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Out of bailout spotlight, Greeks feeling recovery pains at election

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — For the first time in more than a decade, Greeks will go to the polls Sunday to elect a leader no longer confined to steering the country’s economy from a back seat.Conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a second term after a draconian regime of spending controls ordered by international bailout lenders ended last summer. The clean-cut Harvard graduate, as comfortable speaking in English as his native Greek, delivered unexpectedly high growth, a steep drop in unemployment and a country on the brink of returning to investment grade on the global bond market.Debts to the International Monetary Fund were paid off early. A landslide reelection for the 55-year-old Mitsotakis was once seen as a foregone conclusion. But his center-right New Democracy party could struggle to return to power as Greece’s voters and political parties emerge from a prolonged battle for survival.On an unseasonably hot day in central Athens, taxi driver Christina Messari ...

Last ship to leave Ukraine as fate of Black Sea grain deal in Russia's hands

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

The last ship was due to leave a port in Ukraine on Wednesday (17 May) under a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, said a UN spokesperson, a day before Russia could quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal for an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that has been aggravated by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters.Moscow agreed to extend the Black Sea pact for a further 120 days in November, but then in March it agreed to a 60 day extension - until May 18 - unless a list of demands regarding its own agricultural exports was met.To convince Russia in July to allow Black Sea grain exports, the United Nations agreed at the same time to help Moscow with its own agricultural shipments for three years."There are still a lot of open questions regarding our part of the deal. Now a decision will have to be taken," Kremlin...

The Boundless Creativity of Ching-Hsi (Sid) Chou: Merging Industrial Design, New Media Art, and Technology

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

Creative technologist, industrial designer, and new media artist Ching-Hsi (Sid) Chou has led a remarkable life.This multi-talented artist has spent years perfecting his craft, seamlessly merging the worlds of industrial design, multimedia art, and creative technology to create truly unique pieces. With influences spanning from designer toy artists to multimedia visionaries, Sid’s work showcases his boundless creativity, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realms of art and design.Sid’s passion for combining different disciplines has led to an impressive portfolio of accomplishments, including exhibitions such as “Hover Stool, DIS: Architecture & Design Exhibit,” “Cosmic Harp, Figment Festival,” and “The Armillary, Illumination.” His work has been showcased in prestigious venues and events, earning him recognition and praise from art enthusiasts and critics alike.Despite facing challenges in his career, such as grappl...

Sale closed in Pleasanton: $3.2 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

6120 Sanctuary Lane – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 6100 block of Sanctuary Lane in Pleasanton was sold on March 31, 2023. The $3,180,000 purchase price works out to $1,147 per square foot. The house, built in 2011, has an interior space of 2,773 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, four baths, a garage, and three parking spaces. It sits on a 2.1-acre lot.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 2,200-square-foot home on the 900 block of Happy Valley Road in Pleasanton sold in July 2022, for $2,000,000, a price per square foot of $909. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Romeo Court, Pleasanton, in March 2023, a 3,456-square-foot home was sold for $2,727,000, a price per square foot of $789. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 8,004-square-foot home on Happy Valley Road in Pleasanton sold for $5,400,000, a price per square foot of $675. The home has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. 

Review: ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ remake is a flagrant foul against the original 1992 hoops comedy classic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley reviews the remake of 'White Men Can't Jump' $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Certain sports movies are so perfect that they should never be remade — and filmmaker Ron Shelton made two of them in a span of four years. After the iconic baseball film “Bull Durham” (1988), he directed the basketball flick “White Men Can’t Jump” (1992), which was one of S...

Panthers outlast Hurricanes in 4th OT in 6th-longest game in NHL history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers seemed determined to keep playing. And playing. And playing.The teams opened their Eastern Conference final playoff series with Florida’s 3-2 victory in four overtimes early Friday, with the game ranking as the sixth-longest game in NHL history.Matthew Tkachuk’s goal came at the 19:47 mark of the fourth OT to end this one, which marked the 15th four-overtime game in NHL history and the longest game in franchise history for each team. The longest game in NHL history came on March 24, 1936, when the Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in the sixth overtime on Mud Bruneteau’s goal at 116 minutes, 30 seconds of extra play.Florida’s previous record for longest game was 104:31 in Game 4 of the 1996 Stanley Cup final against Colorado. Carolina’s previous record was 114:47 for Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup final.The only good news for the teams is they had an extended break before this ser...

Top contenders for U.S. Senate appear together at Democratic Party function in Montgomery County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.The top three Democrats who’ve announced their intentions to run for U.S. Senate appeared together at a Maryland Democratic Party event Wednesday.Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D) and Rep. David Trone (D-6th) gave brief remarks before a packed crowd at the New Fortune Restaurant in Gaithersburg. The one-hour program celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, with featured guests including Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), the first South Asian woman elected lieutenant governor in the United States, and the first Indian American lieutenant governor in Maryland history.“It speaks a lot to the importance of the Asian community,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D). “In this room are people whose connections are a lot deeper than what we see ...

América se acerca a la final de la Liga MX: gana el clásico a Chivas con la mínima diferencia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

GUADALAJARA – Con un solitario gol anotado a los 59′ por Alejandro Zendejas, el América impidió este jueves el festejo que las Chivas anticipaban ante su público, en el Estadio Akron, y dieron un paso sólido en su camino a la Final de la Liga Mx.Pese a todo, las Chivas aún tienen la oportunidad de reivindicarse el domingo cuando correspondan a la visita, en el partido de vuelta, en el Estadio América, en la capital mexicana.El América, comandado por Fernando Ortiz, supo sobreponerse a un errático primer tiempo, donde las Chivas fallaron varias oportunidad de gol, además de que se toparon con un imponente arquero águila, Luis Malagón, que se convirtió en la figura del encuentro al atajar al menos cinco tiros a gol.Aun cuando el azulcrema Pedro Aquino, que ingresó al terreno de juego ante la lesión inesperada de Álvaro Fidalgo, contribuyó a la pérdida de proyección de las Águilas en la media cancha, los integrantes del Rebaño no supiseron traducir las jugadas emocionantes ...

Under-20 World Cup kicks off in Argentina for future soccer stars

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina will play on the opening day of the Under-20 World Cup on Saturday just over a month since it replaced Indonesia as tournament host and participant. After such a dramatic race to the start line, 24 competing teams and soccer’s international governing body can breathe a sigh of relief. Four cities in Argentina will feature some of the sport’s best young prospects while the South American nation is still celebrating Lionel Messi and his national team’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.Protests in Muslim-majority Indonesia against hosting the Israel team forced FIFA into a very late switch of venues. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.Defending champion and war-torn Ukraine will not take part, which makes continental champions England, Brazil and Senegal favorites to lift the title. Argentina, the record six-time champion, failed to qualify initially but FIFA decided it should take the guaranteed spot as tournament host.Coached ...

Rishi not so rich: Sunak and wife slide down UK wealth list as multimillion fortune takes a hit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:00 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak and his wife lost an average of £500,000 per day over the past year as the value of their shared fortune took a tumble, according to the latest Sunday Times’ rich list.The list — annually ranking Britain’s wealthiest people — calculates that the stake Sunak’s wife holds in her father’s IT firm, Infosys, is now worth £481.2 million. That’s down £208.8 million on its value last year.But the shareholding in Infosys, an Indian tech giant set up by Murty’s father, remains the couple’s most valuable asset, according to the paper. The pair have an estimated combined fortune of £529 million this year, down from £730 million in 2022. The pair are now ranked 275th on the list, falling from 222nd last year.Sunak and Murty’s fortune pales in comparison to figures at the top of the Sunday Times’ list. Gopi Hinduja and family — owners of a conglomerate with interests including manufacturing and finance — top the list with ...