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American financier to buy stake in English club Birmingham

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — American financier Tom Wagner is buying a 45.64% stake in English soccer team Birmingham, saying Monday the potential for the second-tier club is “unlimited.”The deal with Wagner’s firm, Shelby Companies Limited, will see it take control of Birmingham’s St. Andrews stadium.Birmingham was last in the Premier League in 2011 and has been under Chinese owners since 2007.In a letter to fans, Wagner said Knighthead Capital Management, of which Shelby is a subsidiary, has expertise in “turning around and transforming organizations that are experiencing difficulties.”“We plan to commit the resources, in line with (English Football League) guidelines, the skills and the determination needed to deliver transformational improvements for the good of the club and the good of the city,” Wagner said.“The transition and implementation plans,” he added, “will take time and require your patience, but we believe we will earn your trust and succeed with your support.”The deal...

Former UNDP chief and Turkish minister dies at 74

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish economist, politician and former head of the United Nations Development Program Kemal Dervis died Monday at the age of 74, Turkish news outlets reported. He was being treated for an unspecified illness in Washington D.C., state-run Anadolu Agency reported, as did BBC Turkish and t24, which first reported the news. Following more than two decades at the World Bank, Dervis became a household name in Turkey in 2001 when he was invited by then-Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to serve as minister of economic affairs amid the country’s worst economic crisis in modern history.Dervis was largely responsible for the successful three-year economic recovery plan launched that year, which included major structural changes and bank reforms.He resigned his ministerial position in August 2002, and was elected as an MP for the main opposition Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, in the general elections which took place later that year.In 2005 the United Nations General Ass...

‘We keep going from here’: Murray wins 1st title since 2019

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Andy Murray is hoping his first title in three years will be platform to build on after “a bit of a struggle” over the last 18 months. With the French Open looming, Murray won an ATP Challenger event in southern France over the weekend for his first tournament victory since 2019 — and first on clay since 2016. Murray won the second-tier event in Aix-en-Provence by defeating 17th-ranked Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the final on Sunday.“This last year, 18 months has been a bit of struggle with my game,” Murray said. “But (my team) have been there supporting me and working with me to try and get better. We keep going from here.”Murray, a former top-ranked player with three Grand Slam titles, claimed his first tournament victory since winning in Antwerp back in 2019.His previous title on clay was the 2016 Rome Masters. It was Murray’s third challenger title and first since 2005. According to the tour, the gap of 17 years and 8 months between challenger titl...

Jokic awaits word from league after incident with Suns owner

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets remain in a holding pattern as they await the league’s decision on possible disciplinary action after center Nikola Jokic made contact in the stands with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.A fine could be in line Monday for the two-time NBA MVP. Or no punishment at all. But a suspension isn’t out of the realm of possibility, either, with the second-round series moving back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night tied at 2-2 after both teams held serve at homeNuggets coach Michael Malone is scheduled to address the media Monday afternoon.Jokic was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday when the big man tried to snatch the ball back from Ishbia, who was sitting courtside, and hit Ishbia with an elbow. The situation set social media ablaze and overshadowed a game in which the Suns won 129-124. One of the topics up for debate was whether it was a flop by Ishbia, a former walk-on basketball player at Michigan State, or excessiv...

What the end of the COVID public health emergency could mean for you

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

The U.S. will no longer consider COVID-19 a public health emergency, beginning Thursday. Here’s what that means for how you can get vaccinated or tested for the virus in the future.The emergency declaration has been in place since 2020, and as it comes to an end on May 11, the biggest change you can expect to see is access to free at-home COVID-19 test kits.TestingMost health insurers’ decisions to cover the costs will vary by state.Traditional Medicare won’t cover at-home testing for seniors. People insured through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program will have access to free testing through September 2024 and certain COVID-19 treatments will remain covered.The cost for a kit with two tests is roughly $25 but people who haven’t claimed a free test kit from the federal government, can still request it. Free tests may also be available at libraries, through community organizations or health departments.VaccinesThe end of the public health emergency wo...

Testigos describen el horrible accidente que dejó ocho muertos afuera de un refugio de migrantes en Texas

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

(CNN) — A medida que el número de muertos por el accidente de Texas aumenta a ocho, testigos del hecho describen el horrible momento en que un conductor atropelló a un grupo de personas este domingo cerca de un refugio en Brownsville.Varios inmigrantes estaban entre los muertos cuando una Land Rover atropelló a un grupo que esperaba en una parada de autobús al otro lado de la calle del Centro Obispo Enrique San Pedro Ozanam, un refugio sin fines de lucro para personas sin hogar que ha estado ayudando a albergar a inmigrantes en la ciudad fronteriza, dijeron las autoridades.“Nunca habíamos visto algo así”, dijo Víctor Maldonado, director del Centro Ozanam, a KRGV, afiliada de CNN.La Policía dice que todavía está investigando el violento accidente, que quedó grabado en un video de vigilancia. Las imágenes muestran una Range Rover conducida a una velocidad muy alta que golpeó una acera a unos 9 metros de donde estaban sentados los migrantes antes de que el conductor pareciera per...

Reston: Mujer muere arrollada por un camión de bomberos que respondía a una emergencia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

Una mujer murió luego de ser atropellada la madrugada del lunes por un camión de bomberos y rescate del condado Fairfax, informó la policía.El personal de rescate recibió informes de una mujer que entraba y salía de la carretera cerca de Laurel Glade Drive y Glade Drive en Reston alrededor de las 2 a.m., según la policía del condado Fairfax.“Parecía estar en algún tipo de estado alterado o necesitaba ayuda tanto de la policía como del personal de bomberos y rescate”, señaló el teniente de policía del condado Fairfax, James Curry. “Cuando llegaron los oficiales, el denunciante les hizo señas para que bajaran, con el camión de bomberos inmediatamente detrás de ellos. En ese momento la mujer fue golpeada en el pavimento”, explicó.La mujer fue llevada a un hospital, donde murió a causa de las heridas. Su identidad no fue revelada de inmediato.Los oficiales están trabajando para confirmar si el camión de bomberos tenía las luces de emergencia encendidas en el momento del accidente. Según...

Ishbia hopes no punishment from NBA for Nuggets' Jokic

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets remain in a holding pattern as they await the league's decision on possible disciplinary action after center Nikola Jokic made contact in the stands with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.Ishbia feels the same way.From his Twitter account Monday, Ishbia praised his team's performance and urged no further disciplinary action for the Nuggets two-time NBA MVP.“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far!” Ishbia posted. “That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”A fine could be in line Monday for the two-time NBA MVP. Or no punishment at all. But a suspension isn’t out of the realm of possibility, either, with the second-round series moving back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night tied at 2-2 after both teams held serve at homeNuggets coach Michael Malone is schedule...

Disney parks at the forefront after Iger’s return

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

It’s been six months since Bob Iger canceled his retirement and stepped back into the top role at Disney to right a number of perceived wrongs under his handpicked successor, with one hovering right near the top: reconnecting with the Disney theme park die-hards and restoring their faith in the brand.Among his first acts as returning chief executive, Iger walked the Disneyland and California Adventure parks in Anaheim, California with Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences, and products. And there was Iger at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disney Resort, talking to guests and cast members alike and taking a personal interest in new projects that are underway.Watching with rising interest along with parkgoers are investors, who watched the company’s shares tumble during Chapek’s last year. Walt Disney Co. will post second quarter earnings results on Wednesday.When Iger rejoined Disney as CEO in November, taking over control...

Weird and wonderful trains that break the rules

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:39:59 GMT

(CNN) — Whether we call them railways or railroads, we’re all familiar with the concept — big, heavy vehicles that can’t climb steep hills, running on two steel rails. That’s the pattern, right?Well, railway technology is more versatile than you think. Over the last 200 years it has evolved to conquer cities, mountains, deep mines and some of the world’s most extreme climates. Here’s a selection of unusual railways that break the rules in order to reach the places other trains can’t roll.Wuppertal Schwebebahn, GermanyThe suspension railway, symbol of the city at the river Wupper. Credit: Ulrich Baumgarten/Getty ImagesIf ever a railway was perfectly suited to its environment, it’s the legendary Schwebebahn monorail in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region. Built to link several industrial towns along the narrow, twisting valley of the Wupper river, the suspended monorail was completed in 1901 and was instrumental...