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After US approval, Japan OKs its first Alzheimer’s drug. Leqembi was developed by Eisai and Biogen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s health ministry has approved Leqembi, a drug for Alzheimer’s disease that was jointly developed by Japanese and U.S. pharmaceutical companies. It’s the first drug for treatment of the disease in a country with a rapidly aging population.Developed by Japanese drugmaker Eisai Co. and U.S. biotechnology firm Biogen Inc., the drug’s approval in Japan comes two months after it was endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Leqembi is for patients with mild dementia and other symptoms in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and the first medicine that can modestly slow their cognitive decline.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced Japan’s approval of Leqembi on Monday, called it “a breakthrough” and said that the “treatment of dementia has now entered a new era.”Kishida has pledged to step up support for the growing number of dementia patients and their families and is due to launch a panel this week to discuss measures f...

After 4 months, Pakistan resumes issuing ID cards to transgender people, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani authorities resumed issuing ID cards to transgender people, officials and activists said Tuesday, after a four-month pause and following an Islamic court’s controversial ruling that gutted a law aimed at protecting trans rights.The national database and registry, or NADRA, halted the cards after an Islamic court ruled in May that trans people cannot change their gender at will and that giving them equal rights goes against Islam. The court said authorities should stop issuing cards with the X designation signifying a third gender that is neither male nor female. An ID card is needed to open a bank account, get a driver’s license, access medical care and other everyday services in Pakistan.The Islamic court has the constitutional mandate of examining and determining whether laws passed by Pakistan’s parliament comply with Islamic doctrine.Activist Farhatullah Babar told The Associated Press that human rights activists have appealed the courtR...

China’s top diplomat calls on US to host an APEC summit that is cooperative, not confrontational

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s foreign minister called on the U.S. on Tuesday to do what it can to host a cooperative meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in November, criticizing those who seek to play up a confrontation between democracy and authoritarianism.Wang Yi said the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November should promote cooperation rather than provoke confrontation, and said the U.S. should show fairness and inclusiveness to create better conditions for a smooth meeting.“We should … oppose advocating for ‘democracy versus authoritarianism’ and imposing our own values and models on others,” he said at the launch of a government report on its proposals for what it calls “a global community of shared future.”U.S. President Joe Biden has sought to create alliances and partnerships with other democratic countries to build a more unified response to China’s growing geopolitical influence. China is a one-party state that has been ruled by the Communi...

At least 20 dead in gas station explosion as Nagorno-Karabakh residents flee to Armenia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Separatist authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh said Tuesday that at least 20 people were killed and nearly 300 others injured by an explosion at a gas station as people seeking to flee to Armenia lined up for fuel. The breakaway region’s health department said that 13 bodies have been found and seven people have died of injuries suffered in the explosion at the gas station outside the regional capital of Stepanakert late Monday. It said that 290 people have been hospitalized and scores of them remain in grave condition.The explosion occurred as residents were lining up to get fuel for their cars in order to leave the region. Thousands of Nagorno-Karabakh residents are fleeing to Armenia after Azerbaijan’s swift military operation to fully reclaim the region after a three-decade separatist rule. The Azerbaijani military routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz last week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to lay down weapons and start talks on Nagorno-Ka...

German police raid locations across the country in connection with smuggling of Syrian migrants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Police in Germany found more than 100 Syrian citizens inside apartments and other buildings that were searched Tuesday in connection with the suspected smuggling of migrants, German news agency dpa reported. More than 350 German federal police officers searched locations as part of an investigation. The Syrians allegedly were brought into Germany without holding legal residency documents, dpa said. Police executed five arrest warrants, three in the northern town of Stade and two in the western town of Gladbeck. All five arrested people were Syrian asylum-seekers already living in Germany, the news agency said. The Syrian migrants had to pay them 3,000 to 7,000 euros ($3,170- 7,400) to be smuggled into Germany. The suspects then bought gold with the money, dpa said. The raids were ordered by federal police at Frankfurt airport on suspicion of gang and commercial smuggling of foreigners, the news agency reported.The focus of the raids was on cities and towns in northern ...

Pakistani raid on a militant hideout near Afghanistan leaves 3 militants dead, the military says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani troops raided a suspected militant hideout in a former Pakistani Taliban stronghold near the border with Afghanistan, triggering a shootout that killed three militants, the military said Tuesday.A militant commander was among those killed in the shootout late on Monday in Khyber, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a military statement. The military did not provide any additional details, saying only the targeted militants had attacked Pakistani troops in the past.The Pakistani Taliban — also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP — are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who two years ago seized Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban, who have stepped up attacks against police and troops. The Associated Press

Researchers have verified 1,329 hunger deaths in Ethiopia’s Tigray region since the cease-fire there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Researchers say they have verified 1,329 deaths from hunger in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region since a cease-fire ended a two-year conflict there in November.A study by local health authorities and Mekele University in the regional capital found that hunger is now the main cause of death in Tigray, accounting for more than 68% of deaths investigated by the researchers.The study is based on a household census conducted by health workers from August 15-29 in nine subdistricts of Tigray and 53 camps for internally displaced people.Tigray in total has 88 subdistricts and 643 displacement camps, so the number of hunger deaths across the region is almost certainly far higher.One factor is the suspension of food aid by the United States and United Nations after the discovery in March of a huge scheme to steal humanitarian grain in Tigray. The pause was extended to the rest of Ethiopia in June after the theft was found to be nationwide.Ethiopia’s government wants the...

Daily horoscope for September 26, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

Moon Alert: Caution! Avoid shopping or important decisions from 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. EDT today (5 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023:You’re a perfectionist, which is why you are persevering, goal-oriented and hardworking. You can amaze others with your accomplishments. This is a year of service, especially to family. This means it’s important to take care of yourself so you can be a resource to others. Is it time for a makeover?ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★This is the classic day for a friend or a group to do something that surprises you or catches you off guard. Be prepared for anything. Meanwhile, most of this day is a Moon Alert, which means agree to nothing important! Restrict spending to food and gas. Stay chill. Tonight: Solitude.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Be careful, because today, your dealings with bosses, parents, teachers, the police or anyone in authority will be unpredict...

UNGA78: EU wraps up a week of intense meetings on global issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

The EU has concluded a week of discussions on the most pressing issues that affect our planet together with world leaders, who gathered in New York for the high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell (pictured) hosted leaders from the Pacific Small Island Developing States. You can watch his opening remarks here.President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a keynote speech at the Global Citizen NOW climate session.Executive Vice-President Šefčovič attended the COP28 Incoming Presidency's Ministerial Consultation on the Global Stocktake. You can read his remarks here. He also participated in the 3rd High-level Dialogue on Building a 1.5C-aligned Energy Transition.High Representative Borrell delivered a speech on behalf of the EU at the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future. In the afternoon, he addressed the UN Security Council on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. You can read the full speech here...

Three-bedroom home in San Ramon sells for $1.6 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:50 GMT

509 Santander Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 500 block of Santander Drive in San Ramon has new owners. The 2,106-square-foot property, built in 1979, was sold on Aug. 21, 2023. The $1,600,000 purchase price works out to $760 per square foot. The layout of this two-story house includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:A 2,070-square-foot home on the 500 block of Santander Drive in San Ramon sold in July 2022, for $1,725,000, a price per square foot of $833. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In August 2022, a 2,718-square-foot home on Marsh Drive in San Ramon sold for $1,925,000, a price per square foot of $708. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Burgos Court, San Ramon, in October 202...