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Suborbital space tourism finally arrives | FCC prepares to run public C-band auction | The big four in the U.S. launch industry — United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman — hope to be one of two providers that will receive five-year contracts later this year to launch national security payloads starting in 2022. | China’s launch rate stays high | The International Space Station is the largest ever crewed object in space.

 
Deal with OxyContin maker leaves families angry,...
Among the families who lost children and other loved ones in the nation’s opioid crisis, many had held out hope of someday facing OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and its owners in a courtroom. That prospect all but vanished Wednesday after a bankruptcy judge conditionally approved a settlement worth an estimated $10 billion. It was a deal that left many of those families feeling they didn’t get what they really wanted. There was no apology from members of the Sackler...

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California seeks gender neutral displays in large...
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could soon force large department stores to display some child products in gender neutral ways after the state Legislature passed a bill on Wednesday aimed at getting rid of traditional pink and blue marketing schemes for items like toys and toothbrushes. The bill would not outlaw traditional boys and girls sections in department stores, but it would require retailers to have a gender neutral section to display “a reasonable selection” of items “regardless of...

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Stephens overpowers Gauff at US Open; Osaka’s...
NEW YORK (AP) — Three years ago, a reporter asked Sloane Stephens to point out a younger tennis player most fans might not have heard of yet, someone she thought could become a household name some day. Stephens paused to ponder, but not for long, before responding: Coco Gauff, then 14. Stephens had first met Gauff several years earlier and clearly knew what she was talking about. The world would quickly discover Gauff, too. The pair of friends met...

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Prince George’s councilmembers endorse Rushern Baker’s second...
Gubernatorial candidate Rushern L Baker III (D) received endorsements from nine members of the Prince George’s County Council on Tuesday in Landover. (Maryland Matters/Bruce DePuyt) This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. Four years ago, then-Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) struggled to rally county leaders behind his first run for governor. Only one member of the County Council, Derrick Leon Davis (D),...

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Harper homers, Phillies beat Nats 7-4 for...
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bryce Harper homered in the first inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 Monday night to stretch their winning streak to four games. Brad Miller also went deep and Ronald Torreyes added a bases-loaded triple for Philadelphia, which improved to 7-1 at Nationals Park this season. Carter Kieboom homered for Washington, which has dropped three in a row, five of its last six and 19 of 25. Harper, who signed a $330 million,...

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Dobbins hurt as Ravens’ preseason win streak...
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — J.K. Dobbins left with a knee injury, Lamar Jackson made his 2021 preseason debut and the Tyler Huntley-led Baltimore Ravens routed Washington 37-3 Saturday to win their NFL-best 20th consecutive exhibition game. Dobbins going down early with a left knee injury is the biggest lingering effect for Baltimore with the regular season on the horizon. After catching a screen pass from Jackson, the second-year running back went down awkwardly midway through the first quarter on...

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Doug Gansler: The goldilocks candidate for Maryland...
This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. Editor’s note: Maryland Matters reporters sat down with some of the candidates for governor at the recent Maryland Association of Counties conference. Interviews with these candidates have appeared over the previous few days. And we will bring you interviews with other gubernatorial contenders as the campaign unfolds.  One-on-one with Kelly Schulz: Commerce secretary brings business focus to gubernatorial bid John...

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Chinese regulators to exercise more control over...
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese regulators will exercise greater control over the algorithms used by Chinese technology firms to personalize and recommend content, the latest move in a regulation spree across the internet sector. China’s internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China, on Friday released a draft proposal of “algorithm recommendation management regulations” aimed at managing how technology companies use algorithms when providing services to consumers. The move expands the crackdown on the internet sector in China, as regulators seek...

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The Latest: NATO chief slams Kabul airport...
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — NATO chief has condemned the twin suicide bombings at the Kabul airport as a “horrific terrorist attack” that targeted desperate Afghans trying to leave the country and the alliance’s efforts to evacuate them from Afghanistan. Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter after the explosions on Thursday: “I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack outside #Kabul airport. My thoughts are with all those affected and their loved ones. Our priority remains to evacuate as many people to...

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OnlyFans reverses explicit content ban after outcry
OnlyFans says it has suspended a plan to ban sexually explicit content following an outcry from its creators and advocates for sex workers. The subscription site said in a prepared statement Wednesday that the planned ban was “no longer required due to banking partners’ assurances that OnlyFans can support all genres of creators” and declined to answer further questions. OnlyFans had said last Thursday that it would ban explicit content starting Oct. 1, blaming policies of banks and payment...

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The Latest: S Korea nearly matches its...
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections. With Wednesday’s report, the country has tallied more than 1,000 new cases for 50 consecutive days, including a record 2,221 on Aug. 11. The virus has shown no signs of slowing despite officials enforcing strong social distancing restrictions short of a lockdown in Seoul and other large population centers where private...

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Hochul, NY’s 1st female governor, promises fresh...
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, inheriting immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction during Andrew Cuomo’s distracted final months in office. Hochul, a Democrat and former member of Congress from Western New York, took the oath of office just after midnight in a brief, private event overseen by the state’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore. At another ceremonial swearing-in Tuesday morning at the New...

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The Latest: Slight easing due for Australia...
SYDNEY — An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully...

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LEADING OFF: Yankees-Braves showdown, Cabrera savors 500
A look at what’s happening around the majors on Monday: —- INTERLEAGUE SHOWDOWN Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees visit Atlanta for the start of a two-game series featuring two of the hottest teams in baseball. The NL East-leading Braves have won nine in a row and 16 of 18. They’ve also won a franchise-record 13 consecutive road games after sweeping Baltimore over the weekend. The Yankees have also won nine straight after beating Minnesota 7-1 on Saturday....

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Pop-up restaurants may stick around as COVID...
NEW YORK (AP) — Pop-up restaurants, many started as stopgap measures by struggling chefs and owners, may have staying power as consumers continue to embrace takeout and delivery and the delta variant threatens to make dining in less of an option. Pop-up restaurants can take a variety of forms, from a ramen maker appearing for one-night only at an established bar or restaurant, to a taco maker using an unused space to temporarily host diners, to a chef offering...

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