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Bridge: Oct. 23, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

I was in the club lounge when a penny-game kibitzer came in.“Ed got an ovation,” he said. “He made a fool of Grapefruit.”Ed is the club expert. Grapefruit can’t see a belt without hitting below it; he badgers his partners mercilessly.Ed played at four hearts. West led the queen of diamonds, dummy’s king covered, and Grapefruit, East, won and returned a diamond. West won and led a trump.Ed had four losers, but he drew trumps and led a spade from dummy: six, queen, five. Ed then ruffed his last diamond and returned another low spade. Grapefruit flinched … and put up the ace. Then Ed threw a club on the king of spades. Making four!SECOND SPADE“I’ve got a rock garden at home, and your head would look great in it,” West said to Grapefruit, giving him some of his own medicine. “Duck the second spade. South surely has the ace of clubs. If he has the jack of spades, he has ten tricks.”Grapefruit was silent, for once. An...

Ask Amy: Am I wrong to promise him a baby if he agrees not to go to war?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I are Israeli-American. We live in the United States and have one child, an infant.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: If I’d known about this upheaval, I would have declined the wedding invitation Advice | Ask Amy: The fight over laundry has undermined our marriage Advice | Ask Amy: I’ve been told that a mad dash through the airport won’t win me a woman Advice | Ask Amy: Should I let him know I’ve been tracking the car’s mileage? Advice | Ask Amy: I can’t believe he’s still doing the thing that almost killed him Before children, we agreed on a three-child minimum, but now that we have our baby, I feel very strongly about being a one-child family. My husband still wants to have more children.We agreed we’d table the discussion for later, and if we did have more kids, we would wait for several years.With the war breaking out, he decide...

Four-bedroom home in Danville sells for $1.9 million

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

85 Plumeria Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the first block of Plumeria Court in Danville was sold on Sept. 15, 2023. The $1,900,000 purchase price works out to $724 per square foot. The house, built in 1999, has an interior space of 2,623 square feet. This two-story house boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property is equipped with central A/C. Additionally, the home provides an attached two-car garage, granting ample space for parking and storage purposes.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:In April 2023, a 2,624-square-foot home on Anthurium Court in Danville sold for $1,900,000, a price per square foot of $724. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,311-square-foot home on the first block of Casablanca Street in Danville sold in October 2022, for $1,675,000, a price per square foot of $725. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Gerbera Street, Danville, in July 2022, a 2,624-square-foo...

Harriette Cole: My best friend asked to date my crush, and I don’t know what to say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: A woman I’ve been interested in for quite some time recently moved to my city. Unfortunately, I’ll be moving away in just a few weeks.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m not cut out for this class, and the professor isn’t making it any easier Advice | Harriette Cole: She came to my photoshoot, and I’m sure she made a bad impression Advice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend freaked out in the haunted house. Am I dating a coward? Advice | Harriette Cole: I asked my sister to watch my teen, and she broke my trust Advice | Harriette Cole: I finally told my parents I’ll be leaving the U.S. next week, and they’re livid The other day, I invited her to join me and my best friend for drinks. I thought it would be nice to introduce the two of them since she’s new in town and needs to meet people. Shortly after the dinner, my best friend asked me ...

Philips: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — AMSTERDAM (AP) — Koninklijke Philips NV (PHG) on Monday reported profit of $95.8 million in its third quarter.The Amsterdam-based company said it had net income of 10 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to 36 cents per share.The medical imaging equipment maker posted revenue of $4.87 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PHG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PHGSource

Stock market today: World stocks fall as concerns rise over Israel-Hamas war and high yields

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — World shares slumped further on Monday as higher risks of broader conflict in the Middle East clouded market sentiment and higher bond yields pressured stocks.The yield on the 10-year Treasury was at 5% early Friday. Stocks have been struggling under the weight of the bond market since high yields make borrowing more expensive for everyone and slow the economy while dragging on prices for stocks and other investments. The yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly topped 5% late Thursday for the first time since 2007, according to Tradeweb. It recently has been catching up to the Federal Reserve’s main interest rate, which is already above 5.25% — its highest level since 2001.“Indeed, the trajectory of U.S. Treasurys is not merely a question; it is the only question for financial markets,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. “U.S. government bonds are the critical benchmark reference point against which virtually all other global assets are ultima...

College Football Corner: U.Va. pulls an upset, JMU stays unbeaten, while a Big Ten battle looms large

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

Virginia running back Mike Hollins (7) fumbles with North Carolina defensive back Will Hardy (31) nearby during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. The ball went out of the end zone and North Carolina took possession. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)(AP/Chris Seward) Virginia running back Mike Hollins (7) fumbles with North Carolina defensive back Will Hardy (31) nearby during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. The ball went out of the end zone and North Carolina took possession. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)(AP/Chris Seward) Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his latest rankings here.The more things cha...

Pakistan bats first against spin-heavy Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat first against spin-heavy Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup on Monday.Afghanistan is languishing at the bottom of the points table. It has two points from four games after it stunned defending champion England by 69 runs.Afghanistan went with four spinners in the hope that the dry pitch will help slow bowlers. It gave spinner Noor Ahmed his first game in the tournament. Ahmed replaced Fazalhaq Farooqi and will be challenging Pakistan with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as the other spin options.Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi also wanted to bat first, but said the “toss is not in our hand and you have to play good cricket.”Pakistan, which has four points from its two victories against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, is looking to put its campaign back on track after suffering successive losses against archrival India and Australia.Pakistan brought back its out-of-form vice captain ...

Argentine minister Massa has a surprise lead over populist Milei. They head to presidential runoff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Economy Minister Sergio Massa produced a big surprise by finishing first in the opening round of Argentina’s presidential election, reflecting voters’ wariness about handing the presidency to his chief rival, a right-wing populist who upended national politics and pledged to drastically diminish the state.Massa’s victory over Javier Milei, a chainsaw-wielding economist and freshman lawmaker, came despite the fact that on his watch inflation has surged into triple digits, eating away at purchasing power of salaries and boosting poverty. Still, he wasn’t punished in Sunday’s voting. With nearly all balots counted early Monday, Massa had 36.7% of the vote and Milei had 30%, meaning the two will go to a Nov. 19 runoff. Most pre-election polls, which have been notoriously unreliable, had given Milei a slight lead over Massa. Former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, of the main center-right opposition coalition, got 23.8% to finish third in the fiel...

Woman hospitalized after shooting in Brickell; cellphone video captures scene unfold

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:38 GMT

Police are investigating a shooting in Miami’s Brickell section that sent a woman to the hospital. Since her hospitalization, cell phone video has been obtained showing an incident unfolding before the shooting occurred. City of Miami Police units responded to the scene of the incident along the 1200 block of South Miami Avenue, at around 5 a.m., Sunday.Officers arrived to find the victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound.Cellphone video showed a red vehicle driving erratically as they drove into a crowd of people. Bystanders were shouting before gunshots were heard. Paramedics transported the woman, who is in her 20s, to Ryder Trauma Center for treatment. As of Sunday night, her condition is unknown. “When you hear about gunshots in a great area like this, I’ve got my daughter who lives in the area here, and so, obviously as a parent I’m always concerned,” said one Brickell resident after hearing about the incident.Detectives are attempting to...