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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

(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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

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...

Jrue Holiday lands in Boston, bringing ‘electricity’ to practice and championship goals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics’ typically straight-faced basketball boss Brad Stevens couldn’t hide his smile after watching just one practice with Jrue Holiday on the team.“We made a thousand mistakes. But you could also see, like, there’s that thing that’s there,” Stevens said at an introductory news conference on Wednesday, three days after the Celtics traded for Holiday. “There’s a togetherness. There’s an excitement. There’s a joy, a competitiveness.“And I think he brings it as well as anybody around,” Stevens said. “I just think that’s contagious.”The Celtics acquired Holiday on Sunday from Portland, where he had been sent as part of the trade that moved Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. The deal came together on Sunday, the night before training camp opened, and Holiday sat out Tuesday’s practice and watched.A day later, with Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce as a spectator, Holiday joined his new teammates at their practice facility and set a t...

Fog to Sun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

Back to back summer days with temps in the 80s for many are in the books. So can we do it again today? Although it won’t be as warm, it’ll still be plenty mild for this time of year with highs heading for the 70s. To get there, we need some sun though, and that’ll take a while this morning as fog is widespread. A dense fog advisory is in place until until 11am. This afternoon looks good though with mostly sunny skies. More low clouds move back in tonight, into tomorrow morning with locally dense fog too. The cloud cover tomorrow won’t break as easy as temps run in the low 70s. Rain chance goes up heading into the weekend as we watch two systems. One, a cold front moving in from our west, and two, Tropical Storm Philippe. While Philippe’s center passes east of us, some moisture gets pulled back into New England, enhancing rain at times. Two areas that look susceptible to the heavier rains are western New England/eastern NY as well as Maine. Maine will...

Nashua, NH fire leaves 3 hospitalized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

Fire officials are investigating a fire in Nashua, New Hampshire that left three people hospitalized.Crews responding to the home on Langholm Drive around 1:30 a.m. Thursday found the single-family home in flames.Three people were transported with undisclosed injuries.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Toyota Camry shows off with XSE Hybrid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:53 GMT

You would think, experiencing one of the most purchased automobiles year after year would be something common every year, but actually, this is my first time driving it as a test vehicle. Entering Grasso’s Garage this week, is the famous 2023 Toyota Camry. Wrapped in Cavalry Blue, which was a hit for many across the town, seemed to be the largest topic of conversation.The best that Camry can deliver, this is huge in Grasso’s Garage. Our XSE Hybrid tester delivered amazing fuel mileage, great exterior and interior appearance all while maintaining a good price. The 2023 Camry HSE Hybrid offers a very familiar brand-proven, 2.5L 4-cylinder with an electronically controlled variable transmission. The engine boasts a combined 208 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque.We noticed a $1,760 navigation package included on our tester, that came with a Premium audio system and JBL speakers and subwoofer. Also a 9-inch center console protruding infotainment system was present which was easy to use ...