Covid: UK variant could drive 'rapid growth' in US cases, CDC warns

Health officials warn the highly contagious UK Covid variant could become the dominant strain in the US by March.

Captain Joe Root completes fine double century as England build formidable lead

Root became only the fifth England player to score a Test double hundred in Asia.

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  Joe Root 99 not out at lunch as England look to build big advantage

  PA Media: Sport
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  Joe Root embraces his selfish side to bat England into total control of first Test

  The Independent

Lindor, Bryant, Bellinger, Seager get big-money deals

Francisco Lindor, Kris Bryant, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager were among 112 players who agreed to one-year contracts Friday, leaving just 13 to swap salary arbitration figures during a slow offseason in the aftermath of the financial carnage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The deals came on the deadline day for eligible players and teams to exchange proposed 2021 salaries. Lindor, the star shortstop acquired last week by the New York Mets from Cleveland, got the largest of the deals at $22.3 million.

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  D-backs avoid salary arbitration with Weaver, Kelly

  Associated Press
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  Mets avoid arbitration with 7 players, including Lindor, Conforto, Smith

  NBC Sports