Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year, died Saturday along with members of her family in a plane crash in upstate New York.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a bilateral meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, unseen, at Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing, China, Friday, April 11, 2025. (Andres Martinez Casares/Pool Photo via AP)2025-04-14T03:10:40Z HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Chinas leader Xi Jinping started a week of diplomacy in Southeast Asia with a visit to Vietnam on Monday, signaling China s commitment to global trade, just after U.S. President Donald Trump upended the global economy with his latest tariffs moves. Although Trump has paused some tariffs, China was the outlier, as he has kept in place 145% tariffs on the worlds second-largest economy. Xis visit this week lets China show Southeast Asia it is a responsible superpower in the way that contrasts with the way the U.S. under President Donald Trump presents to the whole world, said Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute. China also can work to shore up its alliances and find solutions for the high trade barrier that the U.S. has on Chinese exports. There are no winners in a trade war, or a tariff war, Xi wrote in an editorial jointly published in Vietnamese and Chinese official media. Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment. While Xis trip likely was planned earlier, it has become significant because of the tariff fight between China and the U.S., the worlds two largest economies. In Vietnam, Xi will meet with Vietnams Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, as well as the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The trip to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia is all about how China can really insulate itself against the from Trump, said Nguyen, pointing out that since Xi became the president of China in 2013, he has only visited Vietnam twice. This is his third visit and comes just a year after he last visited in December 2023. The timing of the visit sends a strong political message that Southeast Asia is important to China, said Huong Le-Thu at the International Crisis Group. She said that given the severity of Trumps tariffs and despite the 90-day pause, Southeast Asian nations were anxious that the tariffs, if implemented, could complicate their development. Xis trip is to showcase how China is the opposite to the coercive and self-interested U.S. There will be a lot of expectations about what type of leadership and initiatives China is going to come up with at this time of crisis, she said. Vietnam is experienced at balancing its relations with the U.S and China. It is run under a Communist, one-party system like China but has had a strong relationship with the U.S. In 2023, it was the only country that received both U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping. That year it also upgraded the U.S. to its highest diplomatic level, the same as China and Russia. Vietnam was one of the biggest beneficiaries of countries trying to decouple their supply chains from China, as businesses moved here. China is its biggest trading partner, and China-Vietnam trade surged 14.6% year-on-year in 2024, according to Chinese state media.But the intensification of the trade war has put Vietnam in a very precarious situation given the impression in the U.S. that Vietnam is serving as a backdoor for Chinese goods, said Giang, the analyst at Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute. Vietnam had been hit with 46% tariffs under Trumps order before the 90-day pause.China and Vietnam have real long-term differences. They have disputes over territory in the South China Sea, and Vietnam has faced off with Chinas coast guard but does not often publicize the confrontations.After Vietnam, Xi is expected to go to Malaysia next and then Cambodia. HUIZHONG WU Wu covers Chinese culture, society, and politics for The Associated Press, as well as the countrys growing overseas influence from Bangkok. She was previously based in Taiwan and China. twitter ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL Ghosal covers the intersection of business and climate change in southeast Asia for The Associated Press. He is based out of Hanoi in Vietnam. twitter mailto

Former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy, who was found dead Saturday night in Houston, died in an apparent suicide in his car while being pursued by authorities, according to a Harris County sheriff's report released Sunday.

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Incumbent presidential candidate Daniel Noboa holds his children's hands after voting in the election runoff in Olon, Ecuador, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo)2025-04-14T04:29:35Z QUITO, Ecuador (AP) Daniel Noboa stunned voters in 2023 when he won a snap election for a 16-month presidency after only a brief stint as a lawmaker and with no established political machinery. No longer a political neophyte, the conservative millionaire defeated the protegee of Ecuadors most influential recent president for a second time and earned four years in office with Sundays election victory. The new term will allow Noboa, 37 and heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, to continue some of his no-holds-barred crimefighting strategies that part of the electorate finds appealing but which have tested the limits of laws and norms of governing.A huge hug to all the Ecuadorians who always believed in this young president, he told supporters after the National Electoral Council said results showed an irreversible trend in his favor. Ecuador wants to be different... it wants to move forward. Only 16 months in officeNoboa opened an event organizing company when he was 18 and then joined his fathers Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas. He began his political career in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission.Noboa defeated leftist lawyer Luisa Gonzlez in the October 2023 runoff of a snap election triggered by the decision of then-President Guillermo Lasso to dissolve the National Assembly and shorten his own mandate as a result. Noboa defeated her again in Sundays runoff election.Figures released by Ecuadors National Electoral Council showed Noboa receiving 55.8% of the vote with more than 92% of ballots counted, while Gonzlez earned 44%. However, Gonzlez, the mentee of former President Rafael Correa, vowed to seek a recount over what she described as grotesque electoral fraud.Under Noboas watch, the homicide rate dropped from 46.18 per 100,000 people in 2023, to 38.76 per 100,000 people in 2024. But despite the decrease, the rate remained far higher than the 6.85 homicides per 100,000 people seen in 2019. During his brief first term, Noboa has sought to establish a friendly relationship with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Grace Jaramillo, an Andean region expert and professor at the University of British Columbia, said these efforts played a role in some voters decisions.The majority of Ecuadorians have migrant relatives and know well that a scenario with Gonzlez, a leftist, would be terrible for deportations, Jaramillo said. ts an issue that touches every middle- and working-class home... Showing closeness to Trump was crucial for many families.Questionable tacticsNoboas crime-fighting strategies have been questioned inside and outside the South American country.Ecuador has been under a state of internal armed conflict since he declared it in January 2024 in order to mobilize the military in certain places, including prisons, where organized crime has taken hold. To the shock and bewilderment of world leaders, Noboa also authorized last years police raid on Mexicos embassy in the capital, Quito, to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive who had been living there for months. Further, he entrusted presidential powers while campaigning earlier this year to a government official, unelected Vice President Vernica Abad, as required by the Ecuadorian Code of Democracy.Ahead of Februarys first-round election, Quitos University of the Americas professor Maria Cristina Bayas said Noboa has not hesitated to use the law and the Constitution to keep things working the way he wants and may continue to do so if reelected.Noboa and Abad began feuding before taking office. The origins of the dispute are unknown, but shortly after becoming president, Noboa dispatched Abad to serve as ambassador to Israel, effectively isolating her from his administration. She has described her monthslong posting as forced exile.___Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.

George Russell retained his second-place finish following a postrace investigation.

The potentially title-deciding Clsico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium has been scheduled for May 11.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference at the governor's official residence about a suspected arson fire that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)2025-04-14T05:23:33Z HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A man is facing charges after authorities say he broke into the Pennsylvania governors mansion in the middle of the night, set a fire that left significant damage and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building during the Jewish holiday of Passover.Firefighters extinguished the fire early Sunday morning and no injuries were reported. The suspect, identified as Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested nearby later in the day, police said.Authorities said they were investigating how someone was able to elude police to break into the governors residence in Harrisburg.Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said the fire was a carefully planned attack but emphasized the investigation is continuing. He did not give a possible motive. Police call arson a planned attackBalmer apparently scaled an iron security fence that stands around 7 feet (2.1 meters) and is monitored by security cameras, police said. Police became aware someone had climbed over the fence and began a pursuit on the grounds but initially didnt locate anyone.Police allege Balmer broke into the southern wing of the residence, entering a room often used to entertain crowds and display art, and set a fire using a homemade incendiary device. Police declined to elaborate on the device, but the fire left significant damage to the room, charring walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened.Balmer was inside for around a minute before he left and escaped the premises, authorities said. Suspect faces chargesAuthorities said Balmer will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault. Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He drew a sentence of probation after guilty pleas to theft and forgery counts. Simple assault charges from 2023 appeared unresolved.Authorities did not say whether Balmer has a lawyer or where he was being held. Calls to people believed to be his relatives went unanswered or unreturned on Sunday. One recent residence listed for him in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022. Governor is a rising Democratic starShapiro, 51, is the first-term governor of the nations fifth-most populous state, a presidential battleground that has helped make him a rising star in the Democratic Party and viewed as a potential White House contender in 2028.Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. Shapiro has been outspoken about his Jewish faith.He used his first ad in his campaign for governor in 2022 to tell family stories and describe his commitment to making it home Friday night for Sabbath dinner, complete with footage of him and his children at the table. Family and faith ground me, he said.In stump speeches and his election-night victory speech, Shapiro regularly quoted an ancient rabbinic maxim: No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it. Attack happened during PassoverThe attack happened on the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began at sundown Saturday. The holiday commemorates the Israelites liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, including their 40-year journey through the desert. It is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and is celebrated with a special meal called a Seder, which includes the eating of matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and the retelling of the Exodus story.Shapiro had celebrated with a Seder at the official residence with his family and members of the Jewish community in the same room where authorities said the fire was set.___Follow Marc Levy on X at https://x.com/timelywriter. MARC LEVY Levy covers politics and state government in Pennsylvania for The Associated Press. He is based in Harrisburg. twitter

Chandera Weldesenbet, 41-year-old, left, a wounded former combatant of the recent war, sits outside his home carrying his one-and-a-half-year-old child and his wife Rahel Gebrekidan, right, in Quiha, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane)2025-04-14T05:24:16Z MEKELE, Ethiopia (AP) Chandera Weldesenbet is worried about dying before he receives the help he needs.The 41-year-old veteran of the recent war in Ethiopias Tigray region has metal shrapnel in his body that is yet to be removed, more than two years after the fighting ended.Unable to get specialized medical care, Chandera is bedridden most of the time because of the pain. He is one of many casualties whose untreated or poorly treated injuries are a reminder of the wars toll.When I think about my future prospect and my ability to raise a child in such hardship and circumstances, I feel hopeless, he said, with a toddler at home. Chandera Weldesenbet, 41-year-old, left, a wounded former combatant of the recent war, sits outside his home carrying his one-and-a-half-year-old child and his wife Rahel Gebrekidan, right, in Quiha, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Chandera Weldesenbet, 41-year-old, left, a wounded former combatant of the recent war, sits outside his home carrying his one-and-a-half-year-old child and his wife Rahel Gebrekidan, right, in Quiha, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Wounded Tigrayan former combatants of the recent war, wait to be attended at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Wounded Tigrayan former combatants of the recent war, wait to be attended at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Chandera, a former hotel worker in the town of Shire, found that health facilities across the region had been largely destroyed in the fighting.The head of the Ethiopian National Rehabilitation Commission, Temesgen Tilahun, told The Associated Press there are more than 43,000 Tigrayan former combatants. A prosthetic leg backdropped by wounded Tigrayan former combatant is seen at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) A prosthetic leg backdropped by wounded Tigrayan former combatant is seen at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Wounded Tigrayan former combatants of the recent war practice how to use prosthetic legs at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Wounded Tigrayan former combatants of the recent war practice how to use prosthetic legs at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre at Mekele in Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Thousands of people were killed in the war that pitted local fighters against federal troops who were allied with fighters from other regions, and ended in 2022. No one knows how many were wounded. Some former combatants in Tigray returned to their homes to find there was no way to receive medical support for permanent disabilities. Hiluf Haile, 24-year-old, Tigrayan former combatant of the recent war being examined by a doctor at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Hiluf Haile, 24-year-old, Tigrayan former combatant of the recent war being examined by a doctor at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Hiluf Haile managed to receive therapy in the Tigray capital, Mekele, to adjust to a new prosthetic leg at the only center in Tigray that offers such treatment. But he has witnessed the chronic shortage of support for other disabled ex-combatants.Many who had serious injuries have limited access to orthopedic therapy and must navigate damaged communities that have little or no infrastructure to accommodate them.They survive by begging, laying bare the scar of the war, Haile said.Tesfaye Kiros, another veteran, lost a leg and has been unable to find employment. He regularly begs at a busy bus station in Mekele, Tigrays capital. He dreams of returning to his hometown of Zalambessa, near the border with Eritrea. That remains elusive as new tensions rise between Ethiopia and Eritrea, its former ally in the war.The 31-year-old had been elated when a diaspora-led initiative, Rescue & Oasis Actions for the Disabled of War, chose him to receive a three-wheel electric bike to help him be mobile. But, still unable to find work, he sold it to feed his children.The bike would have helped me a great deal, he said.With limited resources as Tigray recovers from the war, the regional government has appealed to the federal government in Addis Ababa, the capital, for more support and for international donors to come to the rescue.The government has offered veterans reintegration into the armed forces.Tigray has too many individuals with disabilities who need support, especially medicine, and the situation is extremely dire, said Gebrehiwot Gebrezgiabher, commissioner for the Tigray Disaster Risk Management Commission. We are too overwhelmed to support them without more financial support.The Mekelle Ortho-Physiotherapy Center, which has operated in Tigray for nearly three decades with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross, is trying to fill the gap. The group has treated disabled combatants, providing prosthetic limbs and mobility aid such as crutches. But it is unable to help everyone who needs support without more funding.Over the years, we have delivered a total of 180,000 services. However, this number pales in comparison to the 65,000 we have provided in just the last three years, manager Birhane Teame said.Teame urged international organizations to assist his group in alleviating the burden in Tigray. Birhane Teame, the manager of Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre, speaks during an interview with Associated Press in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Birhane Teame, the manager of Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre, speaks during an interview with Associated Press in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Prosthetic which have been serviced for clients, rest on a wall at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Prosthetic which have been serviced for clients, rest on a wall at Ortho-Physiotherapy Centre in Mekele, Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Amanuel Birhane) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More ___For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse___The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

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by Topher Sanders ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published. When news broke in January that the Trump Justice Department was freezing significant work on civil rights litigation, including police reform cases, attention immediately focused on two cities: Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.Both places were on the cusp of entering court-enforced agreements to overhaul their police forces after high-profile police killings there sparked a nationwide reckoning over race and policing.But its now clear that the administrations move will be felt well beyond those two cities. In fact, it throws into question police reform efforts in at least eight other communities across the country, according to a ProPublica review. The need for change in these places was documented in a flurry of investigations published by the Justice Department in the final year of Joe Bidens presidency. All of the probes found a pattern or practice of unlawful behavior that was routine enough that the federal government recommended reforms.From Phoenix to Trenton, New Jersey, federal officials investigating the eight agencies found unjustified killings, excessive force, debtors prisons, retaliation against police critics, racial discrimination, unlawful strip searches and officers having sexual contact with sex workers during undercover operations. Such findings are typically the first step toward a department agreeing to federal oversight and court-ordered reform. Over the years, the DOJ has credited such agreements, known as consent decrees, for having helped departments reduce unnecessary use of force, cut crime rates and improve responses to people with behavioral health needs. President Donald Trumps Justice Department, however, has ordered its civil rights attorneys to pause such work until further notice, effectively reinstating the limited approach it took during the presidents first term. Department officials did not respond to questions about the pause or how long it would remain in effect.For now, that means any reform efforts will be up to local leadership a dynamic that experts say could bode poorly for communities with long histories of police abuse.Cliff Johnson, an attorney and director of the Mississippi office of the MacArthur Justice Center, a nonprofit legal organization, was not optimistic.While those DOJ reports sometimes can lead municipalities, police departments and other offenders to come to Jesus, Johnson said, what weve been seeing, from our perspective, is folks saying, I dont need Jesus. I got Trump.Louisiana leaders, for example, have slammed the Justice Departments report, which found a pattern of problems in the way the state police used force against civilians. Gov. Jeff Landry said the report was an attempt by the Biden administration to diminish the service and exceptionality of the state police. And state Attorney General Liz Murrill said the Justice Department was being used to advance a political agenda.The report was partly spurred by the 2019 death of Ronald Greene, who was killed while in the custody of Louisiana State Police. Officers repeatedly shocked him with a Taser, dragged him by his ankle shackles and then left him face down in the road. Some officers deactivated or muted their body cameras during the incident. Louisiana troopers had claimed Greene died when his car crashed after a high-speed chase. The department was forced to change its story when The Associated Press obtained and published body-camera footage of the incident.Federal investigators found the episode was not an outlier. According to their report, officers in the department used Tasers without warning and against people who were restrained or who did not pose a threat, didnt give people the chance to comply before using force, used force against people who werent a threat, and used excessive force against people running from officers.A spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police did not answer questions about the reports findings but said the agency is working to improve its relationship with citizens and other stakeholders. Landrys office did not respond to ProPublicas questions about the report and the states response, and Murrills office declined to comment.Across the state line in Lexington, Mississippi, the Justice Departments shift away from police accountability could also be consequential. Department officials said residents there were so afraid of local police that they were hesitant to meet with investigators in public, fearful of retaliation.They had good reason to be concerned. In 2023, officers arrested an attorney who was representing citizens in police abuse cases against the department. She had been filming a traffic stop at the time.The police force made up of about 10 officers, some of whom are part time is the smallest the Justice Department has investigated in decades. Federal investigators ultimately found that its officers use excessive force, discriminate against Black people, conduct stops and searches without probable cause, and arrest people purely for not having the money to pay fines.Its unclear what steps, if any, the Lexington Police Department is taking in response to the report. Police Chief Charles Henderson declined to comment and directed questions to the city attorney, who did not return a call.Reform advocates have put their hopes in upcoming elections in Lexington that could bring in new leadership that is more interested in making changes at the police department.In Mount Vernon, New York, advocates say theyve seen little movement since the Justice Department found police there use excessive force, conduct unlawful strip and body cavity searches of arrestees, and fail to properly train officers and supervisors. It also found police discriminated against Black people. One group is considering legal action to bring the city to the table.It seems like Mount Vernon has put lip service on addressing the findings, said Daniel Lambright, an attorney with the New York Civil Liberties Union. It remains unclear actually what theyre doing to address the findings.In their report, federal investigators expressed concern that the police departments overly aggressive tactics unnecessarily escalate encounters. In one instance, they wrote, five Mount Vernon officers used force on a man they thought was selling drugs without announcing their presence or attempting to arrest him peacefully. Instead, one of the officers approached the man from behind and attempted to put him in an upper body hold, which started an altercation, according to the report. Police then threw the man to the ground. One officer drove his Taser into the suspect five times while another repeatedly punched him in the head. The man suffered a broken nose.The reform efforts have to continue, said the Rev. Stephen Pogue, a member of the United Black Clergy of Westchester, an organization that works on social justice matters in Mount Vernon and surrounding areas. Were not in one of those places where Trump is our god. In Mount Vernon, we still need Jesus.Pogue said he hopes the city will host a public meeting about the report before the summer.Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and a police spokesperson did not reply to interview requests. But in December, the mayor said in a statement that the city would work with the Justice Department to address its findings. We wholeheartedly support our good officers and at the same time will not tolerate and will punish unconstitutional policing, she said.In Phoenix, city and police officials have sent conflicting signals about the federal investigation, which found the Police Department used excessive and deadly force, violated the rights of homeless people, and discriminated against Black, Latino, Native American people, as well as those who have behavioral disabilities. Why the hell would anybody ever accept a consent decree? said one City Council member months before the report was released. Afterward, the head of the police union said the investigation was a farce and part of an unprofessional smear campaign.But Mayor Kate Gallego has said the city is taking the report seriously. In September, the City Council passed several police reform measures, including requiring all officers who deal with the public to use body-worn cameras, even the special units that have been at the center of controversial shootings.Regardless of the new federal administration, these reforms are moving forward, and the mayors commitment to improving the police department is unwavering, a mayoral spokesperson told ProPublica.Some of the other cities the Justice Department had targeted are taking small steps toward fixing problems the federal investigators identified, though its unclear whether the efforts will result in lasting change.In Oklahoma City, where Justice found in January that police officers discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities, the city recently began funding mobile mental health units that can respond to incidents instead of police, said Jessica Hawkins, chair of the citys Crisis Intervention Advisory Group. She said the city is also working on a written response to the DOJ report but didnt know when it would be completed.Police Chief Ron Bacy declined ProPublicas request for an interview and through a spokesperson said the department was still reviewing the report.In Memphis, Tennessee, where federal investigators found that police use excessive force, conduct unlawful stops and discriminate against Black people, the mayor put together a reform task force, led by a retired federal judge. The DOJ report, in our case, kick-started a conversation that had sort of gone cold, said Josh Spickler, executive director of Just City, an organization that works on litigation and justice matters in Memphis.And in Trenton, New Jersey, where the Justice Department found that local police have a pattern or practice of using excessive force and conducting unlawful pedestrian and vehicle stops, City Council member Jasi Edwards has been hosting community meetings to introduce the idea of a civilian complaint review board and build support for the measure. Edwards said she plans to formally put forth her proposal sometime in the fall.It will likely run into resistance, though. Representatives of the Police Department and mayor told ProPublica that they didnt believe a civilian review board was necessary because it would be costly and there are existing ways for citizens to complain about police conduct. The DOJ report, they said, highlighted some areas in need of improvement but mischaracterized a number of cases and gave an inaccurate depiction of the departments culture.In Worcester, Massachusetts, reforms are already moving forward in response to the Justice Departments investigation.Last month, the police chief released a 15-page report on proposed measures intended to remedy the problems identified by federal investigators. The changes, which are still awaiting legal review, include prohibiting police from releasing K-9 dogs into mass gatherings or riot scenes and requiring a supervisor to go to a scene if someone reports being injured by police.The police chief, Paul Socier, has also proposed several changes to how officers approach prostitution. Investigators found the department engaged in outrageous government conduct with sex workers by having sexual contact during undercover operations.We are hopefully headed in the right direction, said Audra Doody, co-executive director of Safe Exit Initiative, an organization in Worcester that provides services, housing and counseling to sex workers who want to leave the sex trade. With a time of such uncertainty, I want to believe our people in the community are telling the truth and actually are going to do what they say theyre going to do, which they seem like they are, right now. ProPublica is reporting on how the Trump administrations efforts to reshape the federal government will impact the Department of Justice and its work on civil rights. If youre a former or current Justice Department employee and you want to send us a tip, please contact us. Were especially interested in the departments Civil Rights Division. Topher Sanders can be reached by phone or on Signal at 904-254-0393 or by email at topher.sanders@propublica.org.

A rescue worker rests near university building destroyed by a Russian missile strike on Sumy, Ukraine, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)2025-04-14T10:22:21Z BRUSSELS (AP) European officials condemned Monday Russias deadly missile attack on Ukraines Sumy that killed and wounded scores, accusing Moscow of committing war crimes and demonstrating disregard for Washington-led efforts to end the war.Ukrainian officials said two ballistic missiles on Sunday morning hit the heart of Sumy, a city about 30 kilometers away from Ukraines border with Russia, as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 and wounding 117. It is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week.Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, whose country holds the European Unions rotating presidency, said that the recent attacks are Russias mocking answer to Kyivs agreement to a ceasefire proposed by the U.S. administration over a month ago.I hope that President Trump, the U.S. administration, see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill, and I hope the right decisions are taken, Sikorski told reporters Monday in Luxembourg, where EU foreign ministers met. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted that the attack on Sumy came shortly after Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Saint Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It demonstrates that Russia shows full disregard for the peace process, but also that Russia has zero regard for human life. Lithuanias foreign minister Kestutis Budrys said the Russian strike used cluster munitions to target civilians in what he called a war crime by definition. French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot said the attack shows that Putin has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire. He must therefore be forced to do so, and thats why Im calling on the European Union to take the toughest sanctions against Russia to suffocate its economy and prevent it from fueling its war effort.The EU has imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia and is working on a 17th package, but the measures are getting harder to agree on as they also impact European economies. Germanys chancellor-designate, Friedrich Merz, described the Sumy attack late Sunday as a serious war crime.Merz said that, three days after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was in Moscow, Russia attacked a childrens hospital in Kyiv. Evidently, he (Putin) interprets our readiness to speak to him not as a serious offer to make peace possible but as weakness, he said in an appearance on ARD television.Merz made clear that he stands by his past calls to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, something that outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to do. He said that the Ukrainian military needs to be able to get ahead of the situation and that any delivery of long-range missiles must be done in consultation with European partners.Two children were killed and 15 others were wounded in the attack, according to Ukraines State Emergency Service. Only filthy scum can act like this taking the lives of ordinary people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media, adding that the first strike hit city university buildings, while the second exploded above street level. The head of the Ukrainian presidents office, Andriy Yermak, said cluster munitions were used to kill as many people as possible. The Associated Press was unable to verify that claim.The attack on Sumy followed a deadly April 4 missile strike on Zelenskyys hometown of Kryvyi Rih that killed some 20 people, including nine children.Zelenskyy called for a global response to the attack. Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. Whats needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves, he said.Asking about the attack, Trump said late Sunday evening that he was trying to get the war stopped. I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake, but I think its a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing, he told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington. He did not clarify whether he was saying the attack was unintentional.Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sam McNeil in Barcelona, Spain, Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01144-6Two books discuss how these space rocks are entwined with science, commerce, policy and life.

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by Nicole Foy ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published. Just a week into President Donald Trumps second term, Rep. Adriano Espaillat began to see reports of Puerto Ricans and others being questioned and arrested by immigration agents. So Espaillat, a New York Democrat, did what members of Congress often do: He wrote to the administration and demanded answers. That was more than 10 weeks ago. Espaillat has not received a response. His experience appears to be common. At least a dozen members of Congress, all Democrats, have written to the Trump administration with pointed questions about constituents and other citizens whom immigration agents have questioned, detained and even held at gunpoint. In one letter, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demanded a list of every citizen detained during the new administration. None has received an answer.What we are clearly seeing is that with this administration, they are not responding to congressional inquiries, said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernndez, a New Mexico Democrat. Leger Fernndez and others wrote to Trump and the Department of Homeland Security on Jan. 28 after receiving complaints from constituents and tribal nations that federal agents were pressing tribal citizens in New Mexico for their immigration status, raising concerns about racial profiling.The congresswoman and others say the lack of response is part of a broader pattern in which the administration has been moving to sideline Congress and its constitutional power to investigate the executive branch.That is a big concern on a level beyond what ICE is doing, Leger Fernndez said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of DHS. This administration does not seem to recognize the power and authority and responsibility of Congress.Norman Ornstein, a longtime congressional observer at the American Enterprise Institute, said prior administrations lack of responsiveness has frustrated lawmakers too. But hes never seen one so thoroughly brush off Congress. Whats clear now is that the message from Donald Trump and his minions is: You dont have to respond to these people, whether they are ours or not, Ornstein said, referring to Republicans and Democrats. Thats not usual. Nothing about this is usual.A White House spokesperson denied that the administration has been circumventing Congress or its oversight. Passage of the continuing resolution that kept our government open and commonsense legislation like the Laken Riley Act are indicative of how closely the Trump administration is working with Congress, said Kush Desai in a statement. The White House did not answer questions about the letters. DHS also did not respond to ProPublicas questions.Last month, ProPublica detailed how Americans have been caught in the administrations dragnet. Such mistakes have been made by many administrations over decades. The government often has not taken steps to reduce errors, such as updating its files when agents confirm somebodys citizenship. But experts and advocates have warned that Trumps aggressive immigration goals including arrest quotas for enforcement agents make it more likely that citizens will get caught up.ICE and its sister agency, Customs and Border Protection, said in earlier statements to ProPublica that agents are allowed to ask for citizens identification. The agencies did not provide explanations for their actions in most of the cases ProPublica asked about. Answers were also hard to come by during Trumps first term, even when Democrats controlled the House and had more power over hearings. At a House hearing in 2019 about family separation, lawmakers pressed then-Border Patrol Chief Brian Hastings about another issue: the three-week detention of a Dallas-born high school student and citizen, who was only released after The Dallas Morning News reported what happened. Hastings said the student never claimed to be a citizen during his detention though the newspaper reported that the agencys own paperwork noted the opposite. Hastings also declined to give any broader accounting of how often the agency had held Americans. I dont have information about specific cases, he said. (Hastings did not respond to requests for comment.)Espaillat, the New York representative, has been in office for eight years. He said he frequently raised immigration questions and concerns during the Biden administration too, and got responses.Republicans complained about the opposite experience during the Biden administration. They said the administration was unresponsive to Congress questions on immigration, forcing lawmakers to subpoena officials for answers. (The administration dismissed the moves as political posturing.) Espaillat said hes not surprised the Trump administration has been silent. They probably dont have a good answer.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference at the governor's official residence discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)2025-04-14T11:22:10Z HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A man who authorities said scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and broke into the Pennsylvania governors mansion where he set a fire had planned to beat Gov. Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he found him, according to court documents released Monday.The fire left significant damage and forced Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building early Sunday. The man, arrested later in the day, faces charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.During a police interview, authorities said Cody Balmer told them after he was taken into custody that he would have beaten Shapiro with a small sledge hammer if he had found him, the documents say. Balmer had walked an hour from his home to the governors residence, and during the police interview, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro, according to a police affidavit, but it wasnt noted why. Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and firefighters extinguished the fire, officials said. No one was injured. At a Sunday evening news conference in front of the badly damaged south wing of the governors residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the man in custody as Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.Authorities did not say whether Balmer has a lawyer or where he was being held and calls to people believed to be relatives went unanswered or unreturned Sunday. One recent listed residence in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022. One recent listed residence in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022. Shapiro says he is unbowedParis emphasized that the investigation is continuing. Authorities did not disclose the mans motive, but an emotional Shapiro, who is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, said he is unbowed.Shapiro said that if Balmer was trying to stop him from doing his job, then hell work harder, and he added that Balmer will not stop him from observing his faith.When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom, Shapiro said. I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love. Police say suspect hopped security fence and forcibly entered residenceAuthorities said the suspect hopped over a nearly 7-foot-high (2.1-meter-high) iron security fence surrounding the property, eluded officers who became aware of the breach and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to make the Molotov cocktails, documents say,Lt. Col. George Bivens said Balmer appeared to have carefully planned the attack. He was inside the residence for about a minute before he escaped, Bivens said.Bivens said Balmer was later arrested in the area.Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online criminal court records.We have to be better than this, Shapiro says Shapiro said the fire was set in the very room where he and his family celebrated Passover with a seder with members of Harrisburgs Jewish community on Saturday night.We dont know the persons specific motive yet, Shapiro told the news conference. But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I dont give a damn if its coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.The fire badly damaged the inside of the large room that is often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west- and south-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes, shattered glass littered the pathways and doors stood ajar amid signs of charring. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened and charred. Inside, a charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-blackened doors.___Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter MARC LEVY Levy covers politics and state government in Pennsylvania for The Associated Press. He is based in Harrisburg. twitter

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., arrives to speak to reporters following a closed-door Republican meeting, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2025-04-14T11:04:41Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate, once again, was working into the early morning hours Friday with its new majority leader, Republican John Thune, setting the pace.It wasnt until just after 2 a.m. that the last of the senators had straggled into the chamber to cast their vote on the confirmation of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Razin Caine for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The vote capped a grinding start to the year for the Senate that included several all-night floor sessions and importantly for Thune the quickest top-level Cabinet confirmation process in the past 20 years.At the outset, however, such an outcome was far from assured. President Donald Trump was making demands that the new Senate leader be ready to put the chamber into recess so he could skip over the Senate confirmation process altogether. Faced with that prospect, Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said his message in conversations with the president was, Let us do this the old-fashioned way and just use the clock and grind it out, and then well see where we go from there. That approach has been successful allowing Thune to show Trump the Senates worth while also preserving its constitutional role in installing a presidents Cabinet. But the decision to push forward on even Trumps most unconventional Cabinet nominees has also come at a cost. Several Cabinet officials have been intimately involved in the early controversies of Trumps second term, from discussing military plans on an unclassified Signal app chat to encouraging the Republican president to follow through with steep tariffs on trading partners. GOP senators, many of whom still hold traditional Republican ideas, have often had to mount a response. The Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, last month initiated an investigation by the Pentagons inspector general into whether classified information was shared on Signal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And GOP senators more recently made a concerted effort to encourage Trump to negotiate trade deals with other nations rather than listen to advisers like Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was adamant that tariffs were there to stay. In an interview with The Associated Press shortly after Trump announced a pause on tariffs to most nations, Thune said the announcement showed the president is responding to the feedback hes given.I think everybody wants to see him succeed with this, wants to see the country succeed and wants to make sure that were gauging and calibrating as some of these major policy shifts are being made the impacts that they have, Thune added.That balance Thunes supportive yet still cautious approach has marked his early months working with a president with whom, until last year, he had a fraught relationship. So far, Trump and Thune have stayed on upbeat terms, but the stakes will only rise for Republicans in the coming months as they try to lift through Congress a massive package of tax breaks and spending cuts on party-line votes. During Trumps first term, it took barely a year and some setbacks in Congress before Trump began openly feuding with then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.Discussing the reconciliation package as he sat in McConnells old leadership office, Thune stressed that for the GOPs marquee legislation to work, Everybodys got to be rolling in the same direction. It takes a lot of teamwork. A check and balanceAs Trump has entered office with practically total command of the Republican Party and an agenda to upend the federal government and its role in society, Thune acknowledged that Trump has been aggressive in his use of executive power. But he argued that it was no different from how previous presidents wanted to take as much power as they possibly can, pointing to President Joe Bidens moves to cancel student debt and boost government food assistance.Our job is to do what we can to support the president and his agenda, Thune said. But, you know, be that important check and balance, too, that the Founders intended.Still, as Trump has blazed through constitutional norms with sweeping orders that endanger civil rights, government programs, the federal workforce and Americas relationship with allies, Republicans in Congress have stood by.We need Republicans to get off the sidelines, including the majority leader, and say, This is unacceptable behavior by any president, said Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat.Kelly cited Trumps disparagement of NATO and comments about taking over countries like Canada and Greenland and the Panama Canal. The damage that Donald Trump is doing to our international reputation is not something we easily recover from, he said.Still, Kelly added that Thune deserves some credit for making the mechanics of the Senate function well. Thune has been aggressive in trying to get the Senate to move faster through its votes. He noted that he had allowed one recent vote session to close before he had even had a chance to cast his vote because he was at the White House for a meeting.Its an incremental change in the Senates timing, but one that Thune, a former runner, hopes will contribute to the chamber becoming more active and deliberative in shaping the law. He won the leadership contest in part by pledging to allow individual senators to have more of a say in crafting and amending legislation.So far, the Senate has also gained bipartisan support to pass bills that will increase prison penalties for fentanyl traffickers as well as mandate the detainment of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally and are accused of theft and violent crimes.Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican who has been vocal about changes to the way legislation advances, said Thune has done a great job, although the Senate hasnt had much of a chance to work on legislation.The truth of the matter, he added, is weve been consumed by confirmations. STEPHEN GROVES Groves covers Congress for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmn turned his back on Sergio Ramos as the Monterrey defender was preparing to take a penalty. Did his gambit pay off?

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This combo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, pictured in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 and Steve Witkoff, right, White House special envoy, pictured in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photos Stringer, Mark Schiefelbein)2025-04-14T10:19:02Z ROME (AP) Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program appeared ready Monday to leave the Middle East, as an Italian source said the next round of negotiations would take place in Rome. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog separately confirmed he would be taking a trip to Iran later in the week, possibly to discuss ways to improve access for his inspectors to Tehrans program. The stakes of the negotiations couldnt be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans nuclear program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.A source in the Italian government confirmed that the next round would take place in Rome on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they werent authorized to speak publicly. The persons comments came as Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani separately told journalists in Osaka, Japan, that the Italian government has given its OK to host the talks. We received the request from the interested parties, from Oman, which plays the role of mediator and we gave a positive response, Tajani said. We are ready to welcome, as always, meetings that can bring positive results, in this case on the nuclear issue. Both Iranian and U.S. officials did not immediately acknowledge the venue of the second round of negotiations. However, its likely that Oman, which hosted the first round of talks on Saturday in Muscat, would continue to mediate between the two sides. The next round of talks will probably be held somewhere other than Oman, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told journalists on Monday in Tehran. Its not an important matter. IAEA chief to head to Iran ahead of talksThe talks will follow a visit by Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iran later this week. The IAEA played a key role in verifying Irans compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and has continued to work in the Islamic Republic, even as the countrys theocracy slowly peeled away its access after Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018.Continued engagement and cooperation with the Agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed, Grossi wrote on X.Grossi will arrive in Iran on Wednesday night and will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, the state-run IRNA news agency reported, quoting Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister. Sanctions relief and enrichment remain top issuesThe 2015 nuclear deal saw Iran agree to drastically reduce its stockpile of uranium and only enrich up to 3.67% enough for its nuclear power plant at Bushehr. Today, Iran enriches up to 60%, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels and has enough stockpile for multiple nuclear bombs, should it choose to build them.The deal lifted economic sanctions on Iran and unfroze assets around the world. The deals collapse refroze those funds and limited Irans ability to sell crude oil abroad though it still sells to China, likely at a sharp discount. While the U.S. can offer sanctions relief for Irans beleaguered economy, it remains unclear just how much Iran will be willing to concede. Judging from negotiations since 2018, Iran will likely ask to keep enriching uranium up to at least 20%. However, neither side has offered any public statements about what it is specifically seeking in the talks. There must definitely be guarantees in place regarding the fulfillment of commitments, Baghaei said Monday. The issue of guarantees is especially important given the history of broken promises in the past. God willing, the negotiating team will continue its work with all these factors and points in mind.He added: As long as the language of sanctions, pressure, threats, and intimidation continues, direct negotiations will not take place. However, Abbas and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff did meet and speak face to face after some two hours of indirect talks mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. Speaking to journalists on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he met with Witkoff and that his envoy had very good meetings on the Middle East.Well be making a decision on Iran very quickly, Trump said, without elaborating. ___Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers David Biller and Giada Zampano in Rome and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/ JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00944-0Good ideas and impactful tools dont just come from rich, Western nations, says Aleksandra Lazi, a social scientist in Serbia.

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01146-4US global dominance in science was no accident, but a product of a far-seeing partnership between public and private sectors to boost innovation and economic growth.

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Today, we’re diving into the real-world impact of misinformation on social media, particularly Facebook. How did a made-up story lead someone to bring a gun into a pizza shop? What really fueled the Capitol riot? We explore the thin line between lies online and violence offline. It’s tempting to scroll past a conspiracy theory or laugh off a wild comment section. But...

This image provided by Blue Origin shows, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn and standing in back from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe in West Texas. (Blue Origin via AP)2025-04-14T13:32:03Z Jeff Bezos Blue Origin launched his fiancee Lauren Sanchez into space Monday with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King.It was the latest wave in space tourism, where more of the rich and famous than ever before or lucky and well-connected can enter the zero-gravity realm traditionally dominated by professional astronauts.The New Shepard rocket blasted off on the quick up-and-down trip from West Texas. The fringes of space beckoned some 65 miles (105 kilometers) up, promising a few precious minutes of weightlessness.Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, invited the others along for the 10-minute, fully automated flight, packing on the star power with singer-songwriter Perry and CBS Mornings co-host King.Also sharing the ride were film producer Kerianne Flynn; Aisha Bowe, a former NASA engineer who started her own companies to promote science education; and Amanda Nguyen, a scientist who studied planets around other stars and now advocates for survivors of sexual violence. Blue Origin declined to say how much the flight cost or who paid what. The trip came two months before Sanchez and Bezos marry in Venice. It was the 11th human spaceflight for the Washington state-based company, founded by Bezos in 2000 after making a fortune with Amazon. Bezos strapped in for Blue Origins first space tourist flight in 2021 and accompanied the latest crew to the pad. The celebrity launch was the nations first spaceflight where women filled each seat. The only other all-female crew in 64 years of human spaceflight was back in 1963. Thats when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova launched by herself, becoming the first woman in space. Tereshkova spent three days off the planet. Even after the latest launch, women represent barely 15% of the more than 700 people who have traveled into space. Sanchez said she deliberately chose women to launch with her, each of them eager to inspire both the young and old to dream big, and even commissioned special flight suits. Its an important moment for the future of commercial space travel and for humanity in general and for women all around, Perry told The Associated Press last week.The launch brought out VIPs to West Texas including Oprah Winfrey and several women who previously have flown on private flights. Winfrey, a close friend of King, wiped away tears when the capsule reached space and the passengers were heard marveling at the moon and shouting with joy. This wasnt the first Blue Origin launch with marquee names.Star Trek actor William Shatner caught a lift to space with Blue Origin in 2021 at age 90, soon after Bezos inaugural trip. He was followed by former New York Giants defensive end and TV host Michael Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, for whom the rocket is named. Two aviation pioneers who missed out on space when they were younger Wally Funk and Ed Dwight also rocketed away at ages 82 and 90, respectively. Most of Blue Origins passengers 58 counting the latest launch have been business or science types, TV hosts or YouTubers. Ticket prices are not disclosed.The Russian Space Agency also has launched its share of space tourists, beginning with a California financier in 2001. Two decades later, a Russian actress filmed aboard the International Space Station. Elon Musks SpaceX also sells multi-day trips to private customers. SpaceXs first client to fly, billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman already has launched twice and performed the first private spacewalk. Hes now set to become NASAs next administrator if confirmed by the Senate.Chinese-born bitcoin investor Chun Wang just returned from the first spaceflight to carry people over the north and south poles. Wang picked up the whole SpaceX tab for himself and three polar explorers for an undisclosed sum.In this exciting new era of commercial spaceflight, the dream of becoming an astronaut is no longer limited to a select few, Wang said via X last week. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

An AI startup promises to call your elderly parents for you if you dont have time, or simply dont want to, and we tested out the service.Called inTouch, the service uses an AI generated voice so your parent receives a phone call in which they can talk to the AI about, for example, how their day is going, their hobbies, and how theyre feeling. An AI-generated summary of the conversation is then sent to the child or whoever setup the account, and includes a visual indicator of their state of mind, such as bad mood or neutral mood.Obviously, the idea of having an AI call your lonely relative because you cant or dont feel like it is dystopian, insulting, and especially non-human, even more so than other AI-based creations. The creator, though, says it can provide a way to keep in touch with relatives and make sure theyre safe.Busy life? You cant call your parent every daybut we can, inTouchs website says. It is full of images of elderly people, some on the phone, with claims that the service can support mental fitness (We help keep your loved ones mind sharpevery single day); nurture emotional wellbeing (inTouch brings moments of joy and companionship into your loved ones' daily routine, helping them feel understood and supported); and strengthening family connections by providing a way for the elderly to share and preserve family stories across generations, keeping memories alive and strengthening the bonds that make your family unique.inTouch Call 10:00/80.32653061224491I made a trial account on inTouch to test out the service. It usually costs $29.90 a month. At first, the site asked who I wanted inTouch to call regularly, with options including my parent, grandparent, a relative with dementia, or myself. For the first call it asked me what topics I might suggest to get the conversation going. I said my imaginary grandparent named Patrick liked video games like Mario but hates Sonic, and that he loved to ride his motorcycle but he cant do that anymore.Before the initial call the service suggests explaining the calls to whoever is going to receive them.inTouch calls are a new experience for your relative, a disclaimer says. Explaining the value of the calls is key to their success. We suggest saying something like: Mom, I've subscribed you to a service called inTouch. They will call you every day between 9 AM and 12 PM to check that you're fine and have a little chat with you if you'd like. It's important that you answer their calls so I can also know that you're safe.Image: Screenshots from inTouch's website.The person setting the service up downloads an app that lets them receive the summaries and tweak notifications, such as if the AI notices the grandparent is in a low mood, if several calls are missed, or if it detects a new topic to discuss. The grandparent can also ask the AI to send a message to this app.inTouch Call 20:00/68.440816326530611I tried out a few calls with inTouch and it does appear to work as advertised. As in, the calls went through to a test phone, the AI engaged somewhat with the topics I gave it, and the app delivered summaries of the conversation. But I have no idea if it would actually be helpful to an elderly person and personally I would obviously be insulted if my child or grandchild outsourced talking to me to a bot.So I asked my mum.I think the speed of speech is too fast and business-like. The parent would have to be quite mentally alert to answer the questions. It sounds from the clips like talking to an automated company cold call, she said.inTouch Call 30:00/77.374693877551021Hongtu Chen, co-director of the Social Technology for Global Aging Research Initiative at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, told me in an email the service and others bring up all sorts of ethical, social, and psychological dimensions of human interactions. Human conversations within families are filled with shared memories, inside jokes, emotional nuance, and contextual understanding built over decades. These features are not easily captured by AI, even with advanced personalization, he said. Thus, attempts to substitute AI for real human interaction in such settings may come across as hollow or inauthentic, and in some cases, even alienating.In general, while AI tools may offer supplemental support for older adults, their use must be approached with humility, honesty, and a deep understanding of the symbolic power of human presence in caregiving relationships. Technology may speakbut it cannot yet care in the way that human relationships can, Chen said.inTouch Call 40:00/77.374693877551021Vassili Le Moigne, the CEO and founder of inTouch, said that Chens sentiments on AI for the elderly lined up with his vision for the service. I created inTouch as a personal project to help me care for my aging mother (88) and aunt as I lived far away from them, he wrote in an email. I needed the reassurance my mother was safe even on days when I couldn't call her, I wanted her to know I was still in touch with her even if I didn't call her. I don't want to replace calls and visits from the family, never, these are the best (I fly to see her every 2 weeks), I want to complement them.We refused to customize the voice to that of a family member because we thought this wouldn't be right, he added. Instead, the voice is more generic and isnt impersonating the family member.We will never replace a human touch, we can't stop the body from failing, we are merely trying to make sure older adults stay in control and get to work on their legacy a bit longer alongside their family member, he wrote.Ultimately what is most important is how the person receiving the call feels. I would feel terrible and that they are not bothered about phoning me themselves, my mum said.

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00943-1As I watch US researchers respond to threats against science, Im reminded of when scientists in Brazil navigated a similar storm.

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00858-xHow did the United Kingdoms formal departure from the European Union in January 2020 affect scientists who had moved there from mainland Europe?

Mbappe's red card punctuated another bad Madrid outing -- not good ahead of the second leg with Arsenal. Elsewhere, Bayern learned a lot from Der Klassiker and Man United look completely lost, as Gab Marcotti recaps the weekend.

From clinching scenarios to first-round matchups and draft lottery order, here's what to monitor.

This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)2025-04-14T02:25:23Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Suspected U.S. airstrikes around Yemens rebel-held capital killed at least seven people and wounded 29 overnight, the Houthis said Monday as they also claimed shooting down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone.Since its start nearly a month ago, the intense campaign of U.S. airstrikes under President Donald Trump targeting the rebels over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters related to the Israel-Hamas war has killed over 120 people, according to casualty figures released Monday by the Houthis Health Ministry. Footage aired by the Houthis al-Masirah satellite news channel showed firefighters spraying water on a raging fire they described as being sparked by the airstrikes. Rubble littered a street as rescuers carried one person away from the site, which the rebels claimed was a ceramics factory in the Bani Matar neighborhood of Sanaa, the capital. The Associated Press could not independently verify what was struck. The U.S. militarys Central Command, which oversees American military operations, did not acknowledge the strikes. That follows a pattern for the command, which now has authorization from the White House to conduct strikes at will in the campaign that began March 15. The American military also hasnt been providing any information on targets hit. The White House has said over 200 strikes have been conducted so far. Houthis claim another American drone shot downThe Houthis separately claimed Sunday night they shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemens Hajjah governorate, which sits to the northwest of the country on the Red Sea on the countrys border with Saudi Arabia.Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, described the downing in a prerecorded video message as the fourth in two weeks by the rebels. Saree said the rebels targeted the drone with a locally manufactured missile. The Houthis have surface-to-air missiles such as the Iranian missile known as the 358 capable of downing aircraft. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in sea shipments heading to Yemen for the Shiite Houthi rebels despite a United Nations arms embargo.General Atomics Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes over 40,000 feet (12,100 meters) and remain in the air for over 30 hours. They have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA for years over Afghanistan, Iraq and now Yemen.Central Command said it was aware of reports of the drone being shot down but did not elaborate. US strikes come as part of monthlong intense campaignAn AP review has found the new U.S. operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than that under former President Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities.The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted.The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.The U.S. campaign shows no signs of stopping, as the Trump administration has also linked its airstrikes on the Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.What were doing with the Houthis and what were doing in the region, weve shown a capability to go far, to go deep and to go big, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday on Fox News. We dont want to do that. But if we have to, we will to prevent a nuclear bomb in Irans hands.Hegseth added: We know Iran ... is taking a look at whats happening to the Houthis and realizing they dont want any part of it. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto

The New York Stock Exchange is seen in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)2025-04-14T04:39:34Z NEW YORK (AP) Stocks are rallying worldwide Monday after President Donald Trump relaxed some of his tariffs, for now at least. The S&P 500 was 1.5% higher in early trading. Its coming off a chaotic week where it careened through historic swings as financial markets struggled to catch up with Trumps moves on tariffs, which investors fear could lead to a recession if not reduced. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 441 points, or 1.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2% higher.Apple, Nvidia and other big technology companies led the way on Wall Street after Trump said he was exempting smartphones, computers and some other electronics from some of his stiff tariffs, which could ultimately more than double prices for U.S. customers of many goods coming from China. Such an exemption should help U.S. importers, which would not have to choose between passing on the higher costs to their customers or taking a hit to their own profits. Apple climbed 5.3%, Nvidia rose 2.3% Dell Technologies jumped 5.9%.Stock markets in other countries likewise bounced following the cooldown in Trumps trade war with China, the worlds second-largest economy. Indexes climbed 2.4% in France, 2.7% in Germany, 1.2% in Japan and 1% in South Korea. But the relief may prove fleeting. Trumps tariff rollout broadly has been full of fits and starts, and officials in his administration said this most recent exemption on electronics is only temporary. Chinas commerce ministry nevertheless welcomed the change in a Sunday statement as a small step even as it called for the U.S. to completely cancel the rest of its tariffs. Chinas leader Xi Jinping on Monday said no one wins in a trade war as he kicked off a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, hoping to present China as a force for stability in contrast with Trumps frenetic moves on tariffs. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs rose 2.7% after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. It joined other big banks in doing so, such as JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. Perhaps more encouragingly for Wall Street, the bond market was also showing signals of increasing calm. Treasury yields eased a bit following their sudden and scary rise last week, which seemed to rattle not only investors but also Trump himself.Treasury yields usually drop when fear is high in the market because U.S. government bonds have historically been seen as some of the worlds safest investments, if not the safest. But last week, yields rose unusually sharply for Treasury bonds. The value of the U.S. dollar also fell against other currencies in another move suggesting investors may no longer see the United States as the best place to keep their cash during moments of stress.Trump noted the moves in the bond market, which showed investors were getting a little queasy, when he announced a 90-day pause on many of his tariffs last week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased back to 4.40%. It had jumped to 4.48% on Friday from 4.01% the week before. In China, stock indexes rose 2.4% in Hong Kong and 0.8% in Shanghai after the government reported that Chinas exports surged 12.4% in March from a year earlier in a last-minute flurry of activity as companies rushed to beat increases in U.S. tariffs imposed by Trump.___AP Writers Jiang Junzhe and Matt Ott contributed. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01181-1Plans are taking off to use an unconventional technique to accelerate particles in a future collider.

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01148-2Digging in overlooked regions has opened up a world of discovery for palaeontologist David Lovelace.

While Miami sputtered vs. Chicago, Vancouver jumped to No. 1 in our MLS Power Rankings by demolishing Austin.

Should Alexander Volkanovski get Movsar Evloev? Is Paddy Pimblett-Charles Oliveira a real possibility? Let's talk about matchups after UFC 314.

2025-04-14T15:27:42Z BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungarys parliament has passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities.Legal scholars and critics call Mondays decision another step toward authoritarianism as the populist government continues to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.The amendment passed along party lines, with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, whom critics have accused of employing increasingly autocratic tactics during his 15-year rule.Ahead of the vote, opposition politicians and other protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage to prevent ruling party lawmakers from entering. Police physically removed the demonstrators who had used zip ties to bind themselves together. The amendment codifies a ban on public LGBTQ+ events including the popular Pride event that draws thousands annually to the capital, Budapest.It declares that childrens rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any other fundamental right other than the right to life, including that to peacefully assemble. The new amendment also allows for Hungarians who hold dual citizenship in a non-European Economic Area country to have their citizenship suspended if they are deemed to pose a threat to public order, public security or national security.The amendment is the 15th to Hungarys constitution since Orbns party unilaterally authored and approved the document in 2011.

A sign for a BYD vehicle factory is displayed in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)2025-04-14T13:32:53Z CAMACARI, Brazil (AP) When Chinese automaker BYD Co. announced plans to build a massive factory in the hardscrabble city of Camacari, in Brazils northeastern Bahia state, locals saw a new beginning. After years of economic stagnation following Ford Motor Co.'s exit from the region in 2021, there was hope that the global leader in electric vehicles would bring back well-paying jobs and a brighter future.The timing seemed right. Brazil, the worlds sixth-largest auto market, is seeing a surge in EV salesand BYD is leading the charge. For Camacari, the deal promised to fill the economic vacuum left by the American company, which had once been the citys largest employer.Then plans went off track. Employees work at a BYD vehicle factory under construction in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Employees work at a BYD vehicle factory under construction in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Security guards control access to the BYD vehicle factory being built in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Security guards control access to the BYD vehicle factory being built in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Employees work at a BYD vehicle factory being built in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Employees work at a BYD vehicle factory being built in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A December raid led by Brazilian authorities rescued 163 Chinese nationals said to be working in slavery-like conditions at the site. A video from the Labor Prosecutors Office showed dormitories with beds lacking mattresses and makeshift cooking facilities. The company postponed plans to begin its first production line in March and has not established a new timeline, spreading fears among Camacari workers. When BYD announced it was coming here, it sparked a lot of hope in us, said Luizmar Santana Pereira, a metalworker and former Ford employee, who has been working as a taxi driver. Weve been waiting for this job opportunity, but so far, we havent seen it. Luizmar Santana Pereira, a former Ford employee who registered for a job with BYD, attends an interview with The Associated Press, in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Luizmar Santana Pereira, a former Ford employee who registered for a job with BYD, attends an interview with The Associated Press, in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More After the raid, a spokesperson based at BYDs China headquarters denied wrongdoing, saying in a post on the Weibo social media site that the accusations were an attempt at smearing Chinese brands and China. The post also blamed foreign forces for the allegation and criticized media reports. In a statement disseminated in Brazil, the carmaker adopted a more conciliatory tone. The company said it does not tolerate disrespect for Brazilian law and human dignity and rescinded the contract with Chinese construction company Jinjiang, which had brought the workers. In Brazil, ample room for BYD to grow BYD vehicle factory is under construction in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) BYD vehicle factory is under construction in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More EVs are spreading fast in Brazil, Latin Americas most populous nation. Sales jumped 85% in 2024, reaching over 170,000 units, including fully electric and hybrid vehicles, according to the Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles. That accounted for about 7% of new car sales in the country.The growth is spearheaded by BYD. Seven out of 10 EVs sold in the country are from the brand, which also leads hybrid sales. In major cities such as Sao Paulo and Brasilia, imported BYD cars and dealerships have become a common sight. In Brazils capital, its the best-selling brand, whether EV or gas-powered.Another Chinese EV maker, GWM, also recently announced plans to open a factory in Brazil after acquiring a shuttered Mercedes-Benz facility in the industrialized state of Sao Paulo.BYDs inroads in Brazil are in tandem with the companys global growth. The worlds leading EV company logged a record $107 billion in revenue in 2024 as its sales of electric and hybrid vehicles jumped 40%, surpassing American rival Tesla. This year, plans include the inauguration of its first car factory in Europe, currently under construction in Hungary. Brazils policies are driving EV sales and production, according to Adalberto Maluf, national secretary of Urban Environment and Environmental Quality. A person walks near a sign for Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A person walks near a sign for Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In an interview with The Associated Press in Brasilia, Maluf cited incentives enacted in 2024 that favor electric motors, tax reductions for lower-emission cars and a new air quality program with nationwide monitoring and pollution reduction goals.Brazil is the one of the top 10 emitters of greenhouse gases, contributing around 3% of global emissions, according to nonprofit Climate Watch. However, pollution from energy does not play a big role, as about half of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation, mostly in the Amazon, followed by agriculture. About 85% of the countrys electricity comes from renewable sources.For Maluf, who worked for almost nine years at BYD Brazil, the country is attractive to Chinese electric car makers for reasons ranging from the size of its market to the presence of several auto parts suppliers and the strong political relationship between the two countries.Brazilians have no geopolitical issues with China. If you ask, Are you against China? most people wont have a strong opinion about it, he said. In the U.S., however, they do, because its part of the presidents rhetoric, he added, referring to President Donald Trumps frequent comments about China ripping off America on trade. Its unclear what is next for BYD factory Signs are displayed for dealerships for BYD and Ford in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Signs are displayed for dealerships for BYD and Ford in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Since the raid, BYD has not allowed press visits inside its Camacari premises, citing concerns about trade secrets. Its unclear if BYD is still on track to turn the former Ford site into its largest plant outside China by the end of 2026. When AP journalists visited in March for several days, they saw only a few construction workers at the large site. And one day, while standing on the street adjoining the premises, three BYD guards, one who kept his hand on his gun, incorrectly accused the journalists of flying a drone inside factory boundaries and demanded to see identification. Minutes later, security guards on motorcycles approached, honking and ordering the journalists to stop filming workers. BYD said its security guards acted appropriately and declined to answer other questions about its operations in Brazil.While the future of the factory is unclear, the raid and the presence of Chinese workers have gotten the attention of labor unions. A car attendant wears a vest from the Chinese construction company Jinjiang, in the parking lot of the Municipal Market in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A car attendant wears a vest from the Chinese construction company Jinjiang, in the parking lot of the Municipal Market in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A BYD vehicle, left, passes a sign indicating Henry Ford Avenue, on the access road to the industrial complex where the BYD factory is being built, in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A BYD vehicle, left, passes a sign indicating Henry Ford Avenue, on the access road to the industrial complex where the BYD factory is being built, in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The Metalworkers Union will not tolerate Chinese workers on the production line. If that happens even in the beginning of the production, we will call for a work stoppage, Jlio Bonfim, the union president, told AP. Bonfim added that there were no objections with BYD employing Chinese technicians and managers, but the factory floor must employ only Brazilians. It was unclear if BYD had agreed to that. Despite the raid and seemingly slow pace of construction, in the Camacari region the shift from Ford to BYD is increasingly visible. A three-decades-old dealership for the American brand named Indiana, in tribute to the U.S. state, now shares space with a BYD reseller, Mandarim. A local hotel started distributing instructions specifically to Chinese guests, asking them not to hang washed clothes in common areas. And a state lawmaker introduced a bill to rename the citys Henry Ford Avenue, where the plant is located, to BYD Avenue. A vehicle says Build your dreams as it sits in a BYD car dealership, opened in the same building as a Ford dealership in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A vehicle says Build your dreams as it sits in a BYD car dealership, opened in the same building as a Ford dealership in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More ___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Nature, Published online: 14 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01214-9A prototype wearable system uses machine-learning to guide users around obstacles.