Author: i2wtc

World Rugby (WR) has announced rule changes that will apply to competition beginning July 1, 2024. These changes will generally take effect in the United States on September 1, 2024. These new rules will apply to 15-a-side competitions, pre-season matches and friendlies starting in August.A lowering of the tackle height will also be implemented, the exact wording of which will be announced next month, but teams should practice making contact lower on the ball carrier’s torso.During a kick, players on the kicking team who are in front of the kick must not retreat and must wait until they are onside,…

The sale of the downtown Seattle Hilton last week is the latest warning sign from a hospitality industry still grappling with recovering from COVID-19. Tokyo-based APA Group bought the 256-room property for $69 million, according to county property records, 15 percent less than what New York City-based Westbrook Partners sold it for in 2016, adjusted for inflation. The discount is due in part to its age: The hotel, which has already been converted under APA’s Coast Hotels brand, has been a fixture at the corner of 6th Avenue and University Street since 1970. But the prices also reflect ongoing uncertainty…

Donald Sutherland, the multi-generational actor who appeared in films such as “M*A*S*H,” “Klute,” “Animal House” and “The Hunger Games,” has passed away. He was 88 years old. His death was confirmed on social media by his son, Kiefer Sutherland, the famous actor who appeared in 24. and “Designated Survivor.” Sutherland’s talent agency also confirmed his death to CBS News. “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Donald Sutherland,” Kiefer Sutherland told X. “Personally, I consider him one of the most important actors in the history of cinema. He never flinched from playing the good,…

A series of wildfires in California have ravaged several regions, forcing thousands to flee their homes and threatening the state’s world-famous vineyards.But the latest report from firefighters on Tuesday said injuries are currently minimal, and wine grape growers in Northern California are breathing a sigh of relief after one of the wildfires appears to be 40% contained and has escaped the region’s famed wine-growing region.The blaze, known locally as the Point Fire, broke out Sunday and caused anxiety for well-known wineries and residents of Healdsburg, California, over the Father’s Day holiday, said Lauren Fremont, executive director of the Dry Creek…

British Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Thursday that anyone who used inside information to bet on the date of the UK’s July 4 general election should be expelled from the Conservative party. Mr Sunak told the BBC he was “incredibly angry” to learn of allegations that Conservative politicians had bet on the election date, and said that if they were found to have broken the law “they should face the full force of the law”. “We are of course investigating appropriately with the relevant law enforcement authorities,” he said, “and if anyone is found to have breached the rules we…

With less than two weeks to go until the UK election, heat is building over who will occupy 10 Downing Street, and the question on everyone’s mind is whether Chancellor Rishi Sunak will return. In an exclusive interview BBCChancellor Rishi Sunak spoke about issues including illegal immigration, the National Health Service and Brexit. Taking questions from the audience, Sunak said: BBC The studio boss said his grandparents had little to build on when they emigrated to the UK, but now he is the UK’s prime minister and feels it is his duty to give back as a “debt” to his…

Spencer Pratt/Getty Images In this photo illustration, a teenage girl uses her phone to access social media.New York became the first state to pass a law regulating social media algorithms amid a national outcry that apps like Instagram and TikTok are hooking users with addictive features. CNN — Big changes are coming for New York’s youngest social media users after Gov. Kathy Hawkle signed two bills on Thursday cracking down on digital platforms’ algorithms and use of children’s data. The unprecedented move makes New York the first state to pass a law regulating social media algorithms, amid a nationwide outcry…

Hundreds of Gateway Church employees gathered in a Southlake, Texas, auditorium on Tuesday to learn the fate of senior pastor Robert Morris, four days after learning of decades-old child sexual abuse allegations against him.As they took their seats, some officials looked solemn; others appeared angry. One attendee pulled out her cell phone and secretly recorded the meeting. She later provided the audio to NBC News and described the meeting in an interview. A second person who was present confirmed her account and the authenticity of the recording.Kenneth W. Fambro II, a real estate executive with the Gateway Presbyterian congregation, fought…

Hallelujah Hadero, Associated Press Business WriterTikTok released a letter on Thursday accusing the Biden administration of engaging in “political demagoguery” amid high-stakes negotiations between the government and the company seeking to ease concerns about its presence in the United States.The letter, sent to David Neuman, a senior Justice Department national security official, before President Biden signed the TikTok ban bill, was filed in federal court along with a brief supporting the company’s lawsuit against the measure. TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company ByteDance is also a plaintiff in the case, which is expected to be one of the biggest legal battles in…

Crawford’s appearance in his new position against the Giants at Rickwood Field was covered by NBC Sports Bay Area.Brandon Crawford is in the starting lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Giants on Thursday at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, but the longtime San Francisco star won’t be playing shortstop in his first game against his former team.Crawford will start at third base for the first time in his 14-year MLB career, while Cardinals rookie Masin Winn will play shortstop as he has done all season.In a pregame interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt and Alex…