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As Chicago Cubs prospect Ben Brown earns a promotion to Triple A, their organizational starting pitching depth is being tested

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya smiled at the mention of right-hander Ben Brown.“He’s nasty,” Amaya said.Amaya caught all four of Brown’s starts at Double-A Tennessee before the Chicago Cubs promoted the 6-foot-6 right-hander to Triple-A Iowa over the weekend. Brown posted an 0.45 ERA in 20 innings at Double A, surrendering just one earned run while totaling 30 strikeouts and only six walks.“Awesome dude,” Amaya said. “He trusts his stuff, he attacks the zone and goes after hitters. That’s why he’s having success.”Brown, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline last year for reliever David Robertson, has quickly positioned himself to earn a call-up. Before he gets to that point, the Cubs wanted to get a better understanding of where he is in his development by moving him up to Iowa. The “enhanced-grip” baseballs Major League Baseball is testing in the Double-A Southern League have noticeab...

Tigers sweep split doubleheader at Comerica Park, Mets now lose 8 of last 10 games

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

DETROIT — When the top of the fifth inning began, the Mets were behind 4-2. One sudden downpour, two outfield errors and a Francisco Lindor home run later, the sun was out and the Mets were on top 5-4.But then the stormclouds returned and the sky darkened once again, almost as though it was an ominous foretelling of the Mets’ eventual fate. Adam Ottavino blew a save in the first game and Max Scherzer (2-2) failed to get out of the fourth inning in the second game of a doubleheader, and the Detroit Tigers swept the doubleheader Wednesday at Comerica Park.The Mets (16-15) fell to the Tigers 6-5 in the first game and 8-1 in the second. They’ve now lost eight of their last 10.Scherzer made his first start since April 19, when he was ejected after three shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers for a sticky substance. That ejection carried a 10-game suspension and while Scherzer said he came into the game feeling great physically after the long layoff, it didnR...

‘23 Infiniti Q50 delivers useable upscale sedan

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

In 2023, the Infiniti footprint continues to escape the Nissan-like vehicle comparisons and explodes with the Q50. As Infiniti continues to deliver “better-than Nissan” vehicles, the Q50 is nothing Nissan-like.The Q50, Infiniti’s 5-seater sedan, starting at $42K for their entry level model, boasts a 3.0L twin-turbo 6-cylinder gas engine, paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Delivering 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Its Nissan counterpart, the Altima, boasts a 2.5L 4-cylinder gas engine and CVT transmission with 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. With weighing only 500 pounds more than the Altima, the gas mileage is significantly less than the Altima; 10 mpg less coming in at 23.1 mpg combined on our test.What stood out the most for me on the Q50 was the style and usage. The exterior had a great appearance and one that was very upscale. The illuminated logo on the front grille was nice and very german-like as the upscale brand for Nissan Motor Co. continues to ...

Volkswagen sees sales slump in China, vows rebound this year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen profits fell 30% in the first three months of the year despite booming business in Europe and North America because sales dropped in China, where the German automaker is facing increasing competition from homegrown models. After-tax profit fell to 4.7 billion euros ($5.2 billion) from 6.7 billion euros in the first quarter of last year, the Wolfsburg-based company said Thursday. The number of vehicles sold rose 7.5%, to 2.04 million. Revenue jumped by 21.5%, to 76.2 billion euros, as VW saw strong demand and increased pricing power — meaning the willingness of customers to shell out more for its cars. However, the company sold 14.5% fewer vehicles in China, the world’s largest car market, where competitors such as BYD are rapidly developing new electric and hybrid vehicles at competitive price points and competing with foreign brands. BYD Auto, owned by battery maker BYD Co., edged ahead of Tesla in total 2022 sales at 1.9 million vehicles....

TD Bank Group calls off deal to buy U.S. bank First Horizon

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

TORONTO — TD Bank Group has called off its US$13.4-billion takeover deal to acquire First Horizon Corp.The bank says it reached a mutual agreement with the U.S. bank to terminate the acquisition because of the uncertainty as to when and if it would be able to obtain regulatory approval.TD chief executive Bharat Masrani says this decision provides clarity for colleagues and shareholders.Though disappointed with the outcome, he says, TD moves forward with a strong and growing franchise in the United States.Under the terms of the agreement, TD will pay First Horizon a US$200-million break fee. The payment is in addition to a US$25-million fee reimbursement owed to First Horizon under the merger agreement.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TD)The Canadian Press

Artificial intelligence market faces review from UK watchdog

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday that it’s opening a review of the artificial intelligence market, focusing on the technology underpinning chatbots like ChatGPT. The Competition Markets Authority said it will look into the opportunities and risks of AI as well as the competition rules and consumer protections that may be needed. AI’s ability to mimic human behavior has dazzled users but also drawn attention from regulators and experts around the world concerned about its dangers as its use mushrooms — affecting jobs, copyright, education, privacy and many other parts of life. The CEOs of Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI will meet Thursday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for talks on how to ease the risks of their technology. And European Union negotiators are putting the finishing touches on sweeping new AI rules.The U.K. watchdog said the goal of the review is to help guide the development of AI to ensure open and competitive m...

2 people killed in train accident in western Germany

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Two people were killed and several were injured in a train accident near the western German city of Cologne on Thursday, German news agency dpa reported.The train supposedly crashed into a group of people who were working on the tracks close to the town of Huerth. Emergency personnel, police and psychologists were at the scene and the route was closed for further train traffic. It was not immediately clear how many people were injured.The Associated Press

Napoli fans again prepare to celebrate Italian soccer title

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — For the third time in five days, Napoli fans are hoping and preparing to celebrate the Italian league soccer title.Napoli can seal its first Serie A title in more than three decades — since Diego Maradona led the southern club to the 1987 and 1990 championships — if it wins or draws at Udinese later Thursday.Napoli missed out on a chance to clinch the title when it was held to a 1-1 draw by Salernitana on Sunday and then watched as second-place Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-0 on Wednesday to again delay the celebration.Still, Napoli holds a 15-point lead over Lazio with six matches to play and it’s seemingly only a matter of time before the title becomes official for the Partenopei.No team south of Milan or Turin has won the Italian league since Roma claimed the title in 2001.The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples will be open for fans to watch the game against Udinese on giant screens.Also, 11,000 Napoli fans are expected to follow the team in Udine.___More AP soc...

UK holds local elections amid storm over new voter ID rules

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Millions of people in England were voting Thursday in local elections that are the first test of electoral opinion since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took over a fractious and exhausted Conservative Party six months ago. The Conservatives say they expect to lose ground in elections for more than 8,000 seats on 230 local councils across England as voters punish them for the turmoil that engulfed the party under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He resigned amid multiple scandals and was replaced by Liz Truss, whose rash tax-cutting plans spooked financial markets, hammered the value of the pound and roiled the wider British economy.The party chose Sunak, a smooth former banker, to try to restore stability to the economy and the government.Sunak said Wednesday that his party was expecting the election to be “hard for us,” but vowed the Conservatives were leaving behind the “box set drama” of the Johnson and Truss eras.“I’ve only been prime minister for six months but I ...

Daughter of ousted Thai prime minister could win his old job

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:18:59 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — She has confidence, she has charisma, but most of all she has the family name and a face that reminds many of her famous father. In the race to become Thailand’s next prime minister, opinion polls show Paetongtarn Shinawatra to be the heavy favorite to take the post after the May 14 general election.But some fear that victory for the youngest daughter of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — the country’s most divisive figure — could plunge Thailand back into a familiar cycle of protest and military intervention.Having the 36-year-old Paetongtarn on the ballot is expected to pay off handsomely for the popular Pheu Thai opposition party. It’s polling so well that it’s hoping for a landslide victory, with enough seats to overcome the ruling party’s built-in edge and name the prime minister.While Paetongtarn is the clear vote-getter of her party’s three candidates, any of the three could emerge from post-election wheeling and dealing as Thailand’s new l...