UNITED NATIONS – The Holy See says it will not raise its flag at the United Nations before Pope Francis addresses the world body later this month even if the General Assembly approves a resolution on the issue Thursday. If passed, the resolution would allow non-member observer states to fly …

BEIJING – When authorities in an eastern city announced that a BMW driver involved in a crash that killed two people was suffering from “acute transient psychotic disorder,” Chinese online jeered so loudly that it aroused Communist Party concerns about a public trust crisis. Some initial missteps by police in …

After passing on opportunities to declare for the NFL draft, running backs Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska and Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin are the country’s top two returning rushers. Both are using this spring as a start for polishing their games and enhancing their draft stocks for 2015. Nebraska and Wisconsin, …

PITTSBURGH – Rookie linebacker Jadeveon Clowney will miss his sixth straight game on Monday night when the Houston Texans play the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans made Clowney inactive even though the top overall pick in the draft was able to practice this week after injuring his right knee in the …

MILWAUKEE – Pau Gasol scored 20 points, Jimmy Butler added 18 and the Chicago Bulls picked up their first win in three preseason games, beating the cold-shooting Milwaukee Bucks 91-85 on Saturday night. Derrick Rose had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes for the Bulls. Gasol …

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Be it a defense that’s beaten down or an offense that’s giving up easy scores, Notre Dame is permitting points at historically bad levels. A week after allowing 55 points against Arizona State, with two touchdowns coming off interceptions thrown by Everett Golson, the Irish surrendered …

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield was helped off the field with seconds left in the third quarter against Kansas on Saturday after twisting his right knee. The true freshman walk-on sensation had thrown for 368 yards, helping the No.20 Red Raiders take a 37-10 lead. He hobbled …

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It’s been a weird season of college basketball and no team may be more confounding than Illinois. They started 12-0 before falling toward the bottom of the Big Ten. On Thursday, they upset No. 1 Indiana. It was Illinois’ fourth win over a team now in the …

SAO PAULO – It wasn’t just a bad dream. Brazilians woke up Wednesday to dreadful headlines describing the shame and humiliation of their soccer team’s historic 7-1 defeat to Germany in a World Cup semifinal. One of the country’s leading soccer publications, Placar, stated simply: “A day to forget.” “It …

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Mikko Koivu scored two goals, including the winner with 3:12 remaining, and the Minnesota Wild extended their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. Josh Harding made 21 saves for his 12th victory. The Wild have an eight-game …