Australia’s Macquarie Asset Management has emerged as the lead contender to acquire Axiata Group’s majority stake in one of the world’s biggest telecommunications tower firms.
Source link
Macquarie Asset Management Top Contender to Buy Stake in Tower Company
How does ABS work? What automated ball-strike rule means for MLB
-
Jesse Rogers
Multiple Authors
Major League Baseball’s new automated ball-strike challenge system is finally here.
Beginning with Wednesday night’s New York Yankees–San Francisco Giants 2026 MLB season opener, players will be able to appeal the ball and strike calls made by plate umpires.
Each team will get two challenges to start the game. Immediately after a pitch is thrown — and with no help from the dugout in deciding — the pitcher, catcher or hitter can challenge the ball or strike call by tapping his helmet or hat.
The umpire will acknowledge the challenge and the pitch will then be replayed in real time via animation on the stadium videoboard and TV broadcast. The outcome of the challenge will be shown publicly through that replay. If a team wins a challenge, it can keep challenging. As soon as a team loses two challenges, it won’t have the ability to challenge a pitch for the rest of that game.
The process has been tested for years in the minors and during the past two MLB spring trainings. The data shows that deciding when to challenge a call is often a tougher decision than fans might think. In 2026 spring training games, 53% of 1,844 challenges were successful. Only 45% of batter-initiated challenges worked, compared with 60% for the defense. Overall, there were an average of 4.32 challenges per game — 2.28 of which were successful.
Chicago Cubs hitters had the best overturn rate at 65%, while 75% of St. Louis Cardinals’ challenges on defense were successful, tops among pitchers and catchers. Meanwhile, Kansas City Royals hitters were right only 31% of the time, while the Toronto Blue Jays were successful on defense just over 50% of the time, last in the majors.
Who will be the first player to ask for a ball-strike call review in a regular-season game? What strategic approaches are teams taking on what — and when — to challenge? And what unexpected consequences could arise during the season?
ESPN asked 19 team executives about one of the game’s biggest additions since replay review was first instituted in 2008. Because the questions involve team strategy, we granted anonymity to our respondents.
What have you learned about ABS this spring?
Teams are most concerned with calls at the top of the strike zone. Every player’s height was measured during spring training specifically for ABS. How detailed is the process? The league is being particular about taking measurements in the morning as studies have shown people lose height throughout the day.
The new measurements are based on a player’s height, not anything to do with their stance. In practice, those with upright stances — think Cody Bellinger — could have some pitches overturned in their favor, whereas the opposite is true for those with a pronounced crouch.
“Height of the zone has been the most hot-button topic,” one executive said. “Players have asked a lot of questions about the height of the zone relative to stance. That’s been hard for them to internalize. A lot of focus when ABS was introduced was on the sides of the plate, but it sure seems like in early days the calibration to the top of the zone, especially, will be a challenge.”
Another added: “It does seem like umpires miss the top of the zone a lot more than other areas. Particularly, breaking balls that clip the top.”
Even umpires recognize the difference. “You can’t call anything high,” one major league ump said. “Nothing. The bottom is a little bit more true.”
Several executives were quick to praise umpires, noting that many of the spring calls that were challenged and/or overturned were on pitches that barely clipped the zone or just missed it — by less than an inch on many occasions.
“In terms of things we’ve learned, umpires are better than expected, with few missed calls on average and most of their misses being on pitches very close,” one respondent said.
But because even the slightest fraction matters, two executives expressed a desire for more than two challenges. There are just too many close calls that deserve to be reviewed.
“It feels like it’s going to be a frequent occurrence that a team is out of challenges in the eighth and ninth innings and important — maybe the most important — pitches are still going to be missed.”
Will you let pitchers challenge?
Yes: 5
Yes, but strongly suggest they don’t: 4
No: 10
On the surface, it seems like a silly question. Of course, the player who actually threw the pitch should be allowed to challenge the call — right? But that’s not the case for many teams that think pitchers aren’t in the best physical position after throwing a pitch or are too emotionally invested to make that decision. Those teams would much prefer their catchers do it. When strategy discussions first came up at the MLB winter meetings, more managers than not were already saying they wouldn’t allow pitchers to challenge.
“Pitchers have shown limited ability to identify where the pitch actually was,” one executive said.
Another “no” respondent added: “I think it’s also human nature that if a pitcher taps his head, the catcher will also probably tap. Have seen that a couple times this spring.”
But not every team is steadfast in not allowing pitchers to challenge — though several who answered yes did so with a caveat.
“Yes, allowing pitchers to challenge,” one executive stated. “But preference is to let the catcher do it unless they feel extremely strong about it.
Another added: “We don’t have an explicit rule prohibiting it, but we’ve suggested they not challenge.”
Even in mid-March, two team executives said they were still unsure whether they would let their pitchers challenge, putting it down as one of the final things to sort out before the regular season begins.
“We let them challenge during the spring, but I’m not so sure that’s a good idea when the games matter,” one executive opined. “I might just leave that up to the manager.”
Another thing some teams have learned is that the modern-day pitcher could be less equipped to challenge a call compared with his counterpart from past eras. The theory is that their follow-through is more violent than ever, meaning they’re not landing in a position to see where their pitch actually hits the mitt.
“For some guys, that head ‘thwack’ is where they fall off to either side and the head goes with,” one respondent said. “Old school was finish in fielding position, right? [We see] the more modern violent follow-through since guys throw harder.”
What’s your general strategy, knowing you have two challenges per game unless you keep winning them?
When to challenge has generated the most discussion within teams this spring, as personnel are giving general guidelines to players for the regular season. And a Day 1 strategy might be different by Day 30 or 60 as initial data is collected.
One team said it would “trust the instincts” of its players — but will that last? “High-leverage” situations was a popular term in camps, though every player’s definition of that could be different.
“Try to hold challenges until later in game, more for just the leverage and strategy with only having two,” one executive opined. “If you do want to use one early, make sure it’s a high-base-traffic situation.”
Another exec agreed: “Basically just trying to tell them to make sure we use it when the leverage is high — full counts, close games, late — and we’ll adjust from there.”
Early in games, teams mostly want “egregious” calls to be challenged. Those are the ones that “everyone knows when you see them,” one executive said.
“Take the emotion of the close call out of the decision, only challenge when 100% sure. It’s easier said than done.”
Several teams said they will allow “more freedom” if the team has two challenges as opposed to being down to just one. Running out with high-leverage moments potentially remaining is a fear among all teams.
“We’re telling them to be much more selective with one challenge,” one executive said, echoing the approach of many teams. “Has to be late and close games. With two strikes only.”
One executive simply emailed: “No 0-0 count challenges.”
China protests to Japan over alleged break-in at its embassy in Tokyo
TOKYO — Authorities in Japan confirmed Wednesday they arrested a Japanese army soldier on suspicion of trespass, a day after China protested over an alleged break-in at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.
The case, the latest point of friction in an escalating spat between Japan and China, surfaced Tuesday after Beijing protested to Tokyo.
An individual who claimed to be a Japan Self-Defense Forces officer scaled the wall and forced his way into the embassy compound on Tuesday morning, Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a news conference in Beijing.
The Tokyo police on Wednesday told The Associated Press that they arrested a 23-year-old member of the Ground Self-Defense Force, or Japan’s army, in the alleged trespassing into the Chinese embassy on Tuesday.
The GSDF confirmed the suspect is a soldier based at the Camp Ebino, in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki, and that officials are “fully cooperating” with police.
The suspect forced his way into the embassy to tell the Chinese ambassador to stop China’s hardline stance on Japan and threatened to kill himself with the knife he was carrying if his demand was rejected, Japanese media quoted police as saying.
Tensions between the two Asian nations have escalated in recent months after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November a Chinese military action against Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan requiring the use of force. Beijing, which regards the self-governing island as part of its territory, has since stepped up diplomatic and trade reprisals against Japan.
Japan’s NHK public television said the suspect was detained on the spot and handed over to Tokyo police for further investigation and that nobody was injured.
The man allegedly climbed the embassy wall and a knife was left behind, NHK reported.
“China is deeply shocked by the incident and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, expressing strong protest,” Lin said. “The Japanese side has failed to properly manage and discipline its Self-Defense Forces personnel and has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure the security of Chinese embassies and consulates and their staff.”
Lin demanded Japan immediately investigate the incident thoroughly, punish the individual involved, provide an explanation to China and take preventive measures.
Murder arrest made after Santa Fe County home death
A homicide investigation led to an arrest after a woman was found dead at a home in Santa Fe County.The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said a woman was found dead in the Rancho Viejo area. She has been identified as 50-year-old Jennifer Vigil.In an update, law enforcement said Deven Roybal, 25, has been arrested. He faces a murder, assault and tampering with evidence charges. Roybal was arrested by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of intoxicated driving and driving on a revoked license. Law enforcement said Roybal was found in possession of Vigil’s vehicle, which was recovered.Probable cause and evidence was found to arrest Roybal. He was transported from Farmington to the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center to be booked on the three felony counts. Detectives with the SFSO Criminal Investigations Division investigated the death. The response began just after 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22.Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
SANTA FE, N.M. —
A homicide investigation led to an arrest after a woman was found dead at a home in Santa Fe County.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said a woman was found dead in the Rancho Viejo area. She has been identified as 50-year-old Jennifer Vigil.
In an update, law enforcement said Deven Roybal, 25, has been arrested. He faces a murder, assault and tampering with evidence charges.
Roybal was arrested by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of intoxicated driving and driving on a revoked license. Law enforcement said Roybal was found in possession of Vigil’s vehicle, which was recovered.
Probable cause and evidence was found to arrest Roybal. He was transported from Farmington to the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center to be booked on the three felony counts.
Detectives with the SFSO Criminal Investigations Division investigated the death. The response began just after 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22.
Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
Jelly Roll Shares How He Kicks Off Each Day to Stay Positive
Jelly Roll takes his mental and physical health seriously nowadays, and he shared a video recently that gives fans an inside look at his current health status and how he gets to that point each day.
In the TikTok video, the “Save Me” singer explains how walking each morning has helped both his physical and mental well-being, and he wants to pass what he has learned off to his followers.
“Man, just go take you a walk, and really sort through your thoughts. (Former Navy SEAL and motivational speaker) David Goggins says, ‘You gotta go beat that s–t out of you first thing in the morning.'”
How Does Taking a Walk Every Morning Help Jelly Roll’s Mental Health?
Jelly says, “I instantly go from being angry about things to meditating and turning into praying for them. It’s just crazy how fast my mind shifts just in that one hour of cardio I do every morning.”
READ MORE: Jelly Roll’s Weight Loss Story Taught the Whole World What Country Already Knew
If you are worried that an hour of walking first thing in the morning just isn’t possible with the schedule that you currently keep, Jelly Roll has a solution for you.
Jelly says, “It don’t have to be an hour, y’all. It could be 15 minutes, it could be 10 minutes. Like, start somewhere, anywhere. Today is a great day to start. Love y’all.”
Science Backs Up What Jelly Roll Says About Walking
According to the National Library of Medicine, a review of 75 randomized controlled trials involving more than 8,600 people found that walking significantly reduces depression symptoms and lowers anxiety levels across different ages, settings and intensities.
Jelly Roll: 29 Stunning Facts About the ‘Save Me’ Singer
Jelly Roll is country music’s most fascinating character. His life has taken dozens of wild twists and turns, and he’s been honest about all of it. Here are 279 facts about the “Save Me” singer and his family.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Jelly Roll’s Stunning Weight Loss Journey in 29 Pictures
Jelly Roll once weighed over 500 pounds, but as of January 2026, he’s close to 250. His weight loss journey wasn’t linear, however. These 29 pictures show how he put weight on and dropped in at various stages of his life, dating back to 2011.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Meta Targets $9 Trillion Valuation With New Executive Incentive Program
New stock option program could pay some executives hundreds of millions of dollars if they reach aggressive growth targets.
Source link
NIT bracket, scores: New Mexico, Tulsa advance to semifinals
Tulsa and New Mexico both advanced to the NIT semifinals with victories Tuesday and will face each other on April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
No. 1 seed Tulsa advanced with an 83-79 win over Wichita State behind a standout performance from guard Tylen Riley. He finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in the win over the Shockers.
No. 1 seed New Mexico moved on to the semifinals after defeating Saint Joseph’s 84-69 behind 27 points from Tomislav Bulijan.
Wednesday will see the other side of the bracket get filled out. No. 1 seed Auburn hosts No. 2 seed Nevada, while No. 2 seed Dayton will face No. 4 seed Illinois State. Auburn, the only remaining high-major team in the field, has never reached the semifinals of the NIT. The Tigers’ last appearance in the NIT came in 2009, when they lost to Baylor in the quarterfinals.
Only four power conference teams are competing in the NIT this year: Auburn, Cal, Wake Forest and Oklahoma State. Multiple programs — such as Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Belmont and San Diego State — declined an invitation to the NIT after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.
Here is a look at the full bracket.
2026 NIT schedule
Games in the first three rounds to be played at the higher-seeded team’s home arena. All times ET
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
- No. 2 Dayton vs. No. 4 Illinois State, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Nevada, 9 p.m. | ESPN2
Semifinals
Thursday, April 2
Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
- No. 1 Tulsa vs. No. 1 New Mexico, TBD | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD | ESPN
Championship
Sunday, April 5
Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
- Semifinal winners | 8 p.m. | ESPN2
Auburn Region
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Auburn 78, South Alabama 67 | Recap
No. 2 Nevada 89, Murray State 75 | Recap
Liberty 77, No. 3 George Mason 71 | Recap
No. 4 Seattle U 67, St. Thomas (MN) 52 | Recap
SECOND ROUND
No. 1 Auburn 91, No. 4 Seattle U 85 | Recap
No. 2 Nevada 73, Liberty 63 | Recap
Albuquerque Region
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 New Mexico 107, Sam Houston 83 | Recap
No. 2 Cal 91, UIC 73 | Recap
No. 3 Colorado State vs. Saint Joseph’s | Recap
George Washington 79, No. 4 Utah Valley 78 | Recap
SECOND ROUND
No. 1 New Mexico 86, George Washington 61 | Recap
Saint Joseph’s 76, No. 2 Cal 75 | Recap
Winston-Salem Region
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Wake Forest 82, Navy 72 | Recap
No. 2 Dayton 80, Bradley 66 | Recap
UNCW 68, No. 3 Yale 67 | Recap
No. 4 Illinois State vs. Kent State | Recap
SECOND ROUND
No. 4 Illinois State 78, No. 1 Wake Forest 75 | Recap
No. 2 Dayton 80, UNC-Wilmington 61 | Recap
Tulsa Region
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Tulsa 89, Stephen F. Austin 84 (OT) | Recap
No. 2 Oklahoma State 84, Davidson 80 | Recap
No. 3 Wichita State 74, Wyoming 70 | Recap
UNLV 75, No. 4 UC Irvine 72 | Recap
SECOND ROUND
No. 1 Tulsa 77, UNLV 66 | Recap
No. 3 Wichita State 96, No. 2 Oklahoma State 70 | Recap
Epstein’s accountant and lawyer told House panel government investigators never interviewed them
An accountant and an attorney for Jeffrey Epstein told the House Oversight Committee that government investigators never interviewed them about the late sex offender and the work they did for him, according to videos of their depositions released Tuesday.
The panel questioned Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant, and Darren Indyke, Epstein’s lawyer, behind closed doors this month as part of its investigation into Epstein. Both maintained they did not witness any wrongdoing, and authorities have accused neither of misdeeds.
Kahn’s and Indyke’s testimony that federal investigators never interviewed them raises questions about the depth of the Justice Department’s review of Epstein, which the Justice Department and the FBI called “exhaustive” in an unsigned joint memo in July announcing that the government would not disclose additional materials on the disgraced financier.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night on Kahn’s and Indyke’s testimony, nor did it respond to questions about why federal investigators never interviewed two people who worked for him for years.
A lawyer for Kahn and Indyke did not immediately provide additional information about their testimony.
The Justice Department has released more than 3 million files — most of which are heavily redacted — while holding almost as many back, citing victim protection, child sexual abuse depiction, depiction of violence, duplication, attorney-client privilege and other reasons.
The Justice Department was subsequently compelled to disclose all of its files on Epstein after the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act passed following conservative backlash to the Trump administration’s handling of the files.
The Justice Department was first involved with investigating Epstein nearly 20 years ago before federal prosecutors oversaw a 2008 nonprosecution deal with him. He was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died in his jail cell as he awaited trial.
Kahn said in his deposition that he has “never been questioned by any government authority” but that he received grand jury subpoena requests from the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands Justice Department asking for Epstein’s will and 1953 trust. He also said the estate received a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee. Indyke added that he gave two other depositions before this month, in two cases linked to Epstein’s estate.
Asked whether any law enforcement agency had ever contacted him about Epstein or co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, Indyke told the House panel, “I don’t think I was.”
When he was subsequently asked whether he was surprised that he had not been questioned by law enforcement, Indyke said no, “given my role in — in my role as a transactional attorney for Mr. Epstein.”
Kahn and Indyke were also asked whether they considered leaving their employment with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor. Kahn said he did consider it, “without a doubt,” but ultimately decided to stay because “we were in the middle of a financial crisis, and I had a family to support.”
Kahn said he believed Epstein when Epstein told him that “this would never happen again.”
Indyke said he did not consider quitting his job, adding that he “drank the Kool-Aid at the time.”
Even hotter weather moves into New Mexico Wednesday and Thursday
Record high temperatures are being shattered today across New Mexico, with more record-breaking temperatures through Thursday. Relief finally arrives Friday with a strong cold front. High temperatures are soaring into the 80s and 90s statewide Tuesday, breaking records in many locations. The warmth won’t ease much overnight as high pressure settles over the region. Even […]
Source link
INCENDIARY Streams Remastered Collection Of Rarities & B-Sides
Hardcore veterans Incendiary have unveiled a newly remastered collection of their early material, titled Product of New York. The compilation gathers the band’s debut EP Amongst the Filth, tracks from various split 7″ releases, and previously unreleased material, giving fans a definitive look at the formative era of the New York hardcore unit.
The collection is available digitally now, with a vinyl pressing set for May 15 via Closed Casket Activities, giving collectors a tangible slice of hardcore history.
Vocalist Brendan Garrone explained the intent behind the compilation: “Product of New York captures the complete early Incendiary output across multiple split 7″s and our debut 7″, Amongst the Filth.
“We’re proud of the history of the band and wanted to compile the songs that defined this time period, many of which continue to be staples of our live sets. Hopefully, people more familiar with our later LPs have a chance to check out these tracks.”
The set also features the previously unreleased b-side “Not Your Prophet,” originally intended as part of Change the Way You Think About Pain. Garrone added: “It never quite seemed to fit the overall vibe and flow of the album, but this felt like the right opportunity to offer something new while compiling our older material.”
Remastering duties were handled by GRAMMY Award-winning producer Will Putney, known for his work with Body Count and Poison the Well.
Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter
Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.