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Chinese SARS whistleblower Jiang Yanyong dies at 91

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Jiang Yanyong, a Chinese military doctor who revealed the full extent of the 2003 SARS outbreak and was later placed under house arrest for his political outspokenness, has died, a long-time acquaintance and a Hong Kong newspaper said Tuesday. Jiang was 91 and died of pneumonia Saturday in Beijing, according to human rights activist Hu Jia and the South China Morning Post. News of Jiang’s death and even his name were censored within China, underscoring how he remained a politically sensitive figure even late in life. Jiang had been chief surgeon at the People’s Liberation Army’s main 301 hospital in Beijing when the army fought its way through the city to end weeks of student-led pro-democracy protests centered on Tiananmen Square, causing the deaths of hundreds — possibly thousands — of civilians. In April 2003, as the ruling Communist Party was suppressing news about the outbreak of the highly contagious Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Jiang wrote an 800-wo...

Netanyahu allies push on with bill to weaken Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament on Tuesday advanced a bill that would let lawmakers pass laws that the Supreme Court cannot overturn — a key piece of legislation in Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies’ proposed judicial overhaul that has divided the country. Netanyahu’s governing coalition of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties has pressed ahead with its legislative blitz despite calls for compromise and demonstrations that have drawn tens of thousands of Israelis to the streets over the past two months. In an overnight session that stretched into early morning, the Knesset gave initial approval to several pieces of legislation, including a bill protecting the prime minister from being declared unfit for office, or incapacitated, and another to allow settlements in the northern West Bank. A third piece of legislation that was approved would let parliament pass laws impervious to judicial review, with a simple majority of 61 members in Israel’s 120-...

Japan, S. Korea summit must overcome history to renew ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — South Korean and Japanese leaders will meet in Tokyo this week, hoping to resume regular visits after a gap of over a decade and overcome resentments that date back more than 100 years. The two major Asian economies and U.S. allies have long hoped to cooperate on shared security concerns about China and North Korea, but previous rounds of diplomacy have foundered on unresolved issues from Japan’s 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula. Seoul has offered Tokyo concessions on South Korean demands for compensation over wartime forced labor, but it remains to be seen whether the South Korean public will accept reconciliation.The AP explains what’s kept the two neighbors apart, what they’re expected to talk about, and why it matters for the region.WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?Japan effectively colonized the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945, in a regime that imposed Japanese names and language on Koreans and conscripted many into forced labor or forced prostituti...

New York and Washington, DC: MEPs attended UN CSW and discussed women’s rights 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

On 6-9 March, a delegation of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women and held meetings in Washington, DC on women’s rights.Led by the Chair Robert Biedroń, the delegation attended the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and held bilateral meetings with representatives of the UN, the EU, member states and civil society on 6-8 March 2023 in New York.The CSW67 focusses this year on innovation, technological change and on education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. The delegation then travelled to Washington, D.C., where MEPs held meetings with representatives of the US administration, the US Congress and civil society on women’s rights on 9 March 2023.Subjects that were touched upon during all of the delegation’s meetings in the US were:The priority theme of the CSW67: participation of women in the digital economy, development of artificial i...

Single family residence sells in San Ramon for $1.7 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

771 Pradera Way – Google Street ViewA 2,337-square-foot house built in 1999 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 700 block of Pradera Way in San Ramon was sold on Feb. 17, 2023. The $1,700,000 purchase price works out to $727 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, three baths, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 7,014-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Pradera Way, San Ramon, in July 2022, a 2,715-square-foot home was sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $773. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,382-square-foot home on the 500 block of Estancia Court in San Ramon sold in September 2022 for $2,088,000, a price per square foot of $877. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 2,106-square-foot home on Claremont Crest Way in San Ramon sold for $1,669,500, a price per square foot of $793. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Wisconsin squares off against Bradley in NIT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

Bradley Braves (25-9, 16-4 MVC) at Wisconsin Badgers (17-14, 9-11 Big Ten)Madison, Wisconsin; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Wisconsin Badgers take on the Bradley Braves in the National Invitation Tournament.The Badgers’ record in Big Ten games is 9-11, and their record is 8-3 in non-conference games. Wisconsin is 5-6 in games decided by less than 4 points.The Braves are 16-4 in MVC play. Bradley scores 70.9 points and has outscored opponents by 8.7 points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Chucky Hepburn is averaging 12 points and 1.5 steals for the Badgers. Connor Essegian is averaging 14.2 points over the last 10 games for Wisconsin.Duke Deen is averaging 9.6 points for the Braves. Rienk Mast is averaging 14 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games for Bradley.LAST 10 GAMES: Badgers: 4-6, averaging 64.7 points, 29.4 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 4.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.2 points per g...

Arizona State takes on Nevada in First 4 matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

Nevada Wolf Pack (22-10, 12-6 MWC) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (22-12, 11-9 Pac-12)Dayton, Ohio; Wednesday, 9:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Arizona State -2; over/under is 133.5BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona State Sun Devils play the Nevada Wolf Pack in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament.The Sun Devils are 11-9 against Pac-12 opponents and 11-3 in non-conference play. Arizona State has a 4-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.The Wolf Pack are 12-6 against MWC opponents. Nevada ranks seventh in the MWC with 30.8 rebounds per game led by Darrion Williams averaging 7.3.TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Cambridge is scoring 13.7 points per game and averaging 3.5 rebounds for the Sun Devils. DJ Horne is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Arizona State.Kenan Blackshear is averaging 14.4 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Wolf Pack. Jarod Lucas is averaging 18.0 points over the last 10 games for Nevada.LAST 10 GAMES: Sun Devils: 6-4, averaging 67....

Liberty and Villanova play in NIT matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

Villanova Wildcats (17-16, 10-10 Big East) at Liberty Flames (26-8, 15-3 ASUN)Lynchburg, Virginia; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Liberty Flames square off against the Villanova Wildcats in the National Invitation Tournament.The Flames have gone 15-3 against ASUN opponents, with an 11-5 record in non-conference play. Liberty ranks eighth in the ASUN in rebounding averaging 30.8 rebounds. Blake Preston paces the Flames with 5.2 boards.The Wildcats are 10-10 against Big East teams. Villanova ranks ninth in the Big East with 29.0 rebounds per game led by Eric Dixon averaging 6.4.TOP PERFORMERS: Preston is averaging 6.9 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Flames. Darius McGhee is averaging 26.3 points over the last 10 games for Liberty.Dixon is averaging 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Wildcats. Justin Moore is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Villanova.LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 7-3, averaging 75.6 points, 31.4 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.5 blocks...

Mississippi State Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Panthers play in the First 4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

Pittsburgh Panthers (22-11, 14-6 ACC) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12, 8-10 SEC)Dayton, Ohio; Tuesday, 9:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mississippi State -2.5; over/under is 132.5BOTTOM LINE: The Mississippi State Bulldogs play the Pittsburgh Panthers in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament.The Bulldogs are 8-10 against SEC opponents and 13-2 in non-conference play. Mississippi State scores 65.9 points and has outscored opponents by 4.9 points per game.The Panthers are 14-6 in ACC play. Pittsburgh is fourth in the ACC with 24.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Blake Hinson averaging 4.7.TOP PERFORMERS: Dashawn Davis is averaging 8.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals for the Bulldogs. Tolu Smith is averaging 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 56.4% over the past 10 games for Mississippi State.Nelly Cummings is averaging 11 points and 4.8 assists for the Panthers. Hinson is averaging 15.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.LAST...

Sam Houston, Santa Clara play in NIT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:53 GMT

Santa Clara Broncos (23-9, 11-5 WCC) vs. Sam Houston Bearkats (25-7, 14-4 WAC)Santa Clara, California; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Sam Houston Bearkats and Santa Clara Broncos play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Bearkats are 14-4 against WAC opponents and 11-3 in non-conference play. Sam Houston is ninth in the WAC scoring 73.2 points while shooting 45.9% from the field.The Broncos are 11-5 in WCC play. Santa Clara is the WCC leader with 26.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Brandin Podziemski averaging 7.0.TOP PERFORMERS: Qua Grant is shooting 42.9% and averaging 14.0 points for the Bearkats. Donte Powers is averaging 12.1 points over the last 10 games for Sam Houston.Podziemski is averaging 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the Broncos. Carlos Stewart is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games for Santa Clara.LAST 10 GAMES: Bearkats: 8-2, averaging 66.0 points, 33.3 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 6.8 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while...