NoneCLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt — the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. "We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. "Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. “As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.” Nakken is the second on-field female coach hired by the Guardians. In 2023, the club brought in Amanda Kamekona as their hitting development coach for their year-round training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Last season, she was an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron. Kamekona was twice a third-team All-American at UCLA after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbTitle: Tragic Story of a Mother and Daughter in Taiwan: Scammed of Millions, Ended Up Taking Their Own Lives; Police Mocked Their Report
Angela Poundmaker-Gromova, in Halifax on Nov. 25, was able to secure a higher paying job after took a course in growth marketing, a field that uses data analysis to drive customer acquisition and retention. Darren Calabrese/The Globe and Mail By age 36, when Angela Poundmaker-Gromova finished her communications degree, she had already worked in hairstyling, hospitality, film and television. In her new career, she found herself stuck in a series of entry-level jobs at a stage in her life when she had more work experience and better soft skills than her peers, and more training on new technologies than her superiors. She also felt underpaid. To secure a higher-paying role, Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova took a course in growth marketing, a field that uses data analysis to drive customer acquisition and retention. In addition to those skills, the course taught her how to prepare for an interview and negotiate salary, and how to retool her LinkedIn profile to best position her for the types of jobs she wanted. She was recruited shortly afterward and got a new marketing industry job. She now makes significantly more than in her last position and has a much better work environment. “It was life-changing,” said Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova, now 38 and a resident of Halifax. After years of steep inflation and high interest rates, many Canadians are looking for ways to increase their salaries to catch up with the higher cost of living. In a recent report by human resources firm Robert Half, 92 per cent of Canadian workers said they are concerned about inflation outpacing salary growth, with 51 per cent saying they feel underpaid. The company’s survey of 1,750 workers aged 18 and up, conducted in June for its 2025 Canadian Salary Guide , found pay is the top thing workers are looking for in a new job. But given that it’s also a time of weak employment growth, is now a good time to try to find a new job – or to ask for a raise? Experts suggest starting by figuring out how your salary compares with that of others who do similar work, and finding ways to expand your value as a worker, whether through adding new skills or overperforming in your role. Jodi Kovitz, chief executive officer of the Ontario-based Human Resources Professional Association, said her organization’s members are fielding raise requests often these days. “Salary concerns driven by inflation are totally prominent,” said Ms. Kovitz, while adding the uncertain economy has made it challenging for some companies to offer raises across the board, and so are choosing to focus instead on rewarding top performers. “We’re seeing more targeted salary adjustments.” It’s important for those who plan to advocate for a raise to make sure they can show the value they bring to the organization, she said. If someone arrives at a meeting with their manager ready to describe how they’ve gone beyond expectations, and has done market research that shows people in similar roles are getting paid more at other companies, their chances of success are higher, she said. Ms. Kovitz also suggests using such a conversation as a way to plot out a future path at the company. “You can say to your manager, ‘I would really like to stay here, and here’s why,’” she said. “As a leader, I am much more inclined to want to invest in, from an energy and development perspective, into someone I see as a potential successor to someone who is a leader on my team.” Jermaine L. Murray, a recruiter and career coach, said this meeting can be a place for the employee and manager to agree on the worker’s strengths and weaknesses, and set milestones for the next six months. “Once this meeting concludes, send a follow-up email as both a thank-you and a confirmation of what took place,” advised Mr. Murray, founder of Toronto-based JupiterHR. “Then focus on knocking each milestone out of the park over the next six months. Two weeks before the six-month mark, schedule a follow-up meeting to go over the milestones and to get feedback on your performance. If done correctly, you’ll have buy-in from your manager who will advocate for you to get a raise.” Mr. Murray also encourages workers to apply for jobs if they feel underpaid, if only to get a sense for what they could make elsewhere. But he cautions that changing jobs involves risk, and should be done with careful consideration. “If you accept a new job without doing your due diligence because you’re desperate for change, the chances of it backfiring rise significantly,” he said. Sarah Stockdale – the chief executive officer of Growclass, the growth marketing training company whose course helped Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova get a higher-paying job – said targeted upskilling can help someone change companies, or earn more where they currently work. “You can start by looking around and seeing who has the job that you want, and what are the skills they bring,” said Ms. Stockdale, who is based in Toronto. She notes that skills related to artificial intelligence can increase one’s salary significantly. PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer report found jobs that require “specialist AI skills” carry up to a 25-per-cent wage premium over similar positions that don’t require use of AI, and give workers a much stronger bargain position. Ms. Stockdale said many tech workers who were laid off in recent years took the first job they could get after their layoff, and are now feeling “underpaid and undervalued,” especially in cases where workers with the same job titles aren’t being paid the same amount because some were hired in stronger economic times. “That can stir up a lot of anger and resentment,” she said, and encourages those in this position to approach the issue by seeking to understand the situation, rather than being confrontational. “Compensation discrepancies aren’t always intentional. “You want to be on the same team: You and your manager versus the problem that possibly there’s a gap in your compensation,” she said. Are you a young Canadian with money on your mind? To set yourself up for success and steer clear of costly mistakes, listen to our award-winning Stress Test podcast .
US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth, citing the Ivy League-educated former Fox News host's "charisma" and calling him "a WINNER" even as the nomination faces headwinds in Congress amid allegations of misconduct. or signup to continue reading A 44-year-old Army National Guard veteran, Hegseth has vowed to continue fighting for the top Department of Defence job and spent the week meeting with senators as some key lawmakers have said they are not yet ready to support him. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defence, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" "Thank you Mr. President. Like you, we will never back down," Hegseth responded. Trump's fellow Republicans will take control of the Senate next month ahead of his January 20 inauguration. If Democrats remain united against Hegseth, he can only afford to lose support from three Republicans and still win Senate approval. Trump has weighed alternative Republican nominees, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Joni Ernst and Representative Mike Waltz, who Trump has already picked for national security adviser, sources told Reuters earlier this week. Ernst, a senior Armed Services Committee member who on Thursday said she was not yet ready to back Hegseth, posted on Friday that she planned to meet him next week. "At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing," she wrote on X. Hegseth served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and has two Bronze Stars. But he has been criticised for lacking the management experience needed to lead 1.3 million active-duty service members and the nearly one million civilians who work for the nation's military. A California police report showed a woman filed a sexual assault complaint in 2017. Hegseth was never charged and has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer told CNN late Thursday that they may take legal action against the woman if Hegseth is not confirmed. On Wednesday, Hegseth told Sirius XM that he has "never had a drinking problem" but would nonetheless not drink alcohol if confirmed as defence secretary. Ernst, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, on Thursday said there must be a very thorough vetting process and that senators wanted "that any allegations have been cleared." Other Republicans offered tepid support. Two other Trump nominees have already ended their bids for top jobs: former Representative Matt Gaetz for US attorney general and Florida sheriff Chad Chronister for head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementHUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama A&M fired football coach Connell Maynor after seven seasons on Monday. Athletic director Paul A. Bryant announced the decision in a statement. The Bulldogs went 6-6 this season, including a 4-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference mark, and won three straight games before a season-ending loss to Florida A&M. Maynor finished 40-32 at Alabama A&M, including a 28-21 SWAC record. Maynor led Alabama A&M to its first SWAC championship in 15 years during the shortened 2021 season that played in the spring. The Bulldogs went 5-0 and beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40-33 to claim the program's second SWAC football title. Maynor is a former Arena Football League player who played quarterback for Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T. The program suffered a tragedy when linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. died last week from an injury sustained during the annual Magic City Classic against in-state rival Alabama State on Oct. 26. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballOverall, the real estate market in the coming year is poised for significant changes and developments. With a focus on policy reform, technological innovation, and shifting lifestyle preferences, we can expect to see a dynamic and evolving landscape that offers new opportunities and challenges for investors, buyers, and industry professionals alike. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting developments in the real estate market in the year ahead.
One of the key issues that has sparked outrage among Tencent Video members is the gradual reduction in the range of content available exclusively to paid subscribers. Many users have pointed out that popular TV series, movies, and other premium content that were previously included in their membership packages have been made available to all users for free or have been removed from the platform altogether. This has left paying members feeling shortchanged and questioning the benefits of renewing their subscriptions.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:53 p.m. EST
Green Hydrogen Costs Set to Stay Too High For Too Long Green hydrogen will struggle to compete at price level with gray hydrogen made from natural gas at least until 2050—much longer than previously anticipated, according to new by research firm BloombergNEF. BNEF’s new report on hydrogen prices finds that , the one produced via electrolysis using renewable energy, will fail to reach price parity with gray hydrogen by the middle of the century, as costs have more than tripled from last year’s forecast. Rising costs for electrolyzers mean that in 2050, green hydrogen would cost between $1.60 and $5.09 per kilogram, down from a current cost range of $3.74 to $11.70 per kilogram. But gray hydrogen currently costs $1.11 to $2.35 per kilogram, and the cost is expected to remain around these levels by 2050. In a 2023 , BNEF said that producing green hydrogen in a new plant in 2030 could be as much as 18% cheaper than continuing to run an existing gray hydrogen plant in five major economies around the world. Just a year and a half ago, BNEF expected green hydrogen cost production to undercut gray hydrogen by the end of this decade. The latest report from Monday drastically changes the estimates, raises the estimated cost for green hydrogen three times, and says that price parity is unlikely to be reached soon. The International Energy Agency (IEA), the most vocal backer of all things renewable, has that policy and demand uncertainty are slowing green hydrogen adoption. Uncertainty around demand and incentives coupled with cost pressures are weighing on the global adoption of low-carbon hydrogen despite an uptick in final investment decisions in the past year, the IEA said in a earlier this year. According to the agency, the main reasons for the slow uptake of low-carbon hydrogen IEA Executive Director , : “Policymakers and developers must look carefully at the tools for supporting demand creation while also reducing costs and ensuring clear regulations are in place that will support further investment in the sector.” the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Green Hydrogen Costs Set to Stay Too High For Too Long, MIBGAS launches today the first Iberian renewable hydrogen price index, with a price of 5.85 €/kg (148.36 €/MWh) MIBGAS launches today the first Iberian renewable hydrogen price index, with a price of 5.85 €/kg (148.36... VAUXHALL REVEALS PRICING AND SPECIFICATION FOR MOVANO HYDROGEN Vauxhall announces pricing and specification for the Movano HYDROGEN Movano HYDROGEN will offer a range of up to 311 miles (WLTP) and a refuelling time of... Sungrow Hydrogen – achieved “high-performance” + “low-cost” with technological innovation SHANGHAI, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On the 3rd of December, BloombergNEF Summit grandly...