These extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, add to the catalog of more than 4,500 worlds discovered that orbit stars other than our sun. The find could enable researchers to understand better the evolution of planetary systems as well as showing them how unique, or not, our solar system is in the wider Milky Way. “Discovering hundreds of new exoplanets is a significant accomplishment by itself, but what sets this work apart is how it will illuminate features of the exoplanet population as a whole,” said Erik Petigura, an astronomy professor at the University of California Los Angeles....

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that the Angels had two leading scouts at the Phillies game in Milwaukee Friday night. MORE: Eight players that might move in August | MLB’s most fan-friendly contracts Meanwhile, CSNPhilly reported Friday that the Astros had apparently joined the pursuit for the 36-year-old veteran. That would bring the number of teams reportedly interested in the six-time All-Star to six. Others reportedly interested include the Cubs, Yankees, Giants and Dodgers....

And in the NL, the Dodgers spent the entire season as the best team in the league, rolling up 106 wins — nine more than any other team and 13 more than the Nationals, the team they’re facing in the NLDS. But like the Astros, a couple of losses have forced L.A.’s favorite team into survival mode in a win-or-go-home Game 5. FOSTER: Cardinals and Braves have opposite, perplexing playoff histories...

The 1999 American League Rookie of the Year was at the end of an impressive career. He’d topped 400 homers, 300 stolen bases, 2,600 hits, 1,500 runs, 1,500 RBIs and had a hefty 70.9 bWAR. His spot as one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball was secure; he already had more hits, more RBIs, more doubles, more triples and more stolen bases than Mickey Mantle, the gold standard for switch-hitting stars....

The man, who is one of 42,000 asylum seekers sent back to Mexico by the Trump administration since mid-July, told VICE News that corrupt Mexican immigration officials and uncaring U.S. Border Patrol agents work in tandem to deliver destitute migrants to cartels. VICE reported on the story of “David” who, along with his young child, were forced into trucks and abducted just a few hours and miles away from the border crossing where he’d hoped to seek asylum in the United States....

“Whether it’s defunding the police, ending cash bail so criminals can be released back out on the streets the same day to riot again, or encouraging anarchy on our streets,” Mark McCloskey said, “it seems as if Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens.” He added that “radicals” who marched outside of his home also want to “walk the halls of Congress,” stating, “This is Joe Biden’s party....

NFL players, and their athletic peers in other sports, have challenged the notion that public statements about social and political controversies don’t belong at the games, that the field is sacred ground not to be tainted by words or deeds that break down the wall between the sports world and the real world. Never mind, of course, that the wall is broken nearly every week, not long after players warm up and shortly before they’re introduced — when the national anthem is accompanied by a military flyover and an American flag the length and width of the field....

The 28-year-old made 32 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 champions last season, scoring twice and providing five assists. Athletic are now keen to acquire his signature, as they look for defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer market. While PSG are reluctant to sell Berchiche, who has previously played for the likes of Real Sociedad and SD Eibar, manager Thomas Tuchel has now given the green light to the transfer....

Under the mandate, everyone needs to wear a mask inside stores and other businesses. People who violate the rule twice could be fined $50. Bottoms said she decided to re-implement the mandate, which was only removed a month ago, due to a recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is headquartered in Atlanta, also advised her on the decision. Almost 1,250 people were hospitalized in Georgia with the virus as of Tuesday, a 50 percent increase since the end of last month when the state reported only 824 hospitalizations....

“I know there have been several rumors that there is a serial killer on the loose in our city,” said Bottoms at a Tuesday briefing. “We don’t have any evidence of that.” Bottoms also dressed the speculation the killing was a hate crime as Janness was a member of the city’s LGBTQ community. “As of now, we don’t have any proof of that.” For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below:...

This represents the third consective edition of “Madden” that has featured a stadium set to open the next year. With “Madden NFL 15” it was Levi’s Stadium for the 49ers while “Madden NFL 16” offered the opportunity to play with the Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium, which is ready for this season. MORE: Winners, losers from “Madden NFL 17” player ratings The other big addition for the game is LA Memorial Coliseum, the temporary home for the Rams until their new stadium opens in 2019....

The MLS expansion side Thursday announced the signing of Venezuela international Josef Martinez on loan from Torino, with an option to buy. The 23-year-old forward joins Argentine winger Hector Villalba and Paraguayan playmaker Miguel Almiron in Atlanta, giving Gerardo Martino’s club a full complement of DP signings. Toronto FC re-signs Tosaint Ricketts “We’re excited to have acquired another player who’s entering the prime of his career and who has already experienced top competition in Europe and South America,” United president Darren Eales said in a news release....

According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the casinos showed a collective gross operating profit of $310 million from July to September. Gross operating profit refers to the earnings before interest, taxes and other expenses. This year’s third-quarter gross operating profit is over twice the amount in 2020, which was $151 million. However, because the casinos were still operating under COVID capacity restrictions, James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, told AP that the results are not comparable....

On Wednesday, the Mexico national team and Atlas captain was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for his alleged support of a drug trafficking organization. Marquez’s club team and national team federation released statements supporting him on Thursday, but both also expressed their belief that Mexico is a nation of laws and that it was necessary to wait for justice to be done. “The Mexican Football Federation and Liga MX are organizations that have absolute respect for the laws and regulations that support it,” declared a statement on the Mexican federation’s official website....

First-half strikes from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez secured the victory that puts the holders in control of the semi-final ahead of the return match at Camp Nou next Tuesday. Diego Simeone’s side have had success against Barca in recent years with a devastating counterattacking style, but they were on the receiving end of the same tactic early in the first half and were punished by a brilliant run and finish from Suarez with only seven minutes played....

Second-half strikes from Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa looked set to extend Atletico’s superb form despite Marko Livaja’s leveller for Las Palmas, but Diego Simeone’s men allowed their concentration to slip in the final minutes at Estadio Vincente Calderon. Livaja made it 2-2 with a simple finish in the 89th minute and Mateo Garcia scored in injury time to give Quique Setien’s side their first away win since August, but it was too late for the visitors after a game in which a below-par Atleti did just enough to win the tie....

The Blues cruised to a 6-0 victory over Qarabag in their opening fixture but are likely to find the going a little tougher on Spanish soil as they seek to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions. Atletico were held 1-1 by Roma in their first continental outing of the campaign so will be looking to kick-start their bid for a top-two finish in Group C....

Sicknick collapsed at his division office hours after being hit with the high-powered spray during the riot and was pronounced dead at the hospital the next day. Two men—George Tanios and Julian Khater—were charged with assaulting Sicknick, but could face more serious charges after the medical examiner issues a report on his death. “If evidence directly relates that chemical to his death, yeah. We have causation, we have a link....

“Just spent the last hour reading tweets from our elected officials on both sides of the aisle. They all suck. I’ve had enough empty words from our leaders,” Milano wrote. “There’s a problem in this country. It won’t go away on its own. We need to fix it. And we need to fix it now.” A number of political leaders called for change in messages of condolences shared on social media after two mass shootings occurred within 24 hours in Texas and Ohio....

Cannon, 42, whose sizable brood is with multiple women, previously welcomed a son with Scott, 29, in June 2021. Their baby, Zen, died in December from a brain tumor caused by hydrocephalus, an abnormal increase in fluid in the brain. Scott confirmed in early November that she and Cannon would be expecting the arrival of their second child together in December. She also has a four-year-old daughter called Zeela from a previous relationship....