The National Pastime meets the Sweet Science.

Germany faces the most serious challenge by a far-right party since World War II, one expert said this week, with the hardline AfD party climbing to second place in opinion polls.

The demand for lithium for EV batteries is driving a mining boom in an arid Andes region of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, home to half the world’s reserves. Hydrologists are warning the mines could drain vital ecosystems and deprive Indigenous communities of precious water.

A famous video game influencer known for streaming on Twitch is in custody after a giveaway event attracting thousands of young people sparked pandemonium in Manhattan’s Union Square. The Friday afternoon event advertised by Kai Cenat, one of the most popular streamers online, grew out of control well before its scheduled 4 p.m. start time. Police estimates suggest the crowd…

Famed attorney Alan Dershowitz said books he has written are not allowed to be sold at the Martha’s Vineyard book fair because he is a staunch defender of former President Donald Trump. Dershowitz defended Trump at his first impeachment trial and has made numerous television appearances on right-wing media to defend the ex-president against the criminal charges levied against him in multiple venues. But at what cost? Appearing on Newsmax’s The Record, Dershowitz told host Greta Van Susteren his books have become pariahs on the posh resort island of Martha’a Vineyard in Massachusetts. Van Susteren remarked how those who defend Trump – who was arraigned on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his attempt to overturn the 2020 election – are sometimes shunned. “I used to represent people charged with murder,” Van Susteren said, referring to her past career as an attorney. “I never got ostracized. And I was never for murdering or anything, but you dare represent Donald Trump, you’re gonna be ostracized–”

A boy denied booze at a luxury Upper East Side hotel has since mounted a campaign of defamation, sending paid protesters to chant strange allegations that the five-star destination denies the Holocaust, supports Jeffrey Epstein and has mice, according to court records, video and workers. The Mark Hotel on East 77th Street between Fifth and Madison avenues — whose visitors include Met Gala guests and Angelina Jolie — filed a defamation lawsuit against Theodore Weintraub in July, court records show. Workers told Patch the would-be imbiber has been spotted sitting in a parked Cadillac across the street, smirking as protesters-for-hire chant at his behest. “The Mark has mice, The Mark supports Epstein, pedophiles, bald head,’" the protesters chant, one worker told Patch.

An Orange County, California, judge is under arrest, suspected in the fatal shooting of his wife, authorities say. Pictured: Orange County. How did you get your sausage fingers through a trigger guard, Judge Fed? This guy’s court is #1 in the nation for gravy forfeitures. It’s now also fat joke Friday, and you can’t get mad at me because I am also fat.

The FCC ordered a record $300 million forfeiture, but whether and when that money will be paid is, as always, something of an open question.

Six white former law enforcement officers in Mississippi have pleaded guilty to a racist assault on Michael Corey Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker, who are Black.

A husband and wife cyber-crime team have pleaded guilty to trying to launder $4.5bn (£3.5bn) of Bitcoin that he had stolen in a hack in 2016. Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein were arrested last year in New York after police traced their riches back to the crypto heist. While evading police, Morgan masqueraded as a rapper and tech entrepreneur. As part of a plea deal, Lichtenstein admitted he was behind the hack. The couple both pleaded guilty to money laundering, but Morgan pleaded guilty to an additional count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In spite of attempting to cover up her crimes, Morgan published dozens of expletive-filled music videos and rap songs filmed in locations around New York, under the name Razzlekhan. In her lyrics she called herself a "bad-ass money maker" and "the crocodile of Wall Street".

Lawyers for Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger say he was out driving alone the night of the killings.

Latest news and updates on Trump's arraignment after being indicted on charges

The group announced the vessel's discovery this week, but plans to withhold the name until the vessel can be viewed up close. Can’t get enough shipwreck Friday.

If you are a democratically elected leader in one of Africa’s Sahel countries – let’s say, Niger – and you suspect that the army is plotting to overthrow you, what’s the best counter-measure?

he Canadian province of Alberta has withdrawn its support for a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, citing cost blowouts. Commonwealth Sport Canada said it had been informed by the Alberta government that it was discontinuing efforts towards bidding for the event, which was to be held in the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. "We believe the recent decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a significant factor in Alberta's decision, as well as an over-dependence on taxpayers' support for the planning and delivery of the Games," a statement from Commonwealth Sport Canada said. "Commonwealth Sport Canada is profoundly disappointed in Alberta Government's decision but respects their right to make this decision." The Alberta government had committed up to $2 million and the city of Edmonton another $1 million to explore the feasibility of hosting the Games.

To determine whether cognitive decline can be saved with this kind of sensory stimulation, Yassa and his colleagues provided 20 of the study's recruits with an assortment of natural oils containing fragrances of rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender.

Much of that labeling work is performed thousands of miles from Silicon Valley, in east Africa, India, the Philippines, and even refugees living in Kenya’s Dadaab and Lebanon’s Shatila – camps with a large pool of multilingual workers who are willing to do the work for a fraction of the cost, said Srravya Chandhiramowuli, a researcher of data annotation at the University of London.

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In the mountains of the world's most remote country, baseball takes hold

Regimbartia attenuata doesn’t take too kindly to being eaten. Once locked inside a frog’s maw, it turns around and starts heading for the exit.