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Chorus of disapproval: National anthems sung by schoolkids at Rugby World Cup out of tune with teams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

The project was commendable: Get choirs selected from a group of 7,000 French schoolkids from diverse backgrounds to sing each country’s national anthem before games at the Rugby World Cup.Less than a week into the tournament, however, the plan has been scrapped.Following a backlash by fans and commentators and the awkward sight of players being completely out of sync with the choirs, organizers bowed to pressure Thursday by saying the children’s voices from the “Melee des Choeurs” will be boosted by “instrumental elements” when anthems ring out around stadiums in the second week of the World Cup.France, which plays Uruguay on Thursday, is among the nations to have already agreed to the modified version of its anthem. Organizers hope “final confirmation from all teams (can) be achieved in the next 48 hours.”A passionate rendition of a national anthem can be seen as a final rallying cry by rugby teams before matches, with players seen shaking and even crying while singing them over t...

Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher as stocks worldwide climb

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking higher on Wall Street Thursday after a blizzard of reports suggested the U.S. economy is still humming, though inflation may be too. The S&P 500 was up 0.5% in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 137 points, or 0.4%, at 34,712, as of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher.Some of the strongest action was in the bond market, where Treasury yields swung up, down and back again following the mixed economic data. One report said U.S. shoppers spent more at retailers last month than economists expected. Such spending has been a linchpin keeping the economy out of a recession, but it could also be encouraging retailers to keep trying to raise prices further.The strong spending is a result of a remarkably resilient job market, which has remained solid despite a steep jump in interest rates since early last year. A separate report Thursday morning said fewer workers applied for unemployment benefits last wee...

Transat reports profit for first time since 2019, beating expectations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

MONTREAL — Transat AT Inc. reported its highest net income ever for a third quarter, as it turned a profit for the first time since 2019, prompting a sunnier financial forecast for the year.The travel company, which owns Air Transat, said revenue in the three months ended July 31 were nearly seven per cent above 2019 levels despite seat capacity sitting 14 per cent below — an indication of price hikes on tickets to Europe across airlines.Chief executive Annick Guérard said healthy demand for leisure travel boosted revenue per passenger by 29 per cent compared with 2019.As a result, Transat raised its margin target on adjusted earnings for the year to between 7.5 and eight per cent from a previous guidance of 5.5 to seven per cent.“Early bookings are ahead of last year which, combined with firm pricing, bode well for the start of the new fiscal year,” Guérard said in a release.The tour package company also plans to expand capacity by nearly a quarter next year.“So f...

Cubs announce presale opportunity for 2023 playoff tickets

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

CHICAGO — While the team still has business to take care of on the field to make sure they get there, the Cubs have already begun to look ahead to potential playoff games at Wrigley Field. That starts with giving fans the opportunity to purchase tickets to potential contests in the first two rounds of the postseason.The Cubs have announced a presale opportunity for fans to purchase tickets to potential Wild Card and National League Division Series games at Wrigley Field..Fans can register for the opportunity to purchase tickets beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. central time..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/VTWS83bVXQ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) September 14, 2023The team announced their "Fly The W" presale opportunity on Thursday morning, which will allow fans to register to purchase a limited amount of tickets for potential Wild Card Series and National League Division Series games at Wrigley Field. Fans can begin to register on Thursday at 10 a.m. central time on the team's website f...

WATCH LIVE | Trial day 4 of two former DCFS workers in connection with the 2019 death of 5-year-old AJ Freund

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment enters its fourth day Thursday.The multiple felony charges filed in Sept. 2020 against Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta stem from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. They are accused of having known Freund’s life was in danger four months earlier yet not taking action.WGN plans to livestream the trial within this story beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. The livestream will pause when the court takes its lunch break, but will resume within this story following that break. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cross-examination continues on Day 3 of AJ Freund’s death, DCFS workers’ trial The bench trial began on Monday with the McHenry County State’s Attorney providing an opening statement for the prosecution, and separate attorneys providing statements for each of the defendants. Defense attorneys spent most of Wednesday's proc...

Powerball jackpot nears $600M: When is the next drawing?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Without a winner in Wednesday's drawing, the Powerball jackpot has rolled again, reaching an estimated $596 million ahead of the next drawing. No ticket matched the winning numbers of 22, 30, 37, 44, 45, and red Powerball 18. There was, however, a ticket worth $1 million sold in Missouri that matched all five white balls. A ticket in South Carolina did the same, but with the Power Play multiplier, the prize doubled to $2 million. At its current pace, the Powerball jackpot could become the third-largest won this year, coming off the heels of a $1.08 billion prize won by a California ticket in July — the third-largest jackpot in the game's history. These record-setting Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots are still unclaimed: What if they stay that way? There have been 24 consecutive drawings since, producing the current jackpot. At an estimated $596 million, the jackpot has the potential to grow to $600 million ahead of Saturday's 10:59 p.m. ET drawing. At its current est...

'This is the day I die': Massive alligator charges at Girl Scout troop during swim

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

HOUSTON, Texas (WFLA) — An alligator in Texas gave a Girl Scout troop a weekend they won't forget after it began to charge at them during a swim at a state park.According to KPRC, a group of 11-year-olds were on an overnight camping trip at Huntsville State Park to explore and earn badges.Shortly after the troop got into the water, panic and chaos ensued as the alligator, estimated to be about 12 to 14 feet long, swam toward the children. Shouting and screaming could be heard on video that captured the incident. Pesky ‘sea lice’ strikes Florida beaches as Hurricane Lee churns waters "I was thinking, 'This is the day I die,'" Ava Miller told the news station. "It was moving, like, faster than us or about the same."David Siljeg, who shot the video, told Storyful that he thought the gator would leave once it saw people swimming and splashing, but that was not the case."The alligator switched to attack mode and was aiming quickly toward the little kids,” he said.Troop leader Nichole G...

WATCH: Dolphins swim through bioluminescent waters off California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KSWB) - Bioluminescent waves continue to stun along the Southern California coastline, drawing dozens out to the beach at night in an attempt to spot the electric blue spectacle.However, passengers on a Newport Beach boat got a special treat Monday night, as they caught a rare glimpse of dolphins swimming through the glowing waters.Bioluminescence in the water near Newport Beach on Sept. 11, 2023. (Credit: Mark Girardeau/ @OrangeCountyOutdoors, @NewportCoastalAdventure)A red tide near a Del Mar mooring was spotted quickly moving landward during the last week of August. (Photo: Quinn Montgomery)The iridescent waves are connected with a phenomenon called a "red tide," according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. What’s causing California’s ocean waves to glow? A red tide describes a build-up or bloom of microscopic organisms that are similar to plankton. These organisms are called Lingulodinium polyedra.By day, these organisms display a reddish-brown...

Suspect steals excavator, crashes it into Florida Walmart

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WJW) – Police in Gainesville, Florida, have arrested a suspect who stole a large excavator and crashed it into a Walmart. The suspect had also "drove through" a separate storage unit with the excavator, and took out multiple utility poles before crashing the construction vehicle into the Walmart, according to a Facebook post from the Gainesville Police Department.The incident took place Sept. 11, officials said. No one was injured.(Gainesville Police Department)(Gainesville Police Department)Police identified the suspect as 47-year-old Jesse Charles Smith, saying Smith had hotwired the excavator after finding it at a nearby construction site, local news outlet WUFT reported.The outlet, citing police, said the suspect also entered the Walmart carrying a machete after crashing through one of the building's walls. WATCH: Good Samaritan rescues driver from burning car after crash into Florida building Smith has been charged with grand theft, criminal mischief, armed...

Science & Natural History Museum reopens Sept. 23

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Science and Natural History Museum reopens Sept. 23 after a name change and a renovation. Staff took media on tour of the former Texas Memorial Museum on Wednesday. As part of the tour, they showed off a new centerpiece exhibit featuring a full-size dinosaur fossil. The museum at 2400 Trinity St. closed in 2022 for what it called "extensive renovations and exhibit updates." Museum to debut name change, renovations this fall According to Museum Managing Director Carolyn Connerat, the name change was, "a better way for all of our guests and visitors who want to come to the museum, to know what they're going to find when they get there." The Texas Science and Natural History Museum is the only one of its kind in the Austin area and was originally built in 1936, the museum said.The museum will hold a free grand opening celebration for the public on Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.