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Bridge: July 28, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

I saw Cy the Cynic in the club lounge, sitting at a far-corner table. He looked glum.“Minnie’s glasses got him again,” Rose told me. “Don’t let Cy fool you. Minnie is 82, and deep down, he admires her.”Minnie Bottoms, our senior member, wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. Cy has been Minnie’s chief victim. He declared today’s 3NT in a duplicate, and West led a low heart.“Minnie was East,” Rose said, “and played the jack! Cy took his king and led the ten of diamonds — and Minnie said it was her lead.”“She thought her jack had been the king,” I smiled.SECOND HEART“Cy let the ten ride,” Rose said. “Minnie won and led the ace and another heart, and down the Cynic went. He should have led the jack of diamonds; it might have won the trick!”Minnie’s play was correct; Cy needed the king of hearts to have 16 points ...

Sinema Bill on Firefighter Pay Is “Slap in the Face” to Workers Battling Blazes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

At the height of fire season and amid record shattering temperatures, a bipartisan group of senators led by Kyrsten Sinema, I-Az., has framed a new bill related to firefighter pay as a boon for the wildland workforce. In reality, the bill would result in a major pay cut to federal firefighters who saw their wages increase under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill. The 2021 law included a temporary but significant increase in firefighters’ take-home pay: 50 percent or $20,000, depending on a worker’s pay grade. That boost is set to lapse in September, and lawmakers have introduced the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to soften the blow. The bill would split the difference between the pay wildland firefighters received prior to 2021 and their increased wages of the last two years. There are tens of thousands of federal firefighters spread across the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Nati...

Meet the Man Driving the Right’s Culture War Panic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

The Republican Party’s full embrace of the culture war as a political tactic — from drag queen story hour to critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives — has been chiefly guided by activist and polemicist Christopher Rufo, author of the new book “America’s Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything.” But is the effort fundamentally nihilistic? And is it overly obsessed with sex while claiming to uncover pedophiles everywhere in our midst? This week on Deconstructed, Rufo joins Ryan Grim to defend his approach and his philosophy.Transcript coming soon.The post Meet the Man Driving the Right’s Culture War Panic appeared first on The Intercept.

UEFA says Italy and Turkey have teamed up for bid to co-host 2032 European Championship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Italy and Turkey have asked to co-host soccer’s 2032 European Championship for which they are the only bidders, UEFA said Friday.The two soccer federations were competing in the bidding contest that is scheduled for an Oct. 10 vote by UEFA executive committee members.UEFA said it will now work with the two federations to ensure their joint bid meets all the requirements for the 24-team tournament.Turkey is also bidding to host the 2028 edition though that has long been expected to go to the joint bid by the four United Kingdom federations and Ireland.Both hosting awards are due to be made on Oct. 10.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Walsh’s injury against Denmark could further deplete England’s Women’s World Cup roster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — European champion England lost another key player to injury in its match Friday against Denmark at the Women’s World Cup.Midfielder Keira Walsh, playing in her second Women’s World Cup, went down in the 35th minute while the Lionesses led 1-0 at halftime after an early goal by Lauren James. Walsh held her right leg and was carried off the field on a stretcher.Walsh won player of the match honors in the 2022 Euros final, which England won 2-1 over Germany.Injuries were a concern for England entering the tournament. Beth Mead, who won the Golden Boot at the 2022 Euros, suffered an ACL injury when playing for Arsenal in December. Leah Williamson, also playing for Arsenal, tore an ACL during a match in April, causing her to miss the Women’s World Cup as well.___Anna Ruth Riggins is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.—-AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Chevron: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Chevron Corp. (CVX) on Friday reported second-quarter profit of $6.01 billion.The San Ramon, California-based company said it had profit of $3.20 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were $3.08 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations, but Chevron does not adjust its reported results based on one-time events such as asset sales. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.95 per share.The oil company posted revenue of $48.9 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $51.42 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CVX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CVXSource

Carter’s: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — ATLANTA (AP) — Carter’s Inc. (CRI) on Friday reported second-quarter earnings of $23.9 million.The Atlanta-based company said it had profit of 64 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 51 cents per share.The maker of children’s apparel and accessories posted revenue of $600.2 million in the period.For the current quarter ending in September, Carter’s expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.45 to $1.55.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $770 million to $790 million for the fiscal third quarter.Carter’s expects full-year earnings in the range of $5.95 to $6.15 per share, with revenue ranging from $2.95 billion to $3 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CRI at https://www.z...

Wendie Renard questionable ahead of France’s important Women’s World Cup match against Brazil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — France star Wendie Renard was injured in her first appearance of this Women’s World Cup and her status is now in question for an important match against Brazil. Renard was injured during France’s underwhelming 0-0 draw against Jamaica, and although she played the entire 90 minutes in the opener, she was believed to be hurt in second-half stoppage time in a tackle that earned Khadija Shaw a second yellow card of the game. The France captain trained with her squad ahead of Saturday’s match in Brisbane, but if she can’t play, Les Bleues could be in big trouble in Group F. “Our hope is that everything goes well because we need her,” France coach Herve Renard said Friday night. “We are not sure tonight 100%. Our trainings are quite intense and we will have to see how things happen once we face the match.”Brazil romped to a 4-0 win over Panama in its opener behind a hat trick from Ary Borges and are holding strong as the group leaders. ...

Aon: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — DUBLIN (AP) — Aon PLC (AON) on Friday reported second-quarter profit of $560 million.The Dublin-based company said it had net income of $2.71 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $2.76 per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.82 per share.The insurance brokerage posted revenue of $3.18 billion in the period, topping Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.16 billion.Aon shares have risen 12% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P’s 500 index has climbed 18%. The stock has climbed 18% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AON at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AONSource

ArcBest: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:22 GMT

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — ArcBest Corp. (ARCB) on Friday reported second-quarter earnings of $40.4 million.On a per-share basis, the Fort Smith, Arkansas-based company said it had net income of $1.64. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains and to account for discontinued operations, came to $1.54 per share.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.05 per share.The freight transportation and logistics company posted revenue of $1.1 billion in the period, also missing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.11 billion.ArcBest shares have increased 70% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 45% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ARCB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ARCBSource