Raiders GM John Spytek said teams have called to inquire about the possibility of trading for the No. 1 overall pick but added, "Those teams know where they stand."

The admission by Senator Ruben Gallego that he had heard, but disbelieved, rumors about Eric Swalwell and women showed the attitude on Capitol Hill toward men accused of behaving badly.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10324-xIn situ microscopic single-particle imaging demonstrates the significance of rationally engineered metalsupport interfaces for activating the oxygen in bulk catalyst, helping elucidate reaction pathways in catalytic conversions.

One day after pulling his pledge from Illinois, four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati has committed to Michigan, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

U.S. Central Command said that six vessels had complied with directions to turn around and re-enter an Iranian port.

Defending the convictions would likely have required administration officials to assert that far-right groups were acting on behalf of President Trump on Jan. 6, 2021.

Prosecutors in Utah investigated after the reality stars ex-boyfriend told the police she had scratched, shoved and struck him during a fight in February.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has opposed raising taxes, favored a pied--terre luxury tax because it largely targets the ultrawealthy who primarily live outside New York City.

Democratic candidates see sudden voter interest in the sleepy contest as a campaign opportunity. All are scrambling for support from former backers of Eric Swalwell.

The gathering ended with encouraging words, even as Israel continued to refuse to halt its military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The vice president, who is Catholic, took issue with Pope Leo XIVs statement that disciples of Christ are never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

A federal judges nearly yearlong effort to investigate whether the Trump administration had violated his order had become a point of contention in the presidents battles with the courts.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00697-4The models are designed to predict someones risk of diabetes or stroke. A few might already have been used on patients.

Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson, one of the best scorers in the transfer portal, committed to Arkansas on Tuesday night, sources told ESPN, choosing the Razorbacks over programs such as Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and LSU, among others.

The Jewish Defense League had long been largely inactive. But an arrest in a plan to kill a Palestinian activist shed light on an apparent resurgence of far-right Zionism, inspired by the J.D.L.

Rap megastar J. Cole said on Tuesday that his time playing professional basketball in China has come to an end after one game.

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LaMelo Ball made the go-ahead bucket with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, and Miles Bridges sealed it with a block at the buzzer to propel the Hornets and oust the Heat in Tuesday night's play-in game.

The Justice Departments criminal inquiry into the Federal Reserve threatens to delay the confirmation of the next chair.

Heat center Bam Adebayo suffered a lower back injury after a fall in the second quarter and was ruled out in the second half.

The Giants and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II have reached an impasse on talks over a new contract extension, sources told NFL Network on Tuesday night.

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran directed an obscene gesture toward a fan who he said told him to "kill myself" during Boston's loss to the Twins on Tuesday.

Catholicism is growing fast on the continent, yet Africans play a comparatively small role in church leadership. Cameroon, which Leo XIV will visit Wednesday, shows the divide.

The countrys creaking electricity grid is lagging behind its push for renewable sources just as its growing economy hungers for oil stranded by war.

The actor-comedian said he will return to Broadway this fall with a new solo show called 860, named for the address of his destroyed family home.

In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, Chinas leader said the world could not risk reverting to the law of the jungle.

Vice President JD Vance appeared to express sympathy with critics of the war with Iran: I recognize that young voters do not love the policy we have in the Middle East, OK. I understand.

Presidents can fight with popes. God is another matter.

Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness questioned his players' desire to win after an uninspiring season-ending loss to the Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin, who assisted on Jakob Chychrun's go-ahead goal during the third period of the Washington Capitals' 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in the season finale Tuesday, heard chants of "One more year!" from fans during the final minute.

A harsh attack by the president drew a quick response from the pontiff, a reminder of his uniquely moral voice.

The spirit of the Sudanese people cannot be crushed.

Deni Avdija scored 41 points to help the Blazers erase an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and top the Suns 114-110 and secure the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Residents gesture and point toward damage as they stand near charred cars at the site of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike last Wednesday in central Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)2026-04-15T04:45:34Z ISLAMABAD (AP) Hopes rose for renewed talks between the United States and Iran on Wednesday, as the U.S. military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by strike targets across the war-weary region.U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a second round of talks could happen over the next two days, telling the New York Post the negotiations could be held again in Islamabad as diplomats worked through back channels to arrange them.U.N. Secretary-General Antnio Guterres concurred, saying its highly probable that talks will restart. He cited a meeting he had with Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.Oil prices fell on hopes for an end to fighting, and in the U.S. stocks surged close to records set in January. The war, now in its seventh week, has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have torn through military and civilian infrastructure across the region. Meanwhile in Washington, the first direct talks in decades between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. concluded on a productive note Tuesday, according to the U.S. State Department. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the two countries are on the same side of the equation in liberating Lebanon from the militant Hezbollah group. Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad called the meeting constructive but urged an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Since March, that war has displaced more than 1 million people in Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel. Read More First round of talks with Iran failed to end conflictLast weekend in Pakistan, an initial round of talks aimed at permanently ending the U.S.-Iran conflict failed to produce an agreement. The White House said Irans nuclear ambitions were a central sticking point.I think they want to make a deal very badly, Trump said in an excerpt from an interview with Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria scheduled to air Wednesday morning. He added: I view it as very close to over. A U.S. official said Tuesday that fresh talks with Iran were still under discussion and that nothing has been scheduled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive negotiations. Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistans finance minister, told The Associated Press that our leadership is not giving up on efforts to help the U.S. and Iran end the conflict.Though the ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the strategic Strait of Hormuz risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the regional wars economic fallout.The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Tankers turned around after blockade took effectU.S. Central Command said Tuesday no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours, while six merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and reenter Iranian waters.The blockade is intended to pressure Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil, mostly to Asia, since the war began Feb. 28. Much of it has likely been carried by so-called dark transits that evade sanctions and oversight, providing cash thats been vital to keeping Iran running.Tankers approaching the strait Monday turned around shortly after the blockade took effect, though one reversed course again and transited the waterway. Since the war began, Iran has curtailed maritime traffic, with most commercial vessels avoiding the waterway. Tehrans effective closure of the strait, through which a fifth of global oil transits in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East.___Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee, Fatima Hussein, Collin Binkley, Chris Rugaber, Will Weissert and Konstantin Toporin in Washington; Sylvie Corbet in Paris; Toqa Ezzidin in Cairo; Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem; Edith Lederer and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations, and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report. SAM METZ Metz covers Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and points beyond for The Associated Press. mailto

Lonna Drewes joins her lawyer Lisa Bloom at a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to detail allegations of sexual misconduct by Rep. Eric Swalwell, after Swalwell exited the California governor's race and said he'll resign his seat in Congress. The AP typically does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they identify themselves publicly. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)2026-04-15T04:22:36Z WASHINGTON (AP) Resignations came quickly this week from two congressmen accused of sexual misconduct toward staff members. Yet for many of the women of Capitol Hill, the moment of accountability was years in the making and far from enough. Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, both announced within hours of each other Monday that they were leaving Congress. Their decisions came the day before the House returned to Washington and as both faced the prospect of being expelled from the chamber by their colleagues. It was a reckoning of sorts for Capitol Hill, the most striking since the careers of roughly a dozen male politicians were toppled during the heights of the #MeToo movement. Yet some congresswomen said that the pair of resignations took too long and proved what theyve long been saying: that more must be done to rid Capitol Hill of sexual predation. Today was an important turning point, said Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. That it should that abuse of power should never be accepted, and above all, in public office. And so, I think this is an important resetting point for the institution. A bipartisan group of congresswomen had threatened on Tuesday to file resolutions that could have forced votes on expelling Swalwell and Gonzales. Their moves forced the two men to act and came swiftly after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN had reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her. Read More The initial allegations against Swalwell date back to 2019 and 2024; they were followed with other allegations of inappropriate behavior made by other women. Swalwell has denied engaging in any sexual misconduct but acknowledged mistakes in judgment. Gonzales for months had resisted calls for his resignation after he admitted to a 2024 affair with a staff member who later committed suicide.Accountability can happen. We can hold men accountable when they abuse women, and were going to do more of it, said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernndez, who chairs the Democratic Womens Caucus. House rules forbid relationships with staffIt is against the House Code of Conduct for any member to have a sexual relationship with their staff members.Following the #MeToo movement, the House changed its rules to require annual trainings on sexual harassment and discrimination for members. The House also approved legislation to speed the slow-moving process for harassment complaints, require more disclosure of settlements and force lawmakers to personally pay any penalties theyre required to make.Former Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who led the movement for reforms around sexual assault, told The Associated Press that problems still persist after those reforms.What we do in Congress is basically look the other way, she said, adding that she was calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to really tighten the rules and create a safe environment for these women to report.While Johnson said he did not talk with the lawmakers before they announced their resignations, he told reporters that the episode had played out appropriately.This is the right thing for the institution, he said. How the push for accountability has grown Sexual abuse has been top of mind for lawmakers as they investigate the actions of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A handful of Republican women, mostly hailing from the right wing of their party, played crucial roles in forcing Congress to take up the issue.Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, alongside Rep. Lauren Boebert and then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, rebuffed pressure from President Donald Trump and Johnson last year as they joined with Democrats and forced a vote on a bill mandating the release of many of the case files on Epstein.Mace, who in 2019 shared her own account of surviving rape, has continued an outspoken campaign advocating for victims of sexual assault. She and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had repeatedly called for Swalwell and Gonzales to resign. Mace has also extended that demand to Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who is facing an ethics investigation on allegations of sexual misconduct and violence against an ex-girlfriend. Mills has said he will disprove the allegations. Meanwhile, Mace and Luna are also calling for the resignation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat. The House Ethics Committee found evidence that she broke campaign finance law related to a mistaken overpayment of $5 million from the state of Florida to her familys health care business. She has said she did nothing wrong.Clean house. Expel them. Hold every last one accountable, Mace said on social media. The American people are watching.At the same time, Mace herself is under investigation by the ethics panel for allegations she improperly claimed housing reimbursements. She has denied wrongdoing. Swalwell allies are facing close scrutinyAs accusations of sexual abuse continued to land against Swalwell, some Democrats found themselves in a moment of reflection and contrition, especially those who kept close company with him.Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwells who chaired his presidential campaign, called reporters to his office on Tuesday for an emotional press conference.I messed up. Im human. I trusted this man, a teary-eyed Gallego said.Under intense questioning from reporters, Gallego acknowledged that he had heard rumors about Swalwell being flirty, but contended that he trusted him as a close family friend.I definitely look at the world in a different way now, Gallego said. I personally am going to make sure that Im going to take personal steps and office steps to make sure that we dont even get close to a gray line.Policing behavior in Congress presents challengesSpeier, who entered politics by first working as a congressional aide and experienced harassment from a supervisor, said that part of the problem in Congress is that members are given wide latitude to run their offices. All 535 lawmakers are bosses of their own hand-selected staff. Theres really no one overseeing you, Speier said. Theres a sense of entitlement that kind of overtakes many of these members.Speier, alongside then-Rep. Bradley Byrne, led the effort to pass legislation to make it easier to report sexual harassment and discrimination, including banning nondisclosure agreements to protect members of Congress. Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members offices, totaling just over $400,000. Those payments cover all types of violations of workplace rights, not just sexual harassment, and the violations could have been committed by other congressional staff in the office.Speier said that it was crucial to keep making it easier for survivors to report sexual abuse.Unless someone comes forward, you know the conduct continues, she said.___Associated Press Chief Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. STEPHEN GROVES Groves covers Congress for The Associated Press. twitter mailto JOEY CAPPELLETTI Cappelletti covers Congress for The Associated Press. He previously reported on Michigan politics for AP. twitter mailto

China has denied claims this month by U.S. intelligence that it might have shipped arms to Iran. In recent years, China has supported Iran with dual-use parts.

Students prepare to enter Sudanese secondary school certificate exams under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali)2026-04-15T06:15:14Z CAIRO (AP) Famine. Massacres. And now badly needed food and other supplies are under strain. Sudan on Wednesday enters a fourth year of war thats being called an abandoned crisis, as a new conflict in the Middle East throws into shadow the fighting that has forced 13 million people to flee their homes.Sudan has been described as the worlds largest humanitarian challenge, notably in terms of displacement and hunger. There is no end in sight to the fighting between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that witnesses and aid groups say has laid waste to parts of the vast Darfur region.Growing evidence shows regional powers like the United Arab Emirates backing combatants behind the scenes. Attempts by the United States and regional powers, now distracted by the Iran war, have failed to establish a ceasefire.This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed to meet the test of Sudan, United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said. Numbers tell a tale of painAt least 59,000 people have been killed. At least 6,000 died over three days as the RSF rampaged through the Darfur outpost of el-Fasher in October, according to the U.N., with U.N.-backed experts concluding the offensive bore the defining characteristics of genocide.The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine. The number of people with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous and deadly kind, is expected to increase to 800,000, the worlds foremost experts on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in February.About 34 million people, or almost two of every three Sudanese, need assistance, the U.N. says. Only 63% of health facilities remain fully or partially functional amid disease outbreaks including cholera, according to the World Health Organization. And now fuel prices in Sudan have increased by over 24% because of the Iran war and its effects on shipping, driving up food prices.A plea from me: Please dont call this the forgotten crisis. Im referring to this as an abandoned crisis, the top U.N. official in Sudan, Denise Brown, said Monday, criticizing the international community for failing to focus on ending the fighting. Read More The war could spill over Sudans bordersThe war exploded from a power struggle that emerged following Sudans transition to democracy after an uprising forced the military ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.The tensions sparked between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who chairs the ruling sovereign council, and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who was Burhans deputy there.Sudan is now essentially divided between a military-backed, internationally recognized government in the capital, Khartoum, and a rival RSF-controlled administration in Darfur. Neither side can achieve a decisive victory, said Shamel Elnoor, a Sudanese journalist and researcher, adding that Sudanese have become powerless and are subjected to foreign dictates.The military has established control over the north, east and central regions, including Sudans Red Sea ports and its oil refineries and pipelines. The RSF and allies control Darfur and areas in the Kordofan region along the border with South Sudan. Both regions include many of Sudans oil fields and gold mines. While Egypt supports Sudans military, the UAE is accused by U.N. experts and rights groups of providing arms to the RSF. The UAE has rejected the accusation.The Yale School of Public Healths Humanitarian Research Lab, which tracks the war through satellite imagery, said this month that the RSF had received military support from a base in Ethiopia. The RSF didnt comment on the allegation.Josef Tucker, senior analyst for the Horn of Africa at the International Crisis Group, told The Associated Press that the war could spill over Sudans borders, making the conflict even more intractable. Experts look at possible war crimesThree years of fighting have seen widespread atrocities including mass killings and rampant sexual violence including gang rapes.Hospitals, ambulances and medical workers in Sudan have been attacked, with over 2,000 people killed, the WHO has said.The International Criminal Court has said it was investigating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur, a region that two decades ago became synonymous with genocide and war crimes.Most of the latest atrocities have been blamed on the RSF and their Janjaweed allies, Arab militias that were notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s against people identifying as East or Central African in Darfur. The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed.We have no reason at all to believe it will stop the mass atrocities that we saw in el-Fasher, Brown, the UN official, said.The militarys seizure of Khartoum and other urban areas in central Sudan in early 2025 did allow the return of about 4 million people to their homes, the U.N. migration agency said in March. But they struggle with damaged infrastructure and other challenges. Its not really a return to normal. It is trying to survive amidst a new normal, said Tjada DOyen McKenna, CEO of aid group Mercy Corps.___Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled in Cairo and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto

FILE Malak Meslmani, center, the mother of Jawad Younes, 11, who was was killed in an Israeli airstrike, mourns over her son's body during his funeral procession in Saksakieh village, south Lebanon, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)2026-04-15T05:04:01Z BEIRUT (AP) Jawad Younes, 11, and his cousins were playing soccer in the lot between their houses, as they often did. His little brother, 4-year-old Mehdi, had joined them but grew tired, so Jawad took him home and handed him off to their mother before returning to the game. Minutes later, an Israeli strike came.The target was Jawads uncles home. The blast shook neighboring buildings and threw Jawads siblings at home to the ground. As their mother, Malak Meslmani, scrambled to help them up, she could think only of Jawad. I was pulling my children off the floor in the house, but as I was running to pick them up, I screamed, Jawad, she said. My heart told me.Her son was instantly killed in the March 27 Israeli strike in Saksakieh. So was one of his cousins so close they were more like brothers. Several other children were wounded. Jawads uncle also was killed. He was an interior design engineer; Jawad wanted to be an engineer like him. Meslmani called him a civilian. But like many Shiite families in southern Lebanon, the family were loyal supporters of the militant group and political party Hezbollah, which formed in the 1980s to fight Israels occupation of the area. Jawad and his cousin are among 168 children killed of more than 2,100 people in all by Israels strikes in the six weeks of renewed war between the country and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Read More Israel has often struck alleged Hezbollah militants or officials in their homes without warning, frequently in areas far from the front line when they are with their families, in apartment buildings surrounded by uninvolved neighbors. The Israeli military rarely names the targets of its strikes but says it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties including children and blames Hezbollah members for mixing with the general population. The families of children killed accuse Israel of committing war crimes because of the large number of civilian casualties. At least two Israeli civilians both adults and 13 soldiers have been killed in the current war with Hezbollah, according to figures from Israel. One of the civilians was killed by mistaken Israeli fire.In response to Associated Press questions, the Israeli military didnt deny that children have been killed in its Lebanon strikes but said it has targeted Hezbollah facilities and militants. The army says its killed hundreds of Hezbollah operatives but has provided little evidence to support the claim.Under international law governing armed conflict, its never legal to directly target civilians, but collateral damage harm to civilians when striking a military target is allowed if it is proportional to the anticipated military gains of any given strike.The Israeli military told AP in a statement that its strikes follow the law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and the taking of precautions.Charles Trumbull, an assistant University of South Carolina law professor who studies the law and ethics of armed conflict, said its difficult to assess whether the proportionality threshold was met without knowing the strike targets and whether the military knew children were present. To the extent that they knew that children were likely to be harmed or killed in these strikes, and as an ethical matter, absolutely I think that should affect the calculus, he said. Just because certain strikes might not violate the law on conflict doesnt mean that theyre not concerning or problematic or that they are morally justified.Children crushed under their own homesAt 2 a.m. March 12, Taline Shehab who would have turned 4 last month was sleeping when missiles tore into an apartment above hers in the familys building in Aramoun, about 20 km (12 miles) south of Beirut, causing it to collapse. Taline and her father died; her mother was critically wounded. Aramoun is a religiously mixed area that was generally considered safe, though it had been targeted by airstrikes in the previous Israel-Hezbollah war, in 2024.Talines father, Mohamad, was a drone operator and video producer who often worked with the Lebanese army and on high-profile television productions. He and his wife, Nathalie, ran a fashion company; Taline appeared regularly on its social media. They were a very close family. Their daily life revolved around their daughter, said Ali Shehab, Mohamads brother.Taline was full of personality, he said. She was very attached to her father. She loved being around him and didnt like to share him with anyone.He comforts himself with the thought that maybe Mohammed and Taline, because they are so attached to each other, God chose them both.Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, whos worked extensively in Gaza and Lebanon and runs an initiative treating some of the most seriously war-wounded children at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, said that, like Taline, most of the cases he has seen are children being crushed underneath the rubble of their own homes. A lifetime shadowed by war and lossTen-year-old Zeinab al-Jabali used to tag along wherever her father went: the corner store, the mountains around their village in Lebanons Bekaa Valley. Now, he sleeps in the Beirut hospital where doctors are treating his wife and three older daughters, all wounded in the strike that killed Zeinab. War has shadowed most of Hassan al-Jabalis life. In 1982, his brother then 10, like Zeinab was killed by an Israeli missile.Al-Jabali made a living selling mouneh, or preserved foods such as raisins and dried herbs, and worked for his cousins factory producing laban, or yogurt.On March 5, al-Jabalis wife and daughters were preparing for iftar, the meal ending the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, at his wifes sisters house when the airstrike hit it.Al-Jabali acknowledged his brother-in-law who was killed in the past was with the resistance, referring to Hezbollah.But they struck him at home, in a house full of children, full of girls, said al-Jabali, who heard the blast from elsewhere in the village and found a scene of carnage when he rushed to check on his family. He said his wife still doesnt know Zeinab is dead; hes afraid the grief would endanger her recovery.Families grieve: I remember everythingIn response to questions about the strikes that killed Jawad, Taline, and Zeinab, the Israeli military didnt give details about the intended targets beyond that they were related to Hezbollah.The militarys statement said Israel regrets any civilian harm but that its operating against Hezbollah, which attacked the State of Israel under Iranian backing. Many Lebanese have blamed Hezbollah for pulling their country into the war when it fired missiles across the border March 2, two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. But for others, the devastation from Israeli strikes has strengthened their support.We are now holding onto the resistance more than any time before, said Meslmani, Jawads mother.Despite Israeli army notices for residents in large swathes of southern Lebanon to flee, many in their town of Saksakieh stayed. Displaced people from farther south took refuge there. Life felt almost normal before the strike that killed Jawad.Now, Meslmani visits his grave in a small cemetery overlooking a mountain vista, where she can hear warplanes roar overhead. I remember everything, she said. How he used to eat and drink, how he used to play, how he would get dressed and fix his beautiful hair. Since he was killed, the planes no longer bother her.The most precious thing, my heart, is gone, she said. What more can they do?___ Associated Press journalists Malak Harb in Beirut and Koral Saeed in Abu Snan, Israel, contributed to this report. ABBY SEWELL Sewell is the Associated Press news director for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. She joined the AP in 2022 but has been based in the region since 2016, reporting and guiding coverage on some of its most significant news stories. twitter mailto

Students prepare to enter Sudanese secondary school certificate exams under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali)2026-04-15T04:30:27Z DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, were missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea recently on the way to Malaysia, according to the United Nations refugee and migration agencies.While details remained sketchy, Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Com. Sabbir Alam Suzan told The Associated Press on Wednesday that nine people, including three Rohingya and six Bangladeshis, were rescued on April 9. Suzan said the Bangladesh flag carrier M.T. Meghna Pride rescued the nine people when the crew found them floating at sea after the capsize.When the boat sank and the status of any search Wednesday were unclear.The U.N. high commissioner for refugees and the International Organization for Migration in a joint statement said Tuesday that the trawler departed from Teknaf in the southern Bangladeshi district of Coxs Bazar carrying a large number of passengers to Malaysia. Overcrowding, strong winds and rough seas caused the vessel to lose control and sink, the agencies said.Shari Nijman, a UNCHR communication officer in Coxs Bazar, said Wednesday that the agency had no other updates. Another coast guard media official told the AP by phone Wednesday that the rescued people, eight men and one woman, were all safe after being handed over to the coast guard, who brought them to the police in Teknaf. Read More The official said the rescue was not part of any official search operation as it is outside Bangladesh territory, and that the crew of the M.T. Meghna Pride saved the people while it was on its way to Indonesia from Bangladeshs Chittagong. The official spoke by phone on condition of anonymity in line with official policy. UNHCR and IOM said the disappearance reflected the protracted displacement of Rohingya people and the absence of durable solutions.They said ongoing violence in Myanmars Rakhine state has made the Rohingyas safe return to Myanmar uncertain, while limited humanitarian assistance, as well as restricted access to education and employment in refugee camps, continue to push vulnerable Rohingya refugees to choose risky sea journeys, often based on false promises of higher wages and better opportunities abroad.UNHCR and IOM urged the international community to strengthen funding and solidarity to ensure lifesaving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which has sheltered more than 1 million Rohingya from Myanmar.

Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he celebrates a Mass in the Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba, Algeria, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, on the second day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)2026-04-15T06:38:05Z ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) Pope Leo XIV is heading to the central African nation of Cameroon with a message of peace for its separatist region and for talks with President Paul Biya, the 93-year-old leader whose grip on power was extended for an eighth term in a widely disputed election last year.The Vatican says fighting corruption in the mineral-rich country and insisting on the correct uses of political authority are expected to be themes of Leos visit, which starts Wednesday with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital. Leo was travelling to Cameroon from Algeria, the first stop on his four-nation Africa tour.The Vatican has made clear that Catholic social teaching disapproves of the types of authoritarian leaders that Leo is encountering on his visit, the first to the continent by historys first American pope.Biya is the worlds oldest leader and has led the central African nation since 1982. Leo will meet with Biya upon arrival at the presidential palace in the capital Yaounde. Hell then address Cameroon government authorities, civil service representatives and diplomats before visiting an orphanage run by a Catholic religious order of nuns. Cameroons opposition has contested the result of the Oct. 12 election that secured the victory for Biya. His election rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, claims to have won and has called on Cameroonians to reject the official result. Read More Just this week, Leo issued an unrelated message on the correct role of political leaders and the need for authentic democracy to legitimize their authority and act as a guardrail against the abuse of power.In a message to a Vatican academy for social science, Leo wrote that democracy remains healthy only when it is driven by morality and a vision of humanity that respects the dignity of everyone.Lacking this foundation, it risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites, he warned in a message that wasnt directed at any particular nation or leader and was dated April 1. A peace meeting and a pause in fightingLeo has two major events in Cameroon, with the highlight a peace meeting on Thursday in Cameroons north-west city of Bamenda, which has been plagued by separatist violence.English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion in 2017 with the stated goal of breaking away from the French-speaking majority of Cameroon and establishing an independent English-speaking state. The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group, a think tank.On the eve of Leos arrival, the English-speaking separatists announced a three-day pause in fighting to allow safe travel for Leos visit.The Unity Alliance, which includes several separatist groups, said in a statement late Monday the pause reflects the profound spiritual importance of the visit and is intended to allow civilians, pilgrims and dignitaries to travel safely.Leos other big event in Cameroon, where about 29% of the population is Catholic, is a Mass on Friday in the city of Douala, where some 600,000 people are expected to turn out. On Saturday, Leo heads to Angola for the third leg of his trip, which ends next week in Equatorial Guinea.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. NICOLE WINFIELD Winfield has been on the Vatican beat since 2001, covering the papacies of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Francis pontificate and traveling the world with them. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

China's President Xi Jinping holds a talk with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP)2026-04-15T04:38:37Z BEIJING (AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly precious in the face of an international landscape intertwined with change and chaos. During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, Xi said the strong vitality and exemplary significance of the friendship treaty between the two countries stand out even more under such a backdrop. Xi said China and Russia need to use closer and stronger strategic collaboration to defend the legitimate interests of both nations and safeguard the unity of Global South countries, the state broadcaster CCTV reported. He also called for two countries to showcase the responsibility and commitment of major powers and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the report said. Firmly uphold and practice multilateralism, work together to revitalize the authority and vitality of the United Nations, he was quoted as saying. Promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction. Xi touted the value of the two nations ties, but he did not specify what he referred to as chaos and changes in the international context. His remarks came as uncertainty still lingers about how long the Iran war would last. In clips from an interview with the Fox Business Network, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the war was close to over. Trump has repeatedly declared a U.S. victory in Iran after the war started even as the reality on the ground has been far more complicated. Read More Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Trumps unorthodox approach to the war in Ukraine has added a twist to the relationship but doesnt appear to have fundamentally changed it. When Putin visited China in September, Xi welcomed his counterpart as an old friend. Putin also addressed Xi as dear friend. Xi on Wednesday said foreign ministries from both countries would need to fully implement the consensus reached between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for strengthening strategic communication and close diplomatic coordination. He also urged them to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow to stand higher, walk more steadily and go further. CCTV reported that Lavrov said Russian-Chinese relations demonstrated high resilience in a complex external environment, pointing to good momentum in trade and investment cooperation and close coordination in the U.N and other multilateral platforms. He said Russia is willing to work with China to uphold international fairness and justice, push their ties to achieve greater development and make greater contributions to world peace, among other goals, CCTV said. Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for a two-day trip at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Ronny Chieng poked fun at JD Vances defense of President Trump posting an image of himself as a Christ-like figure.

Workers salvage items Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at a pipe manufacturing facility that was damaged by a tornado Monday in Ottawa, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)2026-04-15T04:11:41Z ATLANTA (AP) A long-lasting weather pattern is poised to blast hot air like a furnace across the eastern United States, with the unusual heat wave threatening to shatter record high temperatures on Wednesday in big cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.The heat is unusual for April, not only because its scorching much of the nation so early in the year but also for its duration. The near-record temperatures are expected to last into this weekend, forecasters say.The potentially dangerous heat comes after severe storms tore through Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Monday, and more storms threaten Tuesday in the nations midsection.While its not unprecedented to see high temperatures climb toward 90 degrees (32 Celsius) on an April day, the length of such an April heat wave is rarely seen, experts say.Thats borderline unprecedented as far as the duration of it this time of year, said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at the forecasting firm AccuWeather.com. Feerick said that starting Wednesday were going to have records challenged from basically Georgia all the way up through the New York City area and back towards the Ohio Valley. The National Weather Service is projecting a high temperature around 86 degrees (30 Celsius) for Central Park in New York City on Wednesday. The record high for the date is 87, which has stood since 1941. Read More Even hotter weather is expected in Philadelphia, where Wednesdays high is expected to be 92 degrees (33.3 C). Other likely hot spots include Washington, D.C., which could see a high of 94 (34.4 C); and Atlanta, where the high is projected to be 88 (31.1 C).Its really some very impressive heat for the middle of April, for sure, Feerick said.The good thing about this is that the humidity is not summer-time levels, he added. That means it wont feel as hot as a sizzling July day. However, the early-season heat can be more stressful on peoples bodies since they havent had a chance to acclimate.Its kind of one of those things where its a little more stressful to the body because youre not used to it the first time around, Feerick said.Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S., the weather service warns. Infants and young children; older adults, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to heat-related injuries and death.A strong ridge of high pressure fueling moisture into the southern plains was responsible for bringing the unusual heat to the eastern U.S., the weather service said.Though Wednesday is a day when many records could fall, the heat wave will continue through Friday in many areas, forecasters said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Widespread lower to even middle 90s are expected Friday across the lower elevations of the Carolinas, which could set additional daily records and perhaps come close to some monthly records, the agencys Weather Prediction Center wrote in a memo.The heat wave should finally be breaking down by Sunday as a strong cold front moves toward the eastern seaboard, and then it should be pleasantly cooler by Monday with the front heading out to sea, the weather service said. JEFF MARTIN Martin covers a variety of topics including crime, hurricanes, and civil rights across the southeastern U.S. He was a member of the AP team named a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for the Lethal Restraint project. mailto

Raul Servin, whose son disappeared eight years prior, inspects an area where the Guerreros Buscadores group of serarchers suspects bodies may be buried, in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)2026-04-15T05:01:08Z GUADALAJARA, Mxico (AP) For hours under the blistering sun, Ral Servn shovels and digs his way through days filled with pain, hope and usually frustration. He is looking for his son, gone eight years now and for all the other missing people " in Mexico as well. Every Tuesday, Servn loads a van with picks, shovels, water and lunches. He commends himself to God. He picks up his three teammates for the day. Then they venture forth into areas where the ground beneath their feet may sometimes hide the bodies of the missing the victims of foul play in a Mexican state rife with drug cartel violence.They call themselves the Guerreros Buscadores the Searching Warriors. There is much to search for, and dozens of groups like theirs do: More than 130,000 people have been reported missing since 2006, according to official records. Balancing the search efforts with daily obligations is not easy. Servn lost his job when he started looking for his missing son. Now he works as a waiter on weekends.But the most difficult parts also offer ways forward news that arrives via a skull, a mutilated body, evidence of closure in many respects of the word. There is even joy now and then even if it comes from a pit. On those difficult days, Servn, 54, comes to grips with a jarring fact: Sometimes, in the end, the worst-case scenario can become the best possible outcome. Searching, waiting, hopingServns life is filled with mixed-feeling moments not easy to witness. On a recent day, these Guerreros agreed to be shadowed by an Associated Press photojournalist to see what they do and why it matters. They set out to cover several locations on the outskirts of Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco and a World Cup host city. Servn and the women go alone, unaccompanied by any protection. The only semblance of an authority is a panic button held by Servn that connects to a federal network to protect rights activists.It is perilous work in a perilous environment. Mexico is neither at war nor under a military dictatorship, yet thousands of people disappear every year amid cartel violence. Clandestine graves are discovered on a semiregular basis; more than 70,000 unidentified remains have piled up in morgues and cemeteries. Read More The previous administration recognized the magnitude of the problem and launched official search commissions, but high levels of impunity and inaction persist. The current government has said missing information for one-third of those disappeared makes it impossible to search for them at all. Families remain the main driving force behind the searches and the findings. The group heads to several locations based on anonymous tips received on the Guerreros Buscadores website. These often come from people who heard screams or gunshots or who saw something but fear going to the authorities. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. On their previous outing, they dug down more than a yard (meter) at four locations. Nothing. Sometimes they find bloodstains or shell casings. They check every tip anyway. Says Servn: There cannot be room for doubt. He receives a call. An informant says there is a body buried in a residential area. The information seems reliable, so they change their plans. This time they wont be able to check the area in advance, a security measure to avoid encountering drug cartel lookouts or gunmen who could drive them off with shots into the sky. That has happened before.Arches mark the entrance to the residential complex identified by the informant. It sits next to a commuter train line on the outskirts of Guadalajara, a city plastered with fliers of missing people. Jalisco state, a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is an epicenter of disappearances.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the area following the violence that erupted in February over the killing of the cartels leader. She insisted that security for the World Cup would be guaranteed. The search collectives want to take advantage of the worlds focus on Mexico to draw attention to their reality. I love soccer, Servn says, but thats not going to stop me from going out to search. A lullaby for the deadCaps and scarves shield the searchers from the sun. Each wears a personalized T-shirt with a photo of their loved one. Servns reads Searcher Dad. The group prepares their equipment. A metal rod they call the seer is a must-have: For over a decade, it has been the searchers rudimentary yet indispensable tool. They stick it into the ground and then sniff. If theres an organic smell, theres a clue.They begin digging in a small dirt area at one residential corner. They dig and dig some more. Nothing.Then, after hours of no progress, Servn steps outside the apartment complex and walks between the wall and the tracks. The ground is soft. I saw a hole with small rocks; it was strange. Years ago, his heart would have raced. Now he says, I dont get nervous anymore. He kneels and grips his shovel. A train passes. First he sees part of a skull. He begins to dig out the soil with his shovel and hands.Weve got a positive! he shouts.The four don masks and gloves. A jawbone appears. There is no doubt: It is a human being. Servn shows his colleagues the head, holding it with the utmost delicacy. They decide to keep digging to look for the full body. A bag of bones appears. Then a shoe. Then a pelvis. They carefully place each outside the pit. If any bone looks the same, it would be placed elsewhere because it could belong to a second person.The womens voices mingle like lullabies. Hi baby, youre going home soon. Your family is waiting for you. One lights a candle at the edge of the pit.To someone unfamiliar with violent environments, the scene might seem macabre. To those who witness it, its an act of tremendous tenderness and solidarity carried out by people who were re-victimized by the authorities for years. In 2021, a prosecutor handed a woman the remains of her relative in a trash bag. A photo of her with a vacant stare over the huge black bag at her feet went viral.Criminals hide their victims because if theres no body, theres no crime. Nearly 20,000 missing people have been found dead since 2010. So finding a body can be dangerous. Servn activates his panic button that many searchers carry. Since 2010, at least 36 searchers have been killed, according to civil society organizations. The latest was in mid-March.Servn talks to the federal officials on the line, confirms his identity with a password, explains what he found and notes the location. He requests hourly monitoring, which means a call to confirm everything is all right.Then he phones the police.Navigating the aftermath logistically and emotionallyOne of the women prepares to go live on Facebook. Its a way to leave a record. If they hadnt gone live when they found a ranch used by the Jalisco Cartel, it would have been difficult to get people to believe what they discovered. It also helps people recognize things.Theres a pair of gray underwear that says Sport in orange letters, some size 5 brown boots, one of the searchers explains. Theres the skull, it still has some hair. Theres the pelvis.The phone zooms in to show the details of the shoe, of the jawbone missing a tooth. Any detail might help. One woman hopes that the little person will soon be with loved ones. They pray. Servn begins answering questions online. Hes no expert, but his experience tells him the body might have been buried about 18 months ago. It cannot be his son, but hope is never entirely lost; two weeks ago, a mother found her son after seven years of searching. He thanks God that there are remains for DNA testing.When the Guerreros find bodies in pieces, Servn feels like crying. What hits us hardest is to think that our children might be in those conditions.But he also feels good. Because he knows there are answers there.While waiting for the authorities, the searchers sit down to rest. It is a moment of intimate conversation among people united by grief and their mission.A woman from the neighborhood arrives with her son. She has a missing child and wants to see if he recognizes anything. An hour later, another mother arrives. The searchers embrace her and advise to go to the attorneys office for a DNA test. Emotion overflows.When the police arrive, Servn answers their questions. Mistrust, though, persists because he knows some officers work for the cartel. He says that some time ago the authorities accused them of contaminating crime scenes, but the collectives have gradually earned respect.As evening falls, the forensic team begins its job. In Mexico, the results of a genetic test can take days or years. The remains of one searchers brother a searcher who is also Servns partner have been at the forensic institute for six years. There has been a match, but the experts havent finished processing the remains from all the bags found back then. Its illogical, he says. His anguish is evident.At 9 p.m., Servn presses the panic button one more time to check in that he is home. I arrive feeling at peace, he says, knowing the day was fruitful.Verza reported from Mexico City. EDUARDO VERDUGO Verdugo is APs chief photographer for Mexico and Central America. He is based in Mexico City. instagram mailto MARA VERZA Verza has focused on immigration, violence and human rights stories in Mexico and Central America for more than a decade twitter instagram mailto

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters outside the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-04-15T04:30:08Z WASHINGTON (AP) Congress is set to take up the reauthorization of a divisive program that lets U.S. spy agencies pore over foreigners calls, texts and emails, with supporters like President Donald Trump saying it has saved lives while critics point to longstanding concerns about warrantless surveillance of Americans.A key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. It incidentally sweeps up the conversations of any Americans who interact with those foreigners targeted for surveillance.The program expires Monday, and critics want changes, including a requirement for warrants before authorities can access the emails, phone calls or text messages of Americans. They also want limits on the governments use of internet data brokers, who sell large volumes of personal information gleaned online, offering the government what critics say amounts to an end-run around the Constitution. Despite bipartisan criticism, the chances of significant reforms dropped when Trump announced his support for the programs renewal, saying it had proven its worth in supplying information vital to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran.The fact is, whether you like FISA or not, it is extremely important to our military, Trump said on social media Tuesday. Trump calls for another extension of the programU.S. authorities say the program, known as Section 702 of the law, is vital to national security and has saved lives by uncovering terror plots. Critics question what they call a dangerous infringement on civil liberties and privacy.In a Truth Social post, Trump said a different FISA provision was used to spy on his 2016 campaign but that he supported Section 702s renewal despite misgivings that political adversaries could use parts of the law against him in the future. He called on lawmakers to extend the foreign surveillance program for another 18 months. Read More My administration has worked tirelessly to ensure these FISA reforms are being aggressively executed at every level of the Executive Branch to keep Americans safe, while protecting our sacred Civil Liberties guaranteed by our Great Constitution, Trump wrote. Trump is a longtime critic of the nations intelligence services and was once opposed to Section 702 before he reversed himself. KILL FISA Trump posted on social media in 2024, when the provision was last reauthorized.Trump isnt the only one-time critic to change their mind: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sponsored legislation to repeal Section 702 as a Hawaii congresswoman but now supports it after being tapped to coordinate the nations 18 intelligence agencies.Gabbard says new protections added since her time in Congress helped change her mind. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Greater protections are sought for Americans communicationsIn addition to a requirement for a warrant to access Americans data, critics also want greater protections on how the FBI or other agencies can search communications and how that is reported to the public.Journalists, foreign aid workers, people with family overseas, all could have their communications swept up in this surveillance merely because they talked to someone outside of this country, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The longtime critic of the law is pushing for changes that he said will ensure the government isnt violating civil rights in secret.Several Republicans also have suggested changes, such as the warrant requirement.National security and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. We can give our intelligence professionals the tools they need to target foreign threats while ensuring that Americans are not subjected to unconstitutional surveillance.Gabbards office releases an annual report showing the number of foreign surveillance targets and number of searches likely to identify an American.For 2025, the number of foreign surveillance targets increased to nearly 350,000 from almost 292,000 in 2024. Searches using terms likely to identify an American decreased slightly to 7,724 from 7,845 in 2024. The totals are incomplete because agencies like the FBI have found ways to access the data without reporting the searches publicly, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when searching for intelligence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a 2024 court order.Its reminiscent of J. Edgar Hoovers tenure at the FBI, Goitein said, referring to the FBIs founding director who used illegal surveillance to harass and spy on Americans. They can pretty much target anyone. Theres little time to make changes to the lawDespite bipartisan concerns about the law and its implications for civil liberties, time is running out for Congress to make any changes before Mondays expiration.Trumps support also reduces the odds that enough Republicans will break ranks and join Democrats to push for reforms.Wyden said Section 702 votes are routinely delayed until the last minute, then lawmakers are told that national security demands they vote yes. Lawmakers are told, he said, that if they vote for any amendments, the program will die and terrible things will happen and it will be all their fault.The best chance for inserting changes likely is the House, where a large number of lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns. But Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, is backing Trumps call for an 18-month renewal. Crawford has taken aim in the past at what he calls the weaponization of intelligence but said last month that he believes the government can empower spy agencies while also holding them accountable.We can walk and chew gum at the same time, Crawford said. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2026-04-15T03:26:30Z TOKYO (AP) Asian shares mostly rose in Wednesday trading, echoing the rally on Wall Street that came as oil prices eased on hopes the United States and Iran may try again on talks to end their war.Japans Nikkei 225 gained 0.4% in afternoon trading to 58,122.52. Australias S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, inching up less than 0.1% to 8,978.70. South Koreas Kospi jumped 2.1% to 6,092.77. Hong Kongs Hang Seng edged up 0.4% to 25,980.69, while the Shanghai Composite declined less than 0.1% to 4,023.40. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 1.2% to its leap from the day before, and the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts is just 0.2% below its record set in January.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2%.On Wednesday, benchmark U.S. crude fell 58 cents to $90.70 a barrel. Brent crude added 7 cents to $94.86, or less than 1% after falling 4.6% the day before. While thats still above its roughly $70 price from before the war began in late February, its well below the peak level of $119. Lower oil prices help bring down costs for all kinds of businesses. But some analysts noted the war was still ongoing, warning that the optimism may be unfortunately unfounded. The counterintuitive decline in crude appears driven by growing hopes that a second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran could soon materialize, after the first attempt fizzled out. Traders are clearly choosing to price in the possibility of de-escalation rather than the immediate reality of restricted flows, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. Read More Asian nations depends on access to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway thats the main avenue for crude oil produced in the Persian Gulf area to reach customers worldwide. Blockages there have kept oil off the global market, which has in turn driven up its price. Global inflation this year looks set to accelerate to 4.4% from 4.1% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund, which had earlier thought inflation would slow to 3.8%. The IMF on Tuesday also downgraded its forecast for global economic growth to 3.1% this year from the 3.3% it had forecast in January. All told, the S&P 500 rose 81.14 points to 6,967.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 317.74 to 48,535.99, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 455.35 to 23,639.08.In the bond market, Treasury yields eased as the fall for oil prices took some of the pressure off inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Monday.In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 158.95 Japanese yen from 158.79 yen. The euro cost $1.1790, down from $1.1797. ___AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York contributed to this report.Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama YURI KAGEYAMA Kageyama covers Japan news for The Associated Press. Her topics include social issues, the environment, businesses, entertainment and technology. twitter instagram facebook mailto

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives for a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)2026-04-14T11:49:08Z TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday suspended the fuel tax in response to the Iran war in his first act after securing a majority government.Carney said that with fuel prices increasing sharply, he is suspending the federal fuel excise tax from next Monday until Labor Day, Sept. 7. He called it a responsible, temporary measure that also will reduce costs for truckers and businesses.Carneys Liberals now have 174 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons and wont need support from opposition parties to pass legislation after winning three districts that became vacant after last years election.Carneys government is the first in Canadas history to switch from a minority to a majority between national elections.The Liberal Party could stay in power until 2029 after Mondays results.Carney said he wants to focus on affordability, housing and accelerating major economic projects. Voters have placed their trust in our new governments plan, he said.Carney won Canadas election last year, fueled by public anger over U.S. President Donald Trumps annexation threats. He has vowed to reduce Canadas reliance on the U.S. Five defections from opposition parties, including four from the main opposition Conservative party, later put Carneys Liberals on the cusp of the majority.One of those defectors referenced Carneys speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in his decision. In that speech, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries, and received widespread praise. Read More Carney, the former head of the Bank of England as well as Canadas central bank, has moved the Liberals to the center-right since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister.Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, said Trump has been a major factor in Carneys rise to prime minister, but his performance on the world stage has added to his popularity.Canadians liked seeing how well he was received at Davos and have been impressed by his travels abroad he visited 13 countries by last September in search of new alliances, investments and trade pacts. World leaders want to do business with him, Wiseman said.

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Belinda Daniels panicked in 2018 when the pediatrician said her 1-year-old son, Jovanni, had lead in his body. The toxic metal could stunt his brain, the doctor told her, but catching it early meant she could prevent more damage.Daniels moved out of her Omaha, Nebraska, apartment that had chipping lead paint. The doctor continued testing Jovanni periodically while Daniels followed instructions on cleaning, handwashing and keeping Jovanni away from contaminated dirt.Eventually, the lead level in Jovannis blood dropped. While the now-8-year-old has anger and impulse-control issues, Daniels said it could have been a lot worse.They told me that the side effects of it would be him being autistic or having very delayed behaviors, she said.Not every childs high lead levels are caught as early as Jovannis. In Nebraska, its largely up to the doctor or health system to decide whether to test a childs blood for lead. As a result, local public health officials say, not enough kids are getting tested, given Omahas lead problems, which include being home to the largest residential lead cleanup site in the country.For more than a century, smoke from a lead smelter and other factories deposited 400 million pounds of the toxic metal across the citys east side. That prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to begin investigating the pollution in 1999, and a few years later, the agency declared 27 square miles of east Omaha to be a Superfund site. Over more than two decades, the EPA and the city have dug up and replaced nearly 14,000 yards, from about a third of the sites residential properties.Belinda Daniels helps her son, Jovanni, climb the monkey bars. She thinks all kids in Omaha should be tested for lead. Lily Smith/Flatwater Free PressFaced with similar public health concerns about lead, 13 states, including New Jersey, Louisiana and neighboring Iowa, have passed laws requiring universal lead screening, meaning all kids would get a blood test before entering kindergarten.But not Nebraska.Most places passed these laws after recognizing that they were reaching too few kids by simply targeting high-risk groups like children who live in old housing. Every state with available data saw increases in the number of kids tested after passing these laws, the Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica found. Some identified more kids with elevated blood lead levels.A lack of consistent testing nationally leads health officials to miss about half the kids with high levels, according to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The academy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing in areas that have a high prevalence of lead or older housing.Over the years, Omaha public health officials have raised awareness about blood testing with billboards and community events about the risks of lead. But a bill to require that every child be tested failed in the Nebraska Legislature in 2011. Since then, there have been no efforts to revive it.Do You Live in the Omaha and Council Bluffs Area? Sign Up for Free Lead Testing of Your Soil.An Omaha lead smelter spread dust that seeped into the soil and bodies of many residents. The EPA spent decades cleaning up the surrounding area but not Council Bluffs, Carter Lake or Bellevue.Sign Up for a Free Soil TestNaudia McCracken, supervisor of the Douglas County Health Departments Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, said she is planning to propose an ordinance to the Omaha City Council this summer. That could require health workers to test all kids up to age 7 who live in the Superfund site itself and a broader area east of 72nd Street, generally thought of as the dividing line between the citys urban east side and suburban west side. Right now, fewer than half of kids under 7 in that area are tested for lead.As a whole, the countys testing rate is better than most, CDC data shows. But thats not comforting to local health workers. That number is abysmally low, said Peg Schneider, a physician assistant who has been testing Omaha kids for lead since 1989 and believes every kid should be tested.Amber Dawson holds her 4-year-old son, Jahmel, before he is given a blood lead test at Nebraska Medicines Fontenelle Health Center in Omaha in January. Rebecca S. Gratz for ProPublicaMcCracken said the city needs to come to grips with its lead problems. Not only is it home to the Superfund site, but the majority of east Omahas housing was built before lead paint was banned, and many residents drinking water travels through lead pipes. While Daniels lived in the Superfund site, she believes her baby might have been exposed to the apartments lead paint.Since the cleanup began, the percentage of kids in the Superfund site whose tests showed high lead levels has decreased from 33% in 2000 to 2.4% in 2025. That mirrors national trends over the same time period.But east Omaha still has a higher rate of children with elevated blood lead levels than the national average, according to the most recent CDC data.Without mandatory testing, theres no way to know if health workers are missing kids with potentially life-changing exposures to lead, said Dr. Jennifer Sample, a Kansas City, Missouri-area pediatrician and former chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change.Thats why I support universal testing: so we can actually see where those kids are, she said. We need better data.Getting an accurate picture of the communitys blood lead levels is not only important for public health. While levels of lead in soil are the main drivers for EPA action, the data on childrens blood lead levels can inform decisions like lowering cleanup thresholds, said Kellen Ashford, an EPA spokesperson. The EPA is currently reassessing the site, and tens of thousands more Omaha properties could be cleaned up.Jim Woolford, who led the EPAs Superfund program from 2006 to 2020, worries that if kids with lead poisoning arent being tested and the communitys levels appear low, EPA officials may use that data as a reason not to carry out a remediation project that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.Instead, Woolford said, they could declare victory and move on.Naudia McCracken, supervisor of the Douglas County Health Departments Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, said Omaha needs to come to grips with its lead problems. Rebecca S. Gratz for ProPublicaThat Opportunity Was LostIn 1977, Douglas County, which contains Omaha, took advantage of a new federal grant and started a screening program to test kids for lead. By then many communities in the U.S. recognized the dangers of the toxic metal and had begun passing laws to catch and address its effects.But in Omaha, local officials struggled to test enough kids with limited resources. Four health workers went door to door with suitcases full of swabs and vials. Dr. John Walburn, who treated lead-poisoned kids at the time, tried to convince doctors at Omahas clinics and hospitals to test, but, outside poor areas, they did not see it as their problem, he said.After the EPA proved lead contamination was a far-reaching problem and began the Omaha cleanup in 1999, testing increased dramatically as the EPA and local government recommended kids in the Superfund site be screened. But many still went unchecked, said Brenda Council, a longtime lead poisoning prevention advocate in the city.So when she won a seat in the Nebraska Legislature, she proposed that every child in the state undergo at least one blood lead test before kindergarten unless a health care worker determined the child to be at low risk for lead poisoning using a questionnaire. Some believed the survey would flag too many kids and result in unneeded tests.Among the things in that checklist are that theyve never ingested a nonfood product, Paul Schumacher, a state senator from Columbus, Nebraska, said at the time. It would be un-American for a kid not to have eaten dirt or grass at some time in its life.Jovanni loves riding his bike, wrestling and playing soccer. Lily Smith/Flatwater Free PressThe bill eventually passed the Legislature but was vetoed by then-Gov. Dave Heineman, who said it was unnecessary and would be too costly.There could have been so much prevention, Council said. That opportunity was lost.Heineman did not return phone calls, texts or emails requesting comment. Schumacher said in an interview that he still believes a one-size-fits-all approach would test kids unnecessarily but said a local policy for a place with lead issues would make more sense.Without universal testing, Nebraska policymakers and health institutions have taken different approaches. The state recommends testing every kid who lives within the Superfund site at ages 1 and 2. Douglas County recommends kids be tested annually until age 7.Only 1- and 2-year-olds with Medicaid insurance are required to be tested and even then, only two-thirds of eligible kids in the county are tested each year, according to state data.Providers in the biggest medical systems are left to follow individual policies. OneWorld Community Health Centers, which serves primarily low-income and Latino patients in South Omaha, requires its providers to try to test every 1- and 2-year-old. Childrens Nebraska, the states only independent pediatric hospital, requires one test by 2 years old. Nebraska Medicine, the states largest hospital network, does not have its own policy, according to a spokesperson. But Schneider, the physician assistant at Nebraska Medicines Fontenelle Health Center in North Omaha, said she tests kids annually until the age of 5.Peg Schneider, a physician assistant at Nebraska Medicines Fontenelle Health Center, runs annual lead tests for kids under 5. Rebecca S. Gratz for ProPublicaIn recent years, several states that had similar approaches realized they werent catching enough kids with high lead levels. In Maine, more than 160 such children were likely missed due to inconsistent screening across the state, according to a 2019 report by a Maine affordable housing group. Since then, the state has passed a universal testing law and its health department reported that its testing rate, which had been stagnant for years, was now rising.Michigan passed a new universal testing law in 2023. The state previously relied on recommendations similar to Nebraskas, and parents had to push doctors to get their kids tested, said Ellen Vial, a Detroit program manager at the Michigan Environmental Council, which lobbied for the law. She hopes the new law will do as much to prevent exposure there as banning lead from paint did.Nebraska state Sen. Ashlei Spivey of North Omaha said shes considering introducing lead-related policies again in the Legislature, such as bills to increase testing, provide tax credits to fix lead paint issues inside homes and enforce the replacement of water service lines that contain lead.Cleanups and Blood TestsThe EPA has been reexamining Omahas Superfund site, particularly how contaminated dirt has to be to qualify for cleanup. One factor that may influence the cleanup decision is local blood lead data. In 2019, the EPA wrote in a review of the Omaha site that its plan may not protect children, given that the CDC had lowered the concentration at which it considers someones blood lead level high.Nearly 27,000 Omaha properties could have qualified for cleanup if the EPA applied guidance that had been set under the Biden administration to better match the updated advice on blood lead levels, according to documents obtained by the Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica. But those guidelines were rolled back last fall by the Trump administration, tempering some experts expectations and residents hopes for additional cleanup. The EPA plans to have updates on its Omaha cleanup plans by the end of the year, agency spokesperson Ashford said.Ashford also said the EPA uses local blood lead data, when its available, to set or lower cleanup levels. The local data also helps establish whether other remedies are needed, such as interior dust screenings or repainting homes that have lead paint.Blood lead test supplies include a tool for pricking fingers, an alcohol swab, a test tube and a bandage. Rebecca S. Gratz for ProPublicaJahmel gets high-fives from his sisters, 13-year-old Arielle, center, and 11-year-old Aubrie, following his successful blood test with medical assistant Jessica Brom. Rebecca S. Gratz for ProPublicaBut using blood data to understand the prevalence of lead is problematic, said Danielle Land, a University of Iowa public health researcher. Lead only stays in the blood for about 30 days, meaning an exposure can be missed even though it can continue to cause damage. Testing kids in winter when they spend more time inside versus summer when theyre playing outside can also provide different results. Isolating how someone was exposed or whether a cleanup is behind a decline in blood lead levels can be difficult.Despite those issues, Land said shes seen declines in the number of kids with high blood lead levels shape public and institutional narratives about whether to investigate or fix hazards in places like Flint, Michigan, where millions have been spent replacing lead pipes, or Anniston, Alabama, where the soil was contaminated. In 2018, the EPA said blood lead data in Omaha could shape how the agency conducts cleanups elsewhere.Industries and local government officials have used low blood lead levels to avoid cleanups before, said Larry Zaragoza, a retired EPA employee who spent decades analyzing and developing policies relating to lead risk.In the 1990s, a Colorado county and the state argued against widespread cleanup in the town of Leadville, Zaragoza said. Residents spent years criticizing the EPAs research and felt the agency was unfairly saddling corporations that owned local mining operations with cleanup costs, news reports show. Cleanups only happened at homes where kids blood tests came back as high or where yards contained nearly nine times the levels required to qualify for a cleanup in Omaha.Still, the agency needs a way to measure success, said Woolford, the former Superfund program director. The data can be valuable if enough kids are tested and they generally represent the area.Youre going to need, even with all its uncertainties, some indicator of whats happened over time, he said.As Jovanni gets older, Daniels said her fear for his health has dissipated. Her son loves Ferraris and Dodge Challengers. He wrestles, plays soccer and rides his bike.But he was also exposed to lead, which can carry lifelong consequences similar to the behavioral issues hes dealing with. Daniels wonders how many other parents have kids like him but may never know why.I think that needs to be standard across the board all kids getting tested, she said.Jovannis mother found out about his lead poisoning early. But since lead testing is not required in Nebraska, its largely up to the doctor or health system whether to test a childs blood for lead. Lily Smith/Flatwater Free PressThe post Omaha Is Home to a Massive Superfund Site. Most Kids Living There Arent Tested for Lead. appeared first on ProPublica.

This is not a man in control of himself.