“How many can I wreck before they throw me out?” Bowyer joked. That’s the question a lot of drivers probably would like to know going into the regular-season finale Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. There are 19 drivers who could earn a spot in the Chase with a win in the Federated Auto Parts 400, and 15 of those can only get in with a win. “You still have to answer to your sponsor, and to your team and to all the fans,” said Greg Biffle, who has a good shot of getting in on points unless a winless driver captures the trophy Saturday night....

It played a large role — along with injuries and a poorly constructed roster — in the Lakers missing the playoffs, and it’s a big reason why the team is working to acquire Kyrie Irving before the start of the season. But if Los Angeles does go into the 2022-23 season with Westbrook on the roster, what will his leash look like compared to last year? According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, not very long....

This is where a person’s importance affects decisions about their medical care, ranging from doctors sparing them from tests to prevent them from experiencing pain, to unnecessarily investigating any minor abnormality, as well as the individual demanding treatments. Dr. Mark Siegel, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Yale School of Medicine, told ABC News: “When a patient is high profile, there’s a temptation to break away from the standard medical care that you would give to any other patient—and sometimes to the disadvantage to the patient, the VIP....

The trio of signs call the hillside Trooper’s Hill, Troopers’ Hill and Troopers Hill, sparking a debate that goes back over 200 years. The beauty spot located in Bristol in western England has been operating as a local nature reserve for 27 years and is called “one of the most spectacular wildlife spots in the city.” The newest sign put up on the land, run by Bristol Parks, a subgroup of Bristol City Council, reads “Public Footpath to Trooper’s Hill....

Joshua and Jose Francisco have over 400,000 followers on their TikTok account @mr.gardeners, where they show their home renovations. This time they did a renovation of different kinds, transforming a blind stray kitten. “The other day we found a kitten against our garage and we couldn’t find its mother anywhere, so we brought it in,” said Joshua Francisco in the video, with footage of the tiny kitten curled up outside....

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said Pendley, who wasn’t confirmed to the position by the Senate, had served unlawfully info 424 days. Montana Democratic Governor Steve Bullock spearheaded the lawsuit to oust Pendley, which alleged that he was illegally leading the agency. “Today’s ruling is a win for the Constitution, the rule of law, and our public lands,” Bullock said....

The Commonwealth Court voted 4 to 1 on the decision, siding with the Republican officials in the Senate who sued to challenge the mask mandate. Judges said that the decision was made because Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam did not comply with state laws on approving regulations, with the mask mandate being approved by Governor Tom Wolf without a pre-existing emergency declaration. Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon wrote the court’s opinion....

‘Conte’s iron fist dealt with difficult Hazard’ Courtois claimed the Premier League Golden Glove award after his 16 clean sheets edged out Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris for the prize, although his side missed the chance to win the double when they lost 2-1 to Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup final. The Belgium international has previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but the 25-year-old is keen to commit his future to Stamford Bridge....

Some analysis in Taiwan has raised the possibility of seeing a more toned-down approach by Beijing after Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi overcomes leadership contenders and retains his position as the nation’s paramount leader during the party’s 20th National Congress. “We can always hope for the best, but we sure need to prepare for the worst,” said Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister at the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei....

Yang Jiechi, a senior Chinese diplomat who serves as the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, said China does not plan to challenge the political system of the U.S. He called for cooperation between the two nations in an article published by the People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese community party. However, Yang also asserted that China would not accept challenges to its government structure....

Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, tweeted that China should take action against American “invaders” in Taiwan after an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal revealed that two dozen U.S. troops had been secretly stationed there helped training Taiwanese soldiers. “Why secretly? The US should send 240 servicemen publicly, in US military uniform, and make public where they are stationed,” Xijin said. “See whether the PLA [Chinese Armed Forces] will launch a targeted air strike to eliminate those US invaders!...

The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals, which do not equate to specific constellations, as in the Western astrological tradition. Instead, the repeating 12-year cycle—rotating through Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig—is based in ancient astronomical observations of Jupiter’s approximately 12-year orbit of the sun. The exact origins of the Chinese zodiac are unknown, but associations between animals and years developed were codified during the Han Dynasty—sometime between the second century B....

Pelosi’s official itinerary only includes confirmed visits to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore—all allies of the United States in the region. While there has been significant speculation and calls for the top House Democrat, who represents California, to visit Taiwan, a stop in the country is only a tentative possibility. Tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan have been high for decades, with concern about a potential conflict ever in the background of the two superpowers routinely fraught relationship....

Earnhardt. The No. 1 and No. 42 Sprint Cup teams, which were run the last five years under the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates banner, will now return to their former name: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The sign outside the North Carolina shop already has been changed, and stickers on the cars and patches on the driver and crew uniforms will carry the Chip Ganassi logo instead of the EGR logo....

Chipotle offers discounts on its famous bowls every Halloween as a part of its “Boorito” promotion. This year, customers could order the bowl for $5, a slightly higher price than previous years, and could only do so through the site or app. Previously, customers would need to attend in-store in a Halloween costume to get the discount. It sounds great in theory, but according to customers online, they were left waiting hours for orders....

At the summit, Chirac quarreled over whether NATO would help train Iraqi security forces in Iraq or not, and opposed an American proposal to deploy NATO’s strike force in Afghanistan for fall elections. But he saved his most caustic comments for Bush, who had earlier promoted Turkey’s admission to the European Union in a public speech. “He ventured into territory which is not his concern,” Chirac said archly. “It would be like me telling the U....

The MLS champions knocked out Liga MX powers Tigres and Club America to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final, where Chivas de Guadalajara awaited in an easier matchup – at least on paper. Instead, Matias Almeyda’s side stunned TFC 2-1 in the first leg in Toronto, leaving Greg Vanney’s men with a mountain to climb in the second leg. Now TFC will be back in the underdog role as they look to pull off an improbable continental title with a second-leg comeback in Mexico on Wednesday....

Stoke 9/4 for a top half finish The Cameroon international was available after leaving Bundesliga side Schalke at the end of his contract, having scored 18 league goals in his three seasons at the club. The 28-year-old wide player, who can also be deployed as a striker, follows Darren Fletcher, Kurt Zouma and Josh Tymon in signing for Stoke during the transfer window. Bayern rejected Neymar for €24m “I am just so happy to join the Stoke City family and have this opportunity to play in the English Premier League for the first time,” said Choupo-Moting....

Christie was part of a group of lawmakers who contracted COVID-19 while working in and around the White House in September and October. As part of President Donald Trump’s debate prep team, Christie had been in close quarters with the president. Christie announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a nomination ceremony for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in September. Christie also attended the event, where both Trump and Christie were observed not wearing face masks....