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What makes the Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner elite infielders? The Gold Glove finalists break each other down.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

When the Chicago Cubs signed shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal last offseason, they envisioned an ideal double-play partner for second baseman Nico Hoerner.Year 1 of the Swanson-Hoerner tandem produced the elite play the Cubs needed after prioritizing their defense up the middle. The top defensive players have a knack for making difficult plays appear routine, something Swanson and Hoerner did often.Their performance did not go unrecognized. Both are finalists for the National League Gold Glove award at their positions, joining Cubs left fielder Ian Happ. Swanson and Happ are vying for their second consecutive Gold Glove, while Hoerner, also a finalist in 2020, is looking for his first. The winners will be announced Sunday (6:30 p.m., ESPN).Although Swanson and Hoerner got firsthand looks at each other’s defensive prowess from opposing dugouts when the Cubs and Atlanta Braves played the last few years, a different appreciation comes from playing alongside each othe...

Eric Trump testifies in civil fraud trial he relied on accountants for financial statements accuracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

By JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Trump testified Friday that he was relying on accountants to ensure the accuracy of financial statements that authorities say fraudulently exaggerated his father’s wealth and the value of his assets to deceive banks and insurers.On the witness stand for a second day in the civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Eric Trump was pressed about what steps he took to verify information before signing documents certifying to lender Deutsche Bank that his father’s financial statements were correct. The son insisted he would never sign something that was inaccurate.“I relied on one of the biggest accounting firms in the country. And I relied on a great legal team. And when they gave me comfort that the statement was perfect, I was more than happy to execute,” he said. Eric Trump’s comments echoed those of his brother, Donald Trump Jr., whose testimony earlier this week appeare...

Pack your bags: Southwest Airlines is offering new nonstop flights from San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Traveling to some popular U.S. cities is about to be a lot easier for Southwest Airlines travelers headed out of San Diego. The San Diego International Airport (SAN) confirmed to FOX 5 Thursday that the airline is expanding its routes with seasonal service starting next summer. Alaska Airlines now offering nonstop flights from San Diego to these cities Nonstop flights can be booked to Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturdays only come June 2024. According to SAN, no other airline currently flies between America's Finest City and these two destinations. Nonstop service to Columbus and Pittsburgh may be a temporary add-on. SAN confirmed Southwest's schedule for these new direct routes has not been extended beyond Aug. 4, 2024 at this time. However, that could change based on demand. San Diego State University ranked ‘most fashionable’ college campus in US: study There are also three nonstop Southwest flights returning to SAN come June 2024...

Canadian business insolvencies rise almost 42 per cent from last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian business insolvencies were up 41.8 per cent from a year earlier in the third quarter, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy says 1,129 businesses filed for a bankruptcy or proposal in the third quarter, up 3.6 per cent from the second quarter.That’s compared with 827 filings in the third quarter of 2019.Consumer insolvency filings were up 17.8 per cent from last year, but down 2.4 per cent from the second quarter. They were still lower than pre-pandemic levels, however. The Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals says businesses are being hit by the withdrawal of COVID-19 support, higher interest rates and softening consumer spending. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.The Canadian Press

Capitals’ Oshie wears neck guard during NHL game, other players don them during practices after player’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie wore a neck guard during the team’s home game on Thursday night — a move that comes after former Pittsburgh Penguins player Adam Johnson was tragically killed after his neck was cut by a skate in a game in England last weekend.Oshie first had the neck guard on during pre-game warmups.The neck guard was made by Oshie-owned Warroad Hockey.“We’re grown men…you can make your own choices,” Oshie told reporters after the game, per Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network. “I made my choice for my kids. I want to stick around for ‘em. I’m just trying to decrease the chance of injury.”Oshie is wearing it during the game https://t.co/o25z5Umc5a— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 2, 2023Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin started Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers with a neck guard on, but told the Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington he did not wear it in the second half of the game because...

Financial services, base metals lift S&P/TSX composite as U.S. markets rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in the financial services market and base metals helped lead Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also rose.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 146.34 points at 19,772.68.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 160.68 points at 33,999.76. The S&P 500 index was up 33.62 points at 4,351.40, while the Nasdaq composite was up 117.85 points at 13,412.04.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.02 cents US compared with 72.58 cents US on Thursday.The December crude contract was up 72 cents at US$81.73 per barrel and the December natural gas contract was down three cents at US$3.50 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was up US$7.30 at US$2,002.80 an ounce and the December copper contract was up one cent at US$3.68 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Israel PM Netanyahu rules out cease fire until Hamas frees hostages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a temporary cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, saying he will press ahead with a devastating military offensive until hostages held by the Hamas militant group are released.Netanyahu spoke Friday shortly after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who pressed Israel for a temporary pause in its offensive in order to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Blinken also urged Israel to do more to protect civilians from its attacks.In a statement to reporters Friday, Netanyahu said Israel is continuing with “all of its power” and “refuses a temporary cease-fire that doesn’t include a return of our hostages.”Hamas kidnapped some 240 people in its bloody Oct. 7 cross-border attack that triggered the Israel-Hamas war. The attack killed some 1,400 people, while over 9,000 people have been killed since Israel began striking Gaza the same day, according to Palestinian health officials.BLINKEN CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF PALESTINIAN CI...

Trans Mountain Corp. issued stop-work order for environmental non-compliance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

CALGARY — The company building the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has been issued a temporary stop-work order due to environmental non-compliance related to a wetland near Abbotsford, B.C.The Canada Energy Regulator said Thursday it issued the order on Oct. 25. It said its inspection officers found Trans Mountain Corp. had not installed sufficient fencing to protect amphibians in the area while work was going on.The regulator also said it found unapproved vegetation clearing had taken place in the area.The regulator has ordered Trans Mountain Corp. to stop work in the area until the issues are corrected and the company submits a safety inspection and report.The Trans Mountain pipeline is Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil from Alberta to the West Coast. Its expansion, which is nearing completion, will boost the pipeline’s capacity to 890,000 barrels per day from 300,000 bpd currently and improve access to export markets for Canadian oil companies.This repo...

CP NewsAlert: New Brunswick Premier Higgs says he won’t call an election this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says he won’t call an election this year, ending weeks of speculation that the governing Progressive Conservatives would go to the polls almost a year early.The premier had repeatedly said he needed a new mandate to quell the political drama that has gripped the province for months, but he squelched election speculation today, saying there would no vote in 2023.In June of this year, two of Higgs’s cabinet ministers quit, citing his inflexible leadership style and changes the majority government made to the province’s policy on gender identity in schools. Six Tory members of the legislature voted with the Opposition to call for an external review of the policy change, and Higgs responded by dropping dissenters from cabinet. Under the changes to Policy 713, students under 16 who are exploring their gender identity must get their parents’ consent before teachers can use their preferred first names or pronouns at s...

Conservation deal aims to protect 30 per cent of B.C. land by 2030

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:48 GMT

VANCOUVER — An environmental agreement to protect 30 per cent of British Columbia’s land by 2030 was signed today between the federal and British Columbia governments and the Indigenous-led First Nations Leadership Council.The target of the framework agreement means another 100,000 square kilometres of land must be designated, adding to the 20 per cent of B.C. that’s already protected, the most of any province or territory.A federal government statement says it’s the first agreement with a province to support Ottawa’s 30-per-cent-protection goal, which underpins Canada’s national biodiversity strategy.It says the federal government will invest up to $500 million over the life of the deal, with B.C. providing matching funds.Federal funding includes $50 million to protect 4,000 square kilometres of old-growth forest, and $104 million to restore the habitat of species at risk.Other targets include supporting the recovery of spotted owls, and protecting eno...