Los Angeles Angels star’s June, he should consider returning to it. The Japanese two-way phenom has amazed fans, teammates and opponents since coming to the majors in 2018. June, though was “The Greatest Sho” at the plate. “I’m in a good spot right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara when asked if he was pitching and hitting at his best. “Hitting-wise, I feel like it is up there for sure.” Ohtani hit 15 home runs, the most in

July 01, 2023
June's greatest Sho: A look back at Ohtani's best month in the majors
World

65-year-old Bernhard Langer takes a 2-shot lead in the US Senior Open at SentryWorld

Bernhard Langer took a two-stroke lead Saturday in the U.S. Senior Open at difficult SentryWorld in the 65-year-old German star’s bid to break the PGA Tour Champions’ career victory record. Fan favorites Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly —both from Madison, 100 miles to the south — were right behind, with Retief Goosen and Y.E. Yang the only other players under par with a round left on the punishing tree-lined course with thick rough and tricky greens. Langer shot his second straight 3-under 68 to reach 6 under. The 2010 U.S. Senior Open winner at Sahalee

July 01, 2023
65-year-old Bernhard Langer takes a 2-shot lead in the US Senior Open at SentryWorld
World

Fowler leads the Rocket Mortgage Classic at 20 under in a bid to end drought

Rickie Fowler has put himself in a position to win a PGA Tour title again. He’s hoping to take advantage for a change. Fowler birdied six of his last eight holes Saturday to surge into the Rocket Mortgage Classic lead at 20 under, giving him another chance to end a four-year PGA Tour victory drought. “I’m not scared to fail,” said Fowler, who had an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Adam Hdwin at Detroit Golf Club. “I’ve dealt with plenty of that.” Indeed. Two weeks ago in Los Angeles in the U.S. Open, Fowler

July 01, 2023
Fowler leads the Rocket Mortgage Classic at 20 under in a bid to end drought
World

Fired New Mexico State basketball coach Greg Heiar hired by a Missouri junior college

Former New Mexico State basketball coach Greg Heiar has been hired to coach Mineral Area College, a junior college in Missouri, four months after he was fired in the wake of the Aggies’ hazing scandal. Heiar was dismissed from New Mexico State in February following hazing allegations within the team that shut down the program for the season. The Aggies were 9-15 overall and 2-16 in the Western Athletic Conference when the season was stopped. New Mexico State agreed to pay $8 million to settle a lawsuit involving two basketball players who said they were

July 02, 2023
Fired New Mexico State basketball coach Greg Heiar hired by a Missouri junior college
World

After fall of Roe, emboldened religious conservatives lobby to restrict abortion in Africa

Nowhere in the world has a higher rate of unsafe abortions or unintended pregnancies than sub-Saharan Africa, where women often face scorn for becoming pregnant before marriage. Efforts to legalize and make abortions safer in Africa were shaken when the U.S. Supreme Court ended the national right to an abortion a year ago. Within days, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared that his government would decriminalize abortion “at a time when sexual and reproductive health rights for women are being either overturned or threatened.” But some U.S.-based organizations active in Africa were emboldened, especially in

July 02, 2023
After fall of Roe, emboldened religious conservatives lobby to restrict abortion in Africa
World

Israel's air force attacks Syria and Syrian air defense missile explodes over northern Israel

Israel carried out airstrikes on areas near the central Syrian city of Homs early Sunday causing material damage but no casualties, the Syrian military said in a statement. Syrian state media quoted an unnamed military official as saying the air defenses shot down some of the missiles fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon. Israeli authorities did not comment on the airstrike on Homs but said one of the Syrian air defense missiles exploded over northern Israel without causing any damage. Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee later said that Israel’s military retaliated for the firing of

July 02, 2023
Israel's air force attacks Syria and Syrian air defense missile explodes over northern Israel
World

France faces 5th night of rioting over teen's killing by police, signs of subsiding violence

Young rioters clashed with police late Saturday and early Sunday and targeted a mayor’s home with a burning car as France faced a fifth night of unrest sparked by the police killing of a teenager, but overall violence appeared to lessen compared to previous nights. Police made 719 arrests nationwide by early Sunday after a mass security deployment aimed at quelling France’s worst social upheaval in years. The fast-spreading crisis is posing a new challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership and exposing deep-seated discontent in low-income neighborhoods over discrimination and lack of opportunity. The 17-year-old whose death

July 02, 2023
France faces 5th night of rioting over teen's killing by police, signs of subsiding violence
World

Baltimore block party shooting leaves 2 dead and 28 injured, including 3 critically hurt, police say

Two people were killed and 28 were wounded when gunfire erupted at a block party in Baltimore Sunday morning, police said. Three of the wounded were in critical condition. Baltimore Police Department Acting Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters there were a total of 30 victims during a press conference at the scene. The shooting took place just after 12:30 a.m. at a block party in the Brooklyn Homes area in the southern part of the city, Worley said. All of the victims were adults. Nine victims were transported by ambulance and 20 victims walked into area hospitals

July 02, 2023
Baltimore block party shooting leaves 2 dead and 28 injured, including 3 critically hurt, police say
World

UK police have new expanded powers to crack down on protests

New and expanded powers for British police took effect on Sunday, including measures targeting activists who stop traffic and major building works with protests. Authorities have repeatedly condemned environmental protest groups, including Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, which have sought to raise awareness about the urgency of climate change by staging multiple high-profile protests at the busiest highways and roads. Their protests in recent years often caused serious disruption for motorists. From Sunday, police will have powers to move static protests. Critics have argued the toughened laws are a threat to the right to protest, but

July 02, 2023
UK police have new expanded powers to crack down on protests
World

Russia launches first drone strike on Kyiv in 12 days

After a relative lull, Russia launched a drone attack early Sunday on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, officials said. It was the first such attack of the war in 12 days. All of the Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones were detected and shot down, according to Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city administration. In addition to the city itself, the surrounding Kyiv region was targeted. Kyiv regional Gov. Ruslan Kravchenko reported that one person was wounded by falling debris from a destroyed drone. Officials in the Ukrainian capital didn’t provide an exact number of drones that attacked

July 02, 2023
Russia launches first drone strike on Kyiv in 12 days
World

An ailing Thai elephant returns home for medical care after years of neglect in Sri Lanka

An ailing elephant that Thailand had presented to Sri Lanka more than two decades ago returned to his native land for medical treatment Sunday following allegations that the animal was badly abused while living at a Buddhist temple. The male elephant, known in Sri Lanka as Muthu Raja, or Pearly King, and as Sak Surin, or Mighty Surin, in Thailand, was flown directly from the South Asian island nation’s capital to Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand on a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane. A six-person team, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, or professional elephant trainers,

July 02, 2023
An ailing Thai elephant returns home for medical care after years of neglect in Sri Lanka
World

Bishop named to Vatican office handling sex abuse complaints discounted some victims, US group says

A U.S.-based group that tracks how the Catholic hierarchy deals with allegations of sexual abuse by clergy says Pope Francis made a “troubling” choice in appointing an Argentine prelate to a powerful Vatican office that handles such cases. On Saturday, the Vatican announced the pontiff had picked Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernández, archbishop of La Plata, Argentina, to head the Holy See’s watchdog office for doctrinal orthodoxy. Its mandate includes handling sex abuse allegations lodged against clergy. BishopAccountability.org, a 20-year-old Massachusetts organization that maintains an online archive of abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, said in a statement

July 02, 2023
Bishop named to Vatican office handling sex abuse complaints discounted some victims, US group says
World

Conor Daly is replacing Simon Pagenaud for the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio

Simon Pagenaud will miss the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio on Sunday after flipping seven times during a harrowing wreck in practice a day earlier, leaving veteran driver Conor Daly to step into his Meyer Shank Racing ride on short notice. Pagenaud was going nearly full speed entering Turn 4 of the road course on Saturday when the team said a manufacturer brake failure occurred. Pagenaud was able to induce a spin, scrubbing some of the speed, but catapulted off the racing surface and into a wild wide through a gravel trap that finally ended with the No. 60 car on

July 02, 2023
Conor Daly is replacing Simon Pagenaud for the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio
World

Red Bull driver Verstappen wins Austrian GP ahead of rejuvenated Ferrari's Leclerc in 2nd

Reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen continued his relentless march toward a third straight world title with another dominating win at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen started from pole position for the fourth straight race and notched his fifth straight win and seventh in nine races so far this season. He increased his championship lead to 81 points over his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. “I think our stints were perfect so a great day, I enjoyed it a lot,” Verstappen said. “I am just enjoying driving this car and racing for this team.”

July 02, 2023
Red Bull driver Verstappen wins Austrian GP ahead of rejuvenated Ferrari's Leclerc in 2nd
World

Despite promises, attorneys are scarce as the US resumes speedy asylum screenings at border

As the Biden administration prepared to launch speedy asylum screenings at Border Patrol holding facilities this spring , authorities pledged a key difference from a Trump-era version of the policy: Migrants would be guaranteed access to legal counsel. Nearly three months and thousands of screenings later, the promise of attorney access appears largely unfulfilled, based on advocacy group reports and interviews with people directly involved, some of whom spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the effort publicly. A coterie of involved attorneys estimate that perhaps 100

July 02, 2023
Despite promises, attorneys are scarce as the US resumes speedy asylum screenings at border
World

NASCAR contractor dies after being electrocuted at Chicago Street Race

A NASCAR contractor has died after being electrocuted while setting up for the Chicago Street Race. The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the man who died Friday as 53-year-old Duane Tabinski, the founder of an events company hired to install audio equipment for the race, local station WLS-TV reported. NASCAR said in a statement that a worker had “suffered a fatal medical emergency” on Friday. “We are coordinating with local authorities on this tragic incident,” race organizers said. “We share our condolences to the family and their loved ones.” Chicago police said first responders took Tabinski from

July 02, 2023
NASCAR contractor dies after being electrocuted at Chicago Street Race
World

Guatemala's high court steps into election, suspends release of official results

Guatemala’s highest court has suspended the release of official election results, granting a temporary injunction to 10 parties that challenged the results of the June 25 vote. The Constitutional Court late Saturday called for a new hearing to review the contested tallies in no more than five days. Sandra Torres and Bernardo Arévalo had emerged from a field of nearly two dozen presidential hopefuls in the first round of voting. Since neither came close the 50% threshold, they were expected to compete in an Aug. 20 runoff to determine Guatemala’s next president. Arévalo in particular from

July 02, 2023
Guatemala's high court steps into election, suspends release of official results
World

Wimbledon 2023: Here is what you need to know before play begins Monday

Novak Djokovic begins his bid for a fifth consecutive title at Wimbledon and eighth overall at Centre Court on Monday. Djokovic also will be trying to add to his men’s-record 23 Grand Slam singles titles — he broke a tie with Rafael Nadal by winning the French Open last month — and became the first player to collect 24 in the Open era. Oh, and then there’s this: The 36-year-old from Serbia is halfway to the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Rod Laver won all four majors in 1969. Djokovic faces Pedro Cachin,

July 02, 2023
Wimbledon 2023: Here is what you need to know before play begins Monday
World

Gooch birdies final hole to beat DeChambeau and win his 3rd LIV Golf title

Talor Gooch won his third LIV Golf League title of the year on Sunday when he made a curling 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Valderrama for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot victory over Bryson DeChambeau. Gooch won $4 million for the victory in Spain. Along with victories in Australia and Singapore, the former Oklahoma State player now has earned $13,376,583 in eight LIV events this year. He also becomes the first player with three victories in the Saudi-funded rival league. Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson have two wins apiece. DeChambeau started the

July 02, 2023
Gooch birdies final hole to beat DeChambeau and win his 3rd LIV Golf title
World

Nick Kyrgios has played 1 match in 2023 heading to Wimbledon. He almost dreaded returning

When 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios steps out on No. 1 Court on Monday at the All England Club, it will be just his second singles match since October. Asked Sunday at a pre-tournament news conference whether he missed tennis during the time away caused by a knee injury and surgery, Kyrgios replied with the hint of a smile: “No, I don’t miss the sport at all, to be fair. I was almost dreading coming back a little bit. But it’s my job.” Kyrgios missed the Australian Open and the French Open during his lengthy absence

July 02, 2023
Nick Kyrgios has played 1 match in 2023 heading to Wimbledon. He almost dreaded returning
World

Short contracts and bonus money prove to be popular in NHL free agency this year

Max Pacioretty was in a unique, if not uncomfortable spot going into NHL free agency coming off tearing his right Achilles tendon twice in the past year. Turns out it was just the right time to hit the market. The post-pandemic hockey landscape meant another year with just a $1 million increase to the salary cap, but everyone in the league knows it’s set for a big leap next summer. That made short contracts — many with performance bonuses like Pacioretty’s with the Washington Capitals — a popular route for players and teams willing to take moderate risks and kick

July 02, 2023
Short contracts and bonus money prove to be popular in NHL free agency this year
World

Sabonis and Clarkson get extension deals done with Kings and Jazz, sources tell AP

All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis wasn’t a free agent this summer. And he won’t be for the next few summers, either. Sabonis has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Sacramento Kings, one that will keep him signed through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the talks confirmed Sunday. The extension includes a raise on his salary for this coming season to nearly $31 million, and his salary for the four subsequent years will average about $47 million, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the

July 02, 2023
Sabonis and Clarkson get extension deals done with Kings and Jazz, sources tell AP
World

Heavy rains flood Chicago roads, NASCAR ends downtown street race and names winner

Heavy rains flooded Chicago streets Sunday, trapping cars and forcing NASCAR officials to cancel the last half of an Xfinity Series race set to run through the city’s downtown. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for multiple counties in the Chicago area, saying up to 6 inches of rain had already fallen in suburban Cicero and Berwyn by midday. The Illinois State Police said portions of Interstate 55 and Interstate 290 have been closed due to flooding, with at least 10 cars trapped in water on Interstate 55 near Pulaski Road, a major north-south

July 02, 2023
Heavy rains flood Chicago roads, NASCAR ends downtown street race and names winner

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