A.I. has always been compared to human intelligence, but that may not be the right way to think about it. What it does well can help predict what jobs it may replace.

Despite hailing negotiations between the two sides as a historic milestone, Washington did not call for a halt to Israeli strikes or for a withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

Your pet is (probably) not a genius, and thats OK.

Benita and Brian downsized from a three-bedroom home into this one-bedroom, introducing lots of color to the bright space to bring in that happy whimsical feel. READ MORE...

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10384-zThermoCas9, a genome-editing enzyme that is sensitive to the DNA methylation status of the target locus, is characterized and shows promise for targeting hypomethylated DNA regions in cancer cells.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10344-7Metastasis-associated oncofetal cell states emerge at the earliest stages of colorectal cancer and spatial profiling shows stereotypic patterning of fibroblast subtypes resembling normal tissue architecture, resulting in distinct regional microenvironments that dictate the timing and positioning of oncofetal plasticity.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10368-zThe E3 ligase SCFFBXO42 degrades holoenzyme-free PP2Ac in complex with the coiled-coil protein CCDC6 to maintain cancer cell fitness

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10387-wA monolithic mode-locked semiconductor laser with a continuously and widely tunable repetition rate is achieved by using a microwave driving signal that induces a spatiotemporal gain modulation along the entire laser cavity.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00910-4A system of protein binders directs energy-generating organelles to targeted cells, potentially improving ways to treat mitochondrial dysfunction.

Talk of a truce that would pause the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon followed rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Tuesday.

A Parisian software salesman entered a charity raffle and came away with a piece of history: I have some paintings, but not like a Picasso.

An influential order of nuns decided to complete its mission when the last sister dies. The only question left is how to finish well.

In Mark Rosenblatts play, a powerful portrayal of the beloved childrens book author who almost gleefully exposes his bigotry.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10354-5In mice, female aggression is governed by an amygdalatomedial hypothalamus circuit that is strengthened during pregnancy and is dynamically amplified by oxytocin during lactation.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10319-8During model distillation, large language models can subtly transmit traits unrelated to the training data.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10392-zScalable fabrication of ordered perovskite quantum dot superlattices enables high-efficiency, ultrahigh-resolution LEDs and active-matrix displays with greatly improved brightness, stability and device lifetime.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10369-yThis work demonstrates industrial-scale roll-to-roll fabrication of high-efficiency visible metalenses using nanoimprinting and TiO2 coating, achieving low cost, high throughput and uniform performance, enabling commercialization of metasurfaces.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10513-8Cytoplasmic lattices are megadalton storage complexes in mammalian oocytes

Amid signs of a prolonged period of high energy costs, policymakers are urging restraint as governments open up the public till to protect households and businesses.

Higher inflation is leading companies to raise prices without sacrificing margins.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was once considered one of President Trumps closest European allies. Their friendship now appears in danger.

Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard his flight bound for Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, on the third day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Pool Photo via AP)2026-04-15T14:02:28Z ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday doubled down as U.S. President Donald Trumps criticism showed no sign of letting up, insisting that the message the world needs to hear today is one of peace and dialogue.Leo spoke to journalists en route to Cameroon as he continued his Africa visit.He made no mention of Trumps latest social media post or the suggestion by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, that he should be careful when speaking about theology.Leo took no questions. Rather, he focused on his first stop in Algeria and the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the inspiration of his religious order and his own spirituality.But Leo spoke in terms that suggested the Trump administrations criticism of the popes calls for peace in the Iran war hadnt gone unnoticed. He spoke exclusively in English. Trump has issued repeated broadsides this week against historys first U.S.-born pope, accusing him of being weak on crime and a captive to the left, and asserting that Leo owed his papacy to Trump. Trump also posted, then took down, an artificial intelligence-generated, Christ-like image of himself that drew widespread condemnation, even from many supporters. Trumps attacks on Leo began after the pope amplified criticism of war and asserted that God doesnt bless those who drop bombs. Leo also called Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization truly unacceptable. Read More Overnight, Trump posted Not good!!! in response to a post citing social media posts by Leo before he was pope that were critical of Trump. And he wrote: Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable. Leo points to St. Augustine and search for truthLeo drew attention to his visit Tuesday to Annaba, the ancient city of Hippo where St. Augustine, the theological and philosophical giant of the early church, lived as a bishop for more than 30 years.His writings, his teaching, his spirituality, his invitation to search for God and to search for truth is something that is very much needed today, a message that is very real for all of us today as believers in Jesus Christ, but for all people, Leo said. By going to Hippo, Leo said that he wanted to offer the church and the world a vision that St. Augustine offers in terms of seeking unity among all peoples and respect for all people in spite of the differences.He recalled that the vast majority of Algerians are Muslim, but that they respect and honor St. Augustine as one of the great sons of their land. Such an attitude, he said, helps to build bridges between Christians and Muslims and promote dialogue.And he recalled his visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, where he stood in silent prayer.I think the visit to the mosque was significant to say that although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshiping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace, he said. And so I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today.While being on the receiving end of Trumps criticisms online, Leo pointed to the respectful way that the Algerian government had received him on the first-ever papal visit with a full military airborne escort through Algerias airspace.Its a sign of the goodness, of the generosity, of the respect that the Algerian people and the Algerian government have wished to show to the Holy See and to myself, Leo said.A debate about just warThe Vaticans editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, was more pointed than Leo in his rebuttal of Vance, who had argued that the Catholic Church had a long tradition of endorsing so-called just wars, when war can be morally justified.Tornielli noted that the just war theory was developed centuries ago, when wars were fought with swords, not machine-guided drones.This teaching has gradually been enriched and deepened, to the point of recognizing how increasingly difficult it is to claim that a just war exists, Tornielli wrote on Vatican Media. Modern warfare poses a reality that raises moral questions of dramatic intensity. There has been a growing awareness that war is not a path to be followed, he wrote.U.S. Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, has said the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran failed to meet the minimum criteria for the war to be considered morally just. Such criteria would have included that it was a response to an imminent threat, that the U.S. and Israel had clearly articulated their intentions or that the benefits would outweigh the harm.___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.

An uprooted tree rests on a home following a severe storm Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)2026-04-15T16:19:10Z ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Powerful storms ripped through parts of Michigan overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, damaging two ice arenas and other structures, and uprooting trees near the University of Michigans main campus.National Weather Service crews were surveying damage in places including Ann Arbor to determine if one or more tornadoes touched down, but none had been confirmed as of Wednesday morning. Instead, the damage appears to have been caused by a line of thunderstorms that moved into Michigan from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, meteorologist Sara Schultz said.A 70 mph (112.6 kph) wind gust was reported at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday at the universitys football stadium, while gusts of 69 mph (111 kph) and 62 mph (99.7 kph) were reported at Willow Run Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Schultz said, and another round of strong storms with potentially damaging winds was moving into the area Wednesday from states to the West. Streets and neighborhoods in many southeastern Michigan communities also were left flooded Wednesday.Some public school buildings in Ann Arbor suffered structural damage and many lost power. Safe passage for walkers and buses is compromised across much of the city due to downed power lines, flooding, water main breaks, gas leaks, and felled trees and debris, the district said Wednesday on its Facebook page. District schools and offices were closed Wednesday due to what officials say is a fiber outage impacting fire, phone and camera systems, and building access. It wasnt immediately clear if the fiber outage is related to the storm. Read More Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said structural engineers were assessing damage to a wall at the citys Veterans Memorial Park Ice Arena. Part of the roof was torn from the universitys Yost Ice Arena.Two blocks from where utility workers were dealing with the twisted pieces of metal littering the ground outside Yost, Seungjun Lee was feeling fortunate. A hulking tree outside the rented home he shares with six others barely missed his upstairs bedroom when the storm uprooted it. If the tree fell down a couple more feet, I would not be standing here, said Lee, a 20-year-old junior at U-M. Id be in the hospital. So, Im feeling very lucky that the roof stopped it.Lee and his roommates were awakened by a siren, then an alert blasted from their phones between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., urging them to take shelter.As soon as I came out, everyone else was coming out of their rooms and everyones like, Whats going on? This is crazy, said Lee, of Ridgewood, New Jersey. And then we looked out the window: This tree just fell down. So, were like, Oh, crap. 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. A friend across the street then walked over to check in.He was like, Did you hear about Yost? We went, No. We were worried about our house. So, we walked over and we checked it out and we were like, Thats crazy, said Sam Zaruba, a 20-year-old junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan.As for classes on Wednesday, Zaruba said hes not going. But roommate Gautam Nigam, a 21-year-old junior, also from Grand Rapids, has to. I have a final presentation later today, he said.The storms dumped as much as 2.5 inches (6.3 cms) of rain across parts of southeastern Michigan, bringing flood watches to a big chunk of the eastern Lower Peninsula, southeastern Michigan, northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. An evacuation notice was issued late Tuesday to low areas in northeastern Michigans Cheboygan County following a levee breach in the Little Black River watershed. The breach, in an area northwest of Cheboygan and west of Lake Huron, is not related to efforts to force flow from the Cheboygan Dam toward the lake as water continues rising following days of rainfall and winter snow melt, the countys emergency management office said on its Facebook page.___Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Householder is an Associated Press video journalist based in Detroit. He shoots and edits his own visual pieces for online and broadcast use, while writing the occasional text news story and book review. twitter mailto

A levee breach near Cheboygan has already forced evacuations. Engineers were monitoring dams taxed by rain and snowmelt.

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10519-2Author Correction: HER2 expression identifies dynamic functional states within circulating breast cancer cells

The NBA says 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across the league's four primary broadcast platforms during the regular season, a number that represents an 86% rise over last season.

Over 1,000 major Hollywood power players such as Ben Stiller, J.J. Abrams, Jane Fonda, and Sopranos creator David Chase signed an open letter opposing Paramounts proposed merger with Warner Bros., claiming it will result in fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences. What do you think?Its nobodys business what two loving studios do in the boardroom.Jared Wiley, Trinket PainterJust more Hollywood elites out of touch with whats best for the Ellisons.Angela Day, Jam SpreaderBy banding together, celebrities finally have a voice.Carson Ewing, UnemployedThe post Hollywood Stars Pen Open Letter Opposing Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger appeared first on The Onion.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy praised robots as the future of war in a Defense Industry Worker Day address on Monday. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platformsground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side, Zelenskyy said.Zelenskyy didnt specify which ground operation he was referring to, but Ukraines 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiya conducted an operation north of Kharkiv in December last year that fits the bill. The Wall Street Journal reported on the operation which it said involved 50 aerial drones and an unspecified number of land drones.The Journal watched footage of the assault provided by Ukraine. The robot wars began, it said. Russian FPV drones appeared, launching themselves at the land vehicles, according to the footage. One came close to destroying a land drone, which fired back at the Russian line with a mounted machine gun.Ukraine won the fight and took the position, but the Journal didnt report that any Russians surrendered. A spokesperson for the 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiya told the Journal that they found Russian corpses when they sent humans into the position to secure it.According to Zelenskyys Defense Industry Worker Day speech, ground based robots have conducted 22,000 missions on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine in the past three months. In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest valuehuman life, Zelenskyy said.Its unclear which of the 22,000 missions included the surrender. It may seem like a stretch to imagine a soldier surrendering to an unmanned ground vehicle with an assault rifle and a camera strapped to it, but similar things have happened over the past four years of war. The conflict has become defined by the use of drones on both sides and theres lots of footage of Russian soldiers surrendering to flying drones.One of the most famous incidents occurred in 2022 but it became so common that Ukraine established a program called I Want to Live that used drones to facilitate surrenders. Ukraines armed forces released video instructions about how to surrender to a drone. Russian soldiers could text ahead of time, make an appointment to flee the frontline, wait for a Ukrainian drone, and follow it out of combat with their hands in the air. Its possible the world will see similar footage in the future, but the drones will be on the ground instead.The War in Ukraine has ground on for years now and become a war of attrition and inches. The loss of life on both sides is devastating and the proliferation of flying drones has created vast no-mans lands between Russian and Ukrainian positions. Despite Zelenskyys praise of Ukraines robotics industry, its unclear if embracing UGV as a replacement for infantry will change that reality.But the world is watching and taking notes. The Pentagon is working on its own ground drones, some of them controlled by AI systems. The U.S. Army is testing one system, called the ULTRA, in Vaziani, Georgia near the countrys border with Russia. Ukraine also helped the US soldiers counter Shahed drones during the recent war with Iran.On stage, Zelenskyys Defense Industry Worker Day speech stressed the importance of Ukraine to Europe and the rest of the world. We are not building new cooperation with partners on weapons the way it was done in the 1990s or early 2000s, when Ukrainian weapons and strength were sold off like a Black Friday sale, he said. We are not making fairs of our weapons, nor are we emptying our stockpiles. We are offering security partnerships.

The return of point guard Robert Wright III will give BYU a boost as it prepares to lose two of its top players.

Jackie Robinson, first baseman of the Brooklyn Dodgers, returns an autograph book to a fan in the stands, during the Dodgers' spring training in Ciudad Trujillo, now Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, on March 6, 1948. (AP Photo/File)2026-04-15T17:37:03Z LOS ANGELES (AP) Major League Baseball will honor Jackie Robinson on Wednesday, when every player, coach and umpire will wear his No. 42 to mark the 79th anniversary of the infielder breaking the sports color barrier.Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, become a six-time All-Star and the 1949 National League MVP. He played in six World Series, and won his only championship in 1955 with the Dodgers.The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets will hold a joint reflection ceremony later Wednesday at the centerfield statue of Robinson at Dodger Stadium.A special day, especially for me as a Latino. I wouldnt be here if it wasnt because of him, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. Talk about dealing with pressure at this level, imagine what he dealt with back in the day. Two of Robinsons granddaughters will join the teams at Dodger Stadium, not far from Robinsons adopted hometown of Pasadena. He was a four-sport star at Pasadena Junior College before going on to UCLA, where the Georgia native was better known for football than baseball. Also on hand in Los Angeles will be recipients of scholarships from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.For the first time in at least two decades, the percentage of Black players on opening day rosters increased this season. Major League Baseball says 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the start of 2024.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Stefan Pildes siphoned more than half of the money donated over five years for the event, a raucous New York City bar crawl promoted as a charitable event, prosecutors said.

Investors appear to be treating an end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as a foregone conclusion.

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri,File)2026-04-15T17:44:37Z FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) The U.S. Navy is imposing a sea blockade against Iran the latest escalation in the war that has seen the flow of key energy supplies choked off at the Strait of Hormuz.The blockade that started Monday has been fully implemented, according to a statement Wednesday from Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command. U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea, he said. The blockade could put serious pressure on the Iranian economy.Shipping data firms say Iran-linked or sanctioned vessels have left the Gulf through the Strait but then stopped or turned around. An uncertain and risky shipping situation is being complicated by jamming or faking of location systems. Here are key things to know about the blockade and the situation at the Strait of Hormuz. US Navy enforcing blockadeThe blockade is being enforced impartially against all vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran. Freedom of navigation remains for vessels not entering Iranian ports, Central Command said.The U.S. military will operate the blockade in the Gulf of Oman beyond the strait, a U.S. official told The Associated Press. The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, explained that the strategy is to observe vessels subject to the blockade leave Iranian facilities and clear the Strait of Hormuz before intercepting them and forcing them to turn around.The official said that the military relies on more than just automated tracking beacons that all merchant ships are required to carry, called AIS, to determine merchant ships were coming from a port in Iran, but wouldnt go into more detail citing the need for operational security. Ships are turning around as traffic adjustsU.S. Central Command said in a statement Wednesday that no vessels have made it past U.S. naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports.Central Command said that nine vessels have complied with directions from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or Irans coastal area. Navy warships are telling merchant ships that they are ready to board them and use force to compel compliance.On Tuesday, the first full day of the blockade, only eight vessels, most of them linked to Iran or sanctioned, transited the strait, said Ana Subasic, trade risk analyst at data and analytical firm Kpler. The operating environment is still considered extremely high risk despite the current ceasefire, she said. Read More Most of the vessels have appeared to halt or have reduced movement after clearing the strait, she said, which tells us that the effect of the blockade is starting to show up because most of these vessels that have crossed have some kind of history with carrying Iranian-origin sanctioned cargo. One sanctioned vessel, the Rich Starry tanker carrying methanol, left the Persian Gulf through the strait but then halted, did a U-turn and went back through the strait, she said. Maritime intelligence firm Windward said that vessel behavior was indicating a fragmented and uneven response to the blockade as sanctioned and false-flagged vessels continued to be active, some transiting the strait, others delaying or reversing course. Trying to break Irans chokehold Iran had blocked the Strait through the threat of attack on shipping, cutting off 20% of the worlds daily oil consumption, sending oil prices sharply higher and leading to warnings about higher inflation and recessions in leading economies. Vessels were hit with aerial and undersea drones as well as unknown projectiles, killing 11 crew members. While those attacks have dwindled, the risk of navigating the area means that ship traffic has dropped by more than 90%.Some of that blocked oil is making it out from Gulf producing nations through pipelines to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. But those pipelines cant make up for the effective closure of the Strait. Iran has also started vetting and collecting money from the few vessels daring to pass the strait. Vessels must submit detailed information on cargo and crew to the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and pay a $1 fee per barrel of oil or fuel products before being allowed to pass, according to Kpler. U.S. and Israeli vessels are barred while some vessels from Iran, India and China have made it through. India has intervened diplomatically to get its vessels out. The White House has demanded that Iran reopen the strait.Blockading the coast puts serious pressure on the Iranian economy, especially its oil industry. Unless it can export oil, available storage will fill up and it will have to shut down wells that are difficult to restart. Additionally, Iran imports gasoline since it lacks the refinery capacity to turn its own oil into fuel. The US blockade has a rule bookThe terms of the U.S. naval blockade of the Iranian coast have contributed to difficulty for outsiders of ascertaining the state of ship traffic. According to the notice to mariners sent out to ship, the blockade is being enforced in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, not at the Strait of Hormuz. So simply passing the strait doesnt mean a vessel beat the blockade.Additionally, there was a grace period extending until 1400 GMT on Monday for ships to leave Iranian ports. And humanitarian shipments including food and medical supplies essential for the survival of the civilian populations will be permitted to pass subject to inspections.That last provision is in accordance with international law on naval warfare, which permits blockades but bars those that are solely intended to starve civilians, according to a legal guide from the U.S. Naval War College cited by maritime historian Sal Mercogliano, who runs a YouTube channel on shipping.Neutral ships can pass, though they may be inspected, but its not clear what neutral means. Lloyds List Intelligence maritime data firm said the U.S. move has plunged shipowners into fresh uncertainty around enforcement.So all that means that ships from Iranian ports can be detected passing the Strait and still face the risk of being stopped farther out. Or not, if they left before the end of the grace period.Meanwhile container ships seen heading for Iranian ports could be allowed in or out if theyre carrying food, or not, if theyre carrying other goods. Meanwhile ships can broadcast false information on their AIS systems used to avoid collisions, or turn the systems off.Iran would block Gulf trade if blockade continuesThe commander of Irans joint military command warned Wednesday that Iran would completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the U.S. does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports.Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests, said Ali Abdollahi. He added that the U.S. blockade is a prelude to violating the ceasefire.- Toropin reported from Washington, DC RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The focus in recent weeks has been on the conflict in Iran, but European leaders said it was crucial to keep aid flowing to Ukraine.

WPP, Dentsu and Publicis settled claims they colluded on policies to combat misinformation, denying ad revenue to publishers on the right.

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico is under pressure to end one of her countrys most painful tragedies: the disappearance of more than 133,000 people.

Investors appear to be treating an end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as a foregone conclusion.

Enjoy all the updates from the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals Wednesday, which see Bayern Munich taken on Real Madrid and Arsenal battle Sporting CP.

The Pentagon is seen from an airplane, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2026-04-15T18:46:30Z WASHINGTON (AP) An effort to ramp up U.S. weapons production and build more ships, planes and drones will require a massive upfront investment, President Donald Trumps budget director told a House committee Wednesday.The testimony from Russell Vought jump-starts the White Houses push to increase defense spending to nearly $1.5 trillion in the next budget year, up from nearly $1 trillion this year, while cutting health research, heating assistance and scores of other domestic programs by about 10% overall. Such cuts do not cover mandatory spending, which includes such programs as Social Security and Medicare.The debate over Trumps proposal underscored the sharp divide that will shape some of the most significant policy debates going into a midterm election that will give voters the ultimate say on the direction of the country. For the industrial base to double or triple and build more facilities, not just add shifts, it requires multiyear agreements to purchase into the future, Vought told lawmakers. That cost has to be booked in this first year.The White House is calling for about $1.1 trillion for defense through the regular appropriations process, which typically requires support from both parties for approval. An additional $350 billion would come through a separate bill that Republicans can accomplish on their own, through party-line majority votes. Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the ranking Democratic member of the committee, said he believes in a strong national defense. But he said the idea of increasing defense by more than 40% while cutting programs that people need shows that the Republican administrations priorities are out of whack. Read More The committee chairman, Rep. Jodey Arrington predicted the hearing would be more amped up than usual, and that proved to be true, beginning with his opening statement focused on criticizing Democrat Joe Bidens presidency. Arrington, R-Texas, said he did not know of any president in his lifetime who inherited such a complete and utter mess as President Trump did in January of last year. Since then, Arrington said, Trump has secured the border, cut taxes and constrained nondefense spending. It was the beginning of several back-and-forths at the hearing.You know how bad this economy is when we hear Joe Biden being invoked, we hear trans people being invoked. I was waiting for Jimmy Carter to be blamed next, Boyle said in response to Arringtons opening remarks.Boyle said consumer confidence is plummeting under Trump and noted a gas station he passed in Philadelphia recently was selling gas at $4.11 a gallon versus less than $3 a gallon some six weeks ago because of Trumps war of choice in Iran. 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. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., called the proposed defense spending increase shocking. Weve never in the history of this country seen spending like this, paid for by slashing health care, education and housing, Balint said. Mr. Vought, yes or no, is $350 billion for the war in Iran lowering costs for Americans? It is certainly not defunding child care. We fully fund child care in this budget, Vought said, not directly answering the question.Balint went on to incorporate Trumps America First mantra in her questioning. She said $350 billion could pay for an enhanced health insurance tax credit for 10 years and that her constituents are asking how the country can continue to spend money on wars and not find a solution to helping people afford health care.Vought said the president has made clear he was not going to let Iran have a nuclear weapons, missiles and a navy that affect U.S. national security.He is doing what is necessary to keep us safe, while at the same time trying to pursue diplomacy so that we can get out of wars and lower those costs over time, Vought said.Vought said it was unclear how much the administration would seek to fund the war during the current budget year, which ends Sept. 30. That money would be part of an emergency supplemental spending bill and would be on top of the funds the White House is seeking to boost defense spending next year.Would it be more than $50 billion? asked Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.Were still working on it, Vought said. I dont have a ballpark for you.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning said Wednesday he feels "100% right now" following offseason foot surgery. He also reflected on last year, saying, "The first half of the season, I was pissed. I wasn't playing well and it wasn't fun for me."

A'ja Wilson, the only four-time MVP in WNBA history, is staying with the Las Vegas Aces on a 3-year, $5 million supermax contract, sources told ESPN.

The music industry colossus that includes Ticketmaster was found to have violated antitrust laws by using its dominance in the industry to stifle competition.

The dismissal of Brazils top labor inspector has landed the leftist government of President Lula, a former union leader, in an awkward spot.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., listens during a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill,Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)2026-04-15T18:56:40Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trumps war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action. The 47-52 vote was the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified. Republicans say they will keep faith in Trumps wartime leadership, for now, citing Irans nuclear capabilities and the high stakes of withdrawal. But GOP lawmakers are also anxious for the conflict to end and they may not defer to the executive branch indefinitely. Some Republicans have already made clear that they are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on. Under the War Powers Act of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorize use of force within 60 days of its start a deadline that will arrive at the end of this month. The law provides for a potential 30-day extension of that deadline, but lawmakers have made clear that they want the administration to soon lay out a plan for the end of the conflict. After the 60-day or 90-day deadline, its time to fish or cut bait, said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.I think that the administration would be wise to put together what would look like a well-founded authorization of military force and a funding strategy, Tillis said. Read More Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has been talking to colleagues about putting together a resolution that would authorize the war beyond that time period. Republican Sens. John Curtis of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine have also said they would like to see congressional action. I have been clear from the beginning of this military operation that the Presidents power is not unlimited as Commander in Chief, as the Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace, Collins said in a statement. If this conflict exceeds the 60 days specified in the War Powers Act, or if the President deploys troops on the ground, I believe that Congress should have to authorize those actions. Democrats say war is illegal, unnecessaryDemocrats have vowed to force votes on the Senate floor as long as the war continues.As our troops continue to sacrifice whatever is asked of them, we senators need to do the absolute minimum required of us, said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs in combat, before Wednesdays vote.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that with gas prices climbing the American people literally cannot afford for Republicans to forgo another opportunity to work with Democrats to end Trumps disastrous war. War votes are still uncertainEven as several Republicans are calling for eventual congressional action, it remains unclear if Republican leaders will go along. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said this week that at this point most of us I think feel pretty good about what the military has achieved there.Thune would not commit to a vote. But he did say that they do need a plan for how to wind this down, how to get an outcome that actually leads to a safer, more secure Middle East and, by extension, a stronger national security position for the United States.Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said that at the 60-day deadline, Congress isnt going to jump up and say thats it, its one second past 60 days, everybody come home.Some of the people who want a vote just want to embarrass Trump, Kennedy said.I want to see us achieve our objective in Iran, Kennedy said. And then I want to see us get out.___Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Steven Sloan contributed to this report. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Michael Rapino, chief executive officer and president of Live Nation Entertainment Inc., arrives at Manhattan Federal court, Thursday, March 19, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)2026-04-15T19:10:07Z NEW YORK (AP) A jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, dealing the company a loss in a lawsuit over claims brought by dozens of U.S. states.A Manhattan federal jury deliberated for four days before reaching its decision Wednesday in the closely watched case, which gave fans the equivalent of a backstage pass to a business that dominates live entertainment in the U.S. and beyond. Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates, controls booking for or has an equity interest in hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered to be the worlds largest ticket-seller for live events. The civil case, initially led by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition by blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers, for example. It is time to hold them accountable, Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the states, said in a closing argument, calling Live Nation a monopolistic bully that drove up prices for ticket buyers.Live Nation insisted its not a monopoly, saying that artists, sports teams and venues decide prices and ticketing practices. A company lawyer insisted its size was simply a function of excellence and effort. Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States, attorney David Marriott said in his summation. Read More Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. The company now controls of 86% of the market for concerts and 73% of the overall market when sports events are included, according to Kessler.Ticketmaster has long drawn ire from fans and some artists. Grunge rock titans Pearl Jam battled the business in the 1990s, even filing an anti-monopoly complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, which declined to bring a case then.Decades later, the Justice Department, joined by dozens of states, brought the current lawsuit during Democratic former President Joe Bidens administration. Days into the trial, Republican President Donald Trumps administration announced it was settling its claims against Live Nation. The deal included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters, plus some new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues potentially allowing, but not requiring, them to open doors to Ticketmaster competitors such as SeatGeek or AXS. But the settlement doesnt force Live Nation to split from Ticketmaster.A handful of the states joined the settlement. But more than 30 pressed ahead with the trial, saying the federal government hadnt gotten enough concessions from Live Nation. The trial brought Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino to the witness stand, where he was questioned about matters including the companys Taylor Swift ticket debacle in 2022. Rapino blamed a cyberattack. The proceedings also aired a Live Nation executives internal messages declaring some prices outrageous, calling customers so stupid and boasting that the company robbing them blind, baby. The executive, Benjamin Baker, apologetically testified that the messages were very immature and unacceptable.

Michael Rapino, chief executive officer and president of Live Nation Entertainment Inc., arrives at Manhattan Federal court, Thursday, March 19, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)2026-04-15T18:24:04Z ATLANTA (AP) An Atlanta man has been charged in a string of attacks over a matter of hours that left two women dead and a man in critical condition, drawing the Trump administrations attention after one of the victims was identified as a Department of Homeland Security employee who was walking her dog.The killing of the DHS worker, Lauren Bullis, and shootings of the two other victims on Monday led Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin to issue a statement raising concerns that the 26-year-old defendant, U.K.-native Olaolukitan Adon Abel, was granted U.S. citizenship in 2022, when Democrat Joe Biden was president.These acts of pure evil have devastated our Department and my prayers are with the families of the victims, Mullin wrote in a statement posted on social media, cataloging a litany of the defendants previous alleged crimes but not specifying whether they happened before he was granted citizenship. Authorities have said they believe at least one of the victims, the man who was wounded, was targeted at random. They said they were still looking into whether the other two victims were also picked randomly. The first victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds near a restaurant in the Decatur area at around 1 a.m. Monday. She was taken to a hospital but died, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick said at a news conference. Police have not publicly identified her. Read More About an hour later in Brookhaven, another Atlanta suburb about 12 miles (19 kilometers) northwest of the first attack, a 49-year-old homeless man who was sleeping outside of a grocery store was shot multiple times, Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley said. The man, whose name hasnt been released, remains hospitalized in critical condition.It is apparent to us that it was a completely random attack on a member of our unhoused community, Gurley said. Just before 7 a.m. and more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) away in the suburb of Panthersville, officers responding to a call found a woman with gunshot and stab wounds, Patrick said. She died at the scene. Investigators in Brookhaven determined that the three attacks were connected, Gurley said.Adon Abel was later taken into custody later Monday during a traffic stop in Troup County, which borders Alabama. He is charged with two counts of malice murder, aggravated assault and firearms counts, court records show.Adon Abel waived an initial court appearance on Tuesday. Court records dont list an attorney who might speak on his behalf. Mullin, who took over DHS last month after Kristi Noem was fired, said in his statement that Adon Abel has a criminal record that includes a sexual battery conviction, though he didnt say which year he was convicted. Online court records show that someone listed as Adon Olaolukitan, who has the same birth date as Adon Abel, pleaded guilty last June in Chatham County, Georgia, to four counts of sexual battery, a misdemeanor. 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. In his statement, Mullin noted that since President Donald Trump took office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which DHS oversees, has worked to ensure that people with criminal histories dont attain citizenship. But the U.S. has long barred people convicted of most violent felonies from becoming citizens, and it wasnt immediately clear if Adon Abel or Adon Olaolukitan, if its the same person had a criminal record that predated him becoming a citizen in 2022.DHS didnt immediately respond to an email seeking further details.___Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. R.J. RICO Rico is a U.S. Desk editor and reporter based in Atlanta for The Associated Press. He has covered housing, immigration and activism in the South. twitter mailto

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran would "for sure" be at the World Cup this summer, despite the ongoing war with the United States.

Jerome H. Powells term as chair of the Federal Reserve ends on May 15, but it appears increasingly likely that he will stay on in some capacity at the central bank after that.

A 10-member committee offered a brutal assessment of academias role in creating the forces challenging American colleges and universities.

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