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2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia expanding to 24 teams with six-week schedule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The next Rugby World Cup in 2027 in Australia will feature more teams, an extra knockout round and a week less to play.The late-2027 tournament will have 24 teams, the first expansion since 1999 when it went to 20 teams from the original 16.Where the four new teams will qualify from will be determined after a review of the ongoing World Cup in France, World Rugby said on Tuesday.The 2027 dates were set for Oct. 1 to Nov. 13, the first time the tournament will start in October since 2003, when it was last staged in Australia.A reduced four-week pool stage will feed into a new round of 16 as the whole tournament will be played over six weeks rather than the current seven.Whether the tournament will continue with four pools with an extra sixth team or more pools, World Rugby didn’t say.Expansion was expected after the United States failed to qualify for the ongoing World Cup in France.The U.S. will stage the 2031 men’s World Cup and is automatically qualified a...

Israel’s increased strikes across Gaza kill more than 700 people in the past day, Palestinians say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Rapidly expanding Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed more than 700 people in the past day as medical facilities across the territory were forced to close because of bombing damage and a lack of power, health officials said Tuesday.The soaring death toll from Israel’s escalating bombardment was unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It could signal an even greater loss of life in Gaza once Israeli ground forces backed by tanks and artillery launch an expected offensive into the territory aimed at crushing Hamas.Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been under increasing bombardment and running out of food, water and medicine since Israel sealed off the territory following the devastating Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel.On Tuesday, Israel said it had launched 400 airstrikes over the past day, killing Hamas commanders, hitting militants as they were preparing to launch rockets into Israel and striking ...

HarborOne Bancorp: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) — BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) — HarborOne Bancorp Inc. (HONE) on Tuesday reported third-quarter earnings of $8.4 million.The Brockton, Massachusetts-based bank said it had earnings of 20 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 16 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $74.8 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $42.7 million, also topping Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $42.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HONE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HONESource

CNOOC: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — HONG KONG (AP) — CNOOC Ltd. (CEO) on Tuesday reported profit of $4.68 billion in its third quarter.The Hong Kong-based company said it had profit of $9.81 per share.The oil and gas producer posted revenue of $15.86 billion in the period.CNOOC shares have risen 33% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 11% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CEO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CEOSource

Spooky plants for Goth gardens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

Think you’re ready for Halloween? Like me, you might have a pumpkin on the porch, a scarecrow by the lamppost and enough candy to guarantee leftovers, but do you have any spooky plants in your garden?Probably not. And that’s too bad. We tend to think about spring by planting plenty of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and pansies. Summer is well planned, too, with blooming perennials, fruits, vegetables and hanging baskets brimming with annuals. So why is it that when we think of Halloween – the day that likely sees more visitors on our doorsteps than any other on the calendar — all that comes to mind are mums, sedums and whatever perennials are kind enough to stick around?There are plenty of seasonally appropriate near-black and gothic plants to delight those little ghosts and goblins — and ourselves. And we don’t need to overhaul the whole garden: Tucking just a few of these living decorations into beds or containers will do the trick. And that’ll be a treat...

Strikes trim GM profit in an otherwise strong quarter; more losses anticipated if picketing spreads

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A strike by auto workers against General Motors is expected to cut pretax earnings by $800 million this year, and another $200 million per week after that, the company’s chief financial officer said.And those figures include only factories that are on strike now with less than a third of the company’s workforce on the picket lines, so if more plants are added by the United Auto Workers union, the losses will pile up further, CFO Paul Jacobson told reporters.Those strike are already taking a toll. GM on Tuesday posted net income of more than $3 billion from July through September, down 7% from the same period last year due to lost production from the strike, and also increased warranty costs, Jacobson said. The company also withdrew its previous full-year pretax earnings estimates, citing uncertainty over the length of the strike and how many factories would be shut downHowever, excluding one-time items, GM said made $2.28 per share, handily beating Wall St...

Beltway sniper Lee Boyd Malvo could return to Montgomery Co. courtroom for resentencing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

FILE - This photo provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections shows Lee Boyd Malvo. Maryland’s highest court will reconsider the case of Malvo, who is serving life without parole for sniper attacks that terrorized the Washington, D.C., region in 2002. At issue is whether Maryland's new law abolishing life without parole for crimes by youths should be extended to people already serving such sentences. (Virginia Department of Corrections via AP) FILE - This photo provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections shows Lee Boyd Malvo. Maryland’s highest court will reconsider the case of Malvo, who is serving life without parole for sniper attacks that terrorized the Washington, D.C., region in 2002. At issue is whether Maryland's new law abolishing life ...

Gatx: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — CHICAGO (AP) — Gatx Corp. (GATX) on Tuesday reported earnings of $52.5 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Chicago-based company said it had net income of $1.44.The equipment finance company posted revenue of $360.1 million in the period.Gatx expects full-year earnings in the range of $6.50 to $6.90 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GATX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GATXSource

Jenna Ellis pleads guilty in Georgia election interference case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

Jenna Ellis reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in the Georgia 2020 election interference case Tuesday, becoming the third former Trump campaign attorney to do so.Ellis, who once described herself as part of an “elite strike force team” of attorneys pursuing unfounded claims of election fraud, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings."If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges,” a tearful Ellis told the judge.Like the others who took plea deals, Ellis agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants, including Trump.She was sentenced to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and write a letter of apology to Georgia citizens.“How do you plead to aiding and abetting false statements and writings,” Fulton County prosecutor Daysha Young asked.“Guilty,” Ellis responded.Fulton County District Attorney Fani...

Hollywood firefighter returns home after aiding Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:18 GMT

Hollywood firefighter Anthony Vera received a heartwarming welcome on Tuesday morning as he returned from a two-week stint volunteering in Israel to aid in the ongoing conflict. Colleagues and friends gathered at Miami International Airport to greet Vera, capturing the emotional reunion on video.Vera’s volunteer mission took him to Israel as part of the Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP). He shared insights into his overseas experience, highlighting the unique challenges faced by Israeli firefighters, many of whom are also soldiers deployed in the war against Hamas.“It’s difficult over there because, one minute you’re fighting fire, the other minute, a siren sounds,” said Vera. “If there’s a rocket overnight, you gotta duck. I went over there to help out, knowing what they’ve been through. It’s basically they’re 9/11. So we appreciate any outside help that we get and we help them now.” He says he was driver by his desi...