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Bridge: June 12, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

Say you’re declarer at a four-heart contract (such as today’s). You have four potential losers, but if you can lose two of them on the same trick(!), you will be home.Sound like a good deal? That is the basis for the loser-on-loser play, a technique with wide application. Today’s declarer played at four hearts after West had overcalled in clubs. West led the king of clubs and continued with the ace, and South ruffed.South rightly suspected that West had the ace of diamonds as part of his bid, vulnerable. South could have played West for the doubleton ace but found a better line.LAST SPADESouth drew trumps, went to the ace of spades, ruffed a club, took the king of spades and ruffed his last spade in dummy. He next led dummy’s last club — and threw a diamond, trading one loser for another.When West won, he had no winning return. If West took his ace of diamonds, South’s king would score. If West led a club, South would ruff in dummy and throw anoth...

Roads, hiking trails closed in several Joshua Tree destinations as crews work to contain 1,088-acre fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

A few tour roads and hiking destinations in Joshua Tree National Park remained closed Sunday evening as firefighters worked to contain a 1,000-plus acre blaze that began burning on Saturday, June 10, officials said.The fire was reported around 4 p.m. on Saturday burning around 300 acres in an area with low vegetation that quickly spread the flames, according to the National Park Service. By Sunday morning, the fire had spread to 1,088 acres and was 30 percent contained.Road closures remained in effect in the evening for Geology Tour Road and Berdoo Canyon Road, said National Park Service spokesperson Sasha Travaglio. Hiking in the Pinkham Canyon and Fried Liver Wash areas was also closed, as well as backcountry camping in the Lost Horse, Pleasant Valley, Twin Tanks and Hexie Mountain zones.All other areas of the park — located in Riverside and San Bernardino counties — remained open though visitors were advised to remain aware and expect smoke.The cause of the fire was under investi...

Silvio Berlusconi, scandal-scarred ex-Italian leader, dies at 86

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

By FRANCES D’EMILIO | Associated PressROME  — Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday, according to his television network. He was 86.Mediaset announced his death with a smiling photo of the man on its homepage and the headline: “Berlusconi is dead.”Berlusconi was hospitalized on Friday for the second time in months for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.A onetime cruise ship crooner, Berlusconi used his television networks and immense wealth to launch his long political career, inspiring both loyalty and loathing.To admirers, the three-time premier was a capable and charismatic statesman who sought to elevate Italy on the world stage. To critics, he was a populist who threatened to undermine democracy by wielding political power as a t...

Ask Amy: My babysitting commitment is agitating my husband

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

Dear Amy: My little sister took over the family farm and has been running it (with my other sister) for two years. It is an incredible amount of work, and it keeps her busy from sunup to sundown.A year and a half ago, she had a son. I offered to watch him.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My grandson says his college grades are none of my business Advice | Ask Amy: Stranded bicyclist has an opinion on the coldest generation Advice | Ask Amy: My husband won’t say why he contacted these women Advice | Ask Amy: How do I tell my parents why I don’t like their friend? Advice | Ask Amy: I overheard their unkind comments about me at the funeral I’m a stay-at-home mom for my own boys, so no problem. We currently live with my parents, whose home sits right on the farm property.My sister offered money, but I said I was happy to watch him without payment.I agreed to this without first discussing i...

Harriette Cole: Anytime I complain, she implies I’m a coward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m having a hard time with my best friend lately.It seems that every time I complain about something or someone, no matter how minor or insignificant the issue may be, she takes it way too seriously and makes me feel like I’m a coward for not reacting in the way she would.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m afraid her fashion choice is dangerous Advice | Harriette Cole: Was committing to this Midwestern university a mistake? Advice | Harriette Cole: How could I have kept this dorm situation from escalating? Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I cut my parents off because they can’t shut up about my life? Advice | Harriette Cole: This clumsy woman wrecks my house and acts like it’s a joke I love my friend dearly and value her opinion, but her reaction to my complaints has become overwhelming. I feel like I can’t talk to her about anything anymore w...

Qudian: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

XIAMEN, China (AP) — XIAMEN, China (AP) — Qudian Inc. (QD) on Monday reported earnings of $60.3 million in its first quarter.The Xiamen, China-based company said it had net income of 26 cents per share.The online micro-lending company posted revenue of $3.2 million 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 QD at https://www.zacks.com/ap/QDSource

Real Betis players denounce homophobic insults after carrying purses to wedding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Real Betis players Aitor Ruibal and Borja Iglesias have denounced homophobic insults they received online after carrying purses at a wedding this weekend.Ruibal wrote on Twitter about what he called “frustrated attempts by a noisy minority to ridicule me and my teammate Borja Iglesias because of our clothing and its alleged connotation to our sexual orientation.”In a photo alongside other teammates, Ruibal was seen with a small hand purse, while Iglesias had one around his shoulder. Ruibal also had his hair dyed pink and blue. The image posted on Instagram ignited a wave of homophobic messages directed at them. Ruibal had also posted a photo of him carrying the purse alongside his female partner.Ruibal highlighted the “importance of respect toward everyone regardless of their sexual orientation,” and the need to “reject any type of phobia, so people can live in harmony in society.”“Those who at this point continue to show this type of behavior need urgent help,” he sai...

Frankfurt hires former Bayern Munich assistant Dino Toppmöller as new coach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt appointed former Bayern Munich assistant coach Dino Toppmöller as head coach on Monday to replace Oliver Glasner.The Bundesliga club said the 42-year-old Toppmöller will take over on July 1 on a contract through 2026. He will be joined by assistant coach Nélson Morgado, who is arriving from French team Monaco. Morgado previously worked with Toppmöller in Luxemburg.Toppmöller is taking over the 2022 Europa League champions almost exactly 30 years after his father coached the team.Toppmöller, whose father Klaus coached Frankfurt in the 1993-94 season, last worked as an assistant to Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was fired in March. He previously worked as Nagelsmann’s assistant at Leipzig.“It was only a matter of time before Dino Toppmöller worked as a head coach in the Bundesliga,” Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche said.Toppmöller was briefly in the spotlight when he took over for Nagelsmann for Bayern’s C...

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara delays honeymoon to answer France call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara was on his way to his honeymoon trip when he received a late call to play a couple of matches with France.The 23-year-old made a quick decision: postpone the wedding trip and join Les Bleus.Kamara’s wife commented on their eventful Sunday on her Instagram account, saying their vacation was postponed “for the good cause.”Coralie Kamara Porrovecchio said the couple was already on a plane headed for Paris and had to disembark to return to Marseille.Kamara, who has three caps with France, joined Aston Villa from Marseille last year.He was called by France coach Didier Deschamps on Sunday to replace the injured Adrien Rabiot ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece. France tops its qualifying group after winning its first two games. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Muere el ex primer ministro de Italia Silvio Berlusconi a los 86 años

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

(CNN) — Silvio Berlusconi, el extravagante multimillonario y ex primer ministro italiano que una vez se describió a sí mismo como el “Jesucristo de la política”, murió en un hospital de Milán a la edad de 86 años, confirmó este lunes su oficina de prensa.A Berlusconi, que tenía un historial reciente de problemas de salud, le habían diagnosticado leucemia recientemente, dijo el Hospital San Raffaele de Milán. Había sido ingresado en el hospital antes con problemas respiratorios.El político, que durante mucho tiempo fue considerado como la figura pública más pintoresca de Italia, fue elegido primer ministro tres veces y sirvió durante un total de nueve años, más que nadie desde el dictador fascista Benito Mussolini.Medios afuera del hospital San Raffaele, donde murió Berlusconi, el 12 de junio de 2023. (Crédito: Claudia Greco/Reuters)Cariñosamente apodado “Il Cavaliere” (El Caballero), su carrera estuvo marcada por una serie de escándalos políticos, financieros y per...