Beijing’s continued deployment of ships near the islets controlled by Japan “could lead to miscalculation”—or physical and material harm, Department of Defense spokesperson John Kirby said Tuesday. Two Chinese coast guard ships entered the territory waters of the uninhabited Senkakus on both Saturday and Sunday, said Japan’s maritime authority. They marked nine such incursions reported this year. The disputed islands in the East China Sea are also claimed by China and Taiwan, whose governments refer to them as “Diaoyu” and “Diaoyutai” respectively....

The new quarterback-wide receiver duo turned heads Thursday as Cleveland held its first practice of training camp, with Beckham making a spectacular snag similar to his iconic “Catch” when he was a member of the Giants. Take a look: Beckham, 26, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Giants after they selected him 12th overall in the 2014 draft. He was then dealt to the Browns in March in return for Jabrill Peppers, a first-round pick and a third-round pick in this year’s draft....

There is proper indignation about the demotion of Shakespeare, the greatest shaper of that nation’s discourse and imagination. But science and technology deserve honors. A British intellectual says sniffily that although Stephenson is “a man of eminence” he “hardly serves to fill you with patriotic fervor.” Well, even if making us fervid is government’s proper business, why celebrate so many political figures, such as the Duke? Wellington deserves his ample honors for squishing Napoleon....

Swedish couple Emma Andersson and Billy Ludvigsson happened to be on the day cruise in the Whitsunday Islands when they heard screams from the British backpackers on Tuesday. The couple hurried up the ladder from the water into the boat where they saw Alistair Raddon, and Danny Maggs, lying seriously injured. Raddon, 28, from Southampton, had his right foot bitten off and Maggs, 22, suffered a deep wound to his calf....

3 Up Rick Porcello, SP, Tigers. Unless you’re off-roading (a.k.a. playing in a 4x4 league), Porcello’s complete-game shutout with zero Ks wasn’t ideal. He didn’t walk anyone and only allowed four hits so there was still a lot to like. For those strikeout lovers out there, the Blue Jays’ Drew Hutchison struck out ten Brewers in his win on Canada Day. Kyle Seager, 3B, Mariners. Seager finished 3-for-5 with his 13th homer of the season....

The White Sox signed Abreu, a legendary power hitter in his native Cuba, to a six-year, $68 million deal in October, and Thome, who is a special assistant to the general manager for Chicago, is impressed with the rookie. “He’s a guy who’s obviously got a lot on his resume coming over here,” said Thome, who hit 612 home runs over his career, including 134 long balls during his four seasons with the Southsiders....

In the post, user Nojudgementiguess explained that one of the directors in their company has inherited a life-changing amount of money, but not quit their job. They wrote: “We know this because an article was once written about her mother who was a property developer. aibu [am I being unreasonable] to wonder if there are tax loopholes for someone who inherits but continues to work?! Inheritance tax I mean? Obviously office gossip spreads fast and we are all baffled at why she wouldn’t just sail off into the sunset....

The driver, Gerardson Nicolas, was stopped by a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department last week in North Miami Beach, according to local station NBC 6. In the video, captured by Nicolas, the officer can be heard saying, “this is how you guys get killed out here, man.” Before the officer’s statement, he can be seen opening the driver’s door and standing next to it. The officer then asks Nicolas if he “wants to go to jail today....

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Los Angeles (CAIR-LA) and the CAIR National Legal Defense Fund announced the lawsuit on Thursday, which they filed on behalf of a Muslim American woman named Nusaiba Mubarak. The City of Los Angeles, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, LAPD detective Corey Harmon and four unnamed officers were also listed as co-defendants in the case. The lawsuit alleges that LAPD officers violated Mubarak’s First and Fourth Amendment rights when they handcuffed her, searched her and took her hijab off in the presence of a man to whom she is not related or married, which her religion does not allow....

Yan Jiarong, of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), had the final say on topics related to Taiwan and Xinjiang, while IOC spokesperson Mark Adams insisted the games were a platform for cooperation between nations, despite political disagreements outside of the competition. The IOC believes sports and politics should not mix. Following a reporter’s question about Taiwan and the island’s claim that it was forced to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics or face sanction under to the Olympic Charter, Adams said all National Olympic Committees are obliged to participate in the events....

Against the Avalanche, Ovechkin put the Caps up 3-2 in the third period when he dragged past Tyson Barrie, fired a shot off the Pepsi Center boards and beat Reto Berra. (GIFs via @myregularface) It was Ovechkin’s ninth goal of the season and, as @JapersRink mentioned on Twitter, bears a decent resemblance to the best goal of his career, back in 2006. It started the same way, at least. Let’s watch it again....

The order, which went into effect on March 23 as governors across the country began issuing similar measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, was extended to May 1 earlier this month. Protesters in left- and right-leaning states have been gathering over the last couple of weeks in opposition to the orders. At the protest outside the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus last weekend, participants carried signs with broad messages like “Open Ohio Now” and “Unlock Our Economy” as well as more targeted denouncements of DeWine....

Rev. Randolph “Randy” Brown, 64, and Joyce Richmond, 21, were taken into custody on Tuesday and hit with multiple felony charges in relation to the alleged exploitation of multiple underage teenagers who ran away from home back in 2018, police investigators have confirmed. Prosecutors allege that Brown paid or agreed to pay two teenage victims, who were aged 16 or under at the time, to engage in sexual activities, News 5 reported....

So it’s another year, another round of uncertainty for the Wolverines with Brandon Peters in concussion protocol. The Toledo Blade reported Wilton Speight is practicing in a non-contact capacity, while recovering from three cracked vertebrae. That leaves John O’Korn as the most likely candidate to start against the Buckeyes. MORE: The Game vs. the Iron Bowl: Which rivalry is better? Harbaugh on Tuesday addressed the uncertainty of preparing for a game without knowing who his starting quarterback will be....

“Ohio State is going to be double-digit favorites in every game throughout the regular season and the Big Ten Championship game,” said Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook manager Ed Salmons. “Their toughest conference game is going to be at home against Michigan State, and I’m thinking the number should be Ohio State as high as minus-16. You won’t see a single-digit number on them until the playoffs start.” When Ohio State met Alabama in the national semifinals last season, the Buckeyes were 7....

During the Buckeyes 28-17 win against Penn State on Saturday, Young recorded three sacks, bringing his season total to 16.5, which broke the school’s single-season sack record of 14, set by Vernon Gholston in 2007. After being forced to sit out two straight games for violating NCAA rules by accepting a loan from a family friend, Young told ESPN that he “was itching to get back on the field.”...

After pulling away from Virginia Tech in a 42-24 win Monday night, Ohio State saw its odds to win the national championship tightened to 8-to-5 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. The Buckeyes were listed at 5-to-2 odds before the season started. The game at Virginia Tech is among the toughest on Ohio State’s regular-season schedule. The Buckeyes went off as 14-point favorites vs. the Hokies, despite missing some key players due to suspension....

MORE: Arkansas will win SEC games | Jameis Winston clutch against NC State | Should Hoke throw in the towel? It’s worth noting that Schlegel is a former NFL linebacker but after seeing that takedown it becomes obvious. Not the best way to meet members of the Ohio State football staff but this is a good action shot. Even Stone Cold Steve Austin approved of Schlegel’s sick hit:

The decision has enraged victims’ advocates who say the court did not care about the long-term impact the abuse may have on the child. The case has sparked outrage leading people to question what this ruling means for future child sex abuse victims. Miranda Smith, 30, was charged with raping her 2-year-old son in 2019 even though she did not sexually penetrate him, but had her son penetrate her. Rape and sexual assault cases have been infamously difficult for suspect arraignment as prosecutors have a high burden of proof to convince a judge or jury a crime happened beyond a reasonable doubt....

The OHL likely can’t resume without the removal of close physical contact between players, including bodychecking. That’s what Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, said when she spoke with reporters Wednesday. The OHL’s return-to-play plan is currently targeting an early December start date, MacLeod said. MacLeod added that any sports organization in Ontario that wants to play will have to take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19, including removing close physical contact....