Lewandowski doubtful for Spanish league game after Barcelona ‘exorcise’ Champions League failures

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Lewandowski doubtful for Spanish league game after Barcelona ‘exorcise’ Champions League failures MADRID (AP) — Barcelona may be without Robert Lewandowski on Sunday as it turns its focus back to the Spanish league after putting itself in a good position to advance in the Champions League following two early eliminations.Lewandowski received a knock on his ankle in the first half of the team’s 1-0 win at Porto on Wednesday and is doubtful to make the trip for the league match against Granada on Sunday. Barcelona enters the weekend one point behind Spanish league leader Real Madrid, which hosts Osasuna on Saturday.The win against Porto gave Barcelona the lead in Group H of the Champions League with six points after two victories, something the Catalan side hadn’t achieved in its first two matches since Lionel Messi’s last season for the club in 2020-21. Barcelona failed to reach the knockout rounds of the competition the last two seasons.Barcelona opened with two consecutive losses in 2021-22, and had already lost once at this point last season.“If we have been haunted by b...

Stock market today: Global shares rise, buoyed by Wall Street rally from bonds and lower oil prices

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Stock market today: Global shares rise, buoyed by Wall Street rally from bonds and lower oil prices TOKYO (AP) — Global shares advanced Thursday after a plunge in oil prices aided a recovery on Wall Street. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.3% to 6,976.60. Germany’s DAX shed 0.2% to 15,222.00, and Britain’s FTSE 100 was unchanged at 7,414.46. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow industrials were 0.3% lower. Market sentiment was helped by a $5 decline in oil prices on Wednesday. Prices recovered slightly in Asian trading, but were down nearly $1 in early European trading. Lower energy costs would relieve inflationary pressures that have led central banks to keep interest rates high. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 1.8% to finish at 31,075.36. Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.5% to 6,925.50, while South Korea’s Kospi was little changed, inching down less than 0.1% to 2,403.60. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong gained 0.1% to 17,213.87. Benchmark U.S. crude oil dropped 90 cents to $83.32 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchang...

These are the most expensive homes on the market right now in Greater Washington

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

These are the most expensive homes on the market right now in Greater Washington If you’ve got some serious cash — like Powerball cash, or “I own a professional sports team” cash — then these homes on the market in Greater Washington might be for you.Below you’ll find a countdown of the top 20 — well, 20ish, due to ties — most expensive single-family properties currently listed on Bright MLS, the region’s listing service. We’ve got expansive suburban estates and penthouse condos, historic homes and brand new construction and a couple properties that haven’t even been built yet. The vision alone is valued at millions, at least when you toss in crystal champagne rooms and rooftop putting greens.The median time for a D.C.-area home to go from listing to contract is 18 days, according to Bright MLS. Most of the homes below have waited for a buyer for much longer, some for years. But these properties are a different breed.The dominant real estate firm for the most expensive listings? That would be TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, which is…Read the full story from ...

Nadie ganó: el acumulado del Powerball se dispara a $1,400 millones

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Nadie ganó: el acumulado del Powerball se dispara a $1,400 millones Si sueñas con convertirte en millonario de la noche a la mañana, esta podría ser tu oportunidad. El Powerball se disparó a $1,400 millones, su tercer acumulado más grande en la historia de esta lotería, después de que nadie ganara el premio mayor del lunes.Los números ganadores fueron 9, 35, 54, 63, 64 y la Powerball 1.Si alguien acierta los seis números puede recibir una cantidad inferior, con base en las dos opciones de pago que hay.El ganador puede elegir entre el monto total del premio mayor repartido a lo largo de 30 años como pago anual, o un poco más de la mitad de ese monto como pago de una suma global por adelantado (unos $551.7 millones) Cayó el Powerball: un solo boleto se gana los $1,000 millones de la lotería Se acabó la espera: aquí los números ganadores de los $1,000 millones del Powerball Si escoge el acumulado total, recibirá el 52% del monto del premio mayor, según los cálculos del sitio de lotería usamega.com. M...

Xabi Alonso marks a successful year in charge at Bayer Leverkusen ahead of Rhine derby with Cologne

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Xabi Alonso marks a successful year in charge at Bayer Leverkusen ahead of Rhine derby with Cologne DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — From the relegation zone to the top of the standings. Not a bad first year in charge for Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.Alonso marked his first anniversary at the German club on Thursday and has a game against local rival Cologne on Sunday, another test of Leverkusen’s credentials to challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title.“That milestone means something to me,” Alonso said Wednesday. “A lot has happened in that time, mostly positive. The record is good and both the team and our game have continued to develop.”A World Cup and Champions League winner as a player, Alonso had never coached a club’s first team until he was appointed at Leverkusen on Oct. 5, 2022. At the time, Leverkusen had slumped to 17th in the 18-team league under predecessor Gerardo Seoane.One year later, Leverkusen is in first place after climbing to the top of the standings last week with a 3-0 win over Mainz as Bayern dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Leipzig. Alo...

Slippery stairs, spider bite, tackles and bad luck knock out players at the Rugby World Cup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Slippery stairs, spider bite, tackles and bad luck knock out players at the Rugby World Cup Since Antoine Dupont broke a cheekbone in a tackle at the Rugby World Cup, France has been feeding crumbs of positivity about its talismanic captain.Surgery two weeks ago went well, he’s rejoined the squad, he’s training lightly under medical supervision. His rehabilitation is on track, the tournament host team tells worried French supporters.The severity of the fracture hasn’t been detailed and Dupont’s surgeon will decide on Monday when the 2021 world player of the year can boost training.The outcome of previous players who have suffered broken cheekbones suggests Dupont’s availability will be dicey even for the final at the end of this month. Sam Cane’s injury last October made him miss New Zealand’s last three tests of 2022. Teammate Brodie Retallick took six weeks to return to action in August last year.“Depending on how bad it is,” Retallick said after Dupont was hurt, “it’s a tough injury. I’ve still got some numbness in m...

Mientras México toma medidas enérgicas contra los migrantes, el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador gana influencia ante Washington

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Mientras México toma medidas enérgicas contra los migrantes, el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador gana influencia ante Washington (CNN) — El mes pasado, mientras la administración Biden se apresuraba a gestionar la última ola de migrantes que desbordaba la frontera sur de Estados Unidos, las principales autoridades de inmigración de Estados Unidos cruzaron a México para una reunión de emergencia.Sentados alrededor de una sala de conferencias de Ciudad Juárez, los funcionarios y sus homólogos mexicanos redactaron un plan de 15 puntos para ayudar a desactivar el punto crítico, en su mayor parte una lista de verificación de acciones para el Gobierno mexicano. En particular, según un comunicado de la agencia federal de inmigración de México, México acordó llevar a cabo deportaciones más costosas de los migrantes que se reúnen en su lado de la frontera, una medida que algunos creían disuadiría los cruces desordenados.Las medidas, que también especifican los esfuerzos mexicanos para reprimir la aglomeración de migrantes que viajan hacia el norte en vagones, son los últimos de una serie de cambios de política e...

Juncker: Ukraine is totally corrupt

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Juncker: Ukraine is totally corrupt Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has slammed the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU, lambasting the country as massively “corrupt.”“Anyone who has had anything to do with Ukraine knows that this is a country that is corrupt at all levels of society. Despite its efforts, it is not ready for accession; it needs massive internal reform processes,” Juncker said during an interview with German outlet Augsburger Allgemeine published Thursday. “Making false promises” to Ukrainians regarding EU accession “would be neither good for the EU nor for Ukraine,” added Juncker, who was boss at the Berlaymont in Brussels from 2014 to 2019. “You shouldn’t make false promises to the people in Ukraine who are up to their necks in suffering,” Juncker said. “I am very angry about some voices in Europe who are telling Ukrainians that they can become members immediately.” Kyiv has been fending off ...

Restaurant review: Rizes Brussels

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Restaurant review: Rizes Brussels Rue Jourdan 18What’s good? A great spot for seafood and meat lovers, Rizes offers a vast selection of Mediterranean dishes, each recalling the restaurant’s Greek roots with a sprinkle of authentic ingredients and colorful compositions. The mushroom risotto with black truffle carpaccio is a must, delivering an explosive combination of flavors.Don’t miss out on the creative appetizers — such as the Graviera cheese, aged 36 months and doused in honey and thyme, a surprising blend of sweet and savory. Honorable mention to the dessert menu, which flaunts a combination of Greek classics, such as portokalopita, and twists on traditional dishes, such as the crème brûlée, scented with resin from the mastic tree on the island of Chios.What’s not? The prices are not the most affordable, and the vegetarian options are scarce. While the location is very accessible, the restaurant sits on a bustling street which can get quite chaotic in the evenings, especially if you’re sitting outsid...

Russia to build naval base in breakaway Georgia region

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:40:56 GMT

Russia to build naval base in breakaway Georgia region Russia is planning to build a permanent naval base on the Black Sea coast in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, the region’s leader said.Abkhazia and Russia have already signed an agreement and the new base will be in the Ochamchira district “in the near future,” Aslan Bzhania, the leader of the occupied Moscow-backed region, told the Izvestiya newspaper in an interview published Thursday.“All this is aimed at increasing the level of defense capability of both Russia and Abkhazia, and this kind of cooperation will continue, because it ensures the fundamental interests of both Abkhazia and Russia, and security is above all,” he said. “There are also things I can’t talk about.”News of the new naval base comes a day after the Wall Street Journal reported the Kremlin has withdrawn the bulk of its Black Sea Fleet from its main base in occupied Crimea. Citing Western officials and satellite images, the newspaper wrote that Russia had moved its vessels from Sevastopol — which...