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South Korea to restore Japan’s trade status to improve ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday his government will move to restore Japan’s preferential trade status as he pushes to resolve history and trade disputes with Japan despite domestic opposition.In lengthy, televised comments during a Cabinet Council meeting, Yoon defended his moves, saying that leaving ties with Japan as fraught as they are would be neglecting his duty because greater bilateral cooperation is vital to resolve diverse challenges facing Seoul.“I thought it would be like neglecting my duty as president if I had also incited hostile nationalism and anti-Japan sentiments to use them for domestic politics while leaving behind the current, grave international political situation,” Yoon said. He said the need to boost ties with Japan has grown because of North Korea’s advancing nuclear program, the intensifying U.S.-China strategic rivalry and global supply chain challenges. South Korea and Japan have deep economic and cultural ties...

Osborne scores career-high 36 to lead UCLA into Sweet 16

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charisma Osborne scored a career-high 36 points in her final game at Pauley Pavilion and fourth-seeded UCLA rallied in the fourth quarter after blowing an 18-point lead to defeat No. 5 seed Oklahoma 82-73 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Monday night.The Bruins, who had an 18-point lead in the second quarter, found themselves trailing 54-50 late in the third quarter before Osborne started the comeback. She drove the lane and hit a layup while being fouled by Beatrice Culliton. Osborne made the ensuing free throw to bring them within one.She had 13 points in the final 10 minutes as the Bruins (26-7) advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. UCLA regained control by going on a 6-1 run at the beginning of the fourth.Osborne was 11 of 21 from the field and made all 12 of her free throws. She also had eight rebounds and four assists.Kiki Rice added 14 points for the Bruins, who will face top-ranked South Carolina on Saturday in a Greenville 1 Re...

Dónde apreciar los cerezos en DC, Maryland y Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

¿Sabías que existe una palabra especial en japonés para describir la observación de las flores de cerezo? Es “hanami”, y no hay mejor manera de pasar el tiempo ahora mismo en DC. Los cerezos más famosos de Washington, DC a lo largo del Tidal Basin se acercan a la máxima floración, y puedes ver los árboles en el Distrito, Maryland y Virginia. Los cerezos han florecido temprano este año tras uno de los inviernos más templados registrados. El Servicio Nacional de Parques ha pronosticado que la floración máxima ocurra entre el 22 y 25 de marzo. Aquí te nombramos lugares donde puedes ver los árboles de cerezos en el DMV. Acuérdate de etiquetar a @telemundo44 en tus fotos en Instagram y Twitter. Los cherry blossoms comienzan última etapa antes de la floración máxima Anota en el calendario: los 11 días más importantes del Festival Nacional de los Cerezos en DC Metro incrementa viajes durante las horas...

McLean residents file lawsuit to stop Capital Beltway toll lane expansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

A group of McLean, Virginia, residents filed a lawsuit to stop the expansion of the toll lanes on the Capital Beltway in Virginia.Although the project to add two-and-a-half miles of express lanes from the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons past the George Washington Parkway is in its second year of construction, the Northern Virginia Citizens Association wants it stopped and has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Fairfax Now first reported the lawsuit.More Local NewsMore Virginia NewsMore Fairfax County NewsMembers of the citizen’s group said their properties near the project are being destroyed.“After they did the environmental assessment, (the Virginia Department of Transportation) and Transurban made massive changes to the project that dramatically increased the environmental impact,” Claudia O’Brien, with the citizen’s group, said. Transurban is the operator of the toll lanes.VDOT, in a statement to Fairfax Now, said it “places a...

Mexico considers World Baseball Classic a win despite loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Randy Arozarena dazzled with his bat, glove and style. It wasn’t enough for Mexico but won countless fans for his adopted nation and himself.Arozarena jumped at the 8 1/2-foot left field wall to rob Kazuma Okamoto of a home run and preserve a three-run lead, then sparked a two-run rally with a leadoff double in the eighth inning of Monday night’s World Baseball Classic semifinal.While Japan rallied for two runs in the ninth off Giovanny Gallegos for a thrilling 6-5 victory and a championship matchup against the United States, the Mexican team was proud of reaching the semifinals for the first time and raising the sport’s profile back home in a land where soccer is No. 1.“I think that they are not aware of what they have done for Mexico and for the Mexican boys and girls,” manager Benji Gil said. “These two weeks are going to attract so many young players in Mexico and also Mexicans that live abroad. For that reason, I believe that this was a victory, e...

EU seals deal to send Ukraine 1M ammo rounds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

The EU has reached a deal to send Ukraine 1 million rounds of ammunition within the next 12 months. The plan — seen by POLITICO — will see the EU both donate ammunition from its own stockpiles and also jointly purchase new shells for Ukraine. It also leaves open the possibility that the EU could help countries collectively buy missiles for Ukraine. And it sets a goal to “jointly procure” these munitions “in the fastest way possible” before October. Diplomats and ministers finalized the strategy during meetings in Brussels on Sunday and Monday. EU leaders are expected to give their final blessing at a summit in Brussels later this week. The deal represents a landmark juncture for the EU, marking the first time the self-described peace project has plotted to jointly buy arms for a country at war. Officials have argued the EU must evolve to meet the extraordinary moment — no less than the fate of democracy on European soil is at stake, they insist.“A historic decision,” ...

Justin Verlander walks six in fourth spring training start against Nationals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

Justin Verlander struggled in his fourth Grapefruit League start, walking six in Monday’s 3-2 loss against the Washington Nationals. The two-time World Series champion allowed two hits, two earned runs and struck out three in 4.2 innings of work.The right-hander, who has allowed only two runs in the previous 11.1 innings pitched, said he doesn’t want to “breeze through everything” during spring training but noted he needs to make adjustments after his most recent rough outing.“Got some work to do. It was a tough one,” he said.Manager Buck Showalter said postgame that the starter had a lot of “borderline pitches” and that “he’s where he needs to be physically.”LINDOR RETURNSShortstop Francisco Lindor returned to the Mets after Mexico eliminated Puerto Rico, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic last week.The star will start the season without fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Diaz, who underwent a season-endi...

Chicago Bulls finally get elusive win over Joel Embiid in a double-overtime thriller vs. the Philadelphia 76ers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

It took two overtimes, six fouls and a cacophony of defense. But after seven long seasons and 12 dismal losses, the Chicago Bulls finally shook off a lingering curse Monday night — beating Joel Embiid.The Bulls had a handful of wins over the 76ers in the nearly nine years since Philadelphia drafted Embiid with the No. 3 pick in 2014. But the Bulls never had accomplished the feat with Embiid on the court as he rose from a young talent out of Kansas to become one of the superstars of the sport.That changed Monday night — though it wasn’t the fault of Embiid, who managed 37 points against a raucous Bulls defense. And ultimately the Bulls had to get the 76ers star off the court again to collect their 109-105 win, clinching the result only after Embiid fouled out with 3:54 remaining in the second overtime.The ending came down to players who typically hold supporting roles. Derrick Jones Jr. swatted the potential tying shot out of James Harden’s hands, and Coby Whi...

US tells China not to overread likely Taiwan president visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is putting out the word in advance that an expected unofficial stopover in the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen would fall in line with recent precedent and should not be used as a pretext by Beijing to step up aggressive activity in the Taiwan Strait.In recent weeks, senior U.S. officials in Washington and Beijing have underscored to their Chinese counterparts that transit visits through the United States during broader international travel by the Taiwanese president have been routine in recent years, according to a senior administration official. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.In such visits in recent years, Tsai has met with members of Congress and the Taiwanese diaspora and has been welcomed by the chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S. government-run nonprofit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. Tsai transited through the United States six...

Garbage: In Paris streets, heaps of it become protest symbol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:40 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Garbage. Heaps, mounds and piles of it are growing daily — and in some places standing higher than a human being. A strike by Paris garbage collectors, which begins its 16th day on Tuesday, is taking a toll on the renowned aesthetics of the French capital, a veritable blight on the City of Light.“I prefer Chanel to the stink,” joked Vincent Salazar, a 62-year-old artistic consultant who lives in a tony Left Bank neighborhood. A pile of garbage sits at the corner of his building overlooking the Luxembourg Gardens.“I’ve seen rats,” he said.But like many nonchalant and strike-hardened Parisians, Salazar doesn’t mind.“I’m fortunate to live here, but I’m 200% behind these guys,” Salazar said. “They’re smelling it all day long,” he said, though “it” wasn’t precisely the word he used. “They should get early retirement.”He is among the majority of French who, polls show, oppose President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age by two years, from...