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Czech power company CEZ reports eightfold profits increase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech power utility CEZ said on Tuesday its 2022 net profit reached 80.7 billion Czech crowns ($3.6 billion), eight times as much as the previous year, resulting in record dividends.The country’s main electricity producer said it attributed the massive increase to an “enormous rise in prices” caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and to higher profit from commodity trading on foreign markets and also high operational reliability in its power plants.Net profit in 2021 was 9.9 billion crowns.The Czech state, which has an almost 70% stake in the company, will receive in 2023 more than 100 billion Czech crowns from CEZ in dividends, income taxes and levies on production sales, including a windfall tax on profits introduced as prices for energy soared.Source

Comedian Bill Bellamy, who coined the phrase ‘booty call,’ cracks up MGM National Harbor Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Bill Bellamy at MGM National Harbor (Part 1) $(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); }); }); He coined the pop-culture phrase “booty call” on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” in the 1990s.This Saturday, comedian Bill Bellamy crack ups MGM National Harbor near the nation’s capital.More Local NewsMore Entertain...

Eastern Kentucky squares off against Southern Utah in CBI Tournament matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

Southern Utah Thunderbirds (24-12, 12-6 WAC) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (22-13, 12-6 ASUN)Daytona Beach, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Eastern Kentucky Colonels play the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the College Basketball Invitational.The Colonels have gone 12-6 against ASUN teams, with a 10-7 record in non-conference play. Eastern Kentucky ranks second in the ASUN with 15.1 assists per game led by Tayshawn Comer averaging 3.5.The Thunderbirds are 12-6 against WAC opponents. Southern Utah is second in the WAC with 26.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Harrison Butler averaging 6.0.TOP PERFORMERS: Devontae Blanton is averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Colonels. Isaiah Cozart is averaging 11.6 points over the last 10 games for Eastern Kentucky.Tevian Jones is scoring 17.8 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Thunderbirds. Maizen Fausett is averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 42.6% over the last 10 games for Southe...

Oklahoma State, North Texas meet in NIT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

North Texas Mean Green (28-7, 16-4 C-USA) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-15, 8-10 Big 12)Stillwater, Oklahoma; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma State Cowboys and North Texas Mean Green play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Cowboys have gone 8-10 against Big 12 teams, with a 12-5 record in non-conference play. Oklahoma State scores 68.5 points while outscoring opponents by 2.7 points per game.The Mean Green are 16-4 in C-USA play. North Texas ranks sixth in C-USA with 9.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Abou Ousmane averaging 2.5.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryce Thompson is averaging 11.9 points for the Cowboys. Caleb Asberry is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games for Oklahoma State.Kai Huntsberry is averaging 12.1 points and 3.1 assists for the Mean Green. Tylor Perry is averaging 16.0 points over the last 10 games for North Texas.LAST 10 GAMES: Cowboys: 4-6, averaging 66.9 points, 33.9 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 4.8 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 40...

Utah Valley and Cincinnati square off in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

Cincinnati Bearcats (23-12, 11-7 AAC) at Utah Valley Wolverines (27-8, 15-3 WAC)Orem, Utah; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Utah Valley Wolverines and Cincinnati Bearcats play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Wolverines have gone 15-3 against WAC opponents, with a 12-5 record in non-conference play. Utah Valley averages 77.2 points while outscoring opponents by 9.1 points per game.The Bearcats are 11-7 against AAC teams. Cincinnati averages 10.2 turnovers per game and is 1-1 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Woodbury is averaging 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wolverines. Le’Tre Darthard is averaging 16.4 points over the last 10 games for Utah Valley.David Dejulius is averaging 14.7 points and 5.4 assists for the Bearcats. Landers Nolley II is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games for Cincinnati.LAST 10 GAMES: Wolverines: 8-2, averaging 79.6 points, 37.7 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 5.7 steals and 7.2 blocks...

Vanderbilt and UAB square off in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

UAB Blazers (27-9, 14-6 C-USA) at Vanderbilt Commodores (22-14, 11-7 SEC)Nashville, Tennessee; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Vanderbilt Commodores and the UAB Blazers play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Commodores’ record in SEC games is 11-7, and their record is 11-7 in non-conference play. Vanderbilt is 1-0 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 10.1 turnovers per game.The Blazers’ record in C-USA games is 14-6. UAB ranks third in C-USA shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.TOP PERFORMERS: Liam Robbins is shooting 50.4% and averaging 15.0 points for the Commodores. Tyrin Lawrence is averaging 18.5 points over the last 10 games for Vanderbilt.Jordan Walker is shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc with 4.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Blazers, while averaging 22.5 points and 3.9 assists. KJ Buffen is shooting 49.0% and averaging 12.3 points over the last 10 games for UAB.LAST 10 GAMES: Commodores: 8-2, averaging 74.6 points, 29.7...

Radford and Charlotte play in CBI Tournament matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

Charlotte 49ers (20-14, 9-11 C-USA) vs. Radford Highlanders (21-14, 12-6 Big South)Daytona Beach, Florida; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Radford Highlanders and the Charlotte 49ers play in the College Basketball Invitational.The Highlanders have gone 12-6 against Big South opponents, with a 9-8 record in non-conference play. Radford has a 10-9 record against opponents above .500.The 49ers’ record in C-USA action is 9-11. Charlotte is 9-3 in games decided by 10 points or more.TOP PERFORMERS: Josiah Jeffers is averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 assists for the Highlanders. DaQuan Smith is averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games for Radford.Brice Williams is shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc with 1.7 made 3-pointers per game for the 49ers, while averaging 14 points and 5.1 rebounds. Aly Khalifa is averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds over the past 10 games for Charlotte.LAST 10 GAMES: Highlanders: 5-5, averaging 67.4 points, 31.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 6.5 steals and ...

Biden will release COVID-19 origin intelligence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday a bill to declassify intelligence on the origins of Covid-19, offering the public a chance to review information that government agencies say is inconclusive.The legislation, called the Covid-19 Origin Act of 2023, which passed the Senate and House with unanimous support earlier this month, orders the Director of National Intelligence to declassify within 90 days of enactment all information relating to potential links between China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology and Covid-19. The director is then to submit the information in a report to Congress. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sponsored the bill.In a statement, Biden said he shared “Congress’s goal of releasing as much information as possible about the origin” and that he planned now to “declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.”Why it matters:&n...

Crews battle massive fire at Medford home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

Crews are battling a massive fire at a home on Governor’s Avenue in Medford Tuesday morning. Firefighters responded to the scene around 2 a.m. and remain on scene as of 5:30 a.m. Flames and heavy smoke were seen shooting through at least five windows of the home.Both sides of Governor’s Avenue are blocked off to traffic. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and no further information has been released.

New York, DC prepare for possible Trump indictment in hush money probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:23 GMT

(CNN) — Officials in New York and Washington, DC, are preparing for potential protests as a grand jury empaneled as part of the investigation into Donald Trump’s alleged role in a scheme to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels continues to weigh possible charges.In New York City — where the grand jury has been meeting — all NYPD officers are expected to be in uniform and ready for deployment Tuesday, according to an internal memo that a source shared with CNN. Law enforcement officials told CNN that although Tuesday is a “high alert day,” there is currently no credible threat.The memo came in response to Trump’s social media posts over the weekend that called on his supporters to protest in response to a potential arrest, echoing the calls he made for protests in Washington, DC, in response to his 2020 election loss — protests that later turned violent when scores of his supporters stormed the Capitol. W...