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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.

 
LEADING OFF: Jays finish up in Buffalo,...
A look at what’s happening around the majors on Wednesday: ___ SHUFFLE OUTTA BUFFALO Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays are set to play their final home game in Buffalo when they host the Red Sox. The teams were rained out Tuesday and will make it up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 7 in Toronto. The Blue Jays will return to Toronto for a homestand beginning July 30 after the Canadian government granted them an exemption to...

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Jeff Bezos blasts into space on own...
VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Jeff Bezos blasted into space Tuesday on his rocket company’s first flight with people on board, becoming the second billionaire in just over a week to ride his own spacecraft. The Amazon founder was accompanied by a hand-picked group: his brother, an 18-year-old from the Netherlands and an 82-year-old aviation pioneer from Texas — the youngest and oldest to ever fly in space. “Best day ever!” Bezos said when the capsule touched down on...

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DC police chief balances two high-profile cases...
After a violent weekend, D.C.’s police chief said he is singularly focused on just one case amid echoes of desperation from a community at its wits’ end, a frustrated mayor and grieving families’ call for him to take immediate action. On Friday, 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney was gunned down crossing the street with her mom. On Saturday, a targeted shooting wounding three people outside Nationals Park forced the evacuation of panicked fans and captured national attention. And worth noting, they...

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More food waste in Md. will be...
By the end of 2021, Bioenergy Devco will begin operating Maryland’s largest anaerobic digester located on Maryland Food Center Authority campus, one of the largest food terminals on the East Coast. The facility will be able to divert 125,000 tons of organic waste per year, according to Bioenergy Devco. Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) gives a certification of recognition to Shawn Kreloff, chief executive officer of Bioenergy Devco. (Maryland Matters/Elizabeth Shwe) This content was republished with permission from...

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Look back in laughter: ‘The Daily Show’...
NEW YORK (AP) — Long before there was fake news, there was a fake news show. Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” launched 25 years ago this month, dedicated to skewering journalism and warning viewers about how they take in their news. “We became the watchdogs of the watchdog,” said co-creator Lizz Winstead. “Nobody had done it before so the world was our oyster.” Over the years, “The Daily Show” — first hosted by Craig Kilborn, then Jon Stewart and...

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Centennial of ex-astronaut, US Senator John Glenn...
NEW CONCORD, Ohio (AP) — John Glenn has been honored over the weekend with a three-day festival in Ohio marking what would have been the history-making astronaut and U.S. senator’s 100th birthday. Glenn, who died in 2016, was the first American to orbit Earth, making him a national hero in 1962. Before that, he served as a military fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War and set a transcontinental air speed record. In 1998, he became...

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Aguilar, Marte power Marlins past Phils for...
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jesús Aguilar homered and drove in four runs, Starling Marte went deep with three RBIs, and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-0 on Friday night to split a doubleheader. Jordan Holloway (2-2), recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday as the 27th man, didn’t allow a hit in five innings of relief after Ross Detwiler opened with a scoreless first. Holloway stuck out six and walked two. Richard Bleier completed the two-hitter with a scoreless...

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Guerrero hits 2 HRs to reach 30,...
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed up his breakout All-Star Game with two homers, and the Toronto Blue Jays powered past the Texas Rangers 10-2 on Friday night. All-Stars Teoscar Hernández and Marcus Semien homered for Toronto along with Randal Grichuk, and Robbie Ray held Texas scoreless over 6 2/3 innings. Guerrero, named the All-Star MVP on Tuesday night, connected off Texas starter Jordan Lyles in the first inning to make it 1-0 and added a three-run...

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Yanks, Rockies deal with COVID surges after...
NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in months, COVID-19 is creating chaos around Major League Baseball. The Yankees and Rockies are dealing with coronavirus outbreaks sidelining a total of 10 players and two coaches, including New York slugger Aaron Judge and Colorado manager Bud Black, as baseball attempts to resume play following its All-Star break. The Red Sox and Yankees played as scheduled Friday night, a day after their series opener was postponed due to New York’s...

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Belarus expands crackdown on independent media
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Friday widened their crackdown on independent media, raiding media offices and journalists’ homes across the ex-Soviet nation. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said the authorities searched apartments and offices of at least 21 journalists in the capital of Minsk and cities of Brest, Gomel, Grodno and Pinsk. “The authorities are using an entire arsenal of repressions against journalists — intimidation, beatings, searches and arrests,” said the association’s head, Andrei Bastunets. Among those...

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Bachelet pide a Cuba que libere a...
(Reuters) — La alta comisionada de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, Michelle Bachelet, pidió el viernes a Cuba que libere a los manifestantes y a varios periodistas detenidos en manifestaciones y denunció un presunto uso excesivo de la fuerza contra algunos de ellos. Sacerdote golpeado en Cuba narra su detención 2:38 “Es particularmente preocupante que se incluyan personas presuntamente recluidas en régimen de incomunicación y personas cuyo paradero se desconoce. Todos los detenidos por ejercer sus derechos deben...

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Europe floods: Death toll over 110 as...
BERLIN (AP) — At least 110 people have died in devastating floods across parts of western Germany and Belgium, officials said Friday, as rescue operations and the search for hundreds still unaccounted for continued. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was “stunned” by the devastation caused by the flooding and pledged support to the families of those killed and to cities and towns facing significant damage. “In the hour of need, our country stands together,” Steinmeier said in a...

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18-year-old joining Blue Origin’s 1st passenger spaceflight
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An 18-year-old is about to become the youngest person in space, rocketing away with an aviation pioneer who will become the oldest at age 82. Blue Origin announced Thursday that instead of an auction winner launching with founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday, Oliver Daemen will be on board. The company said he’ll be the first paying customer, but did not disclose the cost of his ticket. Also soaring on Blue Origin’s first launch with...

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Canadian government rejects virus shots in US...
DETROIT (AP) — The Canadian government has rejected a creative plan to have Ontario residents line up inside a U.S. border tunnel to tap into a surplus of COVID-19 vaccine held by Michigan, a mayor said. A white stripe was painted inside the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in the Detroit River. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens proposed that Canadians would stand along the border while health care workers jab them. “We’re not trying to send a man to the moon here. We’re...

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Flooding affects parts of Europe after heavy...
BERLIN (AP) — Storms caused heavy flooding across parts of western and central Europe overnight, and a man swept away by a raging stream in eastern Germany remained missing Wednesday. Firefighters resumed their search for the man in the Saxony state town of Joehstadt on Wednesday morning. German news agency dpa reported that he had been trying to secure his property from rising waters when he disappeared. Firefighters in the city of Hagen, in the North Rhine-Westphalia state, rescued...

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