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Bridge: Dec. 5, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

A woman member of my club approached me, wearing a look of exasperation.“Nobody told me,” she said, “that when you get a husband, the ears are sold separately.”“What happened?” I sighed.“We defended four spades in the morning duplicate,” she told me, displaying today’s deal. “I led a low heart against four spades. My husband was East. He took the ace and shifted to his singleton club. South won and led a trump to dummy’s queen.”MAKING FIVE“My husband took the ace and … returned a heart. Declarer won, drew trumps and ran the clubs, making five. I told my husband that he could easily beat the contract, and he acted as if he didn’t hear me. Maybe he needs a hearing aid.”The problem may not be hearing-related. East needs to know where West’s entry lies (assuming she has one). West might have either the king of hearts or the ace of diamonds. To find out, East ducks the first trump and wi...

Israel strikes in and around Gaza’s second-largest city in a bloody new phase of the war

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Ali Alqam, 32, during his funeral in the West Bank refugee camp of Qalandia, south of Ramallah, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. The Palestinian health ministry said Alqam was killed during an Israeli army raid in Qalandia on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)(AP/Nasser Nasser) Palestinian mourners carry the body of Ali Alqam, 32, during his funeral in the West Bank refugee camp of Qalandia, south of Ramallah, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. The Palestinian health ministry said Alqam was killed during an Israeli army raid in Qalandia on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)(AP/Nasser Nasser) KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel intensified its bombardment in and around Gaza’s seco...

Analysis: NFL’s Week 13 featured a phalanx of flags, curious non-calls and strange sideline squabble

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

While college football fans debate the merits of keeping unbeaten Florida State out of the playoffs because of a key injury and disqualifying Georgia following the Bulldogs’ first loss in 728 days, the NFL can preen over a postseason bracket that’s determined on the field itself.By the players and the coaches.OK, sometimes by the officials, too.An NFL season chock full of erratic enforcement of the rule book reached bedrock in Week 13, which kicked off with Dallas’ 41-35 win over Seattle in a rare Thursday night shootout that featured a phalanx of flags to go with its plethora of points.Sunday’s pair of marquee afternoon attractions featured crucial calls and non-calls alike as the two teams with the league’s longest active winning streaks both lost.In Houston, the Texans had a scoop-and-score wiped off by a quick whistle in their crucial 22-17 win over the Broncos, but they also got away with an obvious pass interference that denied Denver an early tou...

South Carolina and UCLA head to Connecticut as part of women’s basketball tripleheader

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

UCLA coach Cori Close has been impressed with how teams have challenged themselves so far this season with many of the top schools playing each other.This weekend will be no exception with six ranked teams descending on Connecticut for the Hall of Fame Showcase on Sunday. Second-ranked UCLA will face No. 20 Florida State in the opener. Top-ranked South Carolina meets No. 11 Utah in the second game and No. 17 UConn plays 24th-ranked North Carolina in the finale. “There are so many great matchups early on. For me it’s so good for the game,” Close said Monday night. “It continues to build the momentum and put eyeballs on the game.”Close’s Bruins were in the Cayman Islands over Thanksgiving, which also had a slew of talented teams that included UConn, LSU and Virginia Tech.“The biggest thing from Cayman and here is TV exposure,” Close said. “Getting more eyeballs on these matchups. There’s intrigue at every level. There’s different styles of play, and I encourage people to t...

Analysis: As the NBA’s eyes are on Las Vegas, the Spurs and Pistons have a long road ahead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

There was so much promise six weeks ago. San Antonio was reveling in the debut of Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick who arrived with amazing fanfare. Detroit had a new coach in Monty Williams — just two years removed from taking Phoenix to the NBA Finals — and a roster featuring five top-five draft picks from the last five years.The Spurs started 3-2 and had a 21-point lead in the third quarter of their sixth game. The Pistons started 2-1, the only thing keeping them from a 3-0 start was a missed straightaway jumper by Cade Cunningham at the buzzer of their opener in Miami. So much promise, for both teams.And nothing since. Nothing.As the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament winds down its quarterfinal round Tuesday and prepares to move amid the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas for its Final Four — capped Saturday by the awarding of a new trophy and the winning team’s players splitting about $8 million — the Spurs and Pistons are at the other end of the spectrum, mired already at the bo...

No. 9 UNC’s faster tempo is helping the Tar Heels thrive entering a matchup with No. 5 UConn

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Hubert Davis is spending much of every game emphatically waving his arm to signal his Tar Heels to go-go-go in pushing the ball upcourt on just about every rebound.His team is doing a better job of increasing the tempo to start this season than in either of his first two years. That’s a key for ninth-ranked UNC entering Tuesday’s matchup against fifth-ranked reigning NCAA champion Connecticut in New York’s Madison Square Garden, which is the headliner on the week’s AP Top 25 schedule.“We do it in practice, we push the ball in practice, we find the open man,” guard RJ Davis said, adding: “We know our tempo, we know the pace we need to be at, and you can see the benefits from it.”That game headlines the week’s AP Top 25 schedule after North Carolina made the biggest jump of eight spots in Monday’s new poll. Playing fast had long been a key piece of UNC’s success under retired Hall of Famer Ro...

Miami Police Department spreads holiday cheer with surprise gift cards during traffic stops

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

Chief Manuel Morales and Enrique Santos of iHeart Radio have joined forces with the City of Miami Police Department to bring the spirit of selfless giving to the streets this holiday season.Surprise traffic stops turned into moments of joy as officers, including Chief Morales himself, exchanged gift cards for summonses in various areas across the City of Miami.On Monday, as part of this festive endeavor, officers handed out $100 gift cards instead of citations during some traffic stops.“As we stop motorists, we recognize them and let them know, hey, listen, you did X violation, however, we’re spreading some joy and giving some positive reinforcement,” said Chief Morales.The unexpected act of generosity left drivers pleasantly surprised.“I don’t know how to react right now, I’m shocked,” said Sophia Gonzalez. “All I did was make a right, and I saw a hand to pull over, and I’m like, ‘What did I do?’ But, you know, thing...

Art Miami 2023 set to unveil global masterpieces

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

The art world’s spotlight turns to South Florida as the 33rd annual Art Miami unveils its VIP opening Tuesday, marking the commencement of one of the most anticipated events in contemporary and modern art. With 170 international galleries, this original and longest-running art fair promises a visual feast at CONTEXT Art Miami, located at One Herald Plaza in downtown Miami.As the epicenter of Art Week, this edition will feature over 900 artists, showcasing investment-quality paintings, sculptures, and more. From London to Tokyo, Paris to Miami, the event spans 31 countries, solidifying its status as a global contemporary art market leader. The festivities kick off with a VIP preview benefiting the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Renowned luxury jewelry brand Yvel, celebrated for its exceptional creations, returns as the Official Jeweler, adding a touch of glamour to the affair.Marking the beginning of one of South Florida’s busiest times of the year, Art Miami stands as th...

House Oversight Republicans flaunt payments made by Hunter Biden to his dad; documents say they were for a car

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

(CNN) — Republicans on the House Oversight Committee released a document showing payment from Hunter Biden’s business entity, Owasco PC, to President Joe Biden when he was not in office, but neglected to include evidence that the president’s son was repaying his father for a car.The redacted document provided to CNN shows that an account affiliated with Hunter Biden paid Joe Biden $1,380 on September 17, 2018. The document states the payments would occur on a monthly basis, and the panel is aware of at least three monthly payments to Joe Biden in total, a source familiar with the committee’s work told CNN.But documents provided to CNN appear to show that Hunter Biden was repaying his father for a Ford Raptor, information that had already been publicized. A source familiar with the payment told CNN that Hunter Biden’s credit was low at the time while he was struggling with addiction, so he couldn’t finance the car and his father signed for the ...

Lawsuit alleges Brian Laundrie shared with his parents that Gabby Petito was ‘gone’ and that he needed a lawyer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:12:52 GMT

(CNN) — Brian Laundrie told his parents Gabby Petito was “gone” in what is described as a frantic phone call that took place three weeks before her remains were discovered, according to an amended civil complaint filed by Petito’s parents on November 30.Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt are suing Laundrie’s parents and their attorney, claiming they intentionally withheld information about 22-year-old Gabby Petito’s death, causing them pain and emotional distress.Petito was reported missing by her family in September 2021 after she embarked on a trip with Laundrie, her fiancé. Authorities found her remains in Wyoming days later, on September 19, and a coroner ruled her cause of death strangulation. Laundrie returned to his Florida home and then vanished into a reserve for weeks, before investigators found his remains and a medical examiner ruled he died by suicide. Authorities said they found writing...