Bridge: Aug. 12, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Bridge: Aug. 12, 2023 “What I if told you thatyou just read that top line wrong?”“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking. Problem-solving is the essence of the game — what makes it fun to play — but you can’t solve a problem unless you have the necessary information. Focus and pay attention to the play of the cards.In today’s deal, South opens four hearts in fourth seat, and everyone passes. West leads a trump, and South takes the A-K and leads a diamond to finesse with dummy’s queen, winning. He next tries a club to his king, and West takes the ace and (not best) queen and leads a third club.PROBLEMDeclarer ruffs and leads a spade, and West follows with the four. Problem: Should South play the king or the jack from dummy?Declarer has enough information to resolve this “guess.” West, who didn’t open the bidding, has shown the king of diamonds and A-Q of clubs. He can’t have the ace of spades but ...

Word Game: Aug. 12, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Word Game: Aug. 12, 2023 TODAY’S WORD — CELADON (CELADON: SEL-uh-don: A grayish-yellow green.)Average mark 38 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 51 or more words in CELADON? The list will be published Monday.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CONFIDES code coed coif coin cone confide cosine once onside nice node noes noise nose fend fiend find fine fisc fond iced icon ides dice dine disc disco does done dose scend scion scone second send side since sine snide sonde sone sonicTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Wo...

Mbappe, Neymar and Verratti left out of PSG squad for opening game against Lorient

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Mbappe, Neymar and Verratti left out of PSG squad for opening game against Lorient PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Marco Verratti were all left out of the squad for Paris Saint-Germain’s season opener against Lorient later Saturday.Mbappe is mired in a contract standoff and was widely expected not to be in the squad after having been left out of the pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea. He trained apart from defending champion PSG’s first-team regulars all week.Neymar trained alone on Friday, with the club saying it was because he was recovering from a viral infection. But Neymar is heading for a PSG exit and could leave this month.The 30-year-old Verratti, who has been in PSG’s midfield for 11 years, has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Arabian league.PSG’s new coach Luis Enrique spoke to both Neymar and Verratti and said at his news conference Friday that “my decisions will clearly express my views.”It appears neither are in his plans for the coming season.Central defender Milan Skriniar, attacking midfielde...

Australia edges France on penalty kicks to reach Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Australia edges France on penalty kicks to reach Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australia edged France on penalty kicks Saturday to reach the Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time.Cortnee Vine took Australia’s 10th penalty from the spot and calmly converted to give the Matildas a 7-6 win in the shootout after the quarterfinal match finished 0-0 after regulation and extra time.The Australians missed two earlier chances to clinch a dramatic shootout but ultimately it didn’t matter as they ended a long curse for tournament hosts. The Australians became the only team other than the United States to advance past the quarterfinals of a Women’s World Cup as the host nation.Australia will play either England or Colombia next Wednesday in Sydney for a spot in the final.Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold kept the Matildas in the game in extra time and made a string of clutch saves in the shootout — before and after missing with her own attempt that could have sealed the win.Both teams had chances to win it in regulation, and Sam K...

France 0, Australia 0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

France 0, Australia 0 France000—0Australia000—0First Half_None.Second Half_None.First Overtime_None.Second Overtime_None.Penalty kicks — France, Selma Bacha, NG; Kadidiatou Diani, G; Wendie Renard, G; Eugenie Le Sommer, G; Eve Perisset, NG; Grace Geyoro, G; Sakina Karchaoui, G; Maelle Lakrar, G; Kenza Dali, NG; Vicki Becho, NG. Australia, Caitlin Foord, G; Steph Catley, NG; Sam Kerr, G; Mary Fowler, G; Mackenzie Arnold, NG; Katrina-Lee Gorry, G; Tameka Yallop, G; Ellie Carpenter, G; Clare Hunt, NG; Cortnee Vine, G.Goalies_France, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Solene Durand, Constance Picaud; Australia, Mackenzie Arnold, Lydia Williams, Teagan Micah.Yellow Cards_Gorry, Australia, 92nd.Referee_Maria Carvajal. Assistant Referees_Leslie Vasquez, Monica Amboya, Nicolas Gallo Barragan. 4th Official_Laura Fortunato.A_49,461.___Source

Most would reject travel upgrades to stay close to a friend or romantic partner, study finds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Most would reject travel upgrades to stay close to a friend or romantic partner, study finds Air travel can be tricky. It’s often riddled with delays and even baggage woes.But upgrades can be a surprisingly bright spot. However, a study published by the Society for Consumer Psychology finds that most travelers would refuse better comfort if it means they’ll be separated from a traveling partner, close friend or romantic partner.In one of several studies with different scenarios, researchers found a good number of people would forgo traveling in first class rather than abandoning their loved one in coach.“They exhibit a pretty strong preference to be physically close to this person who they feel emotionally close to,” said Rebecca Ratner, one of three co-authors of the study.She said they got similar results with chocolate — folks would rather enjoy one piece with company, than two pieces alone.“It’s sort of baffling to us in a way,” Ratner said.That’s because if people are trying to fill life with enjoyable experiences, “it means we may sacrifice enjoyment, part...

ANÁLISIS | Así han sido los 4 años de gobierno de Alberto Fernández como presidente de Argentina

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

ANÁLISIS | Así han sido los 4 años de gobierno de Alberto Fernández como presidente de Argentina (CNN Español) — Desde hace años, Argentina parece no tener respiro. Con una de las economías y las poblaciones más grandes de América Latina, y una historia pasada de avances y crecimiento, en las últimas décadas el país sudamericano ha estado atravesando dificultades económicas y períodos de estancamiento e inestabilidad política, y cada uno de los gobiernos recientes lo ha sentido en las urnas.El actual presidente Alberto Fernández, electo en 2019, no es la excepción: aquejado por una inflación muy alta –entre otros problemas económicos– y una escasa popularidad, decidió hace tiempo no buscar la reelección en los comicios presidenciales que se aproximan, y su fuerza política, la coalición del Frente de Todos (ahora rebautizado Unión por la Patria), se enfrenta a una dura batalla electoral por retener el poder ejecutivo.ANÁLISIS | Alberto Fernández desiste de la reelección: ¿qué significa?¿Qué pasó exactamente en estos ajetreados cuatro años que incluyeron la pand...

Damar Hamlin set to take next step in comeback bid in Bills’ preseason game against Colts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Damar Hamlin set to take next step in comeback bid in Bills’ preseason game against Colts ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damar Hamlin has reached another major milestone in his return to football. The Bills safety was scheduled to suit up and play in Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. The game will mark the first time Hamlin has appeared in a competitive setting since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2.What seemed unfathomable in those frightening first moments, and the nine-day stay in two hospitals that followed, has become a reality for the 25-year-old Hamlin, who put his fears aside in April by announcing his intention to resume his playing career after being medically cleared to return.In that time, the Bills have eased Hamlin back on the field, starting with him taking part in individual drills in May, followed by team drills a week later. Two weeks ago, the third-year safety took another major step by experiencing his first thud of a hit in the Bills’ firs...

Colombia – Inglaterra en el Mundial femenino en vivo: resultado, goles y datos en directo

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

Colombia – Inglaterra en el Mundial femenino en vivo: resultado, goles y datos en directo Haz clic aquí para ver las actualizaciones más recientesThe-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Source

PSG signs Ousmane Dembélé from Barcelona amid uncertainty over future of Mbappe, Neymar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:02:54 GMT

PSG signs Ousmane Dembélé from Barcelona amid uncertainty over future of Mbappe, Neymar BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — France forward Ousmane Dembélé joined Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after Barcelona agreed to a transfer deal worth 50.4 million euros ($55.2 million) for the explosive winger.Dembélé’s arrival to PSG on a five-year contract comes amid speculation that Neymar could be on his way out. The French powerhouse also faces uncertainty over the future of Kylian Mbappé.The 26-year-old Dembélé, born in Vernon outside Paris, came up through the Rennais youth academy. He played the 2016-17 season with Borussia Dortmund before he moved to Spain.Dembélé joined Barcelona in 2017 on a then club-record transfer from Dortmund that with variables was set to reach 147 million euros (then $173 million) as the club sought a young talent after the unwanted exit of Neymar — to PSG.After suffering serious injuries early in his stay at Barcelona, Dembélé consolidated himself as one of its most irreplaceable players thanks to his speed and playmaking. He renewed his contract la...