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super ace by jili Paraguay on Thursday kicked out a Chinese envoy for allegedly interfering in its domestic affairs and urging the South American nation to break off ties and long friendship with Taiwan. The Chinese diplomat was given 24 hours to leave the country. In a curt statement, Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had revoked the visa of Xu Wei, a senior Chinese envoy to Latin America who was in Paraguay for an annual UNESCO meeting , declaring him persona non grata “over interference in internal affairs.” The day before, Xu skipped the UNESCO session and instead turned up at Congress in Paraguay’s capital of Asunción, where he caused a diplomatic stir by calling on Paraguay to ditch Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island of 23 million people that China claims as its territory. Paraguay is the only nation in South America and one of just 12 worldwide that recognizes Taiwan as a country. The Paraguayan government has stayed firm in its commitment — even as Beijing ramps up its lobbying of foreign counterparts to stop recognizing the island. In recent years, four countries in Latin America — Honduras, Panama, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador — cut ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing, whose one-China principle forces countries to choose between having full diplomatic relations with China or Taiwan. From the halls of the futuristic Congress building in Asunción that Taiwan helped fund, Xu stressed Beijing’s interest in establishing relations with Paraguay, but said the onus was on officials in Paraguay to make the first move. “It is either China or Taiwan,” he said. “I recommend that the government of Paraguay make a correct decision as soon as possible.” Addressing lawmakers, Xu dangled the prospect of expanded trade with Beijing among “thousands of other advantages.” Some members of the Paraguayan Congress, citing farmers’ struggles to export soybeans and beef to China, have argued that the nation stands to benefit from a diplomatic flip in the long run. China’s trade with South America has grown exponentially in recent years , reaching nearly $500 billion as of 2023, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. On Wednesday, the Taiwanese Embassy in Paraguay lashed out at China on social media platform X, calling Xu an “infiltrator” who seeks “to undermine the firm friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan” that dates back to 1957. CNN has reached out to China’s US embassy and UN mission for comment.AP Business SummaryBrief at 5:25 p.m. ESTSouth Link Productions studio manager Nick Roughan shows off some of the production equipment given to the South Link Education Trust by former building occupant NHNZ. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON An act of generosity is ensuring a building used for documentary and film production for more than a decade will continue to be a home for creativity in Dunedin. Tim Scott reports on a community recording studio rising from the ashes of NHNZ. Maybe it sounded too good to be true, perhaps even a bit dodgy. But after more than six months of convincing, Nick Roughan says the word started to get through. From a meditation therapist with singing bowls to a song about a strange young man finding a portal to hell in Kaitangata, about 25 bands and solo artists are using the facilities to record their work at present, the studio manager at South Link Productions — a community recording studio in Melville St — says. "Now I don’t have any time to do promotion because I spend all my time working in the studio." And it would not have been possible without NHNZ Worldwide, he said. The Emmy award-winning production company, formerly known as Natural History New Zealand, confirmed recently post-production was moving to Auckland, marking the first time since its inception more than 40 years ago it will not have a physical presence in Dunedin. The South Link Education Trust — a registered charitable trust with a focus on healthcare and education — took possession of its former Melville St premises in May 2021, before moving in later that year. NHNZ had occupied the building since 2009, and while it has now left for good, it left behind some of its digital audio equipment. South Link Education Trust board chairman Murray Tilyard said NHNZ had left the equipment at Melville St when moving premises, and decided to give it to the trust now it was leaving Dunedin. This act of generosity by NHNZ was "superb" as the cost to install all of that technology today would have been "phenomenal". It was hard to quantify the potential impact the community studio could have, but he saw the excitement and joy on everyone’s face, Prof Tilyard said. "The generosity of Natural History and the work they did in fitting out all of Melville St, but particularly the sound suites, will definitely live on. "In some ways, I hope that we are part of the next generation of the Dunedin muso scene." When he first set foot inside the facilities, there were only two mic lines leading into the recording studio — not enough even to record a band with, Mr Roughan said. The facilities were built about 15 years ago and the technology NHNZ had donated, while not worth a great deal, still worked. The podcast suite at South Link Productions. "I don’t know whether people thought it was too good to be true or just thought ‘that’s dodgy’, or what. "It took a bit of encouragement but the word started to get through." The facilities were comprised of two editing suites, a recording studio and a podcast suite, and provided free recording time "to anybody who makes an application for it", Mr Roughan said. "The whole idea is to offer this facility to people that have an idea and want to give it a go. "I can help a little bit. I can’t do it for them, but I’ve been making records for 45 years maybe. "I kind of know how to go about it." Mr Roughan, who grew up in Palmerston North, said he had worked with big names such as Laurie Anderson, Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A custom one-knob, single-pickup Maton-branded guitar given to South Link Productions by Shihad frontman Jon Toogood. Mr Roughan said he planned to one day offer audio engineering training and electronic music courses through the studio, which were still in the works. Robert Scott, of The Clean and The Bats, was lined up for monthly mentoring and songwriting tutorials, as well as Jon Toogood, of Shihad, who gave the studio a couple of his guitars, he said. He was once a youngster playing in a band himself, and it used to be "virtually impossible" to produce a recording as the equipment was really expensive. Getting younger people into the studio taught them how to act appropriately, know what to expect and how to reasonably ask for something with confidence, as well as gain an understanding of sound engineering. "I have endorsements from half the music community in the country saying what a good idea this is and how it would have been great when they were young to have access to this sort of thing." Dunedin indie and alt-rock four-piece Pearly* — named after the Radiohead song — discovered South Link Productions after crossing paths with Francisca Griffin, of Look Blue Go Purple and Francisca Griffin and The Bus Shelter Boys, handing out promotional cards in the city centre. When he went to check out the studio and meet Mr Roughan, he was "just blown away", Pearly* guitarist and vocalist Joel Field said. "I was so surprised that I hadn’t heard about it before. "I told everyone that Nick seemed like a real cool guy and the studio was great. We went in and I think everyone else in the band was like, ‘oh, you weren’t kidding’." The band are now recording their debut album through South Link Productions, and some mixes have been sent to a United States record label. Field — who also plays guitar in Dale Kerrigan — said the first records they recorded by themselves were done in a house using mattresses. Dunedin musician Joel Field wields his guitar outside the former NHNZ building, now owned by the South Link Education Trust, in Melville St. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON The emerging music scene in Dunedin was at an "interesting point" at present, Field said. People were being hit pretty hard in the pocket and fewer people were going to gigs while they were strapped for cash. Being in a band was "a lot of work" and involved a lot of administration, organisation and bookings — on top of writing songs and practising. "Having Nick there as such a good, free and easy option definitely really takes the weight off. "You’re going to get a really good product from working with them ... There’s no money in this and it’s expensive, so it’s good to take what you can get." For bands who were wanting to start recording for the first time, they could not be doing it at a better place or with a better person than Mr Roughan, Field said. South Link Productions felt like the beginning of new start for music in Dunedin. "I think the scene is going to shift where the level of sound and the level of quality you can have on those debut records is just going to increase. "I think you’ll hear it — just the sound quality that you’re going to be able to get here. "I kind of wish I had a studio a couple years back." Mr Roughan said Dunedin was a really important place culturally to New Zealand. He cared about what happened to its music scene and the talent in the city was certainly there, he said. "The ethic of starting a band in Dunedin has always been there because that history is there and because people have seen the success of The Clean and The Bats and other bands from here, that it’s possible. "Those people blazed the trail and now it’s time to make sure that there’s a place for other people following, youngsters like these Pearly* guys and girls. "They have an opportunity here now that they wouldn’t have had." tim.scott@odt.co.nzJames nets late to earn Hereford Pegasus draw at Westfields

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Jim Leach, who represented Iowa in Congress for 30 years, has died at 82. Leach served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 2007, a tenure rivaled only by two other U.S. representatives in Iowa history. Only Iowans Neal Smith at 36 years and Gilbert Haugen 34 years served longer than Leach. Former Congressmen Jim Leach, R-Iowa, center, and Dave Loebsack, right, D-Iowa, talk about their support for Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, during a press conference at the MLK Interpretive Center Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Leach was born Oct. 15, 1942, in Davenport, Iowa. He was a Davenport High School wrestling standout, winning the state championship in 1960 at the 138-pound weight class. Jim Leach He graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1964 with a degree in political science and studied at Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics. With a master's in Russian studies, he enlisted in the U.S. Foreign Service. But in 1968, Leach resigned in protest of the "Saturday Night Massacre," President Richard Nixon's firing of Attorney General Eliot Richardson and Archibald Cox, the independent counsel investigating Watergate. Instead of going to Moscow, where he'd been assigned, Leach came home to Davenport and began working for his father's businesses. Leach first ran for office in 1974 to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Mezvinsky for Iowa's 1st Congressional District seat. Leach, who had no experience running for elected office, was defeated. Congressman Jim Leach and George H.W. Bush. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1986 (Photo by Brent Hanson/Quad-City Times) "I've always said it was the best race I ever ran," he told the Quad-City Times in a 2007 interview. He ran against Mezvinsky again two years later and won, launching his three-decade career in Congress. During that time, he chaired the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. He quickly became known as a moderate Republican. Leach was one of six House Republicans who voted against using force against Iraq in 2002. Former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, speaks Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, to members of the League of Women Voters at the Rogalski Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University, Davenport. A Congressional Quarterly study in 2005 found Leach voted with most members of his party against most Democrats at the lowest rate among House members at the time — 63%. In addition to his vote against invading Iraq, he admonished the Republican congressional campaign arm for sending flyers in the 2006 campaign targeting his opponent Dave Loebsack for his stance on gay marriage. His career in Congress ended with a 2006 loss to Loebsack in a Democratic wave across the country. James Estes, second from right, was among those at the opening of the Quad-City Times building in January 1990 because his company built it. Other dignitaries were, from left, Don Decker, Rejuvenate Davenport; Thom Hart, Davenport mayor; Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, and W. Stephen Burguss, Times publisher. Leach then taught at Princeton and Harvard before being appointed as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities by Barack Obama. In 2008, Leach broke with his party to endorse Obama for president. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of the future president. Christiana Bohannan, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress and former Congressman Jim Leach, R-Iowa, talk to each other before the start of a press conference Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 Ahead of the 2020 general election, Leach endorsed Joe Biden . Afterward, he criticized then-President Donald Trump in the wake of his denial of the 2020 election results and the events of Jan. 6, 2021. In 2022 said he had changed his party registration to Democrat for the first time in a further rebuke to his former party. He endorsed Christina Bohannan for Congress over Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “My own view is that there is no excuse whatsoever for an insurrection," Leach told the Quad-City Times in 2022. "And that we're in one of the most profound challenges to American democracy ever, excepting the Civil War." Former Congressmen Jim Leach, R-Iowa, center, and Dave Loebsack, right, D-Iowa, talk about their support for Christina Bohannan, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, during a press conference at the MLK Interpretive Center Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Ed Winborn wrestled with Leach in high school, and the two remained friends through life milestones and politics. His daughter babysat the Leaches' children while they were in D.C. and talked frequently. Jim Leach "He's just absolutely wonderful, extremely bright, very humble, just an all-around great guy," Winborn said. "And very honest. You know, people say politicians aren't honest. But Jim's just an extremely honest fella." Winborn hadn't thought about going into politics until Leach suggested it — Winborn went on to become the mayor of Davenport and a long-time Scott County Supervisor. An obituary for Leach posted by Lensing Funeral and Cremation Services said a celebration of life would be held in the spring. He is survived by his wife Elisabeth, two children and two grandchildren. Sad to hear of the passing of former Cong Jim Leach I served w him for many yrs & he was a friend He served the ppl of Iowa well Barbara & I are praying for his family Sad to hear of the passing of former Congressman Jim Leach, a true statesman who represented Iowa in Congress for 30 years and was known for his bipartisan efforts. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this time of loss. pic.twitter.com/ikajWEKpfT Deeply saddened to hear that Jim Leach passed away. He dedicated his life to serving Iowans & reaching across the aisle. My prayers are with his family during this time. Kevin and I are saddened to hear of the passing of long-time public servant Jim Leach. As a member of U.S. Congress for 30 years, Jim dedicated his life to serving his country and the state of Iowa. Our prayers are with Jim’s family. My statement on the passing of former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach: pic.twitter.com/Slltzput5h I am very saddened by the passing of Jim Leach. Jim served Iowa in Congress for 30 years. He was principled and thoughtful, so much so that he ran afoul of his own party leadership on several issues. Terry and I send our condolences to Deba and the rest of his family. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Davenport, Scott County, local politics {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Procter & Gamble “stays the course”, say Deutsche Bank, Jefferies analystsGEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Tyson Degenhart's 25 points helped Boise State defeat Hampton 83-69 at the Cayman Islands Classic on Sunday. Degenhart had five rebounds for the Broncos (4-1). O'Mar Stanley scored 13 points and added five rebounds. Andrew Meadow shot 2 for 7 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points, while adding six rebounds. The Pirates (2-4) were led in scoring by Noah Farrakhan, who finished with 23 points and four steals. Kyrese Mullen added 12 points and six rebounds for Hampton. George Beale also had 12 points. Boise State took the lead with 15:12 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 41-21 at halftime, with Degenhart racking up 10 points. Degenhart scored 15 points in the second half to help lead the way as Boise State went on to secure a victory, despite being outscored by Hampton in the second half by a six-point margin. NEXT UP These two teams both play Tuesday. Boise State hosts Utah Tech and Hampton hosts N.C. A&T. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tyler McGhie had 27 points in UC San Diego's 72-67 win against La Salle on Thursday. McGhie also added seven rebounds for the Tritons (3-2). Nordin Kapic scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds. Hayden Gray had 14 points and shot 4 for 8 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. The Explorers (4-1) were led by Corey McKeithan, who recorded 21 points. Jahlil White added 13 points and seven rebounds. The second half featured five lead changes and was tied five times before UC San Diego secured the victory. Kapic scored 13 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .