Category Archives: Progress

By Steve Holland and Koh Gui Qing | PALM BEACH, Fla.

PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to do more to curb North Koreas nuclear program and help reduce the gaping U.S. trade deficit with Beijing in talks on Friday, even as he toned down the strident anti-China rhetoric of his election campaign.

Trump spoke publicly of progress on a range of issues in his first U.S.-China summit as did several of his top aides but they provided few concrete specifics other than China's agreement to work together to narrow disagreements and find common ground for cooperation.

As the two leaders wrapped up a Florida summit overshadowed by U.S. missile strikes in Syria overnight, Xi joined Trump in stressing the positive mood of the meetings while papering over deep differences that have caused friction between the worlds two biggest economies.

Trumps aides insisted he had made good on his pledge to raise concerns about Chinas trade practices and said there was some headway, with Xi agreeing to a 100-day plan for trade talks aimed at boosting U.S. exports and reducing Chinas trade surplus with the United States.

Speaking after the two-day summit at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also said that Xi had agreed to increased cooperation in reining in North Koreas missile and nuclear programs though he did not offer any new formula for cracking Pyongyangs defiant attitude.

Trump had promised during the campaign to stop what he called the theft of American jobs by China. Many blue-collar workers helped propel him to his unexpected election victory on Nov. 8 and Trump is under pressure to deliver for them.

The Republican president tweeted last week that the United States could no longer tolerate massive trade deficits and job losses and that his meeting with Xi "will be a very difficult one."

On Friday, the unpredictable Trump not only set a different tone but also avoided any public lapses in protocol that Chinese officials had feared could embarrass their leader.

"We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China," Trump told reporters as the two delegations met around tables flanked by large U.S. and Chinese flags. "We will be making additional progress. The relationship developed by President Xi and myself I think is outstanding.

And I believe lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away," he added, without providing details.

"AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT"

Xi also spoke in mostly positive terms.

We have engaged in deeper understanding, and have built a trust," he said. I believe we will keep developing in a stable way to form friendly relations....For the peace and stability of the world, we will also fulfill our historical responsibility.

Well, I agree with you 100 percent," Trump replied.

But in a sign that rough spots remained, Tillerson afterwards described the discussions as very frank and candid.

President Trump and President Xi agreed to work in concert to expand areas of cooperation while managing differences based on mutual respect, he said.

After the meeting, Trump took Xi on a walk around the manicured grounds of his lavish Spanish-style complex. Trump could be seen chatting and gesturing to Xi, who did the same.

Tillerson said Trump had accepted Xis invitation to visit China and that they also agreed to upgrade a U.S.-China dialogue by putting the two presidents at the head of the forum.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the Chinese had expressed an interest in reducing Chinas trade surplus as a way of controlling their own inflation. Thats the first time Ive heard them say that in a bilateral context, he said.

Ross declined to say whether the United States was ready to designate China a currency manipulator, however, referring to an upcoming report in which that issue would be addressed.

Although Trump during the presidential election campaign had pledged to label China a currency manipulator on the first day of his administration, he has refrained from doing so.

The highly anticipated U.S.-China summit was upstaged by U.S. missile strikes overnight against a Syrian air base from which Trump said a deadly chemical weapon attack had been launched earlier in the week. It was the first direct U.S. assault on the Russian-backed government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in six years of civil war.

The swift action in Syria could be interpreted as a signal especially to defiant nuclear-armed North Korea and by extension, its ally China as well as other countries like Iran and Russia of Trumps willingness to use military force. North Korea is developing missiles capable of hitting the United States.

Tillerson said Xi agreed with Trump that North Korea's nuclear advances had reached a very serious stage.

He said Trump also raised U.S.concerns about China's activities in the South China Sea. Beijing is building and fortifying islands in pursuit of expansive territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe in Washington; Writing by Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler)

UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW/BEIRUT Russia warned on Friday that U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base could have "extremely serious" consequences, as President Donald Trump's first major foray into a foreign conflict opened up a rift between Moscow and Washington.

STOCKHOLM A truck plowed into a crowd on a shopping street and crashed into a department store in central Stockholm on Friday, killing four people and wounding 15 in what the prime minister said appeared to be a terrorist attack.

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At US-China summit, Trump presses Xi on trade, North Korea; progress cited - Reuters

Last week, I looked at the Nets March improvement. The teams defense improved vastly, and their offensive numbers saw an uptick as well. That improvement has carried over to the first week of April, with the Nets capping off a three-game winning streak with a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. As for the Orlando matchup...well, it happened.

This season is a stark contrast to previous years. The 2016-2017 season is about progress over playoffs, and foundation over quick fixes. This is Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinsons first full seasons as the top guys. Everyone knew that rehabilitating the Nets would be an arduous process. Even in the preseason, the Nets knew that this season was about incremental progress, rather than a playoff berth. In a preseason press conference, General Manager Sean Marks said the following

The season wont be measured entirely by wins and losses. Itll be measured by the progress thats made throughout the season. Our goals arent necessarily six months down the road goals. Its this next block of five games and asking did we improve from the last block of five games

After a brutal 1-27 stretch in mid-season, the Nets have shown the progress both Atkinson and Marks envisioned. The progress is a positive heading into the off-season for the entire organization. Heres the progress shown by a few Nets players this season

Brook Lopez Attacking off the dribble

Brook Lopezs excursion (or intergalactic voyage for a Star Wars fan) to the three-point line has been well documented throughout the season. Lopez has been shooting from deep all season, by design. But Lopez has complemented his perimeter game with new wrinkles as well.

Lopez shoots at a decent clip from three, 35.5%, per NBA.com. This forces defenders to respect his range. Lopez can pump fake and drive against defenders that are closing out, or simply drive past them if theyre too close. Here, Lopez receives the pass at the top of the key and takes the ball right past Thon Maker, drawing the foul and converting the bucket.

Lopez even shows solid vision when putting the ball on the floor. Previously, most of Lopezs assists came out of the post, where he would shovel passes to cutters that threw the entry pass, namely Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick. Lopezs newfound ability to drive and kick adds another unexpected dimension from a 7-foot, relatively unathletic center. Lopez finds fan-favorite Jeremy Lin here after drawing in the defense with a drive.

Brook Lopez isnt just a standstill shooter and low post force. His game developed in unexpected, but welcome ways throughout the season. Lopezs newly dynamic offense is a welcome development for the growing Nets.

For a detailed analysis of Lopezs offensive improvement, check out my latest article for 16 Wins a Ring.

Sean Kilpatrick Defense

Sean Kilpatricks microwave offensive ability is well known. His ability to create offense carried the Nets in several games. But his defense caused some concern. Post All-Star Break, Kilpatrick is simply playing with more effort on the defensive end.

Above, Kilpatrick fights through a cross screen set by Kyle OQuinn on the sideline out of bounds play. Kilpatrick scurries across and contests his opponents shot at the free throw line, leading to a miss. Not bad!

Here, Kilpatrick is matched up against C.J. McCollum. McCollum runs a quick give-and-go play with Meyers Leonard, with Leonard acting as a pseudo-screen. Kilpatrick maneuvers around Leonard and closes out on McCollum. Kilpatrick prevents McCollum from driving to the rim, forcing him towards the corner. McCollum rises for a jumper but Kilpatrick contests the shot beautifully, raising a hand right in C.J.s grill. McCollums shot hits back rim.

Kilpatricks defensive metrics have improved as a whole. Prior to the All-Star Break, Kilpatricks defensive rating was 109.9, one of the worst marks on the team, per NBA.com. Past February 23, his defensive rating jumped to 103.3, tied for fourth best on the squad. His net rating improved from -8.5 to +3.2 as well.

Prior to the All-Star Break, opponents shot 50.6% against Kilpatrick, the worst mark for Nets that played over 10 games. Since then, opponents have shot 43.4%, per NBA.com/stats. Kilpatrick has shown his value as an offensive creator all season. Now hes proving that he can defend consistently as well.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Confidence

I know. Confidence cant be measured quantitatively. But for NBA players, it could be the difference between superstar and twelfth man. Just look at the career of former Net Anthony Bennett. At UNLV, Bennett was confident, challenging defenders at the rim and playing with attitude. The former number one pick also looked great in International competition, prompting Kenny Atkinson to take a flyer on him. But as a pro, Bennett looked tentative and unfocused. The Nets tried to rebuild Bennetts deflated confidence before ultimately releasing him in January.

Now, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may not be Anthony Bennett, but building his confidence has been a point of emphasis for the Nets coaching staff through the season. Kenny Atkinson said the following of his young power forward to the New York Posts Brian Lewis a few weeks ago

Hes starting to get some confidence in his game. Hes doing a better job of being a little bit more even-keel, more resilient. Young players, when things dont go their way, they tend to get down on themselves. Thats one of Rondaes areas of improvement that hes got to keep steady.

YES Networks Ian Eagle and Donny Marshall also spoke of Hollis-Jeffersons confidence, alluding to RHJs emotional nature and perfectionist mentality. Of course, winning helps in building confidence. But even through losses, positivity and encouragement can do the same for young players, from both coaches and veterans. Thats a cultural aspect that differs from previous regimes. Players should be responsible for slip-ups, but also need encouragement. Its a tight balance, but Atkinson and his staff seemingly have the right formula.

Although RHJ may still make questionable decisions, hes looked more comfortable lately. The awkwardness of his game is slowly being refined, and his frenzied energy, focused.

Heres one example...

Heres another...

Post All-Star Break, RHJs numbers have jumped in every area, going from 7.8 to 10.1 points per game, 5.1 to 6.8 rebounds, and improved offensive and defensive ratings. Like in many aspects of life, confidence is key. RHJ is carving his niche.

Are those the only player improvements?

Those are just three wide-ranging examples of the Nets individual improvements. Several other players also have shown marked growth this season. Joe Harris grew confidence with the ball in his hands. Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Whitehead are now competent floor generals. Trevor Booker has found a niche as an energy player. ANd Caris LeVert just had his career high Thursday night. Seemingly, everyone on the team has grown throughout the year.

As Keith Smith reported, the Nets have been optimistic through adversity, and are proud of how far theyve come as a team. Progress is slow, but evident. Heading into the off-season, the Nets seemingly have established the foundation for success. Were getting there. Its just a slow elevator ride to the top.

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This.Is.Progress. The Nets' Steady, Subtle Improvement - NetsDaily

Mission: Nonprofit helps women attain economic self-sufficiency through the creation and growth of profitable and sustainable businesses Based: 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Suite 200, Minneapolis Founded: 1977 Executive director: Elaine Wyatt Employee count: 16 Website: http://www.womenventure.org/index.html

In 2016, WomenVenture helped women launch or strengthen more than 600 businesses, producing $47.5 million in gross sales and creating or retaining more than 1,300 jobs.

Perhaps the most significant number is the median wage of more than $27 an hour that those jobs paid, Women Venture executive director Elaine Wyatt said.

The wages that the women are paying themselves and their employees, thats one of the places where we feel like we really stand out in the market, Wyatt said. Our goal for every woman that comes to us no matter what her business idea, her education or her income level is that whatever business that she creates really is going to pay her a living wage.

With a view of using business ownership as a pathway to wealth, WomenVenture offers classes, consultation and networking opportunities. WomenVenture in particular aims to serve low-income women and women of color, who have accounted for 60 percent and 40 percent of clients, respectively, so far in 2017, Wyatt said.

WomenVenture also provides access to capital. Last year it lent nearly $600,000 to 20 new business clients and partnered with local banks to help clients access more than $5 million in capital. A special interest is helping women who have had credit problems or lack assets to obtain financing, Wyatt said.

They may be struggling because they need some capital to hire an employee, buy a piece of equipment or go into a space, whatever it is thats holding their business back, Wyatt said.

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Progress MN: WomenVenture - Finance and Commerce

Click the image to read the 2017 Progress Minnesota digital edition.

Now in its sixth year, Finance & Commerces Progress Minnesota event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and economic development occurring across the state. More than two dozen individuals, companies and organizations were selected for this years honor by an independent panel of judges.

The 29 honorees were feted April 6 at the Minneapolis Events Center. Gov. Mark Dayton issued a proclamation to celebrate April 6 as Progress Minnesota Day.

Since the first Progress Minnesota event in 2012, attendees have told us how impressed they are by the strength and creativity in Minnesotas business community.

In this magazine, youll read about the efforts of well-known companies, such as Xcel Energys commitment to renewable energy and Ryan Cos. US Inc.s revitalization of Minneapolis Downtown East.

Youll also learn about economic drivers outside the Twin Cities metro area, like Carlos Creek Winery, which drew nearly 115,000 visitors last year to its Alexandria lakes-area vineyard and tasting room, and Life Fitness, which in February completed a $33.5 million, 150,000-square-foot addition to its Owatonna Cybex facility.

This magazine also highlights the economic vitality of Duluth, which has been bolstered in part by the efforts of the College of St. Scholastica, all-weather outdoor furniture designer and manufacturer Loll Designs, and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, which helps drive economic growth at one of the largest ports in the U.S.

Youll find out about companies that bring Minnesota sensibilities to high-tech industries like IT company Atomic Data, lighting manufacturer aspectLED and Tech Dump, which gives people and electronics a second chance.

Inside youll also read tributes to individuals whove been boosters for Minnesotas economy, including a posthumous recognition for Todd Klingel, former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Klingels emphasis on partnerships and collaborations has left its mark across the metro area in projects large and small, including influential regional economic development agency Greater MSP.

Minnesotas economic growth and potential is impressive, and the people, companies and organizations honored here make the future seem even brighter.

David Bohlander, Special Sections Editor, Finance & Commerce

Blake Huffman |Journey Home Minnesota

Todd Klingel |Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Julie Nelson |Small Business Development Center

Alex Tittle Sr. |Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee

Alliance Machine Inc. |Elk River

aspectLED |Arden Hills

Atomic Data |Minneapolis

Bellwether Enterprise |Minneapolis

Buddys Kitchen Inc. |Burnsville

Carlos Creek Winery |Alexandria

Cemstone Cos.|Mendota Heights

The College of St. Scholastica |Duluth

Duluth Seaway Port Authority |Duluth

Eutectics Consulting LLC |Minneapolis

Hennepin Theatre Trust |Minneapolis

Horizon Roofing Inc. |Brooklyn Center

King Technology Inc.|Hopkins

Latino Economic Development Center|Minneapolis

Lennar Multifamily Communities |Minneapolis, Edina and Bloomington

Life Fitness|Owatonna

Loll Designs |Duluth

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program |Minneapolis

Runnings |Marshall

Ryan Cos. US Inc. |Minneapolis

Select Comfort Corp.|Plymouth

Sherman Associates|Minneapolis

Tech Dump and Tech Discounts|Golden Valley

WomenVenture|Minneapolis

Xcel Energy |Minneapolis

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Profiles of Progress MN 2017 honorees Finance & Commerce - Finance and Commerce

Robbie Andreu @RobbieAndreu

GAINESVILLE Gator Nation is cynical, and justifiably so. Because it happens every spring.

The Gators flash explosive and exciting signs that maybe they are about to pull themselves out of this seemingly endless offensive slump. Then, of course, they dont.

Spring growth fails to turn into fall production. Every. Single. Time.

Its been going on like this since Tim Tebow and his special gifts left town following the 2009 season.

So, will the Gators follow the same sad story line in 2017?

Theyve orchestrated the first phase of it, flashing all kinds of positive signs this spring. Now, its a matter of where the offense goes from here.

Some potential slump-ending pieces seem to be in place.

An experienced front has been playing with more energy and aggression under new offensive line coach Brad Davis, whose No. 1 priority this spring was to make the big nasties nastier.

There are proven playmakers (and more of them now) at receiver, tight end and running back.

And there seems to be an overall shift in attitude.

They have a chip on their shoulder, UF coach Jim McElwain said.

Yes, they do. But do the Gators have a quarterback capable of leading them out of this offensive wilderness?

Many have tried over the past seven seasons, but all have either failed or transferred.

McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier are now in the process of trying to determine who is next in line either Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask. Or maybe even former starter Luke Del Rio, out for the spring following shoulder surgery.

The next big test in the quarterback quest is Fridays Orange & Blue Debut in The Swamp.

Its another opportunity. Is it the end all? Absolutely not, McElwain said. We have a body of work, plus what we do over the summer and into fall camp. There again, its another opportunity and thats the way its got to be approached. I will say Im excited how theyre playing. Its been good, weve been able to stretch it really good.

Theyve done a great job, and yet, I kind of expected them to.

Franks and Trask, both redshirt freshmen, have made great strides in the year theyve been here, Nussmeier said.

Franks made so much progress in the fall that McElwain even considered pulling his red shirt and playing him.

A lot more confidence, a lot better understanding of just the passing game overall in general, Nussmeier said of Franks. Theres a different learning curve for each and Feleipe has done a great job of buying into what weve asked him to do and really improve in the classroom side of things.

The thing about Kyle is hes deadly accurate. The biggest thing with Kyle is just getting repetition, getting in the game and playing. He may overanalyze a little bit. In our second practice he threw a couple balls in the dirt. Its uncharacteristic of him because he is so accurate. Its about letting it flow, letting it play, and thats just repetition.

The competition between Franks and Trask for the starting role has been close throughout the spring. But McElwain said earlier this week that there has been some separation. Although he would not reveal who has pulled ahead, Franks appears to be the guy based on his recent increase in reps with the No.1 offense early in practices.

A third quarterback also is in the mix. Although true freshman and early enrollee Kadarius Toney is not necessarily competing for the starting role, his ability as a dual-threat QB has likely earned him a package of plays to run in the fall.

Their teammates express confidence in all three quarterbacks.

"All the quarterbacks are doing well, center T.J. McCoy said. Feleipe and Kyle, and even Toney, are all doing great. There's a lot of competition going on between the three and I'm happy with any of the three. We can trust all three quarterbacks.

Feleipe and Kyle, a lot of the knowledge of the game has grown for them. They're getting the plays off a lot quicker and that's making us a better offense.

Whoever's the QB, that's the leader. When Kyle's in the huddle, I'm listening to Kyle. When Feleipe's in the huddle, I'm listening to Feleipe. Both of them are great leaders. I believe that we're in good hands with both of them."

Both have come a long way since last years spring game, especially Franks, who flopped a year ago, throwing three interceptions before coming in late to lead the offense to a touchdown.

My command has grown a bunch since last spring, Franks said. And it's really fun for me now just to be out there and actually just play the game, play what I've been playing my whole life and not have to stress about, 'What am I doing this play? What am I doing this next play?' Now, that I've settled in and know the playbook I can go out there and have fun. It's really fun."

It certainly will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks perform Friday. And even more interesting to see where they (and the offense) go from here.

Weve got a chip on our shoulder, junior wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland said. Back in the years they had Tebow, the offense was explosive. Were trying to get back to that offense, making plays, so we dont have to rely on the defense as much.

There are some spring signs that the offensive slump could end in the fall. But, well, Gator Nation has seen this before.

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Gators get chance to show their progress Friday - Daily Commercial

COLLINSVILLEMeadow View Elementary continues to take shape. On Thursday, the Henry County School Board received an update on the project, which is scheduled to open in December.

Keith Scott, the school districts director of facilities maintenance, said the construction phase of the project is still going strong.

We know that the concrete slabs on both wings A and B which are the wings for the classrooms that you see in the back portion both of [them have] been poured and are well underway, Scott said.

Roofers have also mobilized and have started working on wings A and B.

Were about 80-percent dried in on both of those wings, Scott said.

Continuing their work, masons are helping form section C, which is the gym area.

Were expecting to see some roofing taking place at that section within the next week or two, Scott said.

With all of the action taking place, theres only been one minor issue and its one that Scott certainly doesnt mind.

Theres a lot of trades continuing to work on Meadow View, Scott said. We had a progress meeting yesterday, and I think its a good problem, but were running out of parking for all the trades thats out there. So thats a good sign a lot of activity going on.

Trades refers to the various work crews handling the project, as each has a different specialty and assignment. In addition to the building, crews have also started installing a natural gas line on the property.

While the school board receives monthly updates from Scott about the site where children from John Redd Smith and Collinsville Primary will attain their education during the second semester of the 2017-18 school year, the director of facilities maintenance said theres a new, faster way to keep up with the construction sites progress and anyone can access it at any time.

Theres a construction camera installed for your view, Scott said.

The recently installed device takes pictures of the progress, which are then uploaded to the HCPS website. Hovering over About, then clicking on Meadow View Elementary School Project will take viewers to a page hosting an artists rendering of the new facility.

Clicking on Construction Web Cam takes the viewer to a photo gallery or time lapse video of the site.

You can go through and watch. It snaps pictures every 30 minutes, Scott said. You can watch a little video of how its progressed over the past or you can just flip through pictures if you like to. So thats there for the public viewing on it as well.

School Board Chairman Curtis Millner asked about the Virginia Department of Transportations progress on the access lanes.

We had a meeting last week to just kind of prepare for the paperwork, Scott said.

Scott revealed that the construction site sub-contractor temporarily pulled off of the Meadow View project due to unfavorable weather conditions and in order to work on other projects.

They were kind of ahead of schedule anyway, Scott said. Now they have mobilized back to site. We had a meeting with VDOT and how to record that information and that stuff is well underway as well, in-between weather of course.

Dr. Joseph DeVault, member-at-large, asked if the construction was still on schedule for a mid-year 2017-18 opening.

We talked a little about that in the progress meeting yesterday, Scott said. The contractor still feels pretty good about where he is, but weve also agreed that in our June progress meeting to really get a final answer of where we are. That will kind of give him enough time to get through, finish up with his site work and kind of really address and see how far along we are.

Whether it opens a little earlier or a little later than expected, the schools progress is apparently already the buzz of the county.

I continue to hear positive comments from the public who drive by there, DeVault said. Theyre very complimentary of what theyre seeing now. Im sure it will be more so when its all finished.

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Progress continues at Meadow View Elementary - Martinsville Bulletin

New York Times

Cuomo Hails Progress on Budget, but a Long Easter Break Beckons New York Times Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, at the State Capitol on Wednesday evening, said, It's very important to me that we not put our financial feet into cement. Credit Nathaniel Brooks for The New York Times. ALBANY With the state budget late and getting later, Gov. Assembly speaker: Progress being made on state budget - News ...Times Herald-Record Progress reported in state budget talksWXXI News all 201 news articles »

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Cuomo Hails Progress on Budget, but a Long Easter Break Beckons - New York Times

Futures left fielder Taylor Trammel grounds out in the top of the sixth inning of the MLB exhibition game between the Reds Futures Team and the Cincinnati Reds at Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday, April 1, 2017. The Reds beat a team of its top prospects 5-1 in the second-ever Futures Game hosted by Single-A affiliate Dayton Dragons,(Photo: Sam Greene, The Enquirer)

The Blog Above Replacement a daily look at the Reds, their minor leagues and whatever else is on the mind of Enquirer Reds beat writers, C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan. You can follow them on Twitter (@ctrent and @ZachENQ), Facebook (C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan) and Instagram (ENQReds).

Welcome back to the Blog Above Replacement, our daily look at the Reds, baseball and beyond. Zach and I will do this every weekday during the season, taking a look not just at the Reds, but also their minor-league results, something thats more important than ever as the team continues its rebuild.

The Enquirers exhaustive Reds coverage includes not just news, notes and results from the games at Great American Ball Park and other ballparks across the country, but also our weekly Reds Beat Podcast. If youre a daily BAR reader and not a podcast listener, we invite you to continue the discussion there. Or, well, listen to our discussion. You can also email, tweet or whatever to let us know what you want to hear about. Well include guests (like GM Dick Williams last week) and also talk amongst ourselves.

This week, we had Philadelphia Inquirer Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb in to discuss the dueling rebuilds in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Last year Gelb joined us for the C. Dot Show Opening Day Eve Extravaganza (R.I.P.) and he said he thought the Phillies were a year ahead of the Reds. Now he thinks it looks more like two years ahead. We discuss that and more.

So, if youre new to podcasts, think about it as an old-fashioned radio show that you can listen to any time and any place. Zach and I aim to record the podcast every Tuesday and post it early Wednesday morning, so its up for your morning consumption since theres no local sports radio here in Cincinnati, think of this as your companion at least once a week on your drive, morning walk or whatever.

New to podcasts? Heres a good intro from Ira Glass of This American Life.

Our podcast can be found thusly:

In the podcast section of the Cincinnati.com Reds app, available on iTunes and Google Play

Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio

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MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Games begin on Thursday, but the rosters have been announced. Ill link the rosters and highlight a few players to watch at each level:

Triple-A: Louisville Bats

RHPs Sal Romano and Jackson Stephens are starters that could find their way to Cincinnati this season.

2B Dilson Herrera was acquired in the Jay Bruce deal. The outfield of Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin, Sebastian Elizalde and Beau Amaral should be worth watching.

Double-A: Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Of the pitchers, RHP Luis Castillo throws 100 and was the main piece acquired in the Dan Straily trade. RHP Tyler Mahle doesnt quite throw that hard, but he has very good command and control.

Aristides Aquino may have the highest ceiling of any Reds prospect, with tools that could make him special, including power and a cannon of an arm. Gabby Guerrero resembles his uncle, Vladimir, in several ways, including his choice to eschew batting gloves.

High-A: Daytona Tortugas

The infield has a chance to be pretty interesting, headlined by 3B Nick Senzell, the No. 2 overall pick in last years draft. Alfredo Rodriguez, a high-priced Cuban import, is the shortstop and sleeper prospect pick Shed Long (youll hear much, much more about Shed this year) is at second base. Gavin LaValley is the first baseman. Not only that, but catcher Chris Okey was the teams second-round pick last year.

The Reds other big-ticket Cuban from last year, RHP Vladimir Gutierrez, is also slated to begin the season in Daytona.

Low-A: Dayton Dragons

OF Taylor Trammell, the No. 35 overall pick last year, will start the season in Dayton, as will fellow Georgian and first-round pick, C Tyler Stephenson.

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BAR: Measuring Reds, Phillies rebuild progress - Cincinnati.com

By Richard N. Haass April 05, 2017

This weeks meeting in Mar-a-Lago between Chinese President Xi Jin-ping and PresidentDonald Trump is arguably the most important foreign policy gathering of the still-young Trump administration. The trajectory of the next four years will hinge in no small part on whether the two countries can avoid a trade or any other kind of war; in the longer run, it will be one sort of 21st century if the United States and China collaborate on regional and global challenges and a very different one if the two cannot work together or, worse, come to blows.

There is a school of thought that predicts this relationship will become adversarial. Named for the great historian of the Peloponnesian War, the Thucydides Trap holds that cold or hot war is all but inevitable between the United States, the existing great power of this era, and a rising China. But such a conclusion is unwarranted; unlike Russia, China has a broad-based economy and is integrated into the global economy. China has good reason not to act recklessly abroad lest it place its economic interests (and its internal political stability) at risk.

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Indeed, so far the two countries have proved the historical pessimists wrong. The two countries, sworn foes for the first two decades of the Cold War, shared an even greater dislike of the Soviet Union. It was the great power version of the adage that enemy of my enemy is my friend. Richard Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger understood the depth of the Sino-Soviet split and made the difficult choices required for the United States and Mainland China to move closer together in a manner that weakened the strategic position of the Soviet Union.

Impressively, the US-China relationship survived the demise of that common enemy some 25 years ago. The relationship evolved from one of shared opposition to one of shared interests, above all economic. Trade and investment took off. China emerged as a major destination for American technology exports; America became a major market for every kind of Chinese manufacturing.

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In recent years, though, this relationship has shown signs of wearing thin. Economic ties have become as much a source of friction as ballast. Various American administrations have been frustrated with what is viewed as limited access to Chinas market for American exporters. Other concerns include allegations China has regularly stolen American intellectual property, that it has at times weakened its currency to advantage its exports, and that it is subsidizing Chinese firms on a scale that makes it difficult for private US companies to compete. China for its part denies these claims and is frustrated that the US government will not allow it to import a number of items with advanced technologies.

The Chinese ambassador, Cui Tiankai, has established a busy back channel to Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Geopolitical frustration is likewise increasing. The United State believes that China is not doing all it can and should to reign in North Koreas nuclear and missile programs. US officials are also unhappy with Chinas military buildup in the South China Sea, seeing it as threatening the right of transit. China meanwhile regularly voices its displeasure with continued US arms sales to Taiwan as well as with the deployment of a missile defense system in South Korea that many in China claim is aimed at their missiles more than those of North Korea.

A days worth of meetings in Mar-a-Lago will not resolve these issues. But there is potential for progress. Chinas leader comes to Florida focused on consolidating political power back home amid a slowing economy. He is not looking for a crisis with Chinas main economic partner. This could dovetail well with one of Trumps main priorities, which is to show progress on the trade front, both in terms of gaining enhanced US access to the Chinese market and greater Chinese investment in the United States.

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When it comes to North Korea, China will argue for a negotiation that seeks first to freeze North Korean nuclear and missile programs. The US side might be attracted to such an outcome, but only if it were comprehensive and verifiable. The real question is whether China will use some of the leverage it denies it has but surely possesses with North Korea. It might, if only because it is not in its interests to have a conflict on the peninsula that disrupted the regions economy and resulted in a unified Korea in the American strategic orbit. At Mar-a-Lago, though, the most that can be expected is a discussion of the issue in which each side comes away with a better understanding of what the other side is prepared to do along with a commitment to continue high-level talks on an accelerated basis.

All of which raises a larger point. This meeting should not be viewed as a traditional summit judged by how many specific agreements or deliverables emerge. Rather, it is an opportunity for the new US president and his team, none of whom has much if any first-hand knowledge of China, to come away with a deeper understanding of that country and its leaders. The Chinese are anxious to come away with a better appreciation of this president who differs in many ways from his predecessors. If they can do this, avoid a crisis over trade, and establish a mechanism to deal with North Korea, Mar-a-Lago should be viewed as a success.

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The potential for progress at the US-China meeting - The Boston Globe

BERN Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said on Wednesday that his money laundering investigation into Malaysian fund 1MDB was making progress despite Malaysian authorities' refusal to cooperate.

Combing through money laundering reports and bank documents with help from Singapore, Luxembourg and the United States was bearing fruit for his office, the OAG, he said.

"It's not hopeless, in fact it's the opposite," Lauber said.

"We're still confident we can successfully conclude the process ... in particular the open cases against the two banks," he said at a news conference, referring to Swiss private banks BSI and Falcon which have already had to pay out in the case.

1MDB, once a pet project of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, is under investigation in at least six countries over billions of dollars of suspected misappropriations.

Presenting his 2016 annual report, Lauber outlined OAG activities including its investigation of bribery linked to Brazil's oil firm Petrobras, investigations into world soccer body FIFA personnel, and tracking terrorist financing.

"This place (Switzerland) is not a safe harbor, not for terrorists, not for money launderers, not for international corruption," he said. "We don't tolerate things like 1MDB, we don't tolerate things like Petrobras, we don't tolerate things like the whole FIFA soccer complex."

In the Petrobras case, the OAG said it has confiscated $1.1 billion in assets linked to the Brazilian oil group, up from $800 million in 2015. More than 1,000 Swiss accounts have been examined, including from Brazil's former speaker of the lower house, Eduardo Cunha, who was jailed last month.

Investigations into Sepp Blatter, ex-president of FIFA, on corruption charges and into Franz Beckenbauer for his role in Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup were continuing, it said.

Lauber said he was also in touch with Dutch authorities over an international investigation made public on Thursday into suspected tax evasion and money laundering via Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) accounts.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

HOUSTON Nearly a century after Chevron Corp amassed the No. 2 stake in America's largest oilfield, Chief Executive John Watson is hitting the accelerator on developing the company's vast Permian Basin holdings.

SANTIAGO The copper business will recover from crisis mode after plummeting prices for the metal resulted in output cuts, industry executives said at a meeting in world top copper producer Chile this week, but they expect that incipient recovery will be slow.

WINTERSET, IOWA A U.S. government program designed to convert farmland to wildlife habitat has triggered the spread of a fast-growing weed that threatens to strangle crops in America's rural heartland.

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Swiss making progress in 1MDB case despite Malaysia's silence: top prosecutor - Reuters