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On Monday I got a call about Dr Yang Hengjun’s worsening health and the latest humiliating mistreatment of him in prison. We hoped that it would be raised at the Xi-Albanese meeting early Tuesday morning Australian time. Given last week’s odd praise for PM Albanese by the state-owned outlet China Daily, we had to make sure there was no fear of loss of face by bringing up something contentious, and which highlighted our differences. It was out of character for China Daily to praise a Western leader, and sweet talk from the government mouthpiece should make one suspicious. Was it a sophisticated insult ("high-class tar" as Chinese slang goes) to divide and conquer our political landscape, or to soften Australia into giving up something at the G20 summit? We hope our prime minister leveraged China’s "goodwill" to press hard on helping Dr Yang. As someone who was locked up in the same place as Dr Yang, I know the weight of each word that comes out of incarceration, especially regarding hunger, health, deprivation. The words of suffering are distilled and compressed, and sometimes it feels like throwing stones into a valley and hoping for a small echo. As someone who also had no voice and was helped by journalists, media outlets, politicians and ordinary people, I am duty-bound to speak up for Dr Yang. In his July 21 letter to family obtained and translated by Sky News Australia, Dr Yang tells of his difficult transition to jail life - saying he still prefers the scorching sun to the "comfort" of air-conditioned detention. It is heartbreaking to read that "in February 2024, when I was taken to the Beijing Intermediate Court for sentencing, both my experience and the judgment of experienced lawyers indicated that I would be sentenced to at most five years". "But the result was (suspended) death sentence with reprieve. When I returned to the detention centre, I told my cellmates, and they thought I was joking, but I just walked around for two hours without reading a book, which convinced them," the letter continues. "Because for the past five years, unless I was following the rules (sitting on the wooden plank bed and doing nothing else) or eating or exercising, I had never spent ten minutes without reading." When the footage of China bundling British journalists away from the Starmer-Xi meeting at the G20 summit came out this week, I had a sense of déjà vu. Just like when I was blocked from the cameras during Chinese premier Li Qiang’s visit. It's that same disregard of journalists as if swatting flies away, the same indifference to how it looks in the world media, because none of this will show up in the alternate universe created by the Great Firewall of China. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong democracy sentencings also hit close to home. My friend Kevin Yam, who has a $1 million HK dollar bounty on his head, laments that it could just as well be him behind bars instead of the others. Gordon Ng, an Australian citizen, who went to Waverley Secondary and then UNSW, was sentenced to seven years and three months for helping to publicise Hong Kong's primary elections, for believing in free and fair elections to counterbalance tyranny. Would he be forgotten by the Australian government because he has dual citizenship? Forgotten by the Australian people because he doesn't have an ocker personality? If we are to balance Australia’s interests with our values, we should fairly and openly call out behaviours breaching our standards just as often as we talk up our trading relationship with China – or can we? Are our values worth $320 billion? While Xi told Biden on November 16 about the uncrossable four red lines – "the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, China’s path and system, China’s development right", there were more random hate crimes out of China. Another car ramming – this time at a primary school in Hunan, coming on top of last week’s horrific rampage at a sports centre in Zhuhai. Plus a disgruntled tech school graduate stabbing fellow students in Jiangsu province. It adds to a tragic list and has come to be known as the "Xianzhong" phenomenon, in reference to a Ming dynasty. The nightmarish footage of blood being pressure-hosed in Zhuhai reminded me of a recent seminar I went to. Wang Dan, 1989 Tiananmen protest leader, spoke on China’s current mood, and pointed to a song called ‘Big Dream’ which had gone viral in China for capturing the zeitgeist. It is a melancholic song that goes through a Chinese person’s life from the age of 6 to 88 - the refrain "so what do I do?" echoing the helplessness and desperation many feel in the face of unemployment, lack of housing, difficulty in finding a partner and unaffordable healthcare. So far the song hasn’t been censored because it doesn’t openly criticise the regime, but the title does cock an ironic brow at president Xi’s "China Dream". Given the strains of government finances, the faint drummings of war (both military and trade), a decidedly challenging future with an ageing population and underfunded social welfare, state controls have become tighter on expression of simmering discontent, even at the risk of ruptures that we are seeing. On Saturday I took my kids to see a performance at the Melbourne Arts Centre called 'Made in China 2.0', it is brilliant, moving, entertaining and thought-provoking. But the creator, who is Chinese, asked everyone not to share online what the show is about – because what has happened to me may happen to him. The next day I met him and exiled Chinese writer Murong Xuecun. Our discussion turned to "How to prepare for Chinese incarceration" which entails everything from fattening up to having multiple copies of signed power of attorney for human rights lawyers and drafted statements to be released at each stage of the judicial process. It is darkly funny but also a serious necessity for anyone critical of the Chinese regime in China. For those of us who don’t have to fear incarceration, if we don’t speak up, we are wasting our freedom of speech.Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns. Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber returning to Cleveland Guardians on 1-year deal, AP source says CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that right-hander Shane Bieber is returning to the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts and undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions, but will be back after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner made just starts in 2024 before having the surgery on his troublesome elbow that bothered him the previous campaign. The 29-year-old Bieber has spent all seven big-league seasons with Cleveland. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again. Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler used a big run of birdies to take a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Scheffler had seven birdies on the front nine for a 29. The world No. 1 added one birdie on the back nine to lead by two over Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. Scheffler found no need to apologize for only one birdie on the back nine. He says it simply was a matter of the ball being a little closer to the hole and a few more putts going in. Scheffler already has eight victories this year, including Olympic gold. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football’s most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia’s pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm. The Big Ten and SEC are set to gobble up CFP bids. That could squeeze the ACC and other leagues The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences are set to gobble up the majority of the bids to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. That could squeeze the Atlantic Coast Conference and other leagues trying to maintain their footing. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told The Associated Press he wants clarity on the process that put two-loss Miami behind three-loss Alabama in the latest rankings. Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she wouldn't support future changes for guaranteed numbers of bids to power conferences. The Mountain West is set to have its champion in the playoff as a Group of Five winner. NFL's next coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates: Analysis The next NFL coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of recognizable names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen, Bills OC Joe Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore are among a lengthy list of young offensive-minded coaches who will garner plenty of interest.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. “In life, all good things come to an end,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. Late in the first half, Indiana punter James Evans fumbled a snap and was buried at his own 7-yardline with the Buckeyes taking over. That turned quickly into a 4-yard TD run by Henderson that gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead. Early in the second half, Caleb Downs fielded an Evans punt at the Ohio State 21, raced down the right sideline, cut to the middle and outran the coverage for a TD that put the Buckeyes up 21-7. It was the first time a Buckeye returned a punt for a touchdown since 2014. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. “Our guys just played with a chip today, and that’s the way you got to play the game of football,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Indiana scored on its first possession of the game and its last, both short runs by Ty Son Lawson, who paced the Hoosiers with 79 rushing yards. Rourke was 8 for 18 for 68 yards. “We had communication errors, pass (protection), every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened," Cignetti said. Indiana's 151 total yards was its lowest of the season. And it was the most points surrendered by the Hoosier's defense. Indiana: Its special season was blemished by the Buckeyes, who beat the Hoosiers for the 30th straight time. Indiana was eyeing its first conference crown since sharing one with two other teams in 1967. That won't happen now. “Ohio State deserved to win,” Cignetti said. “They had those (third quarter scores), and we just couldn’t respond.” Ohio State: Didn't waste the opportunities presented by the Hoosiers when they got sloppy. The Buckeyes led 14-7 at the break and took control in the second half. An offensive line patched together because of multiple injuries performed surprisingly well. “We know what was at stake," Day said. “We don't win this game, and we have no chance to go to Indianapolis and play in the Big Ten championship. And that's real. We've had that approach for the last few weeks now, more than that.” Some voters were obviously unsure of Indiana because it hadn't played a nationally ranked team before Ohio State. After this one, the Hoosiers will drop. Howard made history by completing 80% of his passes for the sixth time this season. No other Ohio State quarterback has done that. He completed his first 14 passes in a row and finished with a 85% completion rate. “I think Buckeye nation is now seeing, after 11 games, that this guy is a winner, he's tough, he cares about his teammates, he's a leader,” Day said. Indiana hosts Purdue in the regular-season finale next Saturday. Ohio State hosts rival Michigan on Saturday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballMaking 2024 count economically
Niger Pilgrims Welfare Board commences 2023 Hajj refund disbursement
Syracuse Orange wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. (82) runs down the sideline as the Syracuse Orange clashed with the University of Connecticut Huskies at JMA Wireless Dome Saturday, November 23, 2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Kenny Lacy Jr. | KLacyJr@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse sophomore receiver Darrell Gill Jr. entered Saturday’s game against UConn with 17 catches and 235 receiving yards this season, including a game with no catches in last week’s win over Cal. On the first play from scrimmage, Gill Jr. nearly matched his career high and kept going from there. More Orange Football What was attendance for Syracuse-UConn football? It marked a season low Fran Brown calls out ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ to come for Syracuse-Miami game: ‘No better place to be’ Syracuse football handles UConn. Now it can spoil Miami’s season (Axe’s quick takes) Syracuse football box score vs. UConn Kyle McCord keeps setting records as Syracuse football dispatches stubborn Huskies
Wright runs for 118 yards and 2 TDs, No. 13 Illinois State gets 1st win over North Dakota, 35-13