The New York Stock Exchange is shown in New York's Financial District on Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)2025-04-16T04:50:15Z NEW YORK (AP) Nvidia is pulling Wall Street lower on Wednesday after it said new restrictions on exports to China will chisel billions of dollars off its results. The S&P 500 was down 0.9% in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 180 points, or 0.4%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, while the slide for Nvidia and other stocks in the chip industry dragged the Nasdaq composite down a market-leading 1.7%. Nvidia was the single heaviest weight on the market and dropped 5.7% after it said the U.S. government is restricting exports of its H20 chips to China, citing worries that they could be used to build a supercomputer. The limits could shave roughly $5.5 billion off Nvidias results for the first quarter, covering charges related to inventory and purchase commitments. China and the United States, the worlds two largest economies, have been locked in a trade war and raising tariffs and other impediments to trade between each other. But these restrictions on exports for chips used in artificial-intelligence technology are getting more support from both U.S. political parties, not just President Donald Trumps. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, asked the U.S. Commerce Department earlier this week to immediately move forward with restrictions on the export of Nvidias H20 and other advanced AI chips to China, saying they could help enhance its military and surveillance operations. Rival chip company Advanced Micro Devices and other companies in the industry also fell sharply Wednesday, with AMD dropping 5.7%. In Amsterdam, ASMLs stock sank 5.3%. The Dutch supplier to the chip industry said demand for AI is continuing to drive growth. However, the recent tariff announcements have increased uncertainty in the macro environment and the situation will remain dynamic for a while, CEO Christophe Fouquet said, and ASML gave a forecast for revenue in the upcoming quarter that fell short of analysts expectations. The uncertainty around Trumps trade war has been scrambling plans for companies across industries and around the world. Its so dynamic that United Airlines gave two different financial forecasts for how it may perform this year, one if theres a recession and one if not. The airline said it gave the twin forecasts because its impossible to predict this year with any degree of confidence. Uniteds stock rose 1.2% after it also reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected and said bookings for premium cabins and for international flights are growing. Many investors along Wall Street are bracing for a possible recession because of Trumps tariffs, which he has said he hopes will bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States and trim how much more it exports to other countries than it imports. A survey of global fund managers by Bank of America found expectations for recession are at the fourth-highest level in the last 20 years. Tariffs could also drive up inflation, at least temporarily, by pushing U.S. importers to pass along the higher costs to their customers. The tariffs have also gotten U.S. households to feel much more pessimistic about the economy, according to recent surveys. The fear is that such sour moods could drive them to pull back on their spending, which could by itself cause a recession.If that were to happen, it certainly hasnt yet. A report on Wednesday showed sales growth at U.S. retailers accelerated by more last month than economists expected. Growth surged to 1.4% in March from April, up from 0.2% the prior month. Much of that, though, may be because U.S. shoppers were rushing to buy things before tariffs got a chance to raise their prices, including for automobiles and electronics.Treasury yields eased a bit in the bond market following the report on retail sales. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.33% from 4.35% late Tuesday.In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia.The FTSE 100 dipped 0.4% in London after the government said inflation in the U.K. fell for the second month running in March, largely as a result of lower gas prices. Indexes also dropped 1.9% in Hong Kong, 1% in Tokyo, 1.2% in Seoul and 0.7% in Paris. ___AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd as he departs after welcoming the 2025 College Football National Champions, the Ohio State University football team, during an event on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)2025-04-16T12:16:35Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said hes joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks. The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that hell attend the meeting alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies. Trump recently announced a round of global tariffs but then quickly put them on hold for 90 days after the markets tanked and fears of a recession mounted. He left steep tariffs in place against China. The move put Japans 24% across-the-board tariff on hold, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place. Japan, like many other nations around the world that are fearful of Trumps tariffs and the likely economic fallout, has been scrambling to respond. It has set up a special task force to assess the impact of the tariffs and offer loans and consultation to anxious companies. Although Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been working hard to coax exemptions out of Trump, the government has said little officially on what concessions it might offer during these talks.Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and TRADE FAIRNESS. I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries, Trump wrote in the social media post. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA! Japans chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trumps tariff measures against the East Asian ally of the United States. Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday.I am prepared for the talks, Akazawa told reporters at Tokyos Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest.He said that both Bessent and Greer are known to be pro-Japan and professionally talented and that he hopes to build a relationship of trust with them. I believe we can have good talks toward a win-win relationship that will serve national interest for both Japan and the United States, he said.Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S. Trump and other administration officials have said the phones have been ringing off the hook with dozens of countries calling, eager to strike deals with a president who views himself as a master negotiator to avoid tariffs when the 90-day pause ends. But it was not immediately clear what either side hoped to get out of the negotiations. The U.S. asks remain unclear, other than Trumps desire for no bilateral trade deficit.Japans asks also are unclear, although it contends that Trumps tariff measures are likely to violate bilateral trade agreements or World Trade Organization rules. While Ishiba has said he opposes retaliatory tariffs, he also has said he is in no rush to push for a settlement because he doesnt want concessions. Trump said he also wants to discuss U.S. military support for Japan, or how much the Japanese contribute to the cost of American troops stationed there, largely as a deterrent to China.Trumps demand for more defense spending concerns the Japanese.Under its national security strategy, Japan aims to double annual defense spending to nearly $10 trillion, or 2% of GDP, in 2027, while there is a concern that Trump may ask for that to be increased to 3% of GDP. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the military budget for this year is about 1.8% of Japans GDP.___Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

When I walked into the Shrine of the Renunciation in Assisi, I thought about going to my friends houses in high school to play Xbox, and how bizarre it would be if one of those teenagers became a saint. What if the kid from down the cul-de-sac died, and they put his face on keychains, fridge magnets, and rosaries, and people stood in line to see his dead body through glass?I was there to see Carlo Acutis, the first Millennial Saint, who was born in 1991 and died at 15 years old of leukemia in 2006. By all accounts, he was a fairly normalif not unusually piousteenager. He reportedly knew Javascript and C++, tinkered with 3D rendering in Maya, and played Halo, Super Mario and Pokmon games. His mom said he bought a Playstation when he was eight. Notably, Halo was Xbox-exclusive, making this an inconsistency in the narrative of Acutis life (but whose mom didnt call every gaming console the Sony or some other wildly incorrect catchall). Hes been called the gamer saint, but only gamed about an hour a week, wary of getting too hooked on gaming. He used his programming skills to make websites for volunteer projects and documenting historical miracles.He was a kid, and now his body is coated in wax and dressed in a red track jacket, jeans, and Nikes and lies in a church in a tiny Italian hill town where people arrive on tour buses to kiss their fingers and touch the glass next to his head of thick black hair.VIDEO | The body of Blessed Carlo Acutis is exposed in Assisi, Italy, and even though authorities within the Catholic Church have said the body is not incorrupt, his almost intact appearance is astounding. Future Saint Carlo Acutis, pray for us! pic.twitter.com/97I0BTq97K EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) May 23, 2024Standing in a short line to get a look at Acutis, people snapped sneaky photos on their phones in front of a NO PHOTOS sign. A group of old women sat against the wall in front of the tomb, gazing at his waxy face and soaking up as much Blessedness as possible. Most milled past with a short pause near his reposed head to clutch a rosary or do a half-kneel. I stopped long enough to gawk then moved to the pews and copied a messy sign of the cross from other worshippers as a midday service began.I went into my own off-books pilgrimage knowing almost nothing about Catholic sainthood. I was in nearby Perugia, Italy for the International Journalism Festival and decided to take the train out on a day trip to Assisi, to see the Patron Saint of the Internet in person. But having spent a lot of time in youth groups in a variety of Protestant flavors, I do know an attempt to make the church Cool when I see one.Among religious groups, Catholics are experiencing one of the largest recent declines in church attendance in the U.S., from 45 percent to 33 percent in the last two decades. Meanwhile, the share of Amercans without any religious affiliation is up by a lot: nine percent in 2000-2003 versus 21 percent in 2021-2023. This, of course, is a big problem for the Catholic church: The median age of Catholic adults in the U.S. is 49 years old, according to Pew Research Center, four years older than in 2007. Only 17 percent are under 30 years old. Members = money in most religions, and young members mean the money keeps flowing through generations.Add to this the Catholic Churchs ongoing image crisis, with hundreds of clergy credibly accused of child sex abuse; meanwhile, the Washington State Catholic Conference is opposing new legislation that would require clergy in the state to report sexual abuse if its disclosed to them in confessionals, with Republican legislators calling it an attack on Catholisim.In comes the Millennial Saint, a relatable example of piety and discernment for modern youths. Before him, the most recently-canonized saints lived and died in the 1800s. Acutis is different: He had a phone! He made websites about miracles! He wore sneakers! Hes Gods influencer. Supplicants see him as somehow both approachably normal and extraordinarily devout. He was reportedly uninterested in the trappings common for a wealthy child in Milan, asking his parents to donate the money they would have spent on more designer sneakers to the poor and skipping ski trips to teach catechism instead. Having been a pious little Christian teen myself, I can definitely relate.Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!This is the first time that a contemporary saint is dressed with Nike shoes, jeans, and a sweater. Cool? Yes. But it tells us that the call to holiness is never ever only reserved to the ones in the convents but to all...yes, even to geeks! pic.twitter.com/vDcrmqTEHD Fr. Myke, MSC (@popmonkph) October 11, 2023The campaign for Acutis the Influencer seems to be working, based on the sheer SEO power of the news of Acutiss sainthood and the number of people asking questions, writing blog posts, and making the pilgrimage to see his tomb. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend Acutis canonization service in Rome later this monththousands of which, its safe to assume, will be there on Catholic high school field trips. For those who cant make the trip, there are screenings of the Eternal Word Television Networks film Roadmap to Reality, a documentary about teenagers visiting Acutis tomb but also serves as a warning about the ills of technology.In a world losing itself to screens, teenage mystic Carlo Acutis saw beyond the social media-addicted society we live in and offered an answer if were willing to listen, the filmmakers wrote on the documentarys website. Carlo emphasized that the Eucharist, with its real presence and physical communion, serves as a critical anchoring reality. This idea starkly contrasts the often isolating and superficial interactions fostered by digital technology.Coincidentally, technology is bedeviling Acutis early days as a saint. On eBay, people are selling what they claim to be his relics, tiny pieces of a saints body. One anonymous seller was selling supposedly authenticated locks of Acutis hair that were fetching upward of 2,000 euros ($2,200 US), according to the Diocese of Assisi, before being taken down, the AP reported. Its not just despicable, but its also a sin, one reverend who has a tiny fragment of Acutis hair in a chapel by his office told the AP. Every kind of commerce over faith is a sin.There is a lot of non-relic commerce happening at the Shrine of the Renunciation, however. Its free to enter the church, but there is a gift shop around the corner at the exit.Photos from the gift shop and church where Acutis' body is held in Assisi. Photo credit: 404 MediaTheres also a lot of online debate about the status of the Gamer Saints body. Redditors from r/funeraldirectors to r/Catholicism have been asking about his appearance in the big glass coffin.I dont know man. Ive pulled off some good embalmings in my career but nothing ever looked as good as this. I cant explain it, one funeral director wrote. After I saw him IRL, I was similarly confused. Ive seen embalmed people, but this wasnt an embalming. He looks like a mannequin. His folded hands are flat and plasticky. His face is super-smooth and all one color. This is because when he was exhumed in 2019, 13 years after his death, his body showed the normal process of decay, the bishop who oversaw the exhumation said, so they covered it in a layer of wax.From what I understand of sainthood and the bureaucratic process of canonization, its pretty hard to become one, and that process often involves getting dug up and moved around. Would-be saints are sometimes exhumed after the local Bishop and the Vatican approve the investigation into their saint-worthiness, because checking out the state of decay is part of it (as is making relics, like the hair on eBay). A body found incorrupt means its resisted normal decay (allegedly; these exhumations are not exactly open to the public, so were relying on the testimony of clergy who were there) while integral means the whole body remains butas I understand itdid not exactly look tomb-display read. Acutis body was reassembled with art and love, the bishop said.The legacy of the Patron Saint of the Internet isnt immune to fake news, either. A priest in Brazil claimed Acutis body was incorrupt in a Facebook post, but later deleted it and backtracked.Having paid my respects, botched a sign of the cross, and bought a magnet for the fridge, I left the Shrine of the Renunciation feeling like Id just witnessed something stranger than miracles or incorrupt death. A tradition started more than a thousand years ago is brushing roughly up against the 21st century, complete with a livestream where you can submit your intentions at a link in the description. Saint Acutis arrives at a time when young people are being aggressively sold a trad lifestyle and leaders with right-wing, Christian agendas are calling the shots from the highest offices. For the Catholic church, the timing might be perfect.If he hadnt died young, Acutis would be around my age today, and would probably be a front-end software engineer or a priest who was really good at running the parish Instagram account, or any number of more boring things than venerated saint. And if the church didnt need an influencer, I wouldnt be standing in the afternoon sun on the stone streets of Assisi, wondering what well say about the next generation of saintssome of the only people in history whose legacies are preserved across centuries for the encouragement and recruitment of future generations, to a church desperate to have them.

2025-04-16T14:35:48Z HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) An independent expert will review security at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros official residence after investigators accused a man of scaling a wall and setting fire to the mansion, state police said Wednesday.The review will be a risk and vulnerability assessment of the governors official residence following the security breach, Pennsylvania State Police announced.

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects honor guards during the official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, Pool)2025-04-16T04:33:40Z TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China appointed a new trade negotiator Wednesday in the midst of its tariff fight with the United States as the worlds two largest economies steadily increase tariffs on each others goods.Chinas government said Li Chenggang replaces Wang Shouwen, who participated in negotiations for the countries 2020 trade deal.China faces 145% taxes on exports to the U.S., while the Trump administration gave dozens of other countries a 90-day reprieve for most duties. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports, while stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.Earlier on Wednesday, China announced its economy expanded at a 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports. Analysts are forecasting that the worlds second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs on U.S. imports from China take effect. Exports were a strong factor in Chinas 5% annual growth rate in 2024. The official target for this year is also about 5%.In the near term, the tariffs will put pressure on Chinas economy, but they wont derail long-run growth, Sheng Laiyun, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, told reporters earlier. It wasnt clear why China was changing trade negotiators.The decision comes as Chinese officials say the country has multiple options to respond to U.S. actions, including relying more on its own vast market of 1.4 billion consumers and on Europe and countries in the global south. But as Chinas domestic consumption continues to languish, it will be difficult to replace the U.S. consumer. China has also responded to the U.S. by imposing more export controls on rare earths, which include materials used in high-tech products, aerospace manufacturing and the defense sector.Both sides are now running out of tariff options, leaving them in a near-stalemate, said Sun Chenghao, a fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Beijings Tsinghua University. China will likely retain its focus on strengthening economic resilience against external shocks, including deepening trade ties with neighboring countries and promoting domestic consumption by shifting away from exports, Sun said.A U.S. concession on fentanyl or ownership of TikTok could prompt a reciprocal move from Beijing, he added.However, communication remains far from being smooth, Sun said, pointing out that Trump only recently appointed Jamieson Greer as top trade negotiator, and many other key positions remain empty.Prior to his appointment as trade negotiator, Li spent about 4 1/2 years as Chinas ambassador to the World Trade Organization, the body that governs global commerce. Beijing has appealed to it in its tariff dispute with the U.S.Li was also deputy permanent representative to the Chinese delegation to the U.N. office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland.Perhaps more so than his predecessor Wang, Lis experience at the Commerce Ministry and his participation in negotiating Chinas accession to the WTO more than 20 years ago stand him in good stead as China refuses to cave in to U.S. demands, said Tu Xinquan, director of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics. Still, higher-ranking leaders from President Xi Jinping on down are likely to chart the course, with Li representing their case in any talks with the U.S., Tu said. There might be another style of negotiations. Li Chenggang is an open-minded person and supports free trade, Tu added.Asked about the possibility of talks with the U.S., Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the U.S. had begun the tariff spat and China was only taking necessary countermeasures to defend its rights and interests.If the U.S. truly wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop using maximum pressure and stop threats and blackmail. For any dialogue to happen, it must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit, Lin told a daily briefing. Xi has been making the case for China as a source of stability and certainty in global free trade as he tours Southeast Asia this week implying that China is a more reliable trade partner than the U.S. After visiting Vietnam, he arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysias capital, later Tuesday, for a three-day visit and will end with a stop in Cambodia. In Malaysia, Xi is expected to discuss a free trade agreement between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nation, one of several funds and agreements China has led as a means of sidestepping organizations and mechanisms dominated by the U.S. and the West. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01102-2Drugs that clear away brain plaques are a welcome arrival, but targeting amyloid alone might not be enough to halt the disease.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01104-0The suggestion that pathogens play a part in driving dementia is not as niche as it once was, but the evidence remains inconclusive.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif smiles during a meeting with students on a climate change forum at the Gabriel Ren Moreno Autonomous University, in Santa Cruz Bolivia, on July 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Juan Karita, File)2025-04-16T09:28:30Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iranian state television confirmed on Wednesday that the second round of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over where the negotiations would be held.The talks will be mediated by Oman, as they were last weekend in the sultanates capital of Muscat, the state TV report said.On Monday, multiple officials said they would be held in Rome. However, Irans Foreign Ministrys spokesperson said early Tuesday theyd be held in Oman.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran s president formally approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents who served as Tehrans key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, just as the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog was due to arrive in the Islamic Republic on Wednesday. President Masoud Pezeshkians announcement late Tuesday regarding Mohammad Javad Zarif comes as Iran prepares for a second round of negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Meanwhile, the visit by Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, scheduled to start Wednesday may include negotiations over just what access his inspectors can get under any proposed deal. The stakes of the negotiations couldnt be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans nuclear program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Pezeshkian praises Zarif while acknowledging his resignationZarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but drew criticism from hard-liners within Irans Shiite theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations. In March, Zarif tendered his resignation to Pezeshkian. However, the president did not immediately respond to the letter. Zarif has used resignation announcements in the past in his political career as leverage, including in a dispute last year over the composition of Pezeshkians Cabinet. The president had rejected that resignation.But on late Tuesday, a statement from the presidency said Pezeshkian wrote Zarif a letter praising him but accepting his resignation.Pezeshkian emphasized that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarifs valuable knowledge and expertise, a statement from the presidency said. The president in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new vice president for strategic affairs. In Irans political system, the president has multiple vice presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert. Grossi visit comes as Iran has restricted IAEA accessGrossi meanwhile was due to arrive in Tehran and have meetings with Pezeshkian and others. Since the nuclear deals collapse in 2018 with Trumps unilateral withdraw of the U.S. from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity near weapons-grade levels of 90%.Surveillance cameras installed by the IAEA have been disrupted, while Iran has barred some of the Vienna-based agencys most experienced inspectors. Iranian officials also have increasingly threatened that they could pursue atomic weapons, something the West and the IAEA have been worried about for years since Tehran abandoned an organized weapons program in 2003.Any possible deal between Iran and the U.S. likely would need to rely on the IAEAs expertise to ensure Tehrans compliance. And despite tensions between Iran and the agency, its access has not been entirely revoked. Irans foreign minister questions contradictory responses from US envoyIt remains unclear where the next round of talks will be held, though they are scheduled for Saturday. Officials initially identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early Tuesday they would return to Oman. American officials so far havent said where the talks will be held, though Trump did call Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Tuesday while the ruler was on a trip to the Netherlands.Meanwhile, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday warned the U.S. about taking contradictory stances in the talks. That likely refers to comments from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67% uranium enrichment like in the 2015 deal reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal.Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, he wrote on the social platform X. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do. Araghchi warned America about taking any contradictory and opposing stances in the talks.Enrichment is a real and accepted issue, and we are ready for trust building about possible concerns, Araghchi said. But losing the right to enrich at all is not negotiable.___Karimi reported from Tehran, Iran. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto NASSER KARIMI Karimi reports and writes from Tehran, Iran, on various topics for The Associated Press. He began working for AP in 2003. twitter instagram mailto

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)2025-04-16T15:04:50Z NEW YORK (AP) Harvey Weinsteins lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his #MeToo rape retrial.Weinsteins lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced movie mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all of his recent court appearances.In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinsteins stay at New York Citys notorious Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that hed be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for treatment of various maladies.Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk. A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring hospitalization, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (9 kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said. In a statement, Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and isnt provided with clean clothing. Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, Ansari said. Weinsteins lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers. The claim, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at the hospital.The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger. Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue wasnt discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. Hes accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006.He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone. MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement and courts in New York City, including former President Donald Trumps criminal and civil cases and problems plaguing the federal prison system. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01227-4Artificial circulatory system enables feat by delivering nutrients to growing tissue.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01106-ySex and gender research could lead to better, more equitable treatments if it is allowed to continue without political interference.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, stands for a portrait at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, March 16, 2023. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via AP, File)2025-04-16T16:32:58Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg warned he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not purge its contempt. Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability. If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt. The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote. It marks an escalation in a battle between the judicial and executives branches of government over a presidents powers to carry out key White House priorities. The Republican president has called for Boasbergs impeachment while the Justice Department has accused the judge of overstepping his authority. Boasberg, who was nominated to the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a notorious prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States. But hours later, El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, Oopsie...too late above an article referencing Boasbergs order.The Trump administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the U.S. by the time that order came down.

Israeli soldiers gather next to a military post on the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)2025-04-16T16:33:15Z The Israeli defense minister says his countrys troops will stay in security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack.Israel says it needs to hold on to the zones to prevent similar attacks, but the takeovers appear to meet the dictionary definition of military occupation.The acquisition of territory by force is universally seen as a violation of international law, something Western allies of Israel have repeatedly invoked with regard to Russias invasion of Ukraine.Israel, which has captured territory during wars with its Arab neighbors going back to the countrys establishment in 1948, says this is a special case. For decades, Israeli governments said they must hold such lands for self-defense but would return them in peace agreements, as when Israel restored the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in the Camp David Accords. Israel has formally annexed east Jerusalem, as well as the Golan Heights captured from Syria. It has occupied the West Bank, home to some 3 million Palestinians, for more than half a century and built settlements there that today house more than 500,000 Jewish settlers. Israel withdrew soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but imposed a blockade, along with Egypt, after Hamas took power two years later.In a statement Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops would remain in the so-called security zones in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon in any temporary or permanent situation. What are the security zones?Israel launched a massive offensive after the 2023 attack and carved out a wide buffer zone along the border. Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last month and has since expanded the buffer zone, established corridors across the strip and encircled the southern city of Rafah.Israel now controls over 50% of Gaza, according to experts. Katz did not specify which territories he was referring to.Israel was supposed to withdraw from Lebanon under the ceasefire it reached with the Hezbollah militant group in November after more than a year of fighting. But troops have remained in five strategic locations along the border and have continued to carry out strikes against what Israel says are militant targets.When rebels overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad in December, Israeli forces advanced from the Golan Heights into the Syrian side of a buffer zone established after the 1973 war. Israel has since expanded its zone of control to nearby villages, setting off clashes with residents last month.Israel has also repeatedly bombed Syrian military bases and other targets, and has said it will not allow Syrian security forces to operate south of Damascus.How have Israels neighbors responded?Lebanon and Syria have condemned Israels seizure of their territory as a blatant violation of their sovereignty and of international law. But neither countrys armed forces are capable of defending their borders against Israel.Hezbollah, which was established during the early years of Israels 1982-2000 occupation of southern Lebanon, has threatened to renew hostilities if Israel does not complete its withdrawal, but its military capabilities have been severely depleted by the war and the fall of Assad, who had been a close ally. While Hezbollah seems unlikely to return to war, an ongoing Israeli occupation could complicate Lebanese efforts to negotiate the groups disarmament.The Palestinians seek an independent state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. A two-state solution is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, but the last serious peace talks broke down more than 15 years ago.Hamas has said it will only release the remaining 59 hostages held in Gaza 24 of whom are believed to be alive in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory and a lasting ceasefire. Israels vow to remain in Gaza could further complicate slow-moving talks on a new ceasefire.What is the Trump administrations position? The United States has not yet commented on Katzs remarks.But the Trump administration has expressed full support for Israels actions in Gaza, including its decision to end the ceasefire, renew military operations with a surprise bombardment that killed hundreds of people, and seal off the territory from all food, fuel or other supplies.During his first term, President Donald Trump gave unprecedented support to Israels acquisition of territory by force, at times upending decades of U.S. foreign policy.Under Trump, the U.S. became the first and so far only state to recognize Israels annexation of the Golan Heights. Trump also relocated the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, lending support to Israels claims to the entire city. Both policies continued under the Biden administration.Trump has proposed that the U.S. take ownership of Gaza after the war and redevelop it as a tourist destination. He has called for the Palestinian population to be resettled in other countries, a plan that has been rejected by Palestinians and much of the international community. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to implement the plan after Hamas is defeated, saying Israel supports the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from a territory it largely controls, much of which has been rendered uninhabitable by its offensive.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

As part of the company's months-long obsession with catching employees leaking internal developments to the press, staff at Wordpress parent company Automattic recently noticed individually-unique watermarks on internal sites, according to employees who spoke to 404 Media. Automattic added the watermarks to an internal employee communications platform called P2. P2 is a WordPress product other workplaces can also use. There are hundreds of P2 sites across teams at Automattic alone; many are team-specific, but some are company-wide for announcements. The watermarks in Automattic's P2 instance are nearly invisible, rendered as a pattern overlaid on the sites white page backgrounds. Zooming in or manually changing the background color reveals the pattern. If, for example, a journalist published a screenshot leaked to them that was taken from P2, Automattic could theoretically identify the employee who shared it.Do you know work at Automattic and have insights to share? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at sam.404. Otherwise, send me an email at sam@404media.co.In October, as part of a series of buyout offers meant to test employees loyalty to his leadership, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg issued a threat for anyone speaking to the press, saying they should exit gracefully, or be fired tomorrow with no severance. Earlier this month, the company laid off nearly 300 people.Many companies provide this kind of forensic watermarking for internal communications. In 2023, one watermarking startup raised $10 million. Apple and Tesla reportedly have watermarking practices for emails and other internal comms, and some game developers add watermarks to game files to catch pre-release leaks.Its not clear when the watermarks started appearing on P2, and Automattic has not responded to a request for comment. But Mullenweg has been warring with web hosting platform WP Engineand as the story has developed, seemingly with his own staffsince last year.Mullenweg started publicly accusing WP Engine of misusing the WordPress brand and not contributing enough to the open-source community in September. WP Engine sent Mullenweg a cease and desist demanding he stop making and retract false, harmful and disparaging statements against WP Engine, and he sent one back then banned WP Engine from using WordPress resources. Contributors to the open-source Wordpress project said theyd been kicked out of community Slack workspaces for criticizing or questioning Mullenwegs actions. Meanwhile, Mullenweg added a required loyalty-pledge checkbox to the Wordpress.org login page demanding contributors denounce WP Engine; a judge told him he had to remove the box as part of the ongoing trial, and he replaced it with a checkbox that said pineapple is delicious on pizza.Automattic employees I spoke to at the time of the October buyout offers told me that this ultimatum meant two kinds of employees: Mullenwegs strongest supporters, and people who couldnt afford to risk leaving their jobs. "Overall, the environment is now full of people who unequivocally support Matt's actions, and people who couldn't leave because of financial reasons (and those are mostly silent), one employee told me.159 people took the offer, 8.4% of the company, the other 91.6% gave up $126M of potential severance to stay! Mullenweg wrote in a blog post following the offer. A few weeks later, he offered another buyout window. He wrote in internal Slack messages seen by 404 Media: New alignment offer: I guess some people were sad they missed the last window. Some have been leaking to the press and ex-employees. That's water under the bridge So many people took him up on the combined offers that the company was very short staffed, he said.Just six months later, in early April, Automattic laid off 16% of its staffreportedly almost 300 people. Multiple people with knowledge of the severance packages offered to laid-off Automatticians told me that some employees, regardless of time spent at the company, received just nine weeks of pay.One Automattic employee told me they dont think anyone is shocked by the watermarking, considering Mullenwegs ongoing campaign to find leakers, but that its still adding to the uncertain, demoralized environment at the company. Can't help but feel even more paranoid now, they said.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01149-1Spain is feeling the heat. Four researchers share how climate change shapes their work and their fight for a sustainable future.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01176-yPotential treatments need to be subject to the highest standards of safety and efficacy.

You don’t wake up one day and decide to become an extremist. It happens gradually, often without someone realizing they’re going down that road. But in today’s digital world, it’s never been easier to fall into radical thinking — and it’s becoming a real danger. What Is Extremism, Really? At its core, extremism means holding beliefs that are way outside the...

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference at CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)2025-04-16T17:06:04Z WASHINGTON (AP) Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador Wednesday to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a video posted to X before he boarded his flight that he hopes to meet with Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland. He said he also hopes to meet with high-level officials to press for his return to the United States.The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family, Van Hollen said. After arriving in San Salvador, Van Hollen posted another video from the back of a moving car, saying he was traveling into the city and planned to meet with officials at the U.S. embassy. He said he would have a better idea later in the day whether he can meet with Abrego Garcia, who is detained at the notorious CECOT prison. The Trump administration and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as even as the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys note the government has provided no evidence of that. Democrats have seized on the case to highlight what they say is President Donald Trumps disrespect for the courts and overcome their position in the minority in both the House and Senate. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was also considering a trip to El Salvador, as were some House Democrats. I told his wife and his family that I would do everything possible to bring him home, and were going to keep working at this until were successful, Van Hollen said in his video. Trump officials slammed the Democratic senators trip and renewed their claims that he was a gang member. Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, said on Fox News that he is disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run to El Salvador. We got rid of a dangerous person, an El Salvadoran national was returned to the country of El Salvador, so he is home, Homan said. The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside of San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Human rights groups have previously accused Bukeles government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment. Officials there deny wrongdoing. ___Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

The Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, N.Y. is shown on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Michael Hill)2025-04-16T17:41:58Z UTICA, N.Y. (AP) Ten New York prison guards were charged Wednesday in connection with the fatal beating of a 22-year-old inmate, including two charged with murder. Its the second time this year a group of correctional officers in the state was indicted for a death behind bars.Other prisoners say several guards severely beat Messiah Nantwi, a prisoner at the Mid-State Correctional Facility, sending him to a hospital where he died on March 1. As a result of the beatings, Nantwi died due to massive head trauma and numerous other injuries to his body, the indictment saidThe Utica-area facility was one of many state prisons that was struggling to function during a three-week wildcat strike by guards.Nantwis death came several months after Robert Brooks was fatally beaten at the Marcy Correctional Facility, across the street from the Mid-State prison. Six guards have pleaded not guilty to murder charges in Brooks death and other prison employees have also been charged. According to Wednesdays indictment, the two guards charged with second-degree murder, Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair, were called to Nantwis room to help National Guard members with an unknown issue. Levi and Blair entered the room and began beating Messiah Nantwi, including multiple strikes to his body and head with their boots, the indictment says. Nantwi became unresponsive and guards transported him out of the room and headed for the infirmary. While en route to the infirmary, Nantwi was assaulted a second time in a stairwell and was dumped in a holding cell at the infirmary and further assaulted by Blair, the indictment says. Gov. Kathy Hochul called it a horrific crime in announcing the indictments Tuesday.The tragic death of Mr. Nantwi at the hands of correction officers who are responsible for protecting the incarcerated population is deeply, deeply disturbing, Hochul said in a brief video message. The court document said the guards had no legitimate reason to assault Nantwi. It also said the kicking and stomping, along with leaving him unattended in the infirmary holding cell for several minutes while displaying no urgency for medical staff to check on him, demonstrated depraved indifference to Nantwis life and resulted in his death.Levi, Blair and three other guards were also charged with first-degree manslaughter, accused in the indictment of causing Nantwis death by beating him to death with their fists, batons and boots.Correctional officers who were upset over working conditions began illegally walking off the job Feb. 17 at many state prisons, forcing Hochul to send National Guard troops in to maintain operations. Incarcerated people and their advocates complained that services and conditions deteriorated during the walkout.The attorney generals office has recused itself in Nantwis case, citing its representation of several correctional officers in civil lawsuits, and a special prosecutor was appointed, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick. He also is the prosecutor in Brooks death. Nantwi entered the state prison system last May and had been serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon related to an exchange of gunfire with police officers in 2021. At the time he was shot multiple times, while the officers were uninjured.Prosecutors in Manhattan say Nantwi shot and killed Jaylen Duncan, 19, on a Harlem street in April 2023. The following evening, they say, he shot and killed Brandon Brunson, 36, at a Harlem smoke shop after an argument.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08916-0A near-complete survey of transcription factor activities in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals that most transcription factors have both activator and repressor activities and limited overlap between their binding sites on DNA and regulation of nearby genes.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08765-xUsing operando electrochemical processes, we found a way to restore oxygen-redox active materials exhibiting structural and voltage decay to their pristine state, providing a framework for the design of functional materials with zero thermal expansion.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-04-16T18:42:44Z WASHINGTON (AP) Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an alarming rate, promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder. His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that found an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. Autism destroys families, Kennedy said. More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this. Kennedy described autism as a preventable disease, although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some autistic traits can go unnoticed well into adulthood. Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a childs father, the mothers weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals. Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a September deadline for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least some of the answers. The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to follow the science, no matter what it says. The Trump administration has recently canceled billions of dollars in grants for health and science research sent to universities. The CDCs latest autism data was from 14 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The previous estimate from 2020 was 1 in 36.Boys continue to be diagnosed more than girls, and the highest rates are among children who are Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black.To estimate how common autism is, the CDC checked health and school records for 8-year-olds, because most cases are diagnosed by that age. Other researchers have their own estimates, but experts say the CDCs estimate is the most rigorous and the gold standard.On Wednesday, Kennedy criticized theories that the rise in autism cases can be attributed to more awareness about the disorder. Autism researchers have cited heightened awareness, as well as medical advancements and increased diagnoses of mild cases. The reasons for increases in autism diagnosis come down to scientific and health care progress, said Annette Estes, director of the autism center at the University of Washington. Its hard for many people to understand this because the causes of autism are complex.___Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, and Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report. AMANDA SEITZ Seitz is an Associated Press reporter covering federal health care policy. She is based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., testifies during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on her pending confirmation to be the United Nations Ambassador, on Capitol Hill, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)2025-04-16T18:19:25Z WASHINGTON (AP) Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of House Republican leadership and onetime nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is considering a run for New York governor, according to a person close to her.The person was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The states current governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, was elected in 2022 and is running for reelection next year. Stefanik, a close ally and fierce defender of President Donald Trump, had been nominated to represent the U.S. at the United Nations. But her nomination was pulled last month amid concerns about leaving a Republican House seat vacant when the party has such a narrow majority in the chamber.Trump, in a Wednesday morning post on his social media platform Truth Social, wrote, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!If Stefanik does enter the race, she might face off in a Republican primary against Rep. Mike Lawler, who has been teasing a run for several months. Kevin Donohoe, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said: New Yorks Republican primary is set to be a nasty and vicious race to see who can be the Trumpiest and most out of touch with New Yorkers. The last Republican governor in New York was former Gov. George Pataki, who served three terms between 1995 and 2007. Lee Zeldin, current head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and former congressman from Long Island, mounted a serious challenge to Hochul in the governors race in 2022, nearly landing what would have been a major upset in the heavily Democratic state. Hochul herself is expected to face a contested primary. Her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, earlier this year announced he would not run for reelection alongside the governor next year, hinting instead at his own gubernatorial candidacy. Rep. Ritchie Torres is also rumored to be considering a run and has emerged as one of the governors most pronounced Democratic critics. ___Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York. SEUNG MIN KIM Seung Min is a White House reporter. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01208-7Studies show the therapy is safe, but bigger trials are needed to prove its efficacy.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08835-0Insights into how the linker histone H1 promotes chromatin alterations and allows repair of DNA damage are described.

2025-04-16T17:36:12Z KINSHASA, Congo (AP) A boat has capsized after catching fire in northwestern Congo, leaving at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing, a local official said on Wednesday. Dozens were saved following the accident on the Congo River late on Tuesday night, many of them with bad burns. The search for the missing was underway Wednesday with rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities.The motorized wooden boat with about 400 passengers caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Comptent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told The Associated Press. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the Mbandaka town hall. Those with burn injuries were taken to local hospitals.The incident began while a woman was cooking on board, Loyoko said. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations. Congos rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent.Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at the SABEW Annual Conference Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing Annual Conference in Arlington, Va., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)2025-04-16T17:31:06Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Reserve can stay patient and wait to see how tariffs and other economic policies of the Trump administration play out before making any changes to interest rates, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday. For the time being, we are well positioned to wait for greater clarity on the impact of policy changes in areas such as immigration, taxation, regulation, and tariffs, Powell said. The sharp volatility in financial markets since President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs April 2, only to put most of them on hold a week later, has led to speculation about whether the Fed would soon cut its key interest rate or take other steps to calm investors. Yet the Fed is unlikely to intervene unless there is a breakdown in the market for Treasury securities or other malfunctions, economists say. In written remarks to be delivered to the Economic Club of Chicago, Powell reiterated that the Trump administrations tariffs are significantly larger than anticipated. The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth, he said. Powell said the inflation will likely be temporary, but could also be more persistent, echoing a concern expressed by a majority of the Feds 19-member interest rate-setting committee in the minutes of their meeting last month. Yet some splits among the Feds interest rate-setting committee have emerged. On Monday, Fed governor Christopher Waller said that he expects the impact of even a large increase in tariffs to be temporary, even if they are left in place for several years. At the same time, he also expects such large duties would weigh on the economy and even threaten a recession. Should the economy slow sharply, even if inflation remained elevated, Waller said he would support cutting interest rates sooner, and to a greater extent than I had previously thought. But other Fed officials, including Neel Kashkari, president of the Feds Minneapolis branch, have said they are more focused on fighting the effects of higher tariffs on inflation, suggesting they are less likely to support rate cuts anytime soon. For now, most recent reports suggest the economy is in solid shape. Hiring has been solid and inflation cooled in March. Yet measures of consumer and business confidence have plunged, raising concerns among economists that spending and business investment could weaken. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto

The Los Angeles Police Department obtained video footage from a Waymo driverless car as part of its investigation into a hit-and-run in which a separate, human-driven car hit a pedestrian.The LAPD published the footage, which has a note on it that reads Waymo Confidential Commercial Information, on its YouTube page to ask the public for help identifying the driver of the vehicle. The short clip shows what video footage that law enforcement requests from Waymo looks like.The situation shows that police in Los Angeles are now looking at Waymo robotaxis as potential sources of surveillance footage to investigate crimes that the vehicles cameras and sensors may have witnessed. In 2023, Bloomberg reported that police in both San Francisco and Maricopa County, Arizona, had issued search warrants for Waymo footage. Police have also requested footage from Teslas, extremely pervasive Ring cameras, and Cruise autonomous vehicles.Waymo is rapidly expanding in Los Angeles; anecdotally, I see many Waymos driving around town every day, and the company just announced that the autonomous vehicles have expanded the geographic region in which they would operate in the city and that it would soon begin testing them on Los Angeles freeways. The proliferation of Waymo cars also means the proliferation of roving surveillance cameras. LAPD has shown an interest in obtaining footage from autonomous vehicles that operate in the city; last year we reported on a case in which the LAPD obtained footage from an autonomous food delivery robot to investigate a crime.A Waymo spokesperson told 404 Media that it does not proactively give footage to police.Waymo does not provide information or data to law enforcement without a valid legal request, usually in the form of a warrant, subpoena, or court order. These requests are often the result of eyewitnesses or other video footage that identifies a Waymo vehicle at the scene, the spokesperson said. We carefully review each request to make sure it satisfies applicable laws and is legally valid. We also analyze the requested data or information, to ensure it is tailored to the specific subject of the warrant. We will narrow the data provided if a request is overbroad, and in some cases, object to producing any information at all.Waymos website explains that it conducts training sessions for law enforcement and emergency responders, which is designed to teach them about Waymo and explains what they should do in case they are responding to a car crash or other emergency involving a Waymo. The page says it had conducted in-person training for 18,000+ first responders at 75+ agencies.The Los Angeles Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01143-7Induced pluripotent stem cells are being tested to treat blindness, paralysis, Parkinsons disease and more. Approvals might be around the corner.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08822-5Receptor-binding specificity of a bovine influenza A virus

Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)2025-04-16T14:54:07Z Bo Nix has already turned 25. Michael Penix Jr. will get there in May.Both quarterbacks were first-round picks last year. They were among 56 players age 24 or older drafted in 2024.That number was up from 54 in 2023, 44 in 2022, 16 in 2021 and 19 in 2020.There have been more older prospects drafted in recent years because the COVID-19 pandemic gave players an option to stay in school an extra year. Even though the window is ending, the transfer portal and NIL deals might continue to keep some players in school longer.Teams used to shy away from older prospects. Scouts and general managers once considered the age of 24 a red flag in some cases.But the success of guys like Nix and Jayden Daniels, who turned 24 during an outstanding rookie season, shows that experience can help players make an immediate impact in the pros.I came from BYU, where kids go on missions for a couple years, and so people go: Well, theyre too old, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. Well, then they come in and they do a pretty good job. So, and really, if you start taking averages of careers, career length, theres maybe a cutoff somewhere, but the careers arent very long as it is. But we do look at (age), though. A majority of the older players selected in the draft last year were Day 3 picks, going in the sixth or seventh round. That indicates teams are more likely to overlook age later in the draft. Its just unique to where were at right now in kind of the football world, Raiders general manager John Spytek said. You got guys with sixth and seventh years really, and so youve got to talk about a value of are we going to have a problem with the 25- or 26-year-old? Some people have more problems with that. Im just looking for good football players, and Im trying to impress that upon our scouts, too. Lets just find good football players. Well figure it out. So I will say its been really hard on the area scouts. You go into these schools like Georgia and Michigan, Ohio State, and theyve got a list of 30 guys that can potentially come out. ... I mean it used to just be like heres these 10 juniors, maybe half of them come out. Now its like, you got a fourth-year, fifth-year senior, and he might take another year. So it adds a lot more names to it and uncertainty and a lot more work that has to get done in a finite amount of time. And thats why the scouts jobs are so critical to go through all that in an efficient way and present the players the right way. Were relying on it. Its critical to every organization. The number of older players drafted will decrease this season. There are 46 players age 23 or older who are draft eligible, including 17 who are 24 or older.Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, who turns 26 in September, was the oldest player at the scouting combine. He spent seven years at three colleges, including Oregon, where he backed up Justin Herbert in 2019, and Texas Tech.Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy, San Jose State wideout Nick Nash and Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong were among the 24-year-old draft prospects at the combine. Teams that stick to the old philosophy of avoiding older players limit their talent pool.I think sometimes you have to ask yourself, are you trying to get this guy for 12 years? If youre looking for that, its a small percentage, 49ers general manager John Lynch said. Or are you looking for one contract and then hopefully more? Its an interesting topic. Its one we constantly discuss. There are pluses and minuses to both sides. Having a young guy that you think you can develop and is already a good player, and then a guy whos a little more battle-tested ... bent through a little more. Its an interesting conversation.College experience is most valuable for quarterbacks. Nix and Daniels proved it last year when they led their teams to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson threw just 393 passes in college before the Colts drafted him No. 4 overall in 2023. He has struggled to adjust at the NFL level. The oldest player ever selected in the draft was quarterback Chris Weinke. He was 28 years and 264 days old when the Panthers selected him in the fourth round of the 2000 draft. Weinke started just 20 games in the NFL, going 2-18.Quarterback Brandon Weeden was the oldest player ever drafted in the first round. He was 28 years and 195 days old when the Browns chose him 22nd overall in 2012. Weeden made 25 starts, going 6-19. Both Weinke and Weeden played minor-league baseball before college football.Depending on the position of a player and the round, age can be a determining factor when a team is choosing between two guys.When two players are level, even, same grade, you start weighing what they have, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said about age. OK, hes a three-year starter and hes a four-year starter. Great leader, team captain, those little things give them a bump. Its not intentional but you talk through it and it shakes out that way. ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl ROB MAADDI Maaddi is senior NFL writer for The Associated Press. Hes covered the league for 24 years, including the first two decades as the Eagles beat writer. mailto

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01046-7Neutron-scattering experiments have revealed a predicted high-pressure phase of ice called plastic ice VII, in which molecules form crystals, as they do in normal ice, but rotate as in liquid water. These data highlight the role of hydrogen dynamics in defining exotic ice phases and could have implications for the geodynamics of icy planets.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01247-0Potato pangenome could allow easier sequencing of new varieties plus, a Nature analysis reveals the most cited paper written in the twenty-first century.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01100-4Advances in diagnosis and treatment mean that rapid cognitive decline wont necessarily follow hot on the heels of a diagnosis.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08823-4A. J. Eisfeld et al. reply

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08722-8Data from the recently launched Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite reveal the characteristics of submesoscale eddies and waves and suggest that their potential impacts on overall ocean circulation is much larger than previously thought.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08649-0Natively expressed AcrIII-1 does not function as an anti-CRISPR protein

2025-04-16T20:09:15Z SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) An island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the largely Catholic residents of the U.S. territory prepared to celebrate the Easter weekend, officials said.All 1.4 million clients on the island were without power, Hugo Sorrentini, spokesman for Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of power, told The Associated Press. The entire island is without generation, he said.Hotels were at near-capacity, with thousands of tourists celebrating Easter vacations on the island. Tourism officials rushed to reassure them, saying that many hotels and other businesses were operating with generators.Meanwhile, at least 328,000 clients were without water, with officials warning that power likely wont be fully restored for another 48 to 72 hours.This is unacceptable, said Josu Coln, the islands so-called energy czar and former executive director of Puerto Ricos Electric Power Authority. It was not immediately clear what caused the shutdown, the latest in a string of major blackouts on the island in recent years. Gov. Jenniffer Gonzlez, who cut her weeklong vacation short and was returning to the island on Wednesday night, said officials were working diligently to address the outage. Thousands of Puerto Ricans were fuming over the latest outage, with many renewing their calls that the government cancel the contract with Luma and Genera PR, which oversees generation of power on the island. This is a total disaster, said Orlando Huertas, 68, as he sipped a drink with a friend at a streetside bar and criticized the government for not doing enough to tackle the chronic outages.Dozens of people were forced to walk next to the rails of the rapid transit system that serves the capital, San Juan, while scores of businesses including the biggest mall in the Caribbean were forced to close. Professional baseball and basketball games were cancelled as the hum of generators and smell of smoke filled the air. Traffic became snarled as police officers were deployed to busy intersections. Reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny echoed the collective rage, writing on X: When are we going to do something?By late Wednesday afternoon, some 5,000 to 7,000 clients had their power restored, although that number is expected to fluctuate. Those without generators crowded around grocery stores and other businesses to buy ice.Im desperate. My generator is broken, said Carmen Suriel, who worried about the impact of the blackout on her two children, a six-month-old and a five-year-old with Down syndrome, as the temperature rose across Puerto Rico on Wednesday.Alma Ramrez, 69, said she was frustrated with the constant outages, some of which had already damaged her TV and microwave, forcing her to buy new appliances.They have to improve, she said of the government. Those who are affected are us, the poor.The island of 3.2 million residents has a more than 40% poverty rate, and not everyone can afford solar panels or generators. While there was a push to use more renewable energy sources under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, which provided Puerto Rico with mega generators and other resources, experts worry that wont happen under U.S. President Donald Trump. Roughly 117,000 homes and businesses on the island have solar rooftops. Meanwhile, petroleum-fired power plants provide 62% of Puerto Ricos power, natural gas 24%, coal 8% and renewables 7%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Daniel Hernndez, vice president of operations at Genera PR, said at a news conference that a disturbance hit the transmission system shortly after noon on Wednesday, during a time when the grid is vulnerable because there are not many machines regulating frequency at that hour.Vernica Ferraiuoli, acting governor and secretary of state for Puerto Rico, said the White House reached out to local officials and said they are available if needed.Pablo Jos Hernndez, Puerto Ricos representative in Congress, said he would work to ensure that Washington understands the real and urgent situation Puerto Ricans face every day. The electric grid crisis is frustrating, and after years of blackouts, it feels like its going from bad to worse, he said.The last island-wide blackout occurred on New Years Eve.Puerto Rico has struggled with chronic outages since September 2017 when Hurricane Maria pummeled the island as a powerful Category 4 storm, razing a power grid that crews are still struggling to rebuild.The grid already had been deteriorating as a result of decades of a lack of maintenance and investment.____Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Rachel Dancyg holds her dog, Billie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip, 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas' attack on Dancyg's Kibbutz of Nir Oz, in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)2025-04-16T19:20:56Z BINYAMINA, Israel (AP) Rachel Dancyg never thought she would see her dog again after it disappeared in the Hamas attack that sparked the ongoing war with Israel.Her ex-husband and brother were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel and killed. She thought her beloved pet had suffered the same fate. So when a soldier called the family on Tuesday night, telling them that Billie had been found alive in Gaza, it was hard to believe. Billie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, rests in Binyamina, Israel, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Nir Oz in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Billie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, rests in Binyamina, Israel, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Nir Oz in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its a miracle, Dancyg told The Associated Press on Wednesday, hours after being reunited with her now 3 1/2-year old Cavalier King Charles spaniel. It doesnt make sense ... People didnt survive. How did she?The reunion brought a rare touch of joy in Israel after 18 months of devastating war. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 others being kidnapped. Nearly 60 hostages remain in Gaza, more than half of whom are believed to be dead.An Israeli offensive launched after the attack has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities, and reduced large parts of Gaza to rubble. U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire and bring home remaining hostages appear to be at a standstill. Nir Oz was one of the hardest hit communities, with nearly a quarter of the approximately 400 residents killed or captured in the 2023 attack. For Israelis, it stands out as the embodiment of their countrys vulnerability that day. Soldiers took hours to respond. Some families have said they saw Hamas militants killing or kidnapping animals. Rachel Dancyg holds her dog, Billie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip, 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Dancygs Kibbutz of Nir Oz, in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Rachel Dancyg holds her dog, Billie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip, 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Dancygs Kibbutz of Nir Oz, in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its unclear how Billie ended up in Gaza. When Hamas entered Dancygs home, she hid in the safe room with her family for eight hours, holding the door shut. But she fled so quickly there was no time to find the dog. For months, the community looked everywhere for Billie, but there was no trace of her.The family later moved to northern Israel. Then, on Tuesday night, Dancygs daughter received a phone call from a soldier who had just returned from Gaza. He said he had their dog.I couldnt believe it. I asked for a photo. I was really confused, said her daughter, Lee Maor.The soldier said he found Billie in Gazas southern city of Rafah about 9 miles (15 kilometers) from the Kibbutz days earlier, and she immediately gravitated toward his troops, not leaving their side. It might have been because Billie heard them speaking Hebrew, he told them.Speaking to Israeli television, reserve soldier Aviad Shapira said he found Billie among the rubble and called out to her. I said shalom and she jumped on me, he said.He had a feeling that she didnt belong in Gaza and that there was a story behind her, Shapira said. He brought the dog to a veterinarian and found the familys contact information on a chip inside the animal.Stroking Billie on her lap, Dancyg says it will take time to see how the odyssey has affected her. Billie appears happy to be home, but she seems disoriented and has lost weight, Dancyg said. Rachel Dancyg holds her dog, Billie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip, 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Dancygs Kibbutz of Nir Oz, in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Rachel Dancyg holds her dog, Billie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Israeli soldiers found Billie in the Gaza Strip, 18 months after she disappeared during Hamas attack on Dancygs Kibbutz of Nir Oz, in Binyamina, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More While Israeli media happily reported Billies return, the Nir Oz community reminded people not to forget what the family went through. In a Facebook post, the kibbutz called the reunion a little light in a lot of sorrow.The body of Dancygs ex-husband, Alex, 76, was recovered by the army and returned in August. The body of her brother Itzhak Elgarat, 68, was returned earlier this year as part of a ceasefire.For Dancyg, Billies return gives her some sense of closure. Yet she said it is bittersweet knowing there are hostages still in Gaza.I cant get out of this trauma as long as they are there, she said. SAM MEDNICK Mednick is the AP correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She focuses on conflict, humanitarian crises and human rights abuses. Mednick formerly covered West & Central Africa and South Sudan. twitter

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08845-yBilateral grafts of cryopreserved human embryonic stem cell-derived dopaminergic neuron progenitor cells into the putamen of patients with Parkinsons disease in a phase I clinical trial showed safety, improvements in off-drug motor function and graft survival at 18months after transplant.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08821-6Bovine H5N1 binds poorly to human-type sialic acid receptors

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08980-6Mitochondrial metabolism sustains DNMT3A-R882-mutant clonal haematopoiesis

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08843-0A haplotype-resolved pan-genome of autotetraploid European potato founder lines shows high nucleotide diversity at remarkably low haplotype diversity, which is probably the result of hybridization events with wild potato species, followed by population bottlenecks during domestication and transition to Europe.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08871-wDnmt3a mutations in mouse haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells equivalent to R882 mutations in human cause increased mitochondrial respiration, suggesting that this is a mechanism of clonal haematopoiesis and a potential therapeutic target.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01127-7A method for examining RNAs in blood samples offers a clinical tool to detect and monitor cancer and to assess immune responses to vaccination.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08812-7Experimental and theoretical exploration of domain walls forming in wurtzite ferroelectrics following the application of electric fields demonstrates their reconfigurable conductivity as well as tunability, showing potential for use in ultrascaled devices.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08850-1Liver organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells populations grown with ascorbate and bilirubin can be used to recapitulate differential zonal functions of human hepatocytes and for transplantation in animal models of liver dysfunction.

From left to rigt, Liberal leader Mark Carney, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pose for a photo before the French-language federal leaders' debate, in Montreal, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-04-16T23:45:47Z TORONTO (AP) Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday the key question in Canadas election is who is best to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump while his Conservative rival argued that Carney doesnt represent change after a decade of Liberal Party rule. Opposition Conservative Pierre Poilievre said during the French-language leaders debate Canada needs change and Carney is just like his predecessor Justin Trudeau. Mr. Poilievre is not Justin Trudeau. Im not Justin Trudeau either. In this election the question is who is going to face Mr. Trump, Carney said. Trumps trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers ahead of the April 28 vote. Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term. He hoped to make the election a referendum on Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became Liberal party leader and prime minister after a party leadership race. One of the differences, there are many, but one of the differences between the two of us is that I put much more emphasis on the economy, on growing the economy, Carney said when asked about Trudeau at a news conference after the debate. In fact in this circumstance that we are in, given the scale of the crisis, I would say relentless focus on growing the economy. During the debate Carney said he has only been prime minister for a month. We need change. You do not embody change, Poilievre said to Carney. Bloc Qubcois Yves-Franois Blanche, whose party is losing support to Carneys Liberals in Quebec, agreed, saying the Liberals are the same party, the same ministers and the same lawmakers and a new leader does not change that. But public opinion has changed. In a mid-January poll by Nanos, Liberals trailed the Conservative Party by 47% to 20%. In the latest Nanos poll released Wednesday, the Liberals led by 8 percentage points. The January poll had a margin of error 3.1 points while the latest poll had a 2.7-point margin.Carney, who played safe, did not make the kind of big mistakes that could have altered the dynamic of the race in Quebec, said Daniel Bland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. I dont think the debate will have a major impact on the race in Quebec, which remains dominated by the Liberals.The French debate was moved up by two hours to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game. The NHL team faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET, and clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.This isnt the first time NHL hockey has elbowed its way onto the campaign trail. During the 2011 election, former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe asked for a debate to be postponed due to a Canadiens hockey game, and his request was granted.The English language debate is Thursday evening.

Family members and colleagues wait to welcome released prisoners outside the main gate of Insein prison during the country's traditional New Year day on Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)2025-04-17T01:59:10Z BANGKOK (AP) The head of Myanmars military government granted amnesty to around 4,900 prisoners to mark the countrys traditional new year, state-run media reported Thursday, but it wasnt immediately clear how many were political detainees locked up for opposing army rule.Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, pardoned 4,893 prisoners, MRTV reported. Thirteen foreigners will also be released and deported from Myanmar, it said in a separate statement.Other prisoners received reduced sentences, except for those convicted of serious charges such as murder and rape, or those jailed on charges under various other security acts.If the freed detainees violate the law again they will have to serve the remainder of their original sentences in addition to any new sentence, according to the terms of their release. Mass amnesties on the holiday are not unusual in Myanmar. The releases will occur at prisons nationwide.Dozens of relatives and friends of prisoners waited early Thursday outside the main gate of Insein Prison, on the northern outskirts of Yangon, the countrys largest city. No details were available about the number of prisoners released from Insein as part of the amnesty. Myanmar has been under military rule since Feb. 1, 2021, when its army ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyis elected government. The takeover was met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since become a widespread armed struggle. The country is now in civil war. Some 22,197 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, were in detention as of last Friday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nations political conflicts.Many political detainees had been held on a charge of incitement, a catch-all offense widely used to arrest critics of the government or military, and punishable by up to three years in prison. This years celebrations of Thingyan, the New Years holiday, were more reserved than usual due to a nationwide grieving period following a devastating earthquake last month. The country is struggling to recover from the 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 that hit its central heartland, killing about 3,725 people and leveling structures from new condos to ancient pagodas.In a New Years speech broadcast Thursday, Min Aung Hlaing said his government will carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation measures in the quake-affected areas as quickly as possible.He also reaffirmed plans to hold a general election by the end of the year and called on opposition groups fighting the army to resolve the conflicts in political ways.During the holiday, the violent struggle between the army and pro-democracy forces continued. There were armed clashes in the countryside but the number of casualties was unclear.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08883-6A pangenome of wild and cultivated rice accessions captures the entire set of non-redundant genes and diversity in rice, and provides insights into the pathways involved in the evolution of rice.