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Bayern Munich signs Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer on free transfer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — German champion Bayern Munich signed midfielder Konrad Laimer on a free transfer Friday as his contract with Leipzig expired.The Austrian central midfielder leaves Leipzig after six years with the club, where he won the German Cup twice, including in his last game for the team. The 26-year-old Laimer signed a contract through 2027.“It’s a dream come true for me. FC Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Laimer said in a statement. “I will give everything for the club and the fans. FC Bayern always has the highest goals — just like me. I’m in the right place here.”Laimer is the first Bayern signing since the club fired Oliver Kahn as chief executive and Hasan Salihamidžić as sporting director last month. However, arrangements to sign Laimer were widely reported to have been made long before Kahn and Salihamidžić left.Laimer scored against Bayern for Leipzig in a 3-1 win for his old club last month, leaving Bayern in second place behind Borussia Do...

Cardinals host the Reds in first of 3-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (29-34, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (26-37, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Friday, 8:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Ben Lively (3-3, 3.03 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 29 strikeouts); Cardinals: Jordan Montgomery (2-7, 4.23 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 60 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -187, Reds +160; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds to start a three-game series.St. Louis has gone 12-16 in home games and 26-37 overall. The Cardinals have hit 85 total home runs to rank sixth in MLB play.Cincinnati has a 29-34 record overall and a 12-16 record in road games. The Reds have a 19-7 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Friday’s game is the fifth time these teams square off this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Paul Goldschmidt has 18 doubles and 10 home runs for the Cardinals. Nolan Arenado is 11-for-35 with four doubles and two home runs over th...

Local governor: 3 wounded as drone hits residential building in Russian city near Ukrainian border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Local governor: 3 wounded as drone hits residential building in Russian city near Ukrainian border.Source

Mets visit the Pirates to start 3-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

New York Mets (30-33, fourth in the NL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (32-29, second in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.40 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Pirates: Rich Hill (5-5, 4.55 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 61 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -122, Pirates +103; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates start a three-game series at home against the New York Mets on Friday.Pittsburgh has gone 16-15 in home games and 32-29 overall. The Pirates are 23-2 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.New York is 30-33 overall and 15-21 in road games. The Mets are 20-10 in games when they scored at least five runs.The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Reynolds has 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 38 RBI for the Pirates. Jack Suwinski is 9-for-33 with four home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.Pete Alonso has 22 home runs, 27 walks and 49 RBI...

Riley leads Braves against the Nationals after 4-hit game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

Washington Nationals (25-36, fifth in the NL East) vs. Atlanta Braves (38-24, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Friday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Josiah Gray (4-5, 3.09 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 55 strikeouts); Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, .00 ERA, .43 WHIP, three strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -206, Nationals +172; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves take on the Washington Nationals after Austin Riley had four hits on Thursday in a 13-10 win over the Mets.Atlanta has gone 18-14 at home and 38-24 overall. Braves hitters have a collective .472 slugging percentage to rank second in MLB.Washington has a 25-36 record overall and a 13-15 record on the road. The Nationals are 20-6 in games when they out-hit their opponents.The matchup Friday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Olson has 10 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 43 RBI for the Braves. Ozzie Albies is 11-for-39 with a double and four home runs over the...

Cubs look to break road losing streak, take on the Giants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

Chicago Cubs (26-36, fourth in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (32-30, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Friday, 10:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Marcus Stroman (6-4, 2.39 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (4-5, 3.97 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 51 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -120, Cubs +101; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs will aim to stop a four-game road losing streak when they play the San Francisco Giants.San Francisco has a 32-30 record overall and a 17-15 record at home. The Giants rank fourth in the NL with 80 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game.Chicago is 26-36 overall and 11-20 in road games. The Cubs have gone 10-23 in games when they have given up at least one home run.Friday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Thairo Estrada has a .300 batting average to lead the Giants, and has 14 doubles, a triple and seven home runs. LaMonte Wade Jr is 13-for-37 wi...

Soto leads Padres against the Rockies after 5-hit game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

San Diego Padres (29-33, fourth in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (26-38, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Friday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Yu Darvish (4-4, 4.10 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Rockies: Austin Gomber (4-4, 6.99 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 38 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -189, Rockies +161; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres take on the Colorado Rockies after Juan Soto had five hits against the Mariners on Wednesday.Colorado is 15-17 in home games and 26-38 overall. The Rockies have a 20-10 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.San Diego has gone 14-15 in road games and 29-33 overall. The Padres have a 13-25 record in games when they have given up a home run.The matchup Friday is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan McMahon has 18 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 36 RBI while hitting .258 for the Rockies. Nolan Jones is 15-for-38 with four doubl...

Peralta leads Dodgers against the Phillies after 4-hit outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (36-27, second in the NL West) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (30-32, third in the NL East)Philadelphia; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Michael Grove (0-2, 8.14 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 21 strikeouts); Phillies: Ranger Suarez (1-2, 5.47 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 20 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -110, Dodgers -109; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Philadelphia Phillies after David Peralta had four hits against the Reds on Thursday.Philadelphia has a 17-10 record at home and a 30-32 record overall. Phillies hitters are batting a collective .255, which ranks seventh in the NL.Los Angeles has a 16-17 record on the road and a 36-27 record overall. The Dodgers have a 22-9 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.The matchup Friday is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Schwarber leads the Phillies with 16 home runs while slugging .419. Nicholas Castellanos is 15-for-38 with ...

Taxpayers are missing out on more than $1.5B

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

(CNN) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is on a mission to locate approximately one and a half million individuals who are entitled to receive their unclaimed tax refunds. With an astonishing value of $1.5 billion from the 2019 income tax year, these refunds could provide a welcome financial boost to those who act quickly.Individuals who believe they are owed a refund are advised to submit their tax returns by the deadline of July 17. Traditionally, filing tax returns after the April deadline carries penalties. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the IRS has extended the deadline for 2019 income taxes over three years, until July 2023, giving taxpayers additional time to fulfill their obligations and secure their refunds.By the way, the average median refund for the 2019 tax year amounts to $893. Imagine the possibilities this sum could offer—whether it’s paying off debts, investing in education, or simply enjoying some well-deserved leisure.Remember, time is of the...

France’s Le Maire wants heavier taxation for Airbnb rentals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

PARIS — French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Friday proposed to raise taxes on Airbnb rentals, bringing them in line with ordinary, non-tourist rentals.“I struggle to understand the [reason for the] very favorable taxation that applies today to Airbnb. We will reform this taxation and I will make proposals,” Le Maire told RCM/BFMTV. In France, rentals of furnished accommodation for tourists, including via Airbnb, benefit from a special tax rebate. Le Maire said his ministry was working on the file and that he would present proposals to French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and President Emmanuel Macron to bring that taxation in line with normal, non-tourist rentals. No details on the timing of such a proposal were provided. “The only concern is fairness. If there are too many windfall effects and the tax system is too favorable, there is no reason to keep this taxation that leads to excesses,” said Le Maire.Earlier this week, junior minister for cities and hou...