Author: Jack Mulligan

ABS rollout forces baseball to replace listed heights with real ones Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike challenge system is doing more than changing how pitches are judged. It is also forcing the sport to confront one of its quieter traditions: generously listed player heights. As Major League Baseball rolls out the ABS challenge system for the 2026 season, every player is being measured with greater precision so the technology can calculate an individualized strike zone. The result has been a wave of revised player profiles, with several familiar names suddenly appearing an inch or two shorter than they were previously listed.…

New project revives an old ambition in a tougher market Amazon is reportedly exploring a return to smartphones more than a decade after the failure of the Fire Phone, this time with a device designed around artificial intelligence, Alexa integration and deeper personalization. The effort, known internally as Transformer, reflects a broader attempt by the company to strengthen its position in consumer AI and build a device that can keep Amazon connected to users far beyond the home. The reported project is being developed inside Amazon’s devices and services unit and is described as a potential mobile companion that would…

Hegseth says projected budget ask could still change The Pentagon has opened the door to a massive new funding request tied to the war with Iran, a move that suggests the conflict may be expanding beyond the shorter timeline the administration had previously floated. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that a reported request of about $200 billion for war-related funding could still shift, but he did not deny that a major supplemental package is under discussion. His remarks matter because they move the conversation from estimates and leaks to an explicit acknowledgment that the administration is preparing to ask…

Deal could deploy up to 50,000 autonomous vehicles Uber is taking a larger step into autonomous transport through a major agreement with Rivian that includes up to $1.25 billion in investment and a plan to deploy as many as 50,000 robotaxis across several countries by 2031. The deal adds fresh momentum to the autonomous vehicle sector, where companies are once again trying to convince investors that commercial scale may finally be within reach after years of delays and missed targets. The agreement calls for Uber, or its fleet partners, to purchase 10,000 autonomous versions of Rivian’s upcoming R2 electric vehicle,…

February rebound masks pressure from oil and tariffs Japan moved back into trade surplus in February, a modest improvement that offers some relief after the sharp deficit recorded a month earlier. But the recovery came with clear warning signs. Imports accelerated strongly, exports remained uneven across major markets and the outlook is becoming more fragile as the conflict involving Iran pushes up energy prices for one of the world’s most import-dependent advanced economies. Preliminary government data showed Japan posted a trade surplus of 57.3 billion yen in February, reversing the 1.15 trillion yen deficit recorded in January. Exports rose 4.2…

Díaz-Canel attacks US pressure as energy crisis deepens Cuba’s political and economic crisis has entered a more volatile phase after a nationwide blackout and a fresh exchange of threats with Washington. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Wednesday that the island faces near-daily pressure from the United States and vowed that any effort to suffocate Cuba’s fuel supply would be met with what he called unyielding resistance. His remarks came as the country struggled to restore electricity following a prolonged collapse of the power grid, highlighting how closely political confrontation and material hardship are now intertwined on the island. Energy officials…

New street race stays clean until a late caution IndyCar’s arrival in Arlington produced a rare kind of street race: one shaped less by disorder than by sustained execution. On a layout that could easily have generated repeated interruptions, the field instead ran deep into the afternoon without a full-course yellow, turning the inaugural event into a contest of timing, control and outright pace. That unusual rhythm gave the race a distinctly strategic character and set the stage for a direct late fight between two of the day’s quickest drivers. When the decisive moment came, Kyle Kirkwood seized it. With…

Samsung updates its flagship with a new screen feature Samsung has opened its 2026 flagship cycle with a familiar strategy: refine the top model, expand its software ambitions and add one feature designed to stand apart in a crowded premium market. The Galaxy S26 Ultra enters at the high end of the smartphone segment with a starting price of £1,279, positioning itself against Apple and Google while leaning heavily on display technology, camera flexibility and long-term software support. The most distinctive addition is a built-in privacy mode for the 6.9in display. When activated, the screen narrows its visibility so that…

Supply chain disruption linked to the Iran war is raising the risk of higher retail prices in coming weeks, with pressure building from shipping constraints, fuel costs, and weaker consumer confidence. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut to many vessels, retailers and logistics firms are warning of volatile pricing and unpredictable service levels as carriers ration capacity and manage rising fuel-related expenses. Strait Shutdown Hits Inputs Before Finished Goods The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints, moving massive volumes of crude oil and other exports that feed into global production and transport. The…

Starbucks Workers United contract proposal is back at the center of the coffee chain’s labor fight after the union said it delivered a comprehensive draft agreement last month and is still waiting for a response. The update came during a Friday call with investors, as baristas attempt to secure their first labor contract with Starbucks. Inside the Union’s Proposal Workers United said the package seeks workplace protections and clearer rules for how stores are managed and staffed. The proposal asks for protections for union baristas against discrimination, unjust firings, and temporary or permanent store closures. On pay, the union is…