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Ask Amy: Readers should put “A Book on Every Bed”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Dear Readers: For the past 14 years, I have devoted one December column entirely to the idea of giving books to children on Christmas morning (or whatever wintertime holiday you celebrate).I was first inspired by a sweet story I read about historian David McCullough’s childhood, where he and his three brothers would wake up on Christmas morning to a wrapped book, left by Santa on the foot of their beds.I communicated with Mr. McCullough, and from his home in Massachusetts he confirmed the story and generously gave me permission to use his childhood tradition to encourage families to start their holiday by unwrapping a book — and reading together.That’s the origin story of “A Book on Every Bed,” and in the years I’ve published this appeal (to give books to children, and to start your holiday by reading together), it has grown into a literacy campaign. Schools, libraries, bookstores, churches and community centers have picked up this idea and are helping families to bring books ...

Editorial: Xcel says the new headquarters in RiNo will save money, but it still stings for ratepayers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Xcel’s big move to a fancy new building in the hot River North Arts District raised a few eyebrows on The Denver Post’s editorial board – ratepayers will be picking up the tab for rent in the building as it is one of the power company’s operating expenses.The new 220,000-square-foot building was described by its builder and owner in a quote put out by Xcel as “the next evolution of workplace that combines a creative and hospitality-driven customer experience with state-of-the-art amenities.”We met the claim that the move will save the company $2.5 million a year in operation costs with a healthy dose of skepticism.To Xcel’s credit, when we expressed our concern, the company’s president spent an hour with us discussing not only the decision to move the headquarters from its current location in Lower Downtown to RiNo but the company’s $15 billion plan to increase renewable energy, build transmission lines, and update Denver’s transmission infrastructure.Xcel president Robert Kenney ex...

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement on updating EU product liability rules for the digital age and circular economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today by the European Parliament and the Council to update and adapt the EU liability rules to new technologies, ensuring better protection for consumers and greater legal certainty for economic operators. The Product Liability Directive ensures that if a person suffers damage caused by a product, they can claim compensation from the manufacturer or another person that placed the product on the Single Market.This update of the current set of rules adapts them to digital products, like software and artificial intelligence systems. It does so by taking account of software updates and machine learning. Since products are increasingly complex, the agreement allows victims' burden of proof to be made lighter when they face excessive difficulties.Furthermore, considering that more and more products are manufactured outside the Union, the agreement ensures that victims always have an economic operator in the EU from whom to claim co...

Invest Cyprus secures WAIPA regional steering committee directorship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Invest Cyprus has successfully secured the directorship for the Eastern Europe region of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). The announcement was made during the 27th World Investment Conference held at the India International Convention and Expo Center in New Delhi from 11 to 14 December 2023.Invest Cyprus, represented by CEO Marios Tannousis, emerged successfully from the shortlisting process, reflecting the organisation's commitment to advancing the global agenda of sustainable development through strategic foreign direct investment (FDI) initiatives.The World Investment Conference, hosted by WAIPA, is a prestigious platform that brings together government officials, business leaders, and high-level representatives from investment promotion agencies (IPAs) worldwide. This year's conference focused on the theme "Empowering Investors: IPAs Pioneering Future Growth" and provided a unique opportunity for Invest Cyprus to showcase its dedication to fosterin...

Bridge: Dec. 18, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

I found Unlucky Louie in the club lounge, morosely assessing his credit card bill.“Judging by what my kids have on their Christmas want lists,” Louie told me, “they think this parenting gig pays really well.”Louie might handle his Christmas expenses if he did better in his penny games. When he was today’s South, he did well to open one heart; North would have raised a 1NT opening to 3NT. West led the jack of spades: queen, king, ace. Louie then led a trump to dummy’s king and back to his jack; he brightened up when the jack won.NINE TRICKSLouie next took the ace of trumps and started the diamonds, but his luck ran out when the suit broke 4-1. Louie took nine tricks.Good technique makes the game. Louie leads a diamond to dummy at Trick Two, returns a trump to his jack and cashes the ace. He then takes the ace of diamonds. As it happens, East has four diamonds as well as the queen of trumps, so Louie can take the queen of diamonds, ruff a diamond and return to the king of trumps to ta...

Man City gets Copenhagen and Napoli drawn against Barcelona in Champions League’s round of 16

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Manchester City got a kind draw for the round of 16 in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain’s opponent could have been much tougher, too.City will continue its title defense against Copenhagen, which is making its first appearance at this stage since 2011. The Danish champion qualified ahead of Manchester United in group play.Paris Saint-Germain wasn’t punished as hard as it could have been for finishing second in its group. The French champion, still without a Champions League title under its Qatari ownership and eliminated in the last 16 for the past two years, will face a Real Sociedad team playing in Europe’s top competition for the first time in a decade.The draw for the two-legged round of 16 was made Monday at UEFA’s headquarters, with the standout matchup being Napoli vs. Barcelona — two of the late Diego Maradona’s former clubs. Barcelona hasn’t advanced beyond the round of 16 since the 2019-20 season.Real Madrid, seeking a record-extending 15th...

DC region deals with flooding, slippery roads after overnight showers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Listen to WTOP for weather updates on the 8s.Heavy rains roared into the D.C. region Sunday night and continued into Monday morning, leaving behind slippery roads and flooding concerns as commuters hit the roads to start their work week. Here’s what you need to know. Here’s what you need to know, according to the National Weather Service:A flood warning is in effect through 7 a.m. for portions of Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Prince George’s and Howard counties in Maryland; D.C. and Culpeper, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Loudoun, Arlington and Stafford counties in Virginia.A wind advisory has been issued from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes the entirety of the District, Maryland and northern Virginia.Rain pushing along the East Coast is expected to continue impacting the D.C. metro area throughout the early Monday morning hours, with an inch to 1.5 inches of rain already on the ground, according to WTOP meteorologist Chad Merrill.11:19 PM Radar Update: A...

Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen aim to take unbeaten run into 2024. Record-breaker Kane is close behind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen team have already secured top spot in the Bundesliga for the winter break. Now they need one more good result to take their record unbeaten run into the new year, too.Even Harry Kane — on the best scoring run ever for a new Bundesliga arrival — hasn’t been able to get Bayern Munich into its usual top spot going into the three-week break. Leverkusen’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday was composed and clinical. In fact, the performance had everything that was missing from Bayern’s 5-1 loss to the same opponent the week before. Nigerian striker Victor Boniface was again the star for Leverkusen. He finished with a goal and an assist, and the other goal was scored by Jeremie Frimpong on the rebound from Boniface’s shot.“It’s been good, a big credit to the coach, the staff, all the players,” Boniface said of Leverkusen’s season so far. “Everyone is giving 100% to achieve somethin...

Aumenta la presión para reducir la guerra mientras el número de muertos en Gaza se acerca a 20,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

Lo que sabemos:Israel se enfrenta a una presión cada vez mayor en el país y en el extranjero por sus operaciones en Gaza mientras que el secretario de Defensa, Lloyd Austin, aterrizó este lunes en Tel Aviv. Austin dijo que reiteraría el compromiso de Estados Unidos con Israel y al mismo tiempo subrayaría la necesidad de “proteger a los civiles de cualquier daño” en Gaza.Hay una creciente indignación dentro de Israel después de que se supo que el ejército del país mató por error a tres rehenes en Gaza. También han sido ampliamente condenadas las muertes a tiros de dos mujeres que se refugiaban en una iglesia católica después de que el ejército israelí irrumpiera en el recinto.La Organización Mundial de la Salud también dijo que estaba “horrorizada” por una incursión israelí en el hospital Kamal Adwan del norte de Gaza en los últimos días. El jefe de la OMS, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dijo que al menos ocho pacientes habían muerto, incluido un niño de nueve añ...

Draw list for the Champions League’s round of 16

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:58 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Draw made Monday for the Champions League’s round of 16 (matches to be played from Feb. 13-14):Porto (Portugal) vs. Arsenal (England)Napoli (Italy) vs. Barcelona (Spain)Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Real Sociedad (Spain)Inter Milan (Italy) vs. Atletico Madrid (Spain)PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) vs. Borussia Dortmund (Germany)Lazio (Italy) vs. Bayern Munich (Germany)Copenhagen (Denmark) vs. Manchester City (England)Leipzig (Germany) vs. Real Madrid (Spain)___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource