Esper told Italian newspaper La Stampa Monday that the U.S. has identified nations—including China and Russia—trying to exploit the pandemic in Europe, Reuters reported. These nations are hoping to create divisions in Europe and the NATO alliance, the defense secretary added. Responding to a question about Chinese and Russian medical aid sent to Italy to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, Esper said Washington, D.C. is aware that some countries “will try to use the pandemic as a way to invest in critical industry and infrastructure, with effect on security in the long term....

Washington will have Melancon for two months, and he is unquestionably one of the better closers in the game — and a fine fallback option after the Nationals declined to meet the Yankees’ asking price for Andrew Miller. The price the leaders of the National League East did pay, however, amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul. MORE: MLB manager ratings Rivero’s ERA ballooned to 6.82 for the season after a disaster of an outing on June 18 in San Diego, in which he allowed all six batters he faced to reach base on three hits, two walks (one intentional) and his own throwing error....

“You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life,” Ruffalo tweeted. “He is just not overtly political as a rule. This is a distraction. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, friends. We are so close now.” Mark Ruffalo is a supporter of the Democratic Party, and previously endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders....

Reaction: Sell. Now. Don’t wait. Take the money and run. Don’t let the door hit you. MORE: World’s richest team owners in 2016 Loria’s place among sports’ worst owners is well-deserved. A few of the lowlights: Sticking Miami-Dade County with the bill for Marlins Park. Pocketing revenue-sharing money that should have gone toward increasing the payroll. Authorizing a fire sale months after a spending spree in 2012. Firing the team’s longtime TV analyst for telling it like it was....

As forlorn as it may seem in the depths of the sea, however, not every team with a dubious start to conference play is out of the chase for berths in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. MORE: Which bubble teams are in SN’s latest Field of 68? Yes, there are the likes Washington State and DePaul, teams that might not even be permitted to watch the NCAAs on television, but there is a road back for a lot of other teams with brand names and good players and some measure of achievement in the 2016-17 season....

Goodwin wasn’t exhausted from running so far. He was overcome with emotion. The 49ers receiver was playing just hours after suffering one of the worst losses imaginable. Goodwin revealed on Instagram that he and his wife, Morgan, lost their baby boy in the early hours of Sunday due to complications during pregnancy. The catch was Goodwin’s only reception of the day. He also provided a key block on Garrett Celek’s 47-yard touchdown later in the game....

The mental health challenges of one or both partners can be addressed in marriage counseling. Counseling has been shown effective in increasing relationship satisfaction, which is an important measure of mental health. Learn more about marriage counseling, when it is needed, how it works, and more. What Is Marriage Counseling? Marriage counseling is a process in which married partners attend one or more sessions with a licensed counselor in order to address relationship issues....

The controversy has rattled the people of Lincoln, an easygoing college town of 170,000, and revealed a cultural void as vast as the Middle Eastern desert. The police say that not only were the marriages consummated, violating a state law banning sex between anyone over 18 and anyone under 16 regardless of consent, but also that the girls were forced to have sex with their new husbands against their will–a charge the Iraqi men strongly deny....

After the Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 19-3, Lynch avoided a fine and gave the people what they wanted. Another memorable Lynch interview. MORE: Scoreboard | Week 12 images | Jay Cutler’s wife fires back Is he the best interviewee? Yes.

The Seahawks quarterback completed only 44 percent (14-of-32) of his passes and finished with a passer rating of 67.2. As Wilson struggled in the first half, Lynch’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, gave him some — let’s call it advice. MORE: Best of Week 10 | Seahawks’ NFC dominance comes to an end Hendrickson’s tweet was later deleted. Seattle’s 39-32 loss put Arizona in the driver’s seat in the NFC West, and it presented the Seahawks with a lot more questions than answers....

Former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley revealed Monday on the Two Deep NFL Podcast that if Lynch had his way, the running back would have been traded to Green Bay in 2010. “We were running off the field — it was halftime,” Finley said of the interaction during the Packers’ Week 2 matchup against the Bills that season. “Me and (Aaron) Rodgers were running to the locker room and Lynch came and hit us on the shoulder and was like, ‘Tell (Packers GM) Ted Thompson to come get me....

When asked if Cutler is too often criticized, Bennett compared him to Jesus — seriously, he did. MORE: Worst performances of Week 4 | What we learned from Bears’ win I don’t remember the quote exactly, but I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t say “Father, forgive them; for they do not know about all the awesome stuff I’ve done.” And that’s not all. Bennett also sees a little bit of Shane Falco in Cutler....

Sen. Martha McSally (R-Az) is engaged in a tight race with Mark Kelly for the state senate, which the latest opinion poll suggests is leaning in Kelly’s favor. McSally was grilled on Trump’s record but repeatedly steered her answers back toward the administration’s tax-cutting agenda, rather than focusing on the president himself. Asked if she was proud of her support for Trump, McSally said: “I’m proud to be fighting for Arizona every single day....

The day honors the birthday, life and legacy of the American civil rights leader, who was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. In August 1963, King delivered his famed “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday. This means many government offices are shut, while some private businesses may be closed in observance of the day....

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote demanded Friday that Shkreli, 38, pay nearly $65 million—the amount his company made from hiking up the price of Daraprim, an anti-parasitic medicine that is used to treat malaria and toxoplasmosis. Shkreli served as the chief executive officer of Turing Pharmaceuticals, which later changed its name to Vyera when it began to inflate prices in 2015. That year, the price of Daraprim skyrocketed overnight from $13....

St. Louis was injured during the third period of the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Panthers on Sunday. He collided with Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. MORE: Carey Price poses for a selfie during game | Penguins duo sidelined St. Louis is second on the team with 20 goals and third in points with 47. The Rangers lead the Metropolitan Division with 95 points (44-17-7).

A week after scoring his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the season at Pocono Raceway, the Furniture Row Racing driver finished third in the rain-shortened Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan on Sunday. And he’s on quite a streak. MORE: Must-see images from Michigan | Earnhardt Jr. retirement soon? | Sonoma race info The finish was Truex’s 14th top-10 in the first 15 races of 2015. If that sounds remarkable, consider this: The last NASCAR driver to notch 14 top-10s in the first 15 races was seven-time series champion Richard Petty, who did it in 1969....

Truex’s longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, is battling Stage III ovarian cancer and is in the midst of a one-year program of once monthly chemo treatments. MORE: Road to recovery | Truex off to solid start | PHOTOS: Kobalt Tools 400 “When you see somebody go through something like that and it is the person that you love more than anyone in the world, it takes it to a (new) level,” Truex said in January....

When Albert pleaded guilty to assault and battery last week, it ended just one stage of his ordeal. Prosecutors dropped the serious charge of forcible sodomy, but Albert still faces up to a year in jail and will be sentenced on Oct. 24. Though the broadcaster is unlikely to do time, his legal team tells NEWSWEEK that it expects Perhach to launch a civil suit. The result: more trouble for a man who had enjoyed one of the best runs in sports....