The superspreaders behind top COVID-19 conspiracy theories
Legitimate questions about the virus created perfect conditions for conspiracy theories. COVID CLAIM: Boyle says the coronavirus is a genetically engineered bioweapon that escaped from a high-level lab in Wuhan, China. COVID CLAIM: Nikulin argues the U.S. created the virus and used it to attack China. He first voiced the belief in a Jan. 20, 2020, story by Zvezda, a state media outlet tied to the Russian military. EVIDENCE: There is no evidence that the U.S. created the virus or used it as a weapon to attack Iran.
Pandemic World Series draws smallest crowd in over century
The Los Angeles Dodgers line up during during the national anthem and a fly over before Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Tampa Bay infielder Joey Wendle is married to one of their cousins, and they weren’t going to miss his World Series debut. That was the smallest Series crowd since 10,535 attended Game 6 in 1909 between the Tigers and Pittsburgh at Detroit's Bennett Park, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. But this World Series had a surreal, at times somber feel caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Roughly the same amount of tickets were sold for each World Series game.
In a future bomber force, old and ugly beats new and snazzy
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. The Air Force sees it as a matter of money, numbers and strategy. The Air Force also is spending heavily on new fighters and refueling aircraft, and like the rest of the military it foresees tighter defense budgets ahead. A B-2 bomber scarred U.S.-China relations in 1999 when it bombed Beijings embassy in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, killing three people. The Air Force proposes to eliminate 17 of its 62 Lancers in the coming year.
New this week: 'Clemency,' BET Awards, HAIM, 'Doctor Sleep'
(Neon via AP)Heres a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of whats arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency was well-reviewed but got unjustly overshadowed by some of the higher profile awards contenders when it was released in December. Doctor Sleep: The Directors Cut: This Danny Torrance-focused sequel to The Shining was a little divisive upon release, which wasnt all that surprising. Film Writer Lindsey BahrMUSICGrey Daze: Fans of the late Grammy-winning screeching rock singer Chester Bennington will get a chance to hear him one more time. HAIM: Its been three years since sister trio HAIM have released a new album.
Movie prop auction offers axe from 'The Shining'
In this 2006 photo, a woman looks at a display from the movie "The Shining" at an exhibition of items from 13 movies of director Stanley Kubrick in Ghent, Belgium. Jack Nicholson's axe from "The Shining," Russell Crowe's armor from "Gladiator" and a lightsaber used by Samuel L. Jackson in "Star Wars" are among 900 items going under the hammer next month in a massive auction of movie props. A Tantive IV Stormtrooper helmet from "Star Wars: A New Hope" is among the headline items, with an estimated sale price of between 120,000 and 180,000 ($145,000 and $218,000). The sale is the sixth annual London auction put on by movie-themed auction house Prop Store, set to be held over two days on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Last year's headline item was Han Solo's jacket, worn by Harrison Ford in the "Star Wars" film "The Empire Strikes Back," but the outfit failed to sell after bidding stalled.