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Robo umps reach Triple-A, but MLB rollout still uncertain

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Trailing Nashville with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, St. Paul Saints first baseman Alex Kirilloff watched the 3-2 pitch go by for strike three. He thought it might have missed the high and inside corner.There was no point in arguing.The game was being umped by the Automatic Ball-Strike system that Major League Baseball is testing in Triple-A this season, which means the strike was called by a computer and merely relayed to Kirilloff and the crowd by home plate umpire Brock Ballou. “Nobody complains about anything anymore with the strike zone because there’s nothing to complain about,” Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said after his first series with the so-called ”robo-ump.” “You take that as good and bad. It’s kind of entertaining to watch a guy argue.”Much like the pitch clock that had purists panicking, only to quickly and quietly blend into the flow of the game, automatic balls and strikes could soon be coming to the major leagues. And much li...

Pet Valu posts lower profit as same-store sales growth declines

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

MARKHAM, Ont. — Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. reported its first-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago despite its revenue climbing higher.The pet food and supplies retailer says its profit attributable to shareholders totalled $18.7 million or 26 cents per diluted share for the quarter that ended April 1.The result was down from a profit of $22.6 million or 32 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue totalled $250.3 million, up from $213.2 in the first quarter of 2022.The increase came as the company saw same-store sales growth of 9.4 per cent, down from 22.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.On an adjusted basis, the company says its profit was 32 cents per diluted share, compared with 35 cents per diluted share last year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:PET)The Canadian Press

China says it won’t seek to benefit from war in Ukraine

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — China’s foreign minister said Tuesday that his country has no intention of benefiting from the war in Ukraine and hopes for further discussions on a peace plan Beijing proposed earlier this year.Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted the recent talks the government in Beijing had with both Moscow and Kyiv, and said China’s special envoy for Europe was expected to visit Ukraine again soon.“We won’t pour oil on the fire” of the war, Qin said, according to an official interpreter.Western countries have accused Beijing of providing political and material support to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union is currently considering imposing sanctions against companies that supply critical components to Russia’s arms industry. Qin denied Chinese firms were doing so. He said China maintains “normal” trade relations with Russia, not mentioning a significant bump in ...

It’s ‘never too early, never too late’ to learn financial literacy, experts say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

For as long as he remembers, Aidan D’Souza says his mother has helped him ensure that he’s making smart money decisions. At roughly 10 years old, D’Souza said his mother advised him not to spend all his money on candy and frivolous gadgets. When he started working part-time jobs, D’Souza’s mother recommended that he save some of his hard-earned money for his long-term goals and an emergency fund. Today, the 23-year-old said his mother still guides him financially. She helped him set up mutual funds and taught him about compound interest, which accelerates the growth of one’s savings and investments over time. “My mom has always helped me make sure my money was going to the right places,” said D’Souza, who resides in Toronto.“She always wanted to make sure that I was set for life.” While D’Souza credits his mother for the financially secure position he’s in, he acknowledged that not all Canadians have parental figures who are financially literate or know how to best guide their chil...

Man arrested in connection with alleged Scarborough fatal hit-and-run

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection to an alleged fatal hit-and-run in Scarborough.Police were called to Markham Road and Sheppard Avenue East are just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday to reports of a collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle.It was reported the driver was travelling westbound on Sheppard when they struck a 58-year-old man crossing the street at Markham.The driver allegedly continued and did not stop at the scene. The victim died of his injuries in hospital.On Monday, Adam Hosseini of Toronto was arrested in connection with the crash and charged with failure to stop at an accident scene causing death, along with a Highway Traffic Act offence.He is expected to appear at a bail hearing on Tuesday.

With debt limit looming, Biden, congressional leaders to finally meet at White House

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders today as the race against the clock to raise the U.S. debt limit gets underway in earnest. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the country could run out of cash as early as June 1 without an agreement. Congressional Republicans say they won’t agree to raise the limit — once a routine procedure, now a familiar political standoff — without deep spending cuts. Biden, meanwhile, is insisting that Congress must first agree to raise the debt ceiling without attaching any conditions.Biden meets later today with Republican leaders Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell, as well as their Democratic counterparts Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer. Experts say a default would spell disaster for the domestic economy, with dramatic spillover effects for allies, such as Canada, whose own economic fortunes are closely tied to the U.S. “It is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible ...

Concerned citizen intervenes during attempted child luring in Rogers Park

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

CHICAGO — A concerned citizen interjected during an attempted child luring attempt in Rogers Park Monday night.At around 6:30 p.m., a girl was at Pottawattomie Park, located in the 7300 block of Rogers Avenue, when a man approached and invited the girl to his home in exchange for money.Police said a nearby citizen interjected and assisted the girl into the park's fieldhouse, where 911 was called.The suspect is described as an African American, approximately 25-30, 6'-6'2", 165 to 175 lbs. and was wearing a hooded Michael Kors rain coat with black jeans and black shoes. CPD: Man shot after running away from attempted robbery at Near West Side gas station He had a thick accent and is missing his upper front teeth, police said.Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip at tipsoft.com.

LinkedIn cutting hundreds of jobs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

(The Hill) -- LinkedIn announced on Monday that it’s cutting more than 700 jobs as it makes changes to its global business organization and its China strategy. “As we guide LinkedIn through this rapidly changing landscape, we are making changes to our Global Business Organization (GBO) and our China strategy that will result in a reduction of roles for 716 employees,” said LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky in an email to employees. The company has roughly 20,000 workers.The CEO said the job networking site is “making meaningful progress creating economic opportunities” for members and customers and “experiencing record engagement” on the LinkedIn platform, but also said “shifts in customer behavior and slower revenue growth” are spurring on the changes. Confidence in Fed chair drops to new low: Gallup Plans to reshuffle the GBO includes the 716 job cuts, but also the creation of more than 250 new roles starting on May 15, Roslansky said. The changes also include phasing out InCar...

Dean's A-List Interview: Jennifer Lopez in 'The Mother'

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

CHICAGO — After making two romantic comedies in 2022, Jennifer Lopez is taking on a different role in her first film of the new year.The veteran actress, singer, and dancer is taking on the role of an assassin in "The Mother," a movie on Netflix that's set to be released on Friday on the streaming service. Lopez's character, which is called "The Mother," must come out of hiding to protect her estranged daughter, who she left behind earlier in her life. Dean Richards went to New York ahead of the film's release on the streaming service to speak with Lopez about this role on "Dean's A-List Interview."You can watch the conversation from the WGN Morning News on May 9 in the video above or below.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

The Weeknd wants 'to kill' his alter ego

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:27:39 GMT

(KTLA) -- For over a decade, The Weeknd has dominated the music scene with catchy singles, a Super Bowl performance, and various collaborations with big names like Kanye West, Future, Beyonce, and Ariana Grande. Now, the man behind the moody and dark alter ego is ready to rid himself of that persona.In a piece for W Magazine, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is ready to shed that image. “I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” he told the magazine. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close The Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”That path he's on comes as he's wrapped up filming the highly anticipated HBO series "The Idol," in which he stars alongside Lily-Rose Depp. The Toronto native plays the character Tedros, the self-help guru and love interest of Depp's character Jocelyn. Act...