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UEFA aims to fairly share revamped Champions League money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — UEFA expects revenue from broadcasters and sponsors to rise about 33% for its revamped club competitions in 2024, and pledged Tuesday to spread most of any surplus among lower-ranked leagues if total sales approach 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion). The Champions League currently drives global revenue of 3.6 billion euros ($3.9 billion) for UEFA club competitions for each of the three seasons from 2021 to 2024. UEFA’s confidence is based on a first wave of broadcast deals including Britain, France and the United States for the 2024-27 seasons, when the men’s competitions will add more games because of an expanded format. “We are working on (both) conservative and more optimistic projections in a range I would say between 4.6 billion and 4.8 billion (euros),” UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti said Tuesday in a briefing. Changes to the Champions League format were finalized last year following the failed launch of a breakaway Super League by 12 storied clubs in 2...

Amazon begins offering physical products in games, VR

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amazon wants you to buy something while you’re having fun.On Tuesday, the company launched a new service, called “Amazon Anywhere,” that will allow customers to purchase physical products from its online store while playing video games or interacting in virtual reality.With the new service, customers can purchase items from Amazon without having to leave the game, or whatever mobile app they might be using, the company said.The program mirrors similar efforts by companies like Nike and Gucci, who’ve launched initiatives aimed at attracting gamers and shoppers in the metaverse. But most shopping options launched in virtual worlds offer virtual goods, or other digital items – not physical products. Amazon said its new service will be launched within Peridot, an augmented reality game from Pokémon Go developer Niantic. The retailer said gamers can link their Amazon account to the game, and purchase T-Shirts, hoodies, phone accessories and throw pillows featuring...

Gary Sánchez working toward minor league contract with Mets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Catcher Gary Sánchez is getting another chance to restart his baseball career, working toward agreement on a minor league contract with the New York Mets following his release by the San Francisco Giants.Unsigned during the offseason, the 30-year-old Sánchez agreed to a minor league contract with the Giants on April 1, a deal that called for a $4 million salary if he was added to the 40-man roster. Sánchez was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento and hit .164 (9 for 55) with no homers, eight RBIs, one double, 11 walks and 19 strikeouts in 55 at-bats. He had a May 1 opt-out provision and was released the following day.The Mets said Tuesday the team did not yet have a deal to announce.Sánchez made the All-Star Game twice during a seven-year stint with the Yankees. He hit .299 with 20 homers in 2016 and .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs in 2017.He batted .186 in 2018 and just .147 in 49 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He improved in 2021 to .204 with 23 homers a...

Bombazos israelíes dejan 13 muertos en Gaza, incluidos líderes insurgentes y sus familias

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

FRANJA DE GAZA — Israel mató a tres altos mandos del grupo insurgente Yihad Islámica en ataques aéreos selectivos a primera hora del martes, dijo el ejército.Las autoridades sanitarias palestinas reportaron 13 fallecidos en total, incluyendo los comandantes, sus esposas, varios de sus hijos y otra gente que estaba cerca.Los ataques contra zonas residenciales densamente pobladas prepararon el terreno para una nueva ronda de intensos combates. Fuerzas israelíes matan a tres palestinos que buscaban por un mortal tiroteo Antony Blinken solicita apoyo para mitigar la crisis entre Israel y Palestina Alcanzaron la planta superior de un edificio de apartamentos en la Ciudad de Gaza y una vivienda en la localidad sureña de Rafah. Según el ministerio palestino, 20 personas resultaron heridas y las ambulancias seguían evacuando a gente de las zonas atacadas.Los ataques aéreos continuaron durante la madrugada, alcanzando centros de entrenamie...

Commerce City shutdown eats into Suncor production, profits still exceed expectations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Commerce City Suncor refinery's temporary shutdown did make a dent in Suncor's bottom line, but the Canadian oil and gas company still performed better than expected in the first quarter of 2023. According to Reuters, Suncor's profits outperformed expectations since energy demand has been strong globally. Analysts expected earnings of $1.32 Canadian dollars per share, but the company earned $1.36 Canadian dollars per share instead. Short-term rentals in Colorado can be worth a year’s salary for owners Still, profits were down in the first quarter of 2023 by nearly $700 million. Some of this was due to expenses related to Suncor's Commerce City refinery.Suncor's expenses were about $400 million more in the first quarter of this year than in the same quarter in 2022."The increase was primarily due to increased maintenance costs," reads a financial filing. "Including the impacts of repair activities at the company’s Commerce City refinery, inflationary impacts, i...

Police investigate deadly shooting on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

Police are investigating an overnight shooting incident that occurred on Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale, Tuesday. According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD), officers responded to a shooting at around 2:30 a.m. on West Sunrise Boulevard and the I-95 northbound entry ramp.Upon arrival, officers discovered two adult victims, a male and a female, inside a vehicle. Tactical medical care was provided on the scene by the officers until the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR) arrived. The victims were then transported to Broward Health Medical Center by FLFR.One of the victims has died and the other remains in critical condition. Video footage from the scene showed investigators combing the area as they searched for evidence. Bullet casings were found on the concrete, suggesting that shots had been fired.Authorities surrounded a white Mercedez SUV on the highway, which appeared to have been riddled with bullet holes. Currently, westbound traffic on West Sunrise Boulevard be...

Jury reaches verdict in suit accusing Trump of rape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors reached a verdict Tuesday in the lawsuit accusing former President Donald Trump of raping advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996.The verdict was to be announced at 3 p.m. in a federal courtroom in New York City.Word of the verdict emerged just a few hours after the jury began deliberating in the, which alleges Trump raped Carroll in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996.U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan read instructions on the law to the nine-person jury before the panel began discussing Carroll’s allegations of battery and defamation shortly before noon.If they believe Carroll, jurors can award compensatory and punitive damages. Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Carroll or even knew her.Kaplan told jurors that the first question on the verdict form will be to decide whether they think there is more than a 50% chance that Trump raped Carroll inside a store dressing room. If they answer yes, they will...

China’s Qin warns EU not to sanction its companies over trade with Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

BERLIN — Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang cautioned his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday that Beijing would react strongly if the EU were to sanction Chinese companies over their potential role in assisting Russia’s war in Ukraine.Yet Baerbock rebuffed the warning, telling Qin it was China’s obligation to make sure its companies don’t deliver weapons or so-called dual-use goods, which can be used for Russia’s war efforts, to Moscow.“On exports of dual-use goods, we proceed according to regulations and laws … China and Russian enterprises have normal exchanges and cooperation, which should not be affected,” Qin told reporters during a press conference at the German foreign ministry in Berlin. “We are resolutely opposed to certain countries, certain blocs of countries, using their so-called laws to exercise long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions against other countries, including China. If that happens, China will react...

Reports: EU’s Mariya Gabriel to be nominated as Bulgarian PM

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

European Commissioner for Innovation Mariya Gabriel is expected to be nominated as prime ministerial candidate in Bulgaria for the center-right GERB party on Wednesday, according to numerous Bulgarian media reports citing party sources.GERB came first past the post in Bulgaria’s election last month but only claimed about 25 percent of the vote, meaning that party Chairman Boyko Borissov now has to cobble together a coalition. Many observers expect him to try to do so by bypassing reform-minded anti-corruption parties. A European Commission spokesman had “no comment” on the reports. Christian Oliver, Pieter Haeck, Suzanne Lynch and Lili Bayer contributed reporting.

Operation Delta Dog: Local group pairs service members with service dogs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:30 GMT

Nearly 17 U.S. Veterans take their own lives each day. A staggering and heart-breaking number.But a local group is pairing service members with service dogs. And both are getting the lifeline they need. Jonathan Hall has the story.  When missiles were fired over Iraq in the Gulf War Joe Keegan was there, serving as an army infantry soldier.“You know live in a foxhole. You go from place to place. Sometimes you’re walking; sometimes you’re carried by a truck,” Joe said.The violence Joe saw is difficult to discuss.“When you get word you’re actually going in, they give you the briefing and tell you the casualty report…” Joe said.He was just 19 years old.“At that age, to see what people are capable of doing to each other. That was, I don’t even have words for it. It’s just like, head-blowing, mind-blowing to see the carnage and destruction,” Joe said.Back in Massachusetts, Joe later struggled with PTSD and ...