News of the World

[kyonides]

Baseball Players' Union Expected to Reject 154-Game Season

The Major League Baseball Players Association is expected to reject a 154-game season proposal from MLB that would have led to the start of the campaign to be pushed back a month until April 28, according to USA Today on Sunday.
MLB presented the proposal to the players union Friday. The proposal calls for 14 playoff teams instead of 10 and use of the designated hitter in the National League for the second consecutive season.
Seven-inning doubleheaders and beginning extra innings with runners on second base also would be utilized for a second consecutive season.
The proposal calls for players to receive 100% of their pay if the 154-game season is completed and not interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred would have authority to suspend the season due to health reasons, according to reports.

I guess traditions still matter in US baseball... or not?

Lionel Messi: Barcelona to take legal action after forward's £492m contract leaked

Barcelona say they will take "appropriate legal action" against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of forward Lionel Messi's £492m contract.
Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document".
According to El Mundo, Messi's four-year contract was worth a possible 555,237,619 euros until 30 June, 2021.
It means the 33-year-old would be receiving up to £123m a season.
Barcelona said in a statement that they "regret" its publication, adding: "FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.
There remains uncertainty if he will remain with the club when his contract runs out in the summer.

Yeah, a millionaire's lifestyle. A world where you would only care about not telling people how much you might earn a year.

Tica Yokasta Valle Retains World Boxing Title

The Costa Rican Yokasta Valle retained her 105-pound title from the International Boxing Federation, after defeating the Japanese Sana Hazuki, by unanimous decision in a fight held this Saturday night, at the Mall Oxygen.
After the ten rounds, the three international judges gave her a score on their cards of 98-92, 100-90 and 100-90, all favorable to the Tica boxer, who dominated the fight from start to finish.
Although Yokasta’s gloves were not so strong, they did manage to cut Hazuki near the right eye, who, despite this, was able to continue until the end of the contest. In most of the rounds, the Japanese showed little style but a lot of courage, since she was always in front of her rival, although practically without being able to land blows that weakened the champion. On the contrary, Valle was very solid in her defense and smart to attack her opponent.

To be honest with you, I really thought she would lose the fight.
Since it's quite uncommon to read news that show how Costa Ricans have been granted any international title, I thought it was a great opportunity to shamelesslly promote my country here.

UK applying to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP

The UK will apply to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations on Monday, a year after it officially left the EU.
Joining the group of "fast-growing nations" will boost UK exports, the government says.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership - or CPTPP - covers a market of around 500 million people.
But they are harder to reach than neighbouring markets in Europe.
Members include Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam are also founder members of the bloc, which was established in 2018.
Joining the bloc would reduce tariffs on UK exports such as whisky and cars, as well as service industries, she said.

Japanese woman kept mother's body in freezer for 10 years

Police in Japan have arrested a woman after the body of her dead mother was discovered in a freezer in her flat.
Yumi Yoshino, 48, said that she found her mother dead and hid the body 10 years ago because she "didn't want to move out" of the Tokyo home they shared, local media reported, citing unnamed police sources.
There were no visible wounds on the frozen body, police said.
The authorities could not determine the time and cause of the woman's death.

 OK, I gotta admit this article was creepy indeed. I wonder how did she manage to keep the body for so long not fearing a (non existing) yokai might attack her at any moment.

Researcher Who Developed Coronavirus Saliva Test Dies

Andrew Brooks, a research professor who developed the first COVID-19 saliva test, died of a heart attack recently at age 51, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Brooks, who was a professor at Rutgers University, made the first breakthrough in COVID-19 testing by developing the spit test, which received emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration last April.
He then received a multimillion-dollar loan that helped his company, Infinity Biologix, nearly double its staff and add more equipment in order to conduct more tests and determine the results.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called Brooks "one of the state's unsung heroes" who "undoubtedly saved lives," The Hill reported, adding "We cannot thank Andy enough for all he did across his career."

 A saddening departure indeed.