The Age photos of the week, August 2, 2020

The week in photos from our award winning photographers and regular contributing photographers at The Age.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Man charged with murder over South Coast house fire

Police allege Harley Thompson, 26, broke a window of the Bomaderry home and poured petrol inside before lighting it.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Germany Dissolves Elite Army Unit Over Far-right Activity

Germany's defense ministry officially disbanded a company of its Special Forces Command (KSK) on Saturday, following reports that it had been exposed to far-right and neo-Nazi ideology.

The m

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

COVID outbreak hits cruise ship, more than 30 crew infected aboard Roald Amundsen

Concern is growing the passengers, who have already begun their voyages home may be potentially spreaders of the virus.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Cats weigh selection changes, could bring Steven back

Speaking after the Cats' narrow and spirited loss to the Eagles, Scott said there were plenty of worthy players to call upon for the club's upcoming tight run of games. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Facebook bows to Brazil judge, blocks 'fake news network' of Bolsonaro supporters

Facebook has called the new order “extreme,” saying it poses a “threat to freedom of expression".

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

The Age photos of the week, August 2, 2020

The week in photos from our award winning photographers and regular contributing photographers at The Age.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

'Hurts me to my core': Kyrgios withdraws from US Open, swipes 'selfish' Novak

Nick Kyrgios says he doesn't begrudge organisers from putting on the US Open next month but he won't be playing.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Man charged with murder over South Coast house fire

Police allege Harley Thompson, 26, broke a window of the Bomaderry home and poured petrol inside before lighting it.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

BBC NEWS - Greenback returns: How dollar stores came back to Cuba

The Cuban government is allowing its citizens to use the currency of its ideological enemy.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-53580376

BBC NEWS - Kashmir's open-air classes offer stunning solution to lockdown

Open-air schools provide a welcome respite from Covid-19 restrictions in Indian-administered Kashmir.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53590847

BBC NEWS - Are US cities seeing a surge in violent crime as Trump claims?

President Trump sends federal agents to some US cities to tackle crime, but is there really a spike?


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53525440

BBC NEWS : My Money: 'My daughter's therapy costs £5,490 each month'

Matt Hitchcock from Singapore takes us through his week during the coronavirus pandemic.


August 02, 2020 at 04:53AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53531788

New on Sports Illustrated: Brendon Todd Shoots 69 for 1-Shot Lead at FedEx St. Jude Invitational

Golfer Brendon Todd is looking for his fourth career victory and third since last fall.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Winning a World Golf Championship event easily would be the biggest victory of Brendon Todd's career.

He has a recent reminder of how to best protect a lead in the final round—even if that memory is a bit painful.

Todd had a two-stroke lead going into the final round at the Travelers Championship in late June only to shoot a 75 and tie for 11th. He shot a 1-under 69 on Saturday at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of this World Golf Championship event.

"What I learned at the Travelers is just you cannot control the result, you can't control the way you're going to feel, where the ball's going to land, if putts are going to go in," Todd said. "The best players in the world treat each final round like it's just another day, and they just go out there and try to execute and stick to their game and let the results fall as they do."

Todd started the third round with a two-stroke lead. He had five birdies and four bogeys to put him at 13-under 198 on a nearly perfect day at TPC Southwind with the temperature in the 70s.

The 35-year-old Georgian is looking for his fourth career victory and third since last fall. This is Todd's second 54-hole lead since the PGA Tour's return to play.

"I'm excited to be in this position and feel like if I can go out there and swing a little better and keep this putting momentum going, I'll be in good shape," Todd said.

Byeong-Hun An of South Korea, who had four straight birdies on the back nine, finished with a 66. Rickie Fowler was two strokes back after a 69.

Defending champ Brooks Koepka struggled early before he reeled off six birdies in eight holes for a 68. He was fourth at 9 under.

Justin Thomas, who can become No. 1 in the world with a victory here, was fifth at 8 under after a 66. He won on this course in 2018 before the event became a World Golf Championship in 2019.

"I kind of found something those last 12 holes where I really started hitting some good putts and making them with good speed," Thomas said. "Yeah, it was nice to shoot 4 under on that back nine to give myself somewhat of a chance."

Phil Mickelson (66) and Louis Oosthuizen (68) were in a group five strokes back.

Todd started where he left off Friday, rolling in a 14-footer for birdie on No. 1 to reach 12 under. Todd couldn't get out of the rough on the par-4 No. 5 on the way to only his second bogey of the tournament.

Fowler holed out from the green-side rough on the par-5 third to pull within two. He then joined Todd atop the leaderboard on No. 7. He hit his second shot from 190 yards to 9 feet and made the putt for birdie.

Todd took the lead back to himself on the next hole with a 22-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth. Fowler answered with a 17-foot birdie putt on No. 9, making the turn with his third birdie and a share of the lead at 12 under. Todd pushed his own birdie chance just right of the hole.

Fowler took the lead to himself for the first time when Todd bogeyed No. 10 to start the back nine. Todd hit into the rough off the tee and couldn't sink a 13-footer to save par. Todd sunk a 15-footer for birdie on No. 12, taking back the lead when Fowler two-putted from 13 feet for bogey.

Todd hit his approach 166 yards to 3 feet on No. 13 for his shortest birdie putt of the day and a two-stroke lead. But Todd found the water just short of the green on the par-3 14th and threw his hat in disgust at his shot. A bogey dropped him to 12 under.

"That's the easiest to put on the green, to not hit in the water," Todd said. "It was a swing that was out of rhythm that was a little bit too often today and to know I hit the water there, it made me pretty mad."

He made up for it with a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-5 No. 16 for a two-stroke lead again. But he couldn't get up and down from the rough off the fringe of the green on No. 17 for his fourth bogey.

August 02, 2020 at 05:19AM
Brendon Todd Shoots 69 for 1-Shot Lead at FedEx St. Jude Invitational

New on Sports Illustrated: Manfred’s Bluff to End Season Further Exposes Problems of Pandemic Baseball

For a moment, it appeared baseball's commissioner was taking the pandemic as seriously as he should. But that was a bluff, and the coronavirus called it.

For the first time since Pandemic Baseball began, it appeared Rob Manfred was finally taking seriously the perilous state of his sport.

Hours after Friday’s Cardinals-Brewers game was postponed because two St. Louis players had tested positive for COVID-19, Manfred reportedly told Tony Clark, the head of the players association, that he would shut down the season if there was another surge of cases or if the players continued not to follow the league’s safety protocols.

The coronavirus called his bluff.

By Saturday morning, when it was reported that an additional Cardinals player and three St. Louis staffers tested positive for the coronavirus, it was clear there was a second outbreak in MLB. This one, unlike the fallout in Philadelphia, is completely separate from the Marlins crisis.

Certainly, this would halt the season, right? To quote another incompetent leader with no grasp of how to handle the pandemic: “Wrong.”

Less than a day later, Manfred rescinded his threat in an interview with ESPN’s Karl Ravech.

"We are playing," Manfred told Ravech. "The players need to be better, but I am not a quitter in general and there is no reason to quit now. We have had to be fluid, but it is manageable."

So, instead of taking responsibility for implementing questionable health and safety protocols, the clueless commish continues to fault the players. Sure, the Marlins players do deserve some of the blame. A source told Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci that the initial information in MLB’s investigation into the origin of the team’s outbreak is leading the league to believe there was “clearly a breakdown with adherence to the health and safety protocols away from the ballpark.”

But, if they do not believe they are at risk of contracting the virus there is little to deter them from disobeying the rules away from the field. After all, they high-five and spit and hug during games without consequence. Why would they think Manfred would come down any harder for what they did away from their team?

Now, instead of actually pulling the plug on the season—or at least waiting to make a decision—Manfred completely reversed course.

On Monday, as we were realizing the scale of the Miami outbreak, Manfred so aptly was compared to those cardboard-cutout fans attending big-league games. Now we know he’s made not of cardboard but playdough: He’s malleable.

This isn’t the first time in the past year alone that we’ve seen Manfred promise to go nuclear only to back off.

• He offered the Astros players immunity from discipline in exchange for honest testimony during his investigation into the team’s illicit sign-stealing scheme. It was a compromise he made willingly after he promised severe punishment for those who steal signs electronically. In the report about the scandal, he chose to call out the team’s former general manager Jeff Luhnow, manager A.J. Hinch, former bench coach Alex Cora and retired designated hitter and then-Mets manager Carlos Beltrán, but that did not extend to the active players.

• At one point during dragged-out negotiations with the MLBPA, he vowed not to pay the players their full prorated salaries during an abbreviated 2020 season unless they agreed to play just 50 games. He later unilaterally implemented a 60-game schedule and relented on how much the players would be paid.

• He made clear in the 113-page operations manual that on-field confrontations this year would not be tolerated, and those who engaged in such altercations would face especially strict repercussions. The document reads: “Violations of these rules will result in severe discipline consistent with past precedent, which discipline shall not be reduced or prorated based on the length of the season.” Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly, who targeted multiple Astros hitters with pitches, was suspended for eight games, which was not prorated, following the parameters outlined in the manual. However, he refrained from disciplining any of the other players who participated in the fracas—despite indicating in the document that they would be punished severely.

It’s clear we cannot trust Manfred to do his job. If we could, any one of these things would have happened by now: 1) Baseball would be playing right now in at least one “bubble” city; 2) It would be required for play to be suspended at least five days for any team when two or more players test positive within two days of one another, per the recommendation of Emory epidemiologist Zach Binney; 3) Baseball would have been shut down, at least temporarily.

Instead, we’re left with veteran players, coaches and managers tasked with making sure everyone adheres to the protocols. After what went down with the Marlins, when 30-year-old shortstop Miguel Rojas and other players decided in a group-text chain to play Sunday despite signs of an imminent outbreak, we know that won’t work.

If Manfred isn’t going to shut it down, baseball must do more than stay the current course. Baseball needs public health officials to be the ones calling the shots, not team members or a commissioner, employed by the owners, who lacks the chutzpah to use his authority to make the season as safe as possible.

Saturday proved Manfred was bluffing the first time it appeared he was taking seriously the dangers of Pandemic Baseball.

But really, we knew that all along.

August 02, 2020 at 05:18AM
Manfred’s Bluff to End Season Further Exposes Problems of Pandemic Baseball

New on Sports Illustrated: Power 5 Leaders Exploring Possibility of Staging Their Own Fall Sports Championships

In the event the NCAA Board of Governors opts to cancel fall sports championships amid the coronavirus pandemic, Power 5 conference leaders are exploring holding their own.

In anticipation of the NCAA Board of Governors potentially canceling or postponing fall sports championships, Power 5 conference leaders have begun exploring the possibility of staging their own championships in those affected sports, multiple sources have told Sports Illustrated. This could be seen as a first step toward a long-theorized breakaway from the NCAA by the 65 schools that play college sports at the highest level.

The Board of Governors, comprised primarily of university presidents and chancellors from all levels of the NCAA, has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. At that time it is expected to make a decision on the fate of fall sports championships other than FBS football, which has a championship outside the NCAA structure. However, the board also could delay action until later in August.

In recent days, Power 5 conference officials began seeking feedback from their members about the feasibility of staging their own championships during the fall, sources told SI. When asked if such a move away from the NCAA championship structure could be seen as a precedent-setting rift between the national governing body of college sports and the Power 5, one athletic director said, "If I were (NCAA president Mark) Emmert, I'd be really worried about it. He's got to keep the Power 5 together."

Another Power 5 athletic director said he thinks the chances of breakaway fall championships are remote, but added, "I think this is representative of the poor relationship between the (NCAA) national office and our conferences."

Multiple sources said part of the motivation for the Power 5 considering hosting its own fall Olympic sports seasons is to justify playing football, the revenue-driving sport for all athletic departments at that level. If all the other sports are canceled but football perseveres on its own, the optics would open up the schools to severe criticism. Thus, playing all fall sports would allow those schools to say that they are not uniquely subjecting football players to any risk.

Sources described the discussions about breakaway championships as preliminary in nature, the first steps in gauging both interest and feasibility. An Atlantic Coast Conference administrator said the concept is "hypothetical" in nature and not mature yet, but "if the NCAA does something, it could shift it from neutral to first gear." 

Given the P5 incentive to justify football, the Board of Governors' decision—and rationale—will be critical. If it decides to cancel fall sports championships for COVID-19 health and safety reasons, it would be difficult for the Power 5 to justify going its own way without a plan that they can definitively protect their athletes. But if the board says that the cost of safely conducting championships is prohibitive, the Power 5 could have an avenue to play all its fall sports—football included.

"We're all trying to think, hey, what can we do for our kids, so they have a season and a chance to compete for a championship," one Power 5 athletic director said. "And, quite frankly, how can we justify playing football?"

The cost of trying to create a bubble of sorts at NCAA championship events like the volleyball tournament, with regionals and a Final Four would be significant. With rapid testing for all participants, secure lodging and transportation, sterilizing the event and practice venues, the bills would add up. Multiply that across eight sports and three different levels of NCAA participation, and this would easily be the most expensive series of fall championships the association has funded—and it comes after the NCAA just took a huge financial hit with the cancelation of the 2020 basketball tournaments.

That is where the Power 5 could step in and collectively foot the bill for its own fall championships, which would be one-third or less of the total cost outlay to the NCAA. A source within the Olympic sports community said it would be "very easy" for the P5 conferences to contract out to established event management companies to hold their own championships.

The Board of Governors could make separate rulings for Divisions II and III, where a number of leagues already have postponed or canceled fall sports. Several Division I schools from FCS conferences, such as the Ivy League and Patriot League, have postponed fall sports as well. Sources told SI they are expecting a cancellation or postponement at the DII and DIII levels, but are unsure what will happen at the DI level.

If the NCAA board again delays action, it might further inflame a membership that has an increasing urgency for certainty about the upcoming seasons. One athletic director described the limbo as "mentally unhealthy" for his fall-sports athletes. The NCAA's non-football fall sports are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, field hockey and men's water polo.

For decades, the Power 5 conferences—the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pacific-12 and Southeastern—have continued to amass power and revenue at a rate that has separated them from the rest of college athletics. That separation led those leagues to gain their own autonomy at the NCAA legislative level, crafting rules that fit their specific needs.

Football has been the driving force behind that, as media-rights deals for those leagues have skyrocketed over the last decade. The FBS Group of 5 conferences—the American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt—have struggled to keep up as the revenue gap has widened.

The schools in those conferences, plus independent institutions, may want to try to join the proposed Power 5 fall championships, a source theorized. If the NCAA sees more than one-third of its 350-plus Division I members basically ignore a postponement or cancelation, the undermining of the association's power would be immense.

Already, the NCAA's lack of influence at the Power 5 level has never been more glaring than in 2020. Since canceling winter and spring championships last March, the NCAA has largely been on the sidelines watching the individual conferences grapple with the pandemic. It issued return-to-sport guidelines in the spring and updated them recently, but behind the scenes, college administrators have grown increasingly critical of Emmert and the entire NCAA for a perceived lack of leadership.

"It's almost like they're frozen," one athletic director said.

One veteran college administrator described the NCAA and Power 5 as having long been embroiled in an "existential crisis," and wondered whether this fall sports gambit could be "the crack in the armor" that leads to an eventual split.

"Is this the final break?" The source asked. "You could have two championships: one from the (Power 5) and potentially some Group of 5s joining them, and a second one for everybody else in the spring. ... It's going to be real strange."

August 02, 2020 at 04:54AM
Power 5 Leaders Exploring Possibility of Staging Their Own Fall Sports Championships

New on Sports Illustrated: It's a Boy: Mike Trout, Wife Jessica Welcome First Child

Beckham Aaron Trout was born July 30, weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces.

Move over, baby shark: Baby Trout is finally here.

On Saturday, Angels center fielder Mike Trout and wife, Jessica, announced the birth of the couple's first child: a boy named Beckham Aaron Trout.

"Our greatest gift from above—we are so in love!" Trout wrote on Instagram.

Beckham was born on Thursday, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 20 3/4 inches. His middle name, Aaron, is the same as Jessica's brother, Aaron Cox, who passed away on Aug. 15, 2018.

Trout was placed on the paternity list on Thursday and remained out of the Angels lineup on Saturday.

August 02, 2020 at 04:49AM
It's a Boy: Mike Trout, Wife Jessica Welcome First Child

New on Sports Illustrated: Kings in need of restart revival against Magic

A win in Sunday's seeding game would move the Orlando Magic one step closer to clinching a berth in the unprecedented NBA playoffs. The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, are out to keep their tenuous postseason hopes alive.

Orlando (31-35) tipped off the two-week seeding restart by resuming a win streak that began before the COVID-19 pandemic placed the NBA season on hiatus. The Magic raced ahead of the Brooklyn Nets by 29 points through three quarters on Friday, then held off a fourth-quarter surge for a 128-118 decision.

The win marked four straight for Orlando, which moved the Magic a half-game ahead of Brooklyn for the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed.

"We got off to a bad start on defense, yet I thought we responded well to that," Magic coach Steve Clifford said in his postgame teleconference, via FOX Sports Florida. "In the second and third quarters, we were balanced. We played inside-out [with] good energy [and] shot-making on offense."

The Magic came into the Orlando-area restart with the lowest point-per-game average among the 22 teams. The 111 points it scored through three quarters on Friday outpaced Orlando's season-long average, which sits just below 107 per game.

Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic led the balanced scoring effort with 24 and 22 points, while Aaron Gordon posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Orlando is in a favorable position to clinch a playoff berth without needing a play-in game, leading the Washington Wizards by 6 1/2 games, more than the four required. The Magic can now focus on securing the No. 7 spot.

For Sacramento (28-37), its start in the bubble complicated an already difficult path into the postseason.

The Kings tipped off on Friday one of four teams within the four-game mark of No. 8 seed Memphis in the Western Conference standings. They remain 3.5 games back, in the margin needed to force a play-in game, but lost ground to the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs beat the Kings head-to-head Friday, 129-120, despite 39 points from De'Aaron Fox.

"He makes the game a lot easier for us, shooters especially, but we've got to be able to help him," Bogdan Bogdanvoic said in his postgame teleconference via NBC Sports Bay Area. "That was a good game. I'm sure he's not happy about it."

Fox shot 17-of-33 from the floor en route to his career high 39, but it was not all good from the Sacramento guard. He went 1-of-7 from behind the 3-point line, reflective of a larger overall problem for the Kings in the loss.

They went just 12-of-38 from long range as a team. Bogdan was responsible for half of the team's made 3-pointers en route to 24 points.

Sacramento is without Marvin Bagley III in the bubble. Bagley was officially scratched for the season due to a foot injury sustained before the hiatus.

Orlando has played without Al-Farouq Aminu due to a knee injury, while Wesley Iwundu is day-to-day amid concussion protocol.

--Field Level Media

August 02, 2020 at 04:07AM
Kings in need of restart revival against Magic

Man in critical condition after being hit by car in Brisbane's east

The 35-year-old suffered a severe head injury after being struck in Wynnum on Saturday evening.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Life as a stepmother is no fairy tale, but we aren't the villains in the story either

When people hear the term stepparent it brings to mind a lot of unpalatable words like divorce, affair, custody and living arrangements. But there is so much more to being a blended family than how it came about to be.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Man in critical condition after being hit by car in Brisbane's east

The 35-year-old suffered a severe head injury after being struck in Wynnum on Saturday evening.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Life as a stepmother is no fairy tale, but we aren't the villains in the story either

When people hear the term stepparent it brings to mind a lot of unpalatable words like divorce, affair, custody and living arrangements. But there is so much more to being a blended family than how it came about to be.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Morrison drops Commonwealth involvement in Palmer's 'hard border' legal fight

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dropped the Commonwealth's involvement in mining billionaire Clive Palmer's legal challenge to the constitutionality of Western Australia's strict border restrictions.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

BBC NEWS - Why a new generation of Thais are protesting against the government

A new political divide in Thailand has emerged between the country's youth and its older generation.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53589899

BBC NEWS - US election 2020: The war hero who could be Biden's running mate

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran and the first Thai-American woman elected to Congress.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53596705

BBC NEWS - India coronavirus: Gold rush as pandemic roils country's economy

As Covid-19 worsens the economic slump, Indians are returning to a trusted asset: gold.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53590846

BBC NEWS - Phyllis Omido: The woman who won $12m fighting lead battery poisoners

Kenyan activist Phyllis Omido has been ignored, harassed and arrested, but she never gave up.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53520416

BBC NEWS : Job-hunting: 'I apply everywhere - few firms reply'

The pandemic has created a desperate hunt for jobs in an increasingly competitive market.


August 01, 2020 at 05:43AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53581933

BBC NEWS : Jet2 to refund customers returning early from Spain

The airline says it will refund cancelled return flights from Spain and unused holiday dates.


August 01, 2020 at 05:13AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53618448

BBC NEWS : BA staff and plane fanatics hunt for 747 souvenirs

The retirement of British Airways' fleet of 747s has triggered a bout of nostalgia from its fans.


August 01, 2020 at 05:43AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53549457

FOX NEWS:- Trump campaign temporarily pauses ad spending to rework messaging

Trump campaign temporarily pauses ad spending to rework messaging



Trump 2020 campaign national press secretary Hogan Gidley discusses the direction the new messaging.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6177174139001

FOX NEWS:- Sanders trying to galvanize progressive support for Biden; Jacqui Heinrich reports.

Sanders trying to galvanize progressive support for Biden; Jacqui Heinrich reports.



Sanders trying to galvanize progressive support for Biden; Jacqui Heinrich reports.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6177173534001

FOX NEWS:- White House, Democrats at impasse over COVID relief packages

White House, Democrats at impasse over COVID relief packages



Negotiations between the White House and Democrats for a new coronavirus relief bill have all but collapsed as the $600 enhanced unemployment benefit is set to expire; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6177170265001

FOX NEWS:- President Trump doubles down on mail-in ballot concerns, predicts voting chaos

President Trump doubles down on mail-in ballot concerns, predicts voting chaos



Trump fears November will be the greatest election disaster in history; reaction and analysis on 'The Five.'

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6177159722001

FOX NEWS:- Cotton stirs 2024 speculation with New Hampshire trip to help Republicans

Cotton stirs 2024 speculation with New Hampshire trip to help Republicans



Sen. Tom Cotton's trip to New Hampshire – the state that for a century has held the first primary in the race for the White House - is sparking more speculation that the veteran Army infantry officer who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars may have his own national ambitions in 2024.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/cotton-help-republicans-trip-2024-speculation

FOX NEWS:- Fauci: Trump restrictions on travel from China, Europe, UK saved American lives early in pandemic

Fauci: Trump restrictions on travel from China, Europe, UK saved American lives early in pandemic



Dr. Anthony Fauci told House lawmakers Friday that he believed President Trump's actions during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic saved American lives.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/fauci-trump-travel-restrictions-saved-lives-coronavirus

FOX NEWS:- Chris Wallace says Biden campaign will reveal VP pick closer to convention

Chris Wallace says Biden campaign will reveal VP pick closer to convention



Biden closes in on vice president pick; 'Fox News Sunday' anchor Chris Wallace weighs in.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6177161210001

FOX NEWS:- Bipartisan leaders of Problem Solvers Caucus predict deal on horizon for coronavirus stimulus bill

Bipartisan leaders of Problem Solvers Caucus predict deal on horizon for coronavirus stimulus bill



The leaders of the House Problem Solvers Caucus Friday expressed optimism that Republicans and Democrats will soon come together on a coronavirus deal to continue supplemental unemployment benefits, help struggling small businesses and fund the reopening of schools.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/bipartisan-leaders-of-problem-solvers-caucus-predict-deal-on-horizon-for-coronavirus-stimulus-bill

FOX NEWS:- Kanye West stands by abortion remarks: 'I’m concerned for the world that feels you shouldn’t cry'

Kanye West stands by abortion remarks: 'I’m concerned for the world that feels you shouldn’t cry'



Rapper and presidential candidate Kanye West called out abortion in the Black community and blasted his critics for getting so "concerned" about him crying over potentially aborting his first born.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/kanye-west-black-abortion-comments

New on Sports Illustrated: Sabrina Ionescu Exits Game After Rolling Ankle

Ionescu rolled her left ankle and had to be helped off the court in her third career WNBA game.

Two days after scoring 33 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in her second WNBA game, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu left Friday's game against the Atlanta Dream with a left ankle injury.

Ionescu appeared to roll her ankle near mid-court while trying to avoid defensive pressure.

Ionescu needed to be helped off the court and could not put enough weight on her ankle to walk.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Ionescu won nearly every individual honor in college basketball during her career at Oregon. She recorded the most career triple-doubles in college basketball history, won the John R. Wooden Award twice and is the only NCAA Division I basketball player to record 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds in a career.

August 01, 2020 at 05:44AM
Sabrina Ionescu Exits Game After Rolling Ankle

New on Sports Illustrated: Thunder, Jazz finally get to play 20 weeks after shutdown

Things were a lot different the last time the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz were preparing to play.

On March 11 in Oklahoma City, the sports landscape shifted suddenly when Utah center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.

A bit after the scheduled tip-off time, the game was announced as postponed "due to unforeseen circumstances," and that night, the NBA announced an indefinite shutdown due to the pandemic.

Within days, most other sports had followed suit.

Saturday afternoon, the NBA's restart continues with the Thunder and Jazz meeting.

Oklahoma City, playing its first game of the restart, will be the home team but instead of playing at a packed Chesapeake Energy Arena, the teams will be meeting at The Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

"It's a helluva coincidence that that's who our first game is against," Thunder point guard Chris Paul said.

The game will be Utah's second of the restart, with the Jazz beating New Orleans 106-104 on Thursday night.

Gobert scored the first and last points of that game.

"Life works in mysterious ways," Gobert said. "I'm just happy. Blessed to be able to get back on the court, do what I love to do, get back out there with my teammates and try to win a game."

While there's plenty of symbolism in Saturday's matchup, there's also plenty of intrigue from a standings perspective.

The Jazz and the Thunder are part of a five-team group separated by just four games in the Western Conference playoff race from third to seventh place.

Utah (42-23) comes into the matchup a game-and-a-half up on the Thunder (40-24).

"Utah will give us a really good indication over a 48-minute game of where we're at," Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said, "and how much more work needs to be done."

The Jazz look a bit different from when the league was shutdown after forward Bojan Bogdanovic, Utah's second-leading scorer, underwent season-ending wrist surgery during the hiatus.

In the win over the Pelicans on Thursday, the Jazz made up for the loss with chemistry between Donovan Mitchell and Gobert as well as veteran point guard Mike Conley's contributions.

A rift between Gobert and Mitchell formed after Mitchell tested positive for COVID-19 not long after Gobert's positive test, but Mitchell's feed to Gobert in the closing seconds helped put Gobert on the free-throw line to lift Utah to the win.

"Hopefully that kinda stops y'all from talking about it," Mitchell said jokingly. "At the end of the day, we're basketball players trying to go out there and make the right plays."

The Thunder don't figure to be dramatically different than they were when the season paused, though they'll get a lift from one new addition.

Small forward Andre Roberson could see his first regular-season game action since Jan. 27, 2018. Roberson suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon that night and has had several setbacks along the way, but returned to the team when it left for Florida and participated in scrimmages leading up to the restart.

It's a much different team than the one Roberson left.

Then, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony starred for Oklahoma City. Now, only Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson remain from the last time Roberson suited up.

--Field Level Media

August 01, 2020 at 04:32AM
Thunder, Jazz finally get to play 20 weeks after shutdown

Man with seven guns in car chases wife and son as they flee attack

The 35-year-old Mount Isa man accused of beating his partner and assaulting his young son was arrested after his alleged victims sought help at a farmhouse, police allege. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Court Overturns Boston Marathon Bomber's Death Sentence

A federal appeals court on Friday overturned the death sentence of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man convicted in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

The three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Cour

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

Man with seven guns in car chases wife and son as they flee attack

The 35-year-old Mount Isa man accused of beating his partner and assaulting his young son was arrested after his alleged victims sought help at a farmhouse, police allege. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

LNP president resigns as Palmer confirms his party will run in state election

David Hutchinson has quit his job just hours after his former boss, Clive Palmer, announced he was running candidates in the October poll. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Biden delays naming of running mate until second week of August

Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, initially said he'd select his running mate by August 1.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

BBC NEWS - The 'real' threat to Russia’s former doping mastermind

The ex-mastermind of Russian sports doping, Grigory Rodchenkov, now only appears in disguise. Matt Majendie explains why.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-53596997

BBC NEWS - Bollywood's 'warts and all' biopic on 'human computer'

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan plays Shakuntala Devi who dazzled the world with her skill with numbers.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53577607

BBC NEWS - The middle-css Pakistani students fighting for a homeland dream

Shahdad Mumtaz died for his beliefs. Could a missing student end up waging war on the Pakistani state?


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53540851

America's nightmare: Trump has led the US into an economic crisis that could leave scars

The Trump team has been blindly insisting that a roaring economic recovery was coming, and refused to notice that it wasn't happening. Now the US faces being left permanently damaged.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/30c486u
Read More

Antony Catalano's ACM to shut print centres

Australia's largest newspaper publishers have signed a partnership deals which will amalgamate print centre operations.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/30fUxvn
Read More

Atlassian's revenue soars through pandemic, announces new acquisition

The Australian software giant acquires asset management company Mindville and reports a 33 per cent revenue jump.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/3geWDB7
Read More

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/39HKGRZ
Read More

FOX NEWS:- Sen. Tom Cotton on report of human rights abuse at NBA training academies in China

Sen. Tom Cotton on report of human rights abuse at NBA training academies in China



From human rights abuses to the treatment of Hong Kong, the NBA's stance on China is very disappointing, says Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6176828561001

FOX NEWS:- Finding unity in America amid COVID-19 pandemic and deepening political divisions

Finding unity in America amid COVID-19 pandemic and deepening political divisions



Americans used to unite in times of crisis; will 2020 prove to be different? Martha MacCallum gets insight from Juan Williams, Susan Eisenhower and Trey Gowdy.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/6176827364001

FOX NEWS:- Top Sanders campaign aide urges Bernie supporters on DNC convention panel to drop proposals

Top Sanders campaign aide urges Bernie supporters on DNC convention panel to drop proposals



A top campaign aide for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is urging his supporters on the DNC convention rules committee to not push their proposals as part of an apparent agreement between the senator and the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. 

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/sanders-campaign-bernie-supporters-dnc-drop-proposals

New on Sports Illustrated: Pelicans, Jazz Kneel for National Anthem Ahead of NBA Restart's First Game

Players and coaches from both teams, as well as the game's referees, knelt together as the national anthem was played.

As the NBA prepared to take the court for the first time during its Orlando restart plan, the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz knelt on the sideline during the pregame national anthem.

Coaches and game referees also joined in the kneeling, while both teams wore Black Lives Matter shirts on top of their warm-ups.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement saying he supported the teams' decision to protest during the anthem.

“I respect our teams’ unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem,” Silver said.

The Jazz released a statement after the pre-game demonstration, supporting the players' ability to exercise their First Amendment rights.

“We are a values-based organization and believe in the foundational principles of justice, equality, fairness, and economic empowerment," the statement read. "Our organization strives to be a unifying force in our communities, and we hope this time in our history can be a catalyst for positive change in a country we love.”

The Pelicans also put out a statement, saying: “To promote meaningful change relative to social justice and racial equality, the New Orleans Pelicans have partnered with our players, staff and coaches to create a Social Justice Leadership Alliance committed to furthering the discussion, listening and learning and taking action to make positive change in our community and our country.”

July 31, 2020 at 04:51AM
Pelicans, Jazz Kneel for National Anthem Ahead of NBA Restart's First Game

Beach erosion

Evidence of erosion impacting residents along the eastern coastline of NSW

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

China Hits Back at Australia over South China Sea Statement

In the latest flurry of diplomatic notes to the United Nations on the South China Sea dispute, China has lashed out at Australia for declaring Beijing's expansive maritime claims illegal, while Mal

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

Survey: US Public Opinion of China, Xi Drops Decisively

More than 70% of Americans hold unfavorable views toward China, a record disapproval rating as many fault Chinese authorities for failing to contain the coronavirus, according to the latest survey

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

The latest illustrations from artist Andrew Dyson

Some of his best work

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Best of cartoons, July 31, 2020

The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Atlassian's revenue soars through pandemic, announces new acquisition

The Australian software giant acquires asset management company Mindville and reports a 33 per cent revenue jump.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Beach erosion

Evidence of erosion impacting residents along the eastern coastline of NSW

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Players, coaches kneel before NBA's reopening night

Players and coaches from the Pelicans and Jazz knelt alongside one another in Florida before tip-off in the first NBA game for more than 100 days.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX to slip after US GDP plunge; Tech giants soar

The Australian sharemarket is expected to open lower on confirmation the US economy shrunk at annualised pace of 32.9% to Q2. The Aussie is trading at US72c.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

NSW government seeks private partner for second harbour tunnel

The NSW government will seek a private sector partner to assist in the delivery of a second road tunnel under Sydney Harbour, pushing ahead with the multibillion-dollar project.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Perez the first F1 driver to test positive for COVID-19

Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez will miss Sunday's British Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID-19.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 30, 2020 at 02:24AM
No title

Cambodian prime minister under fire over personal wealth

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was criticized this week by an online news service for flaunting a collection of million-dollar watches in a display of vast personal wealth

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

US schedules fifth execution of federal death-row inmate this summer

Washington D.C. [US], July 30 (Sputnik/ANI): The US government scheduled its fifth execution of the summer on August 17, announcing plans to kill Lezmond Mitchell, a child murderer who spent the past

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

'Grain everywhere': Farmers hope for 'magnificent' wheat crop in pandemic economy

The mid-season crops in some of the major eastern grain-growing areas are as lush as some industry veterans can remember, representing one of the few bright spots in Australia's pandemic-affected economy.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Ben Brown under selection pressure as Kangaroos search for win

North Melbourne spearhead Ben Brown's position is under question as they Kangaroos prepare to take on Adelaide at Metricon

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Macquarie profit 'slightly down' in first quarter

Macquarie Group says its operating groups' contribution to profit was "slightly down" compared with the same period last year as the bank navigated the pandemic uncertainty.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Russia plans to register first COVID-19 vaccine by August 12

While the vaccine has been touted by its developers as safe, the data hasn't been published, which raises questions in other countries.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX to rise as US Fed strikes the right tone; $A near US72c

Australian shares are expected to open higher on Thursday after the US Fed vowed to keep using "its full range of tools" to prop up the US economy.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: Roark faces old club as Jays meet Nationals

Right-hander Tanner Roark will be facing his former team of six seasons when he starts Tuesday night for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays against the Washington Nationals.

Roark, who pitched for the Nationals from 2013-2018, will be trying to help the Blue Jays to their second straight win over the 2019 World Series champions when he opposes right-hander Austin Voth, who was 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA last year.

The Blue Jays won the opener of the four-game series Monday 4-1 on the strength of four solo home runs.

"I'm excited," Roark said on Monday. "It's going to be weird with no fans. I know the mound there like the back of my hand, so I'll be ready to go."

Roark was 10-10 with a 4.35 ERA last season with the Cincinnati Reds and the Oakland Athletics and signed with the Blue Jays in the offseason. He was 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA in 2014 with the Nationals and 16-10, 2.83, in 2016.

He is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in one career start against Washington, which came last season. Voth has never faced Toronto.

The Blue Jays have split their first four games of the season. The Nationals have lost three of their first four games.

Both teams were without key players to open the series. The Nationals continue to play without Juan Soto, who tested positive for COVID-19.

Soto has had one negative test, but will need two negative tests at least 24 hours apart before he can return to play, according to MLB protocol.

"The good news is he feels fine," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said on Monday. "He's got a bike in his apartment. He's got some weights in there. I know he's trying to -- the best he can -- stay in shape. I just told him, 'Keep your head up.' Hopefully this is the last of it."

Michael A. Taylor played left field in place of Soto again on Monday and was 0-for-4.

The Nationals have signed versatile Josh Harrison, who was in uniform against Toronto but did not play. Catcher Raudy Read was optioned to make room for him on the 30-man roster.

Harrison has played every position except catcher, first base and center field.

"When you play against him, you see he had that energy, that passion for the game -- the kind of guy we like," Martinez said. "The other thing is, he brings a lot of different aspects to the game. He can run, play multiple different positions -- infield, outfield."

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were without Ken Giles (right forearm strain), who was put on the IL Monday, Travis Shaw (family medical leave), Randal Grichuk (lower back irritation) and Bo Bichette (tight hamstring).

Wilmer Font was activated from the injured list and Ryan Borucki was recalled from the taxi squad and pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief Monday to gain the win.

Anthony Bass will replace Giles as closer and earned the save Monday.

Teoscar Hernandez was moved up in the lineup to replace Bichette in the leadoff spot Monday and led off the game with a home run and also led off the fifth with a homer.

Toronto second baseman Cavan Biggio was 0-for-4 on Monday, which ended a 32-game on-base streak. After the game, Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said that right-hander Nate Pearson will make his major-league debut when he starts the game on Wednesday.

--Field Level Media

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
Roark faces old club as Jays meet Nationals

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: Braves look to shut down Renfroe, Rays

New Tampa Bay outfielder Hunter Renfroe knew he just needed to get a few at-bats under his belt to make an impression on the Rays.

He accomplished that Monday night.

Renfroe's two-homer, four-RBI night sparked the club's biggest offensive output of the brief season so far, and it pushed its winning streak to three games after losing to Toronto on Opening Day.

The Mississippi native spent his first four seasons on the West Coast playing for the San Diego Padres. Renfroe, 28, had productive years, notching 89 home runs in the four campaigns, including a career-high 33 last year.

The Rays acquired him from the Padres in a trade that sent Tommy Pham to the National League West team.

Renfroe felt he needed a few good cuts to get going with his new club.

"Honestly, just getting the first hit out of the way was a big thing," said Renfroe, who had the coaching staff retrieve the ball from his first hit with his new team, a ground-ball single to right field to start his 3-for-5 night.

"I'm finally getting some ABs under my belt, and it's going good."

It was an odd night all around at Tropicana Field in the first game between the two teams, who meet up again Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., before going to Atlanta for games Wednesday and Thursday.

The Braves lost at least two catchable flies against the domed stadium's whitish roof, and the visitors struck out 19 times, which allowed Tampa Bay to set a team record for the most strikeouts in a nine-inning game. The futility at the plate left Atlanta hitters with 52 Ks in four games.

The clubs also combined to whiff 31 times -- another Rays record and just four Ks shy from tying the big league record for a nine-inning game.

Following the game, losing pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was told he had been designated for assignment by Atlanta. The 2018 National League All-Star's velocity has been noticeably slower from last year.

"His stuff hasn't been there," said fifth-year manager Brian Snitker after he told Foltynewicz he had been DFAd.

The team said pitcher Chad Sobotka will arrive tomorrow and be available.

The Rays also moved to 15-6 in their last 21 games against National League competition.

Tampa Bay will complete its first run through its entire rotation by starting Yonny Chirinos, who was sidelined with COVID-19 during summer camp. The right-hander was 9-5 with a 3.85 ERA in 26 appearances (18 starts) last season.

He is 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in one career relief appearance against Atlanta.

With left-hander Cole Hamels sidelined, Atlanta will round out its rotation by starting highly regarded prospect Kyle Wright.

The Huntsville, Ala., native joined the Opening Day roster in 2019 and made seven appearances (four starts) but found control issues on the way to an 0-3 record and an 8.69 ERA.

A 2017 first-round pick (fifth overall) out of Vanderbilt by Atlanta, Wright has never faced Tampa Bay in his 11 big league appearances.

Hamels, 36, signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Braves in the offseason, but triceps tendinitis prevented him from throwing a side session on July 11, and the veteran was placed on the 45-day injured list on Thursday.

--Field Level Media

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
Braves look to shut down Renfroe, Rays

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

July 29, 2020 at 02:06AM
No title

Pentagon claims evidence of Russian involvement in Libya mounting

STUTTGART, Germany - The Pentagon's U.S. Africa Command says it has mounting evidence that Russia, through the Wagner Group, continues to position military equipment in Libya capable of conducting

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

As US, Australia Hang Tough on China, Singapore Seeks Stability

Singapore's leader on Tuesday appealed for stability in the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and China relations, expressing concern that either the two world powers could

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

As US and Australia Hang Tough on China, Singapore Seeks Stability

Singapore's leader on Tuesday appealed for stability in the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and China relations, expressing concern that either the two world powers could

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

US, Australia Seek New Military Cooperation in Face of China

WASHINGTON - The United States and Australia said Tuesday they will expand military cooperation as tensions soar with China, presenting a common front between the allies.

Going ahead in Washi

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
via READ MORE

Race-by-race guide and tips for Warwick Farm on Wednesday

Everything you need to know to pick a winner on a seven-race card.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Cats weigh up challenge for 'on the edge' Hawkins, Yeo cleared

Geelong are likely to challenge Tom Hawkins' latest suspension at the tribunal as teammate Mitch Duncan explained the veteran's behaviour as "white line fever".

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Airlines less hopeful on COVID-19 recovery, expect to suffer for years

Global airlines cut their coronavirus recovery forecast on Tuesday, saying it would take until 2024 for passenger traffic to return to pre-crisis levels. And business travel volumes may never come back.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX set for early losses as Wall Street stumbles

The Australian sharemarkets is expected to open lower on Wednesday as global investor sentiment takes a hit. Q2 Inflation data is due at 11.30am AEST.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Olyroo midfielder Denis Genreau set to sign for Macarthur FC

Macarthur are set to announce their second signing, adding Denis Genreau to their roster.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Where to get tested for coronavirus in Queensland

Coronavirus assessment centres have been established across Queensland.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un says there will be no more war thanks to nuclear weapons

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there will be no more war as the country's nuclear weapons guarantee its safety and future despite unabated outside pressure and military threats, state media said on Tuesday (July 28). Mr Kim made the remarks as he celebrated the 67th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, which fell on July 27, with a reception for veterans, the official KCNA news agency said. The country developed nuclear weapons to win "absolute strength" to stave off another armed conflict, Mr Kim said in a speech carried by KCNA, emphasising the defensive nature of the programmes. "Now we are capable of defending ourselves in the face of any form of high intensity pressure and military threats from imperialist and hostile forces," he said. "Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent, there will no longer be war, and our country's safety and future will be firmly guaranteed forever." The speech came amid stalled talks aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes in exchange for sanctions relief from Washington.

from Asia
Read More

BBC NEWS - New Zealand suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty

The country follows Australia and the UK in its response to China's new national security law.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53562437

Aged care providers' stocks struggle as investors' COVID fears come true

Australia's sharemarket-listed aged care operators see their market values plummet as they rush to contain COVID-19 outbreaks.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/2X1l8dG
Read More

New on Sports Illustrated: With John Chayka Out, Steve Sullivan Gets His Chance to Make a Mark in Arizona

The former left winger has been stickhandling his way at the executive level for a number of years now and has been rewarded with the interim GM post. Can he make the job permanent?

John Chayka’s divorce from the Arizona Coyotes was so public, it even shocked fellow employees of the franchise. Why exactly the erstwhile GM quit his post on the eve of the Return to Play tournament is a question that will be parsed out in the coming weeks with a stream of conflicting messages, depending on which camp the sources are in.

What we do know is that Chayka blames ownership for making his position untenable (as he related to beat writer Craig Morgan) and the Coyotes themselves are pulling no punches, releasing a statement that included the following cutting critique:

“The Club is disappointed in his actions and his timing as the Coyotes prepare to enter the NHL’s hub city of Edmonton, where the team will begin post-season play for the first time since 2012. Chayka has chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff, and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL.”

Was Chayka entertaining a job with another franchise, causing a rift with new owner Alex Meruelo? That’s been put out there by a couple trustworthy reporters, including Elliotte Friedman, who also noted that Meruelo would like commissioner Gary Bettman to mediate what, at its heart, is now a contractual issue between Chayka and his former employer.

What we do know is that Steve Sullivan has been named interim GM of the Coyotes after serving as assistant GM for three seasons. And that allows us to look into the present and future for Arizona fans.

Sullivan, who was an undersized left winger in an era that did not welcome such talents, has quickly seen his star rise in his post-playing days. He began his tenure in Arizona as a development coach in 2014-15 and garnered more responsibility when he took over the assistant GM role three years later. That post also came with the dual role of GM to the AHL Tucson Roadrunners. So what do his new peers think of him?

“Sully is a passionate and smart hockey man who now has a runway to really understand how to do this job,” one NHL GM told me. “He has a great chance and advantage to keep this job by allowing the people around him to help him achieve his goals.”

Another insider described Sullivan as the type of exec who really takes in the information before making a decision; he’s not a knee-jerk kind of guy. What Sullivan essentially has now is a head start on any other candidates to earn the Coyotes GM job on a permanent basis.

And there are candidates, to be sure. There are strong rumbling out there that the NHL would like to see Peter Chiarelli at the helm, for example – and hey, I’m just the messenger here. Chiarelli’s exit from Edmonton was unceremonious to say the least, but he does have a wealth of experience to draw from. There’s also former Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa to consider, a man with a great reputation who has been in the running for other GM jobs and reportedly even turned one down when that team tried to lowball him on salary. If you’re looking for a local angle, former Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke would be another option. Currently an exec with Hockey Canada (and goalie consultant for the Montreal Canadiens), Burke was an assistant GM in Arizona a few years ago – the same time Chayka was coming up, ironically.

But for now, Sullivan has an excellent opportunity to show that the job should be his on a permanent basis. The most pressing matter will be the status of pending unrestricted free agent Taylor Hall, who came to the Coyotes in a blockbuster trade with New Jersey that will cost Arizona its first-round draft choice in either 2020 or 2021, depending on whether or not the Coyotes are slated to pick in the top three this year (which is possible if Arizona loses to Nashville in the qualifying round and ‘wins’ the Phase 2 lottery for first overall). If Hall re-signs with Arizona and the Coyotes win a playoff round, a 2021 third-rounder becomes a first-rounder (if one of those conditions hits, it’s a second-rounder).

Most likely, Hall will at least test free agency waters before he decides what to do. And the Coyotes have to consider if signing the 28-year-old to a big-money, long-term contract (which no doubt some team will offer the recent Hart Trophy winner) is best for their franchise goals.

The two sides have already talked (another point of contention in the Chayka saga), but now Sullivan will get the chance to weigh in and figure out the pros and cons.

For now, Sullivan is the GM and it’s his job to prove he can be the guy full-time. From the sounds of it, he’s ready – but he must know that a lot of other hockey minds will be coveting the position, too.

July 28, 2020 at 06:28AM
With John Chayka Out, Steve Sullivan Gets His Chance to Make a Mark in Arizona

'Less than one per cent': WA's Chief Health Officer under pressure to explain border closure during Palmer trial

WA’s Chief Health Officer has come under pressure to explain why the state refuses to open its border to the five other Australian jurisdictions that have eliminated community spread of coronavirus.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
Read More

Aged care providers' stocks struggle as investors' COVID fears come true

Australia's sharemarket-listed aged care operators see their market values plummet as they rush to contain COVID-19 outbreaks.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

'Less than one per cent': WA's Chief Health Officer under pressure to explain border closure during Palmer trial

WA’s Chief Health Officer has come under pressure to explain why the state refuses to open its border to the five other Australian jurisdictions that have eliminated community spread of coronavirus.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

BBC NEWS - Kylie Moore-Gilbert: Lecturer jailed in Iran 'moved to remote prison'

British-Australian woman Kylie Moore-Gilbert is reportedly moved to a notorious prison in the desert.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53562435

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: How it turned the tables on Ghana's diaspora

Coronavirus has given Ghanaians a new perspective on the pull of living abroad.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53501799

BBC NEWS - Indian Matchmaking: The 'cringe-worthy' Netflix show that is a huge hit

Indian Matchmaking, a new Netflix show, has become a huge hit, spawning hundreds of memes and jokes.


https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-53499195

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/39JS8wh
Read More

Temple & Webster's profits soar nearly 500% in online shopping splurge

The homewares and furniture retailer has seen its earnings shoot up as consumers stuck at home during the coronavirus crisis went on an online shopping spree to improve their living rooms.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Business https://ift.tt/39z2ajJ
Read More

New on Sports Illustrated: NHL Qualifying Round Playoff Preview: Predators vs. Coyotes

Can the Coyotes recover from their GM's shocking departure and pull an upset over a Predators team with a foggy forecast in net?

NASHVILLE PREDATORS – By Jared Clinton

Jusse Saros waited long enough for Pekka Rinne to hand over the keys to the Predators’ crease, so the heir apparent simply shoved his veteran counterpart out of the way. Saros asserting himself as the starter-of-today rather than the starter-of-tomorrow couldn’t have come a moment sooner, either. Nashville closed December tied for last in the Central Division, but Saros’ impressive record and exceptional play since the beginning of the new year – he was among the league’s leaders in save percentage from Jan. 1 onward – aided in the Predators’ pursuit of a sixth consecutive post-season appearance.

Saros, of course, has the benefit of playing behind one of the deepest defense corps in the NHL. Even after parting ways with P.K. Subban, the Predators iced a top-four of Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and Dante Fabbro, who transitioned seamlessly into his role as a rookie. The on-paper talent the blueline possesses is at odds with what the numbers suggest about the Predators’ defense, however. That’s particularly true in the time since coach John Hynes’ arrival. Following Peter Laviolette’s firing in early January, the Predators were among the NHL’s most porous teams and surrendered shots at an uncharacteristically high rate.

The own-zone issues were masked in part by an attack that has been consistent, if nothing else. The Predators had 10 players with at least 10 goals and 12 players with at least 30 points. But high-end, game-breaking individual performers are few and far between in Music City. Filip Forsberg’s sixth straight 20-goal season makes him Nashville’s top lamp-lighter, but major summer signing Matt Duchene hasn’t been the offensive difference-maker the Predators hoped for. His per-game scoring rate was the third-lowest of his 11-year NHL career. Nashville will need more from its top players to make a deep run.

X-factor: Barring 2017, when Pekka Rinne posted an outstanding .930 save percentage and helped Nashville to its first Stanley Cup final appearance, crease catastrophes have been an annual occurrence in the post-season for the Predators. Saros cemented himself as the starter, but the Predators wrapped up their camp still undecided on who will be their No. 1 for the playoffs. Rinne’s playoff resume does little to inspire confidence. In five of his eight trips to the post-season, Rinne has posted a .909 SP or lower and has posted a .911 SP or better just twice. Given the Predators’ lack of firepower, goaltending will make all the difference.

ARIZONA COYOTES – By Brian Costello

The Coyotes rarely make it to the playoffs – just three times in the previous 16 seasons – but when they do, you’d think their defensive brand of hockey would serve them well. Because things really tighten up in the post-season, right? Problem is, you must be good at scoring goals, too, and Arizona doesn’t do that particularly well. Since 2012-13, the Coyotes have ranked among the bottom 10 teams in goals per game. Their average of 2.71 this season was impressive by their standards, a multi-year high, but still just 23rd overall.

When the Coyotes do stay competitive, such as the first three months of the season when they ranked sixth in the conference, it’s because they get things done by committee. Virtually every new forward arriving in Arizona over the years – Derek Stepan, Nick Schmaltz, Michael Grabner, Phil Kessel, Taylor Hall – sees a drop-off in personal production but an uptick in two-way play.

With a veteran defense led by unheralded star Oliver Ekman-Larsson and excellent goaltending in Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta, the Coyotes always stay involved. Arizona tied with Columbus for the third-best goals-against average in the league. But when Kuemper and Raanta were injured – third-stringer Adin Hill started nine games in January and February – the Coyotes dropped in the standings.

So how does Arizona get over the hump and make some noise as a team in the 17-24 range that wouldn’t have made the playoffs any other year? The Coyotes enjoy the guidance offered by players’ coach Rick Tocchet. So it’s likely a case of getting hot at the right time, with their playoff-style attention to defense plus some timely scoring from some offensive dynamos who have greatly underperformed this season. Special teams play can often swing a series. Arizona’s power play has never been top notch, but its PK is among the best. Maybe that’s the key there.

X-factor: Former Coyotes assistant GM Brad Treliving put it best when he said, “They should change the name of hockey to goaltending.” That’s because so much in a game depends upon the performance of the stopper. A good goalie can turn a series on its head. The last time the Coyotes won a playoff round, they were known as Phoenix and Mike Smith was spectacular in a 2011-12 run to the conference final. For Arizona to have any sort of success this post-season, Darcy Kuemper or Antti Raanta must be otherworldly good. The promising news is both men have that potential. Good health is always an issue.

Season series

Oct. 17, 2019: Coyotes 5, Predators 2
Dec. 23, 2019: Predators 3, Coyotes 2

Schedule

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2:00 p.m.: Coyotes at Predators
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2:30 p.m.: Coyotes at Predators
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2:30 p.m.: Predators at Coyotes
Friday, Aug. 7, TBD: Predators at Coyotes *
Sunday, Aug. 9, TBD: Coyotes at Predators *

(All games listed in eastern time)

THE HOCKEY NEWS’ SERIES PICK: Predators in four games

Get everything you need to know about this year’s post-season in THN’s Playoff Preview magazine! Read the issue on our Apple App (https://apple.co/32vUMnA), Android App (https://bit.ly/2DV2ltN) or on Zinio (https://bit.ly/3jbPbsu).

July 28, 2020 at 05:30AM
NHL Qualifying Round Playoff Preview: Predators vs. Coyotes

New on Sports Illustrated: Rob Manfred: MLB Safety Protocols 'Adequate' Despite COVID-19 Outbreak

Manfred: "I remain optimistic that the protocols are strong enough that it will allow us to play even through an outbreak like this."

Major League Baseball is currently facing its first coronavirus crisis of the season after 11 Marlins tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. But despite the stream of positive tests, commissioner Rob Manfred has faith in baseball's safety protocols.

"We expected we were going to have positives at some point in time." Manfred told Sports Illustrated and the MLB Network's Tom Verducci on Monday night. "I remain optimistic that the protocols are strong enough that it will allow us to play even through an outbreak like this and complete our season."

The stream of positive tests has caused Miami to postpone Monday's home opener against the Orioles. The Marlins are slated to next take the field in Baltimore on Wednesday if they are able to field a viable team, per Manfred.

Miami's collection of positive tests has not called the 2020 season into question, per Manfred. MLB's commissioner said the league's protocols will "allow us to continue to play."

The Phillies matchup with the Yankees on Monday night was also postponed due to Miami's positive tests. Philadelphia played a three game series against the Marlins over the weekend, dropping two of three. 

July 28, 2020 at 05:14AM
Rob Manfred: MLB Safety Protocols 'Adequate' Despite COVID-19 Outbreak

New on Sports Illustrated: The Marlins' COVID-19 Outbreak Puts NFL Travel Protocols Under Spotlight

Why a bubble wouldn't work for the NFL and how MLB's issues may affect NFL travel. Plus, the 49ers do right by Raheem Mostert, Joe Douglas goes to bat for Adam Gase, the Vikings suffer a big loss and more NFL news.

I don’t really know what’s coming the next six months. And neither do you. So I think it’s pretty silly for anyone to be talking about absolutes right now. With that, here we go, with the first MAQB of training camp 2020 …

• Because of the Marlins’ outbreak, the national sports discussion turned on Monday to bubble-vs.-no bubble. Baseball doesn’t have one. Basketball and hockey do. So where does that leave the NFL? Back in the spring, as it became clear that offseason workouts would be wiped out, all options were being discussed. I’m told the players were against the bubble idea then, as was NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills. And teams I talked to on Monday about the idea were pretty skeptical that any such concept would get off the ground anyway. Why? Football is far different from the other sports. To run a training camp practice, a team needs a minimum of 150 people on hand, and the figure is still well over 100 after rosters are cut down. So for the whole league to be in a bubble, you’re probably talking in excess of 4,000 people minimum—and that’d be for over six months. Could you go to an Olympic-style group-play format, maybe, and create four pods? Maybe. But that’s still over 1,000 people per bubble, not to mention the number of NFL-caliber fields you’d need for the players (you can lay down a basketball court almost anywhere, as the NBA has proven) in a central location. And that’s without even getting to matter of injuries, which would always require players being shuttled on to and off of rosters. So in the end, would a bubble solve a lot of the issues the NFL is facing? Yup, it sure would. But you’d have to build one (or more than one) first, and the sport just isn’t conducive to that.

• The other thing the baseball fiasco does for football—it puts the teams’ travel protocols under the spotlight. So I obtained a copy of the rules the NFL has given clubs, and they are extensive. And I figured I’d give you five highlights here to illustrate that.

1) Only Tier 1 and Tier 2 personnel can be part of the traveling party, which is limited to 110 people.

2) Those in the traveling party “shall not take separate public (e.g. buses, subways) or private (e.g., taxis, Uber, Lyft) transportation on the road.”

3) All meals have to be served in the hotel, and “the traveling party is not permitted to leave the hotel to eat or otherwise use any restaurants (in hotel or otherwise) open to the public. (You can order room service or Uber Eats, Grubhub, etc.)

4) “The traveling party may not utilize the fitness center, pool, sauna or other shared hotel facilities during their stay at the hotel, unless such areas have been appropriately disinfected, are closed to other hotel patrons, and only open to the club traveling party.” (So if the PR guy wants to hit the treadmill … tough luck.)

5) “Hotel must make private entrances/exits available to the traveling party whenever possible. Hotels must also provide a private check-in area for the traveling party.”

There’s plenty more along these lines (players and coaches will eat separately from the rest of the traveling party, etc.), and this one was interesting to me too: “Hotels should increase the ventilation rates throughout the hotel and/or increase outdoor air that circulates into the system.” So yeah, the league thought of pretty much everything here.

• And I do think the NFL deserves credit for creating such a comprehensive plan. But, as Bill O’Brien detailed in this morning’s MMQB column, and as many other coaches are harping to their players, all this stuff is only works if players are just as responsible outside the facility as the teams are trying to be in them. Even then, there are plenty of wild cards in this deck—consider that some schools will be back in session in two weeks, which means just by going home to their families coaches and players could be exposed. Again, I think the NFL and teams are doing their best, but there’s still a truckload of uncertainty sitting in front of 345 Park Avenue.

• One loose end that the Marlins’ situation did raise among teams—the league still hasn’t come up with a firm policy of shutting teams down or games being forfeited. Would 20 players/coaches getting it necessitate a shutdown? 25? 30? That’s a question that’s being asked by a lot of people I’ve talked to.

• The Vikings temporarily losing head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman may not seem like a big deal to you. I promise, though, to the organization, having the long-time staple out with a positive COVID-19 test is a massive deal. How am I so sure of that? Last month, I asked ex-Patriots team doctor Thomas Gill who the important people for each team will be in making all this work. His answer: “Without a doubt, the most important guy in every building is gonna be the head athletic trainer. Period. And the Patriots are lucky with Jim Whelan, he’s the best in the business. But they’re the ones. It’s like during training camp, when they have to make sure every player’s getting weighed before and after every practice to make sure they’re not losing too much water, they’re the ones that’ll be keeping track of everybody’s temperature, everybody’s symptoms, everybody’s distancing, everybody’s masks. One hundred percent, it’s the head athletic trainer. I don’t envy those guys. They had almost an unperformable job beforehand, it is gonna be a really huge challenge moving forward. At the end of the day, they’re the ones that are gonna have to enforce all the rules, nobody else. … They’re without a doubt the most important guys in the building.” Gill also suggested that, just for this year, teams would probably have to add support staff to help their trainers. So imagine losing your head guy on the eve of camp …

• Alright, on to football … Good on the Niners for giving RB Raheem Mostert a little sweetener on his contract for 2020—and, really, if he does wind up hitting the added incentives then the team will probably be happy to write him those checks for it. His $2.575 million base, $50,000 workout bonus and $250,000 in per-game roster bonuses for 2020 remain intact. He gets a $250,000 signing bonus on top of that now (which fulfills a promise to give him an incentive he just missed in 2019), and his $1.25 million in incentives have been replaced by $2.25 million in incentives, which are tiered at four levels (773, 850, 950 and 1,050 rushing yards). So if he hits 1,050 rushing yards, he’ll wind up with $2.5 million on top of the $2.875 million he was set to make, and the Niners will have gotten themselves a pretty productive year out of the 28-year-old.

• Jets GM Joe Douglas went to bat for his coach, Adam Gase, during a conference call on Monday, telling the team’s beat writers, “I especially believe in Coach Gase. I think he's the right person to lead this team.” But there’s no question that Jamal Adams’s incendiary comments will shine a light on the coach’s hold on his locker room in the coming weeks, as Gase tries to build on a strong 6-2 finish to the 2019 season.

• Washington DE Caleb Brantley became the first player to opt out under the high-risk category—which entitles him to a larger stipend than the voluntary opt-outs ($350,000 vs. $150,000), as well as an accrued season toward free agency and all benefits. And while we’re there, Vikings first-round pick Justin Jefferson became the highest-profile player thus far to land on the COVID-19 reserve list.

• Patriots FB Danny Vitale opting out is interesting, given how Josh McDaniels has valued the position in his offense the last few years. In fact, having James Develin on the roster enabled the package that New England used on the game-winning drive in the Super Bowl two years ago—the team went 22-personnel (two backs, two tight ends) to force the Rams’ base defense onto the field, then threw all over the slower L.A. group on the way to the end zone (which we detailed in that week’s MMQB column). So now what? New England liked the versatility of third-round tight end Dalton Keene ahead of the draft, so maybe he, or fellow rookie tight end Devin Asiasi, can line up in the backfield some.

• Big credit to Drew Brees, who came through for Louisiana again with another $5 million donation. Some people may remember his offseason for his comments on the national anthem. But, honestly, the guy’s given eight figures now to his community in a time of need, and I’d venture to say the impact of that will be farther-reaching.

• Question or comment? Email us.

July 28, 2020 at 04:47AM
The Marlins' COVID-19 Outbreak Puts NFL Travel Protocols Under Spotlight