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Oil prices could reach ‘uncharted waters’ if the Israel-Hamas war escalates, the World Bank says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The World Bank reported Monday that oil prices could be pushed into “uncharted waters” if the violence between Israel and Hamas intensifies, which could result in increased food prices worldwide.The World Bank’s Commodity Markets Outlook found that while the effects on oil prices should be limited if the conflict doesn’t widen, the outlook “would darken quickly if the conflict were to escalate.”The attack on Israel by the militant organization Hamas and the ensuing Israel military operation against Hamas have raised fears of a wider Mideast conflict.And the threat of escalation looms. Israeli tanks and infantry pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “second stage” in the war. Hamas officials have called for more regional assistance from allies, including Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.The World Bank report simulates three scenarios for the global oil supply in the event ...

Damp & Dreary Now, Chilly Halloween

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

Blah! After some of the finest weather of the year that graced us from Wednesday to Saturday, we’re certainly back to the reality of being deep into the Fall as a chilly rain overtook the area yesterday. Today, we pick up right where we left off yesterday, damp and dreary with bouts of showers and drizzle zipping across the state. Generally, expect a day of light to moderate rain as showers are in and out through the day. Even in the lulls, patchy drizzle will keep it damp. Highs generally hold between 50-55, although a few locations near the South Coast will spike to 60+ as a warm front nudges it’s way in there. We’ll start to dry it out overnight today and allow for a brighter day of Halloween. While the daytime sunshine to mainly clear evening skies and light winds are not so scary for Halloween, there will be a bit of chill in those skeleton bones as temps drip from the mid 40s around sunset to the upper 30s by the time the trick-or-treaters wrap things up. Dr...

BABC/Slades Holiday Classic schedule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

Here is the schedule for the 27th annual BABC/Slades Holiday Classic. The event will be held at Archbishop Williams and features some of the top teams in the area as well as some top-flight out-of-state competition.Wednesday, December 2712 – Archbishop Williams vs. Springfield Central1:30 – Worcester North vs. Hillhouse (Conn.)3 – Brockton vs. Windsor (Conn.)4:30 – Burke vs. Eagle Academy (Brooklyn, N.Y.)6 – BC High vs. BrooklineThursday, December 2812 – Burke vs. Brockton1:30 – Brookline vs. Eagle Academy3 – Archbishop Williams vs. Worcester North 

Ontario lowering age for regular breast cancer screenings to 40

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

Ontario is lowering the age for regular, publicly funded breast cancer screenings from 50 to 40, which Health Minister Sylvia Jones says will help with early detection.Jones is set to make the announcement later on Monday and says the expansion will mean an additional 130,000 mammograms are completed in the province each year.The move follows a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year that said screenings in that country should start at 40 instead of 50, because evidence suggests that would have a moderate benefit in reducing deaths.The change in Ontario means that starting in the fall of 2024, eligible women, non-binary, trans and two-spirit people between the ages of 40 and 74 can self refer for a mammogram every two years.People can already get regular mammograms and breast MRIs between the ages of 30 and 69 if they qualify as high risk, such as those with a family history of breast cancer or people who carry certain genes known to incre...

FIFA bans Luis Rubiales of Spain for 3 years for kiss and misconduct at Women’s World Cup final

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA banned ousted former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales from the sport for three years on Monday for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final where he forcibly kissed a player on the lips at the trophy ceremony.FIFA did not publish details of the verdict reached by its disciplinary committee judges, who had investigated charges relating to “basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.”Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia.Minutes earlier, Rubiales grabbed his crotch as a victory gesture in the exclusive section of seats with Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofía standing nearby.Rubiales resigned from his jobs in soccer in September after weeks of defiance that increased pressure on him from the Spanish government and national team players.Rubiales can request the verdict within 10 d...

Ukrainian officials say Russian shelling killed a 91-year-old woman in a ‘terrifying night’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian shells struck residential areas of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, killing a 91-year-old woman in what a local official described Monday as a “terrifying night” in the 20-month war that shows no signs of ending.The overnight shelling set fire to a high-rise apartment building, blew out windows and reduced some apartments to rubble, according to video footage posted by Kherson Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin.The woman died when an apartment wall fell on her, according to her daughter, who lived with her on the ninth floor.The victim was one of three Ukrainian civilians killed in the east and south of the country over the previous 24 hours, with at least five people injured, Ukraine’s presidential office reported Monday.Apart from reportedly fierce fighting at some points along the front line, which Ukrainian officials say stretches for more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles), the conflict appears largely deadlocked and focused on long-range fire.The daughter of...

Air Canada reports $1.25B Q3 profit, operating revenue up 19% from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

MONTREAL — Air Canada reported a profit of $1.25 billion in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $508 million in the same quarter last year.The airline says the profit amounted to $3.08 per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a loss of $1.42 per diluted share a year earlier.Operating revenue totalled $6.34 billion in the company’s third quarter, up from $5.32 billion in the same quarter last year, boosted by higher passenger revenues.On an adjusted basis, Air Canada says it earned $3.41 per diluted share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.07 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of $2.15 per share for the quarter, according to estimates compiled by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.In its outlook, Air Canada says its adjusted cost per available seat mile for 2023 is expected to be about 1.5 per cent to 2.25 per cent above 2022 levels compared with earlier ex...

Halloween’s frigid forecast could bring frightening flurries to GTA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

Just one more sleep until Halloween and the spookiest thing trick-or-treaters come face to face with this year might be the forecast.It’s going to be a chilly week with below seasonal temperatures in Toronto and the GTA and there could even be some flurries on Tuesday night when it’s time to head door-to-door for candy. The frigid forecast means parents will want to ensure they incorporate some extra layers into their children’s costumes.The work week will kick off with a guaranteed high of 7 C on Monday with some morning showers ending around noon and making way for partly cloudy skies. A similar daytime high of 7 C with partly cloudy skies is expected on Tuesday before we get an evening cooldown.CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says the Halloween evening forecast will see temperatures hovering around 2 C with the wind making it feel more like -5.“Dress warm,” Taylor says. “It’s just a very light wind, but enough to give us that raw k...

Liz Weston: Does a 401(k) employer match tempt you to cash out?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

Many companies try to help their workers to save for retirement. Employers often offer 401(k)s, company matches and automatic enrollment to encourage saving.Much of that effort goes to waste, though, when employees leave. A study published last year in Marketing Science, a peer-reviewed research journal, found more than 40% of departing workers cashed out at least part of their 401(k)s, and most of those drained every dime.What’s more, employers may bear at least some of the blame, according to researchers Yanwen Wang of the University of British Columbia, Muxin Zhai of Texas State University and John Lynch Jr. of the University of Colorado.The study, titled “Cashing Out Retirement Savings at Job Separation,” suggests generous company matches can make cashing out more tempting.CASH-OUTS DRAIN FUTURE RETIREMENT SECURITYThe researchers examined records of 162,360 employees who left jobs at 28 employers between 2014 and 2016. Of the 41.4% who cashed out retirement savings, about 64% to...

At least 3 workers are dead after scaffolding fell down a shaft at a building site in Germany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:21 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — At least three construction workers died when scaffolding fell down an elevator shaft inside a building site in Hamburg on Monday, German authorities said. Several others were believed to be missing under the wreckage.The fire service in Germany’s second-biggest city said that the building site was evacuated following the accident, German news agency dpa reported. Between 1,300 and 1,500 workers were on site at the time.The scaffolding appeared to have been eight floors above the ground before the collapse, and firefighters said the rescue effort was difficult. Officials initially reported that five people died. They said later Monday that they were sure of three deaths.The accident happened in the Ueberseequartier, part of the port city’s HafenCity district on the Elbe river that is being redeveloped with office and residential buildings, hotels and shops.The Associated Press