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Rugby World Cup takeaways: France and Ireland live up to the hype. High tackles are already an issue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

The two biggest takeaways from the first block of games at the Rugby World Cup reinforced a couple of pre-tournament predictions.France and Ireland both appear to be the real deal and ready to challenge the southern hemisphere’s vise-like grip on the trophy.Rugby’s newish rules on head contact and player safety that have been brought in since the last World Cup also threaten to be an overriding theme, with some players still getting used to the big changes in the way they are allowed to tackle. Officials are already under scrutiny for apparent inconsistency.There was one red card for a head clash in the opening set of eight games and there might easily have been at least two more. Scotland felt especially aggrieved that South Africa center Jesse Kriel’s seemingly illegal tackle was missed completely by the ref and TV officials in the opening minutes of their game.FAST STARTFrance quite simply lived up to all the hype with an opening-game victory over three-time cha...

2 shot and killed near Oxon Hill apartments

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

Two people are dead after a shooting near an Oxon Hill, Maryland, apartment complex on Sunday night, police say.Officers responded to the shooting in the 5500 block of Livingston Terrace at around 11:10 p.m., according to social media post from Prince George’s County police.A man who had been shot was found inside a vehicle. He later died at the hospital, police said.Another person who had been fatally shot was found in the parking lot of the apartment complex. His age wasn’t shared publicly by police.Police didn’t offer further details including information on any suspects.Police are asking anyone with information to contact Prince George’s County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or submit a tip using the P3 Tips app.Here’s a map of where police said the shooting happened. This is a developing story. Check back with WTOP for the latest.Source

Sweden: Norwegian man guilty of storing dead partner’s body in a freezer to cash in her pension

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Swedish court on Monday sentenced a 57-year-old Norwegian man for fraud and falsifying records for putting his dead partner in a freezer and cashing in her pension. He was given a 3.5-year prison term.The Warmland District Court said the man, who was not named, was convicted of gross breach of civil liberties, gross fraud and falsification of documents, among other things.The man told investigators that he had put the Norwegian woman in a freezer after finding her dead in their home. The two lived in Arjang, which is about 340 kilometers (211 miles) west of Stockholm.The court said the man had stored the body in the freezer which he also used to store food. Investigators found the woman’s body in the freezer in March following a tip.The man had told family and friends that the woman was still alive.In a statement, the court said the man kept quiet about the death in order to get her pension from neighboring Norway and a tax refund relating to the deceased partner,...

14er hiking season may be coming to a close

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Longs Peak recorded its first snow of the season on Monday and other 14ers are turning white as well. For now, snow is light above 13,500 feet, but it won't be for long. As for summer hikers who prefer snow-free conditions, the 14er season may be coming to a close. It's often referred to as "termination dust" where the snow signifies the end of the hiking season for some, said Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Chris Tomer. Photos: 1st snowfall spotted on Colorado peaks Longs Peak, which is a tricky climb even in the best conditions, becomes more technical with snow and requires more safety gear, according to the National Park Service. Snow on Pikes Peak (Photo credits: Colorado Springs Pike Peaks summit web cam)The first snow of the season has fallen on Longs Peak on Sept. 11, 2023. (National Park Service)Longs Peak wasn't the only place to see flakes. As of Monday morning, Pikes Peak was also covered in snow and the road to the Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountai...

Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante flees search area, changes look and asks acquaintences for help

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

Authorities searched Monday for an escaped murderer who has eluded capture since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania prison a week and a half ago after they said over the weekend he slipped out of the search area, changed his appearance, stole a dairy delivery van and tried to contact acquaintances.Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Sunday that Danelo Souza Cavalcante stole the unlocked van, which had the keys inside, sometime Saturday night about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) from the northern perimeter of the search area where hundreds of law enforcement officers had been searching for him.Bivens vowed to “aggressively continue” the search with the aid of federal, state, county and local resources and expressed confidence that the fugitive would eventually be recaptured.“This is a minor setback,” he said. “We’ll get him, it’s a matter of time.”Some schools in the region planned to hold outdoor activities inside. Owen J....

MEP mulls special driving licenses for SUVs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

French MEP Karima Delli wants to introduce a new driving license for SUVs — a target of climate campaigners for the pollution they emit and of safety advocates for the danger they pose to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of smaller cars.The vehicles “are not only taking up more space and are less energy efficient … in terms of road safety, they are more likely to be subject to collisions than light passenger cars, with far more serious consequences,” the Greens lawmaker, who’s leading Parliament’s work on a reform of EU driving license rules, wrote in her draft report.The B license currently needed to drive cars and vans “is not completely suitable for the heaviest passenger cars,” she argued. Instead, she wants a new B+ license that would apply to cars and vans weighing more than 1.8 tons. Drivers should only be able to obtain it after a two-year probation on a normal B permit, and only from the age of 21, she proposed.That would force drivers of popular he...

What to expect from Apple’s iPhone 15 reveal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

(CNN) — Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 15 lineup Tuesday at the company’s annual September keynote event, and it could introduce the biggest change to the phone’s design in 11 years.The press event, which Apple teased with a “wonderlust” tagline, will take place at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, and will be livestreamed on its website, starting at 10 a.m. local time.Although the annual iPhone event has become formulaic over the years, announcing incremental changes to battery life, camera system and displays, this year Apple is expected to introduce USB-C charging to its smartphones for the first time. The change could ultimately streamline the charging process across various devices and brands.But the company will have to show off more than just a new charging system to get users to upgrade. Last month, Apple’s sales fell for the third consecutive quarter. iPhone revenue came in at $39.7 billion for the quarter, marking an appro...

As Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace enter the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame, will Sammy Sosa be next?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace entered the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday during a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field, joining former teammates Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson, among others.Dunston was honored Friday at Wrigley with a video tribute, while Grace had his tribute during Saturday’s game.Dunston said he was humbled by the honor, though he didn’t consider himself in the same group as Sandberg, Dawson, Grace, Fergie Jenkins and others. Dunston spent 12 years on the North Side and became a fan favorite for the way he played the game.“I put it out there every day and tried my hardest,” Dunston said. “I wasn’t always the best, but I always put the team first, before myself, just like I put my family before myself. I think they appreciate the way I played.”The next big question is whether Sammy Sosa will make the Class of 2024, which will be voted upon after this season. The inductees will be announced at the Cubs Convention in Janua...

Latvia and Estonia sign deal to buy German-made missile defense system

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — Estonia and Latvia signed an agreement Monday with Germany to purchase a medium-range air defense missile system that opens the way for the two Baltic nations to join a common air defense system proposed by Germany last year.The agreement was signed Monday at a meeting of defense ministers in the German city of Rötenbach and involved what officials said was the overall sale of 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) worth of IRIS-T defense systems produced by German company Diehl Defense. Estonia and Latvia previously have signed letters of intent to joint the Sky Shield Initiative, a common air defense system proposed by Germany in 2022 in the wake of the Russian war against Ukraine. The project currently includes 16 NATO member states, NATO invitee Sweden, as well as the neutral states Austria and Switzerland.Monday’s deal means that Germany replaces the United States as Estonia’s biggest defense partner, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.“This is by fa...

Making a splash: World’s largest rubber duck back to quack in Toronto

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:04 GMT

It’s your ducky day; the world’s largest rubber duck is returning to Toronto’s waterfront this weekend.The annual Toronto Waterfront Festival is being held from September 16 to 17 at Queens Quay East and in a twist, the world’s largest rubber duck, affectionately known as Mama Duck, will appear on land this time.The festival begins on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and runs until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.A spokesperson for the waterfront festival said that while the event is not open to the public on Friday, Mama Duck will be inflated for an hour, inviting the public to get a first look before the weekend event.In April, Nancy Gavin, Chair of the Toronto Waterfront Festival, confirmed that Mama Duck would return to the city’s shores.“The number one program we continually get asked to bring back is by far the ‘World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” Gavin said. “After six years, we are very excited to have Mama Duck back on Toron...