April 30, 2005

The Philadelphia Eagles opened their first minicamp since the Super Bowl on Friday, but several familiar faces were missing, as was the harmony that helped the team reach the N.F.L. championship game for the first time in 24 years. Discord was plainly evident in the absence of wide receivers Terrell Owens and Freddie Mitchell, and in the rebuke that quarterback Donovan McNabb issued without naming them.

It has been a monthlong hurdle for the Mets as they have tried to overcome the injuries to their pitching rotation. So when they receive a solid performance from one of their fill-in starters, it would be helpful if they could rescue him with some clutch hits. But the Mets stumbled all over scoring chances here Friday night in a 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. They were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base to ruin the hopes of the starting pitcher Jae Seo (1-1).

The Bush administration has been pressing the Chinese government for years to allow its currency, which is pegged to the dollar, to trade more freely. It got its wish on Friday -- but only for 20 minutes. A freely trading Chinese yuan would probably rise in value against the dollar, making Chinese exports to the United States more costly. That, in turn, would give relief to American manufacturers battered by low-priced Chinese goods as the American trade deficit has been growing faster with China than with any other country. It would also be a political victory for the Bush administration.

LAST night's guests at the Plaza will check out by this afternoon, and that will be that. The storied hotel of Beatles and kings will close in keeping with the desires of its new owner, who plans to reopen it many months from now as a place that will still be the Plaza, only not quite. But if you are a maid or a doorman or a waiter, a Plaza Lite is preferable to a Plaza Gone, and cause for celebration, however bittersweet. And where better to celebrate than in the gold-trimmed Grand Ballroom, choosing from the buffet for a change, rather than stocking it.

When Ainur Tairova realized she was on her way to her wedding, she started choking the driver. Her marriage was intended to be to a man she had met only the day before, and briefly at that. Several of his friends had duped her into getting into a car; they picked up the would-be groom and then headed for his home.