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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.

 
Duke and Duchess of Sussex convene session...
NEW YORK (AP) — Creating online communities free of danger and misinformation is crucial in building a better world, the Duchess of Sussex told an online audience Tuesday during a special Time100 Talks episode she curated with her husband, Prince Harry. “This isn’t just a tech problem. This isn’t solely a mental health or emotional well-being problem. This is a human problem. And what’s happening to all of us online is affecting us deeply offline,” Meghan said in opening...

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The Latest: UK gives Manchester deadline to...
LONDON — The British government has given the city of Manchester a noon Tuesday deadline to agree to tighter coronavirus measures, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson struggles to impose his plan for localized restrictions on restive regions. Johnson’s government is resisting a recommendation from its scientific advisory committee for a short “circuit-breaker” lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Instead it has adopted a three-tier system for England, with areas classed as medium, high and very high risk....

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NATO to set up new space center...
KESTER, Belgium (AP) — To a few of the locals, the top-secret, fenced-off installation on the hill is known as “the radar station.” Some folks claim to have seen mysterious Russians in the area. Over the years, rumors have swirled that it might be a base for U.S. nuclear warheads. It’s easy to see how the rumors start. The site is visually striking. Four huge white Kevlar balls sit like giant spherical spacecraft in a compound in the middle...

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Gifty new and unusual pandemic-proof games for...
NEW YORK (AP) — The pandemic has proven there’s no shortage of games to keep families, couples and kids amused. The classics are ever-present, but a range of new or off-the-beaten-track gift entries are available. A sampling: TRAGOS: It’s a party card game focused on Latino pop culture that comes in a variety of sets, including one out in November that’s digital only and costs $3.99. It’s the Tragos Stay Home Pack and includes such activities as showing off...

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Few fans, masked umps, muted celebrations for...
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A World Series like no other opens Tuesday night with Clayton Kershaw’s Los Angeles Dodgers pursuing redemption, Kevin Kiermaier’s Tampa Bay Rays seeking acclaim and Major League Baseball relieved just to reach the championship of the pandemic-delayed season. Buzz figures to be dampened, with attendance down to about 11,000 in the smallest crowd for a Series game since roughly 1909. The entire Series will be played on artificial turf for the first time since 1993,...

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Steelers stay perfect, blow out Mayfield, Browns...
PITTSBURGH (AP) — One by one the dominos toppled. The NFL’s best running game fell first. The passing game came next, quickly followed by the optimism that somehow things would be different for the Cleveland Browns. It never is. Not in Pittsburgh anyway. Players change. Coaches change. Decades change. The result when the Steelers host the Browns does not. Pittsburgh wins. And while the Browns might be on their way back to relevance, the Steelers provided a stark reminder...

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Thauvin stars as Marseille beats Bordeaux 3-1...
PARIS (AP) — Winger Florian Thauvin scored a fine goal and set up another as Marseille beat Bordeaux 3-1 at home to move up to fifth place in the French league on Saturday. Hatem Ben Arfa made his debut for midtable Bordeaux, the ninth club of the former France winger’s topsy-turvy career. The 33-year-old played two full seasons for Marseille after joining from Lyon in 2008, when he was considered one of the best young talents in European soccer....

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New virus restrictions in Europe; Merkel warns...
BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to come together like they did in the spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus as the country posted another daily record of new cases Saturday. “Difficult months are ahead of us,” she said in her weekly video podcast. “How winter will be, how our Christmas will be, that will all be decided in these coming days and weeks, and it will be decided by our behavior.” Meanwhile, new restrictions...

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UK Space Agency backs medical drone delivery...
LONDON (AP) — A medical drone delivery service founded by trainee doctors that aims to transport coronavirus samples, test kits and protective equipment between hospitals has won the backing of Britain’s Space Agency. The start-up project can help free up healthcare staff, avoid courier waiting times and minimize the risk of virus transmission, authorities said Saturday. Trainee doctors Hammad Jeilani and Christopher Law are trialing “dronepad” infrastructure so the miniature aircraft can take off from and land on hospitals,...

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AP FACT CHECK: Trump sees what others...
WASHINGTON (AP) — “I believe we’re rounding the corner.” “We’re a winner on the excess mortality.” “We have the vaccines coming and we have the therapies coming.” “We have done an amazing job.” President Donald Trump sees in the pandemic what he wants to see. He seemed to acknowledge as much when he was challenged on stage a few days ago for repeatedly and thoroughly misrepresenting a study about masks. No, the study did not find that most people...

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Trump, Biden go at it — from...
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation. Coming just two and half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and a national, if divided, audience. Trump was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 215,000 American...

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TV gives viewers a split-screen comparison of...
NEW YORK (AP) — Instead of the expected debate between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, television viewers were left Thursday with what ABC’s David Muir called “split-screen America.” Biden participated in a 90-minute town hall from Philadelphia on ABC, while NBC News went ahead with its hourlong Trump session in Miami — despite protests from Hollywood stars and others who criticized the network for forcing viewers to choose because the two events were held at the same...

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The Latest: Dr. Fauci: Rethink usual plans...
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says Americans should rethink their usual plans for Thanksgiving gatherings, citing increased coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. Fauci told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday that given the rise in cases, “we’ve really got to double down on fundamental public health measures that we talk about every day because they can make a difference.” As for Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans travel to gather with families and friends, Fauci says this November may need to...

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Falcons shut facility after 2nd positive; Vikings...
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons shut their facility Thursday following one new positive test for COVID-19. The team remains scheduled to play at Minnesota on Sunday. Defensive tackle Marlon Davidson was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list this week, and the addition of a second unidentified person caused the Falcons to act out of caution. All team activity will be done virtually. “This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials,” the team said in a...

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Braves’ 1st playoff loss a doozy, 15-3...
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Baby Braves were the Battered Braves in their first loss of these playoffs. Now the young pitchers who had been so poised and effective in the postseason will have to try to get Atlanta back on track. Rookie starter Kyle Wright and the Braves gave up a postseason-record 11 runs in the first inning of a 15-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday night....

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