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Ask Amy: Cousin drama extends to guardianship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and his cousin, “Jerry,” are like brothers.Jerry and I got off on the wrong foot, because after agreeing to be best man at our very small wedding, he backed out because his sister — whom I had never met — hadn’t been invited.We quickly extended an invitation to the sister, but Jerry still refused to stand up at our wedding.My husband forgave Jerry and I let the matter go. We’ve seen him only a handful of times since, usually at family events.A few years ago, my husband was diagnosed with dementia, so we got our affairs in order.This included naming our oldest daughter as guardian of our youngest children if we should both die.My husband’s sister is second on the list and another of his cousins is third on the list. Both of them live near us and we spend a lot of time together.They have helped us to raise our children.Jerry recently found out about the arrangement and has now bad-mouthed me to the entire family for “shutting out” my husband’s “almost brothe...

European Commission approves new Geographical Indication from Ireland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

The European Commission approved the addition of 'Achill Island Sea Salt' to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO).‘Achill Island Sea Salt' is the name given to naturally harvested sea salt from the waters around Achill Island, Ireland's largest island located off the West coast of County Mayo. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its rural location, the waters around the island are not affected by large cities or heavy industries.‘Achill Island Sea Salt' contains no additives or preservatives and the production process allows for the retention of over 20 trace elements that are naturally present in the seawater. It is characteristic of its origin in taste and appearance, and affected by the purity of the seawater - which has been rated Grade A for shellfish quality by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority – as well as the mineral content and production process applied. Each member of staff is trained to ensure the correct texture, size and shape ...

Majestic 1927 Mediterranean on the waterfront 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

Welcome to this majestic, pristinely preserved and updated waterfront Mediterranean.This restored beauty is set on a circular court and graced with manicured grounds that border a lagoon. It is luxuriously expansive with exquisite architectural artistry circa 1927 throughout public rooms that flow to level, manicured grounds bordering a lagoon and extending to the home’s private dock.Five second-floor bedrooms, served by four full bathrooms, includes a lavish multi-chamber primary suite. Comprehensively updated, the copiously equipped kitchen and bathrooms befit the home’s provenance.Address: 720 Palmera Court, AlamedaList price: $3,850,000Showing by appointment only.Visit: 720Palmera.comAgent: Anthony Riggins, Sotheby’s International Realty 

Bridge: Dec. 1, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

“My uncle collects blunt pencils. I’m afraid his hobby strikes me as pointless.” — graffitiToday’s West led a diamond against four hearts. East took the K-A, South played the seven and queen. East then led a spade, and declarer won. He led the king of trumps to West’s ace, won the club return, drew trumps and claimed. Making four.What about the defense?East’s spade shift was pointless: If West had the king (or ace), he would always get it. East must focus on how the defense can win four tricks in all. His only real chance is to find West with the ace of trumps.THIRD TRUMPAt Trick Three, East must lead a third diamond, attacking South’s trump holding. If South ruffs in his hand and starts the trumps, West ducks twice. Then if South leads a third trump, West can win and lead a fourth diamond, forcing out dummy’s last trump.If instead South doesn’t lead a third trump and cashes his side-suit winners, West scores a ruff with hi...

Top world leaders talk of climate crisis at UN summit. They say they must act on fossil fuels, war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — International climate talks turned to a power game on Friday as dozens of world leaders took turns bemoaning the pain of an overheating planet, but two of the world’s most powerful men — President Joe Biden of the U.S. and China’s President Xi Jinping — were glaringly absent.Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a top oil producer, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, whose biggest cities are regularly choked under poor air, as well as Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey were among more than 170 world leaders set to address the United Nations climate conference in Dubai over the next two days. The idea is to try to keep the planet from heating too much because of humankind’s actions.In a fire-and-brimstone kicking off of Friday’s parade of VIPs, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, fresh from melting gla...

Live updates | Israel and Hamas trade blame for cease-fire’s end as combat resumes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

Israel resumed fighting in Gaza minutes after a temporary cease-fire deal ended, and accused Hamas of having violated the truce. Hamas blames Israel, saying it declined offers to free more hostages. Mediator Qatar said Friday that efforts are ongoing to renew an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and expressed “deep regret” over the resumption of Israeli bombardments.Over 100 hostages were freed during the seven-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage. The 240 Palestinians released under the cease-fire were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. The deal that began Nov. 24 ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to continue as long as possible. Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis. More th...

Bank of Montreal: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — TORONTO (AP) — Bank Of Montreal (BMO) on Friday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $1.19 billion.The bank, based in Toronto, said it had earnings of $1.52 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $2.07 per share.The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of $2.07 per share.The bank posted revenue of $14 billion in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $6.16 billion, which topped Street forecasts.For the year, the company reported profit of $3.24 billion, or $4.21 per share. Revenue was reported as $23.13 billion.Bank of Montreal shares have decreased 9% since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined 16% 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 BMO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BMOSource

Presto’s Picks: Conference championship edition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

College football, despite consistently delivering one of the best regular seasons in sports, never fails to let us down when it comes to the postseason process. And even though the playoff that yields four spots from five major conferences will expand next season, we get one more December Sunday of arguments and anguish.There are easily eight schools that could make their case for inclusion at this point, and that doesn’t include non-Power Five teams with gaudy records. Next year, they’ll triple the field to a dozen (I thought eight would be enough, but when four extra games of $$$ can be added why not?) and I hope the small conferences get some representation as opposed to a three-loss club that stuffed its schedule with FCS and non-Power Fives.Meanwhile, the coaching carousel has claimed James Madison’s Curt Cignetti. Good luck at Indiana, who even in the post-divisional world still faces a slew of programs who care a lot more about football than the Hoosiers eve...

Italy and Croatia are tough options as lower-seeded teams in Euro 2024 tournament draw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

Defending champion Italy and World Cup semifinalist Croatia are among the lower-seeded teams in Saturday’s draw for next year’s European Championship, a quirk created by the way UEFA decides the seedings for the tournament. While FIFA relies on its world rankings to help ensure no powerhouse team comes out of the lowest-ranked pot 4 in its World Cup draws, UEFA is basing its seedings for Euro 2024 solely on the teams’ results and points earned in qualifying for the tournament.So Italy — which finished second in its qualifying group and dropped plenty of points along the way — is in pot 4 alongside three playoff winners yet to be determined. Croatia and the Netherlands are both in pot 3 together with teams like Scotland and Slovenia, who rarely reach major tournaments. Host Germany and group winners are in pot 1 for the 24-team draw in Hamburg, which is held in a ceremony that starts at 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) on Saturday.The draw will have placeholders in pot ...

Warplanes hit targets in Gaza as Israel resumes its offensive and warns of attacks to come in south

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:03 GMT

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)(AP/Hatem Ali) Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)(AP/Hatem Ali) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli fighter jets hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a weeklong truce expired on Friday, as the war with Hamas resumed in full force. Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory, and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.In Israel, sirens...