A few weeks ago, a 17-year-old-girl arrived. As introduced myself, I noticed that she did not seem comfortable in her fluorescent green smock and pants. Though they were probably two sizes too big for her, she seemed to be holding them close to her small frame. She’s not the first female student we’ve had, so I knew I had to ask an uncomfortable question: “Do you have underwear?” I spoke low, trying not to let my voice carry to the rest of the unit; its current occupants: 37 teenage boys....

Women’s World Cup final: USA vs. Japan odds The hosts’ path to the final always looked relatively straightforward, and although they have had to overcome two tough opponents in Uruguay and Peru in the knockout stages, Jorge Sampaoli’s men were always fancied to make it through. Argentina, meanwhile, has been the favorite throughout the competition, and while it has taken the side a while to get going, its 6-1 demolition of Paraguay in the semifinals had been on the cards....

In a message published Friday by the State Department, Secretary Mike Pompeo wrote: “On behalf of the people of the United States, I offer congratulations to the people of China as you celebrate your National Day on October 1.” He added: “The United States wishes the people of China happiness, health, peace and prosperity in the year to come.” But the message came amid not only a global trade war between the two top economic competitors, but also frictions in the South China Sea, where Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan recently defied Beijing’s territorial claims....

The Beijing Olympics are almost exactly a year away. The gala opening will commence on 8:08 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008–playing on the Chinese belief that eight is a lucky number. But Beijing authorities are already locked in a contest of ideas. In a series of “one-year-to-go” celebrations this week, they’ve been highlighting the best about Beijing (or at least trying to, through a soggy haze of pollution)....

RSF published a statement Tuesday detailing how Chinese authorities suppressed whistle blowers and early warnings of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, which has since spread across the globe and killed more than 19,000 people. “Without the control and censorship imposed by the authorities, the Chinese media would have informed the public much earlier of the severity of the coronavirus epidemic, sparing thousands of lives and perhaps avoiding the current pandemic,” the RSF statement argued....

That’s a line Chinese spokespersons around the globe are rehearsing these days. Beijing is fighting hard to burnish its PR—striving for a softer, more sophisticated tone—ahead of next summer. Its Olympic organizing committee has hired Hill and Knowlton, a consulting firm, for help and holds regular Olympics-related press conferences and media trips. Last Thursday China joined Western nations condemning Burma’s crackdown in the U.N. Security Council, the first time Beijing has agreed to such a measure....

Others call it another Internet bubble. Analysts warn that the Chinese portals are wildly overvalued, and that even some of their top executives are selling off lots of shares. The three portals all earned less than $10 million in the last quarter, and yet the market value for Sina and Netease is well over $1.5 billion; for Sohu it’s more than $1 billion. “The valuation we’re seeing is mad,” says Morgan Stanley economist Andy Xie, who expects a crash....

As the temblor struck China’s southwestern province of Sichuan at just before 1 p.m. local time, residents of the provincial capital, Chengdu, descended from their high-rise apartments and headed for open ground. But many found the exits locked or blocked by community health workers, who urged them to remain indoors. Just hours earlier, the city had extended mandatory quarantine measures for the majority of its 21 million residents by three more days to help curb a surge in coronavirus cases....

A C-146A Wolfhound, typically used by Air Force Special Operations Command, left Okinawa’s Kadena air base in Japan before landing at Songshan airport in Taiwan’s capital at 9:32 a.m. local time, according to publicly available flight tracking data. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, said in an online statement that Beijing had expressed its “serious concern” over the stopover, which lasted just over half an hour. “Taiwan is part of China’s sacred and inalienable territory,” Wu said....

The 20-member Department of Defense task force—comprising military and intelligence officials as well as civilian leaders—was announced by the president last month and held its first meeting on March 1. The group, led by veteran Asia expert Ely Ratner, is looking at the Pentagon’s interaction with China and focuses on “countering Chinese efforts,” the department said in a statement last month. The task force aims to provide findings including actionable recommendations to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and deputy Kathleen Hicks by the middle of June....

The Ravens got their group stages campaign off to a great start with a victory at home over group rivals ES Setif to take early charge of their group. Neither MC Alger or Difaa El Jadidi could claim maximum points in the groups opening fixture played in Algeria on Friday as the two sides settled for a 1-1 draw. Alger had to come from behind to secure the 1-1 draw after Hamid Ahaddad had given the visitors the lead in the 77th minute....

Justice with Judge Jeanine host Jeanine Pirro asked the California gubernatorial candidate whether Trump should run again. Jenner, a Republican, quickly replied: “That’s his decision.” Challenged on whether she would support him if he did, a more hesitant Jenner said: “If I was Governor of the State of California…obviously I would support him.” What if Jenner is not elected as governor, she was asked. “Yes, I still would support him,” Jenner said, adding: “I do not like what’s happening in this country right now....

Swanigan was drafted 26th overall in 2017 by the Trail Blazers and appeared in 75 games in the NBA. He spent 10 games with the Kings and 65 with the Trail Blazers. He last appeared in the league in the 2019-20 season. “Terribly saddened by this,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter wrote on Twitter. “Biggie had a positive influence in everyone’s life. Was such a thoughtful person and gentle soul who had to overcome so much in his life....

The 29-year-old defenseman rejoined the team in Philadelphia and is expected to practice Sunday for the first time since the on-ice episode. That could set him up to return to the lineup soon. “It’s good to be back. I’m feeling good,” Brodie told Flames TV on Saturday. “It will be nice to get on the ice with the guys and try to get back up to speed.” MORE: T.J. Brodie taken to hospital after collapsing at practice...

On Friday, the high court ruled that Santa Clara County could not enforce a ban on indoor religious worship, bypassing the county’s decision to restrict all indoor activity. Now, churches can resume indoor services while they await a decision in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Fox News reported. “We are disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s order regarding indoor worship services,” County Counsel James R. Williams said Friday, according to NBC News....

“A Red Flag Warning is in effect through 6PM for the interior Los Angeles and Ventura County Mountains, Ventura County interior alleys and the Santa Clarita Valley due to gusty northeast winds and very low humidities,” the National Weather Service (NWS) announced on Thursday. Red Flag Warnings indicate conditions are favorable for “dangerous fire growth and behavior for established fires or where new fire ignition occurs,” according to the NWS....

The total amount burned in California this year so far—2,277,922 acres—is nearly three times the size of Yosemite National Park, which spans 759,620 acres. “Compared to last year, California has seen over 2,650 more fires and a nearly 2000 percent increase in the acres burned year-to-date (January 1 – September 7), across all jurisdictions,” Cal Fire noted in a post Tuesday on its official Twitter account. Nearly 14,000 firefighters are battling 25 major wildfires in California, three (the Valley, Bobcat and Slater fires) of which have been zero percent contained, as of Tuesday evening....

Q: What is the reward for beating Mercer? A: A new head coaching job in the Pacific-12 Conference. MORE: Draft withdrawal deadline an affront to players | Vols’ Stokes declares for NBA draft A year ago, beating Mercer in the Atlantic Sun Tournament championship game allowed Florida Gulf Coast to enter the NCAA Tournament and pull off upsets over Georgetown and San Diego State. And those three victories launched Andy Enfield into a multi-million position as head coach at Southern California....

And it would be a disaster. No doubt, this effort to level the playing field stems from a noble desire. Learning to “solve the problems that result in societal inequities” is important. But the fact is, replacing the teaching of actual math with lessons or pedagogies grounded in the work of social justice is an injustice; it’s not justice to force students of vastly different mathematical or other learning capabilities to consume the same material in the same way when we know that learning needs differ from child to child....

Elias Garibay was having dinner at Tortilleria Flores in Yuba City, California, on Friday night when the shooting occurred, CBS Sacramento reported. When a woman entered the restaurant with an infant looking for protection, Garibay offered to help—and was shot by the woman’s partner, the station reported. The 45-year-old was taken to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California, where he is in a critical, but stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to CBS Sacramento....