Blog

2 Patriots employees reinstated by NFL (Yahoo Sports)

The NFL said the New England Patriots can reinstate the two employees at the center of what a league investigation found was a scheme to use improperly inflated footballs in the AFC championship game. Equipment assistant John Jastremski and officials locker room attendant Jim McNally were reinstated Wednesday after the team requested they be allowed to return. ”The Patriots have satisfied the league’s requirements for reinstatement and the league has

Europe chase three in a row at Solheim Cup

Sankt Leon-Rot (Germany) (AFP) – It was all becoming a little predictable. A first ever win on US soil –- by a thumping 18-10 margin — in Colorado two years ago has given Carin Koch’s team the chance to make it an unprecedented three in a row. “We’re looking forward to the week and we know that the Americans won’t want to lose three in a row,” said Koch, who

Cubs beat Pirates in 12 innings, Arrieta fails in bid for 20th win

(The Sports Xchange) – First baseman Anthony Rizzo’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th inning lifted the Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday and edged them closer to the first National League wild-card spot. The Cubs (84-61) drew within three games of the Pirates (87-58) for the first wild-card spot and now hold a commanding eight-game lead for the second wild-card berth over

Red-hot Rangers hand Astros third successive loss

(The Sports Xchange) – Houston ace Dallas Keuchel had the worst outing of his big-league career as Texas rolled to a 14-3 victory on Wednesday that moved the Rangers 1-1/2 games ahead of the Astros in the American League West. Keuchel, a Cy Young candidate, gave up nine earned runs and three of the five home runs the Rangers smashed in their 16-hit performance. The Rangers wasted no time in

Pedroia powers Red Sox past Orioles

(The Sports Xchange) – Dustin Pedroia homered twice and drove in five runs while Henry Owens threw 7-2/3 shutout innings as the Boston Red Sox scored nine early runs and rolled to a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Second baseman Pedroia is making his way back after sitting out 42 games due to a strained right hamstring and has started six of Boston’s last eight games with

HSBC mulls pull-out from flagship Shanghai WGC event

HSBC is considering ending its sponsorship of its flagship golf tournament, the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, as the contract expires this year, a senior official told AFP. HSBC global head of sponsorship Giles Morgan said the British bank was currently evaluating its association with the $8.5 million event, one of four World Golf Championships (WGC) held worldwide. Morgan added that sponsorship of the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore, one of

Croatia overwhelmed by flood of migrants, EU calls summit

By Maja Zuvela TOVARNIK, Croatia (Reuters) – Amid chaotic scenes at its border with Serbia, Croatia said on Thursday it could not cope with a flood of migrants seeking a new route into the EU after Hungary kept them out by erecting a fence and using tear gas and water cannon against them. The European Union’s newest member state said it may try to stop taking in migrants, just as

Chileans pick through debris after powerful quake; 10 dead

By Felipe Iturrieta ILLAPEL, Chile (Reuters) – Residents picked through the rubble of destroyed buildings in central Chile on Thursday after a magnitude 8.3 earthquake killed 10 people and sent powerful waves barreling into coastal areas, forcing more than 1 million people from their homes. Violent aftershocks continued to shake the South American country on Thursday morning and local residents said they feared another big quake, although the government lifted

Exclusive: Syrian army starts using new weapons from Russia – military source

By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian military has recently started using new types of air and ground weapons supplied by Russia, a Syrian military source told Reuters on Thursday, underlining growing Russian support to Damascus that is alarming the United States. The Russian government said on Thursday its military support for Damascus was aimed at fighting terrorism, safeguarding Syria’s statehood and preventing a “total catastrophe” in the region.

U.S. says more sanctions a possible response to any North Korea launch

A senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday that additional sanctions were a possible response to any North Korea missile launch and the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said he favored deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear and Admiral Harry Harris made the comments at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee after North Korea said this