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Springboks power vs. Scotland pace? The defending champ’s Rugby World Cup opener may be more nuanced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

The Springboks say they’re about more than just a brutal power game at this Rugby World Cup.Loading their bench with seven forwards in an unprecedented move in their last preparation game hardly helped change the reputation of the cup holders, who open their title defense against Scotland on Sunday in Marseille.But there are signs if you look beyond the hulking forward pack that South Africa’s five-year plan, aimed at building the deepest squad it has ever had, involves a more expansive outlook from the coaching duo of Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber.South Africa brought four try-scoring wingers to this World Cup when it was expected to have to sacrifice at least one of them for flyhalf backup. Manie Libbok, the only specialist 10 in the squad, plays more on intuition than structure, unlike any Springboks playmaker in recent memory.It raises the possibility of the Boks moving more regularly away from just the set-piece dominance and highly repetitive tactical kicking that delive...

Kroger: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — CINCINNATI (AP) — Kroger Co. (KR) on Friday reported a loss of $180 million in its fiscal second quarter.The Cincinnati-based company said it had a loss of 25 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 96 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 92 cents per share.The supermarket chain posted revenue of $33.85 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $34.25 billion.Kroger expects full-year earnings in the range of $4.45 to $4.60 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 KR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KRSource

Cyclists take over the streets this weekend for the 7th annual DC Bike Ride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

Be prepared for road closures around the D.C. waterfront on Saturday: The streets will be taken over by 10,000 cyclists for the seventh annual D.C. Bike Ride.Riders will cycle 20 miles of streets across the District and Northern Virginia on the morning of Sept. 9.Locals and tourists alike will enjoy car-free roads stretching from the Tidal Basin, crossing the Arlington Memorial to Georgetown and ending up near the U.S. Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.“We have lots of avid riders that are excited to take advantage of riding around D.C. on the roads with no cars. But we also have folks that haven’t ridden a bike in many years,” said Danielle Berman Ruiz, events and partnership coordinator for the D.C. Bike Ride. “Or maybe this is their first opportunity to bike because they feel safe with a closed street.”Berman Ruiz stressed that this is not a race.“It’s supposed to be enjoyed, be a photo-op on the course,” she said. “They can get out, they can get on a bike, they can see ...

Andrea Soncin hired as the new coach of Italy women’s national team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

ROME (AP) — Andrea Soncin was announced as the new coach of the Italy women’s national team on Friday.Soncin replaces Milena Bertolini, who stepped down after the Azzurre didn’t advance from their group at the Women’s World Cup.The 45-year-old Soncin had led Venezia’s men’s youth team. The former striker also coached Venezia’s men’s team in Serie A on an interim basis.Viviana Schiavi, a former player on the women’s national team and coach of the under-16 women’s squad, was named as Soncin’s top assistant. She is seen as an eventual successor for the top job.The new staff will make its debut Sept. 22 when Italy visits Switzerland in the Nations League.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/SoccerSource

Fiscalía española acusa a Luis Rubiales de agresión sexual por beso en la boca a Jenni Hermoso

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

La Fiscalía acusó formalmente este viernes a Luis Rubiales, presidente suspendido de la Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), a quien pide investigar por los delitos de agresión sexual y coacciones en relación al beso que dio a la jugadora Jenni Hermoso tras la final del mundial en Sídney.Rubiales besó a Jenni Hermoso en los labios durante la ceremonia de entrega de medallas luego de que España derrotó a Inglaterra en la final de la Copa del Mundo el pasado 20 de agosto.El Ministerio Público considera que esta actuación de Rubiales no fue consentida y por tanto puede ser constitutiva de un delito de agresión sexual y de otro de coacciones por la presión que sufrió Jenni Hermoso y su entorno tras el episodio, de modo que solicita a la Audiencia que abra una causa contra el directivo.Ahora el juzgado en el que recaiga la querella debe decidir si abre o no procedimiento penal contra él. De ser hallado culpable, se expone a una multa o hasta a una condena de 4 años de cárcel. ...

Fewer apply for home loans as borrowing costs, rising prices shut out prospective homebuyers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. home loan applications are the lowest in decades as evidence mount that rising mortgage rates and home prices are shutting out many aspiring homeowners.An index that tracks mortgage application volume shows applications for loans to buy a home fell last week to the lowest level in 28 years, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The MBA’s home loan application index shows that home purchase loans fell 2.1% last week from the prior week to a seasonally adjusted reading of 141.9. That’s down about 28% from a year earlier and represents the lowest level for the index since April 1995. “Both purchase and refinance applications fell, with the purchase index hitting a 28-year low, as prospective buyers remain on the sidelines due to low housing inventory and elevated mortgage rates,” said Joel Kan, the MBA’s deputy chief economist.Mortgage rates have been climbing in recent weeks, echoing a steady rise in the 10-year Treasury yield, which ...

Procession underway in Broward County for fallen BSFR Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

As the procession for Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson unravels in Broward County, the community stands united as it prepares to bid farewell to the fallen officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The fallen officer’s procession began following an early morning service on Friday at the LC Pointer Funeral Home. Chief Jackson, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash on August 28, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief, honoring his dedication and unwavering commitment to serving the community. His journey in public service began on March 22, 2004, with the Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue, and he continued his career when he joined the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) as a Fire Rescue lieutenant during the merger on October 1, 2011. In 2013, Chief Jackson became a flight medic for the Air Rescue 85 team and was promoted to captain on February 24, 2016. His dedication extended beyond his duties, as he obtained an Associate of Scienc...

Roberta Metsola draws ire from Greens over apparent shift on climate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

BRUSSELS — Green EU lawmakers are criticizing European Parliament President Roberta Metsola after it was reported she said climate policies are pushing voters toward populist parties in the lead-up to next year’s European election. “Why have we stopped talking to our businesses? Have we not placed being climate ambitious as not being mutually exclusive with economic growth?” Metsola was quoted as saying Thursday in the Financial Times. The article also said that Metsola, who is the institution’s figurehead, considered this to be the consensus in Parliament.The remarks were a surprising shift in tone for Metsola, who has until now largely kept away from the rightward shift of her own center-right European People’s Party (EPP) group. She’s tended in public statements to instead be led by majority policy positions of the Parliament as a whole. After years of the EU passing new climate and environment legislation under the flagship European Green Deal, the...

Rescue operation to save American caver could start Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

(CNN) — The operation to rescue American caver Mark Dickey, stranded about 3,600 feet underground in southern Turkey, could start Saturday – a week after he first became ill – a director at Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) told CNN Friday.Dickey fell ill at the weekend with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding during a exploration mission of the 1,276 meters-deep (4,186 feet) Morca Sinkhole in Morca Valley, near Anamur, southern Turkey, according to the Turkish Caving Federation.The European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA) received a call on September 2 saying that Dickey was suffering from severe gastric pain, and the next day it was reported that help from outside was needed because of his “rising destabilization.” His condition has since stabilized, according to the Turkish Caving Federation.Some 182 rescuers are on site working to get Dickey out, said Recep Salci of AFAD, including 32 people who are working inside the cave.Rescuers will de...

Cloned endangered horse 'thriving' at San Diego Safari Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:35:44 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A critically endangered species of wild horse has been successfully cloned for the second time ever and is now thriving at San Diego Safari Park.A Przewalski’s horse, sometimes called “the Last Wild Horse,” was born at ViaGen Pets & Equine’s cloning facility in Texas on Feb. 17. The foal and his mother, a domestic quarter horse, are now settling in at San Diego Safari Park, according to the organization. ‘The Last Wild Horse’ born in San Diego The cloned horse has been given the name name “Ollie” in honor of Oliver Ryder, Ph.D., who works as the Kleberg Endowed Director of Conservation Genetics for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.Dr. Ryder oversees research activities in the areas of molecular genetics, genomic studies and genetic rescue efforts. The Wildlife Alliance says his efforts have been focused on "reducing extinction risk and contributing to species recovery."“It is an honor to have studied and worked with so many others on the conservation ...