St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel throws during the eighth inning in Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)2025-04-08T21:16:58Z SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) Octavio Dotel, who pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, was among the dead after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in his native Dominican Republic where he was attending a merengue concert. He was 51.Officials initially said Dotel was rescued from the debris and transported to a hospital, but spokesman Satosky Terrero from the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic confirmed to The Associated Press that Dotel died later Tuesday. At least 79 people died and 160 were injured after the collapse at the Jet Set nightclub, officials said. Tony Blanco, who played one MLB season and eight years professionally in Japan, also died following the collapse, Terrero said. Also killed was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the Monte Cristi province and the sister of Nelson Cruz, a former MLB player and current MLB special adviser to baseball operations. Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last nights tragedy in Santo Domingo, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his entire family. The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today. St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, July 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, July 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More St. Louis Cardinals Octavio Dotel celebrates after Game 6 of baseballs National League championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) St. Louis Cardinals Octavio Dotel celebrates after Game 6 of baseballs National League championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark said the union stands united with the Dominican community amid the incomprehensible sadness. We grieve for all the victims and send a special message of support to the families of Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, who leave an unspeakable void with their passing, and to Nelson Cruz, whose family lost a shining light with the death of his sister, Nelsy, he said in a statement. Dotel signed with the New York Mets in 1993 as an amateur free agent and made his major league debut in 1999. A starter early in his career, he turned into a reliable and at times dominant reliever while appearing in 758 games from 1999-2013. When he took the mound for the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 2012, he set the record playing for the most major league teams at 13. Edwin Jackson broke the record in 2019 when he pitched for his 14th team.The Mets held a moment of silence for Dotel before their game Tuesday against Miami, and a Dominican flag was shown on the video scoreboard.Dotels best years were with the Houston Astros in the early 2000s. He was a setup man for star closer Billy Wagner, making 302 appearances and posting a 3.25 ERA in four-plus seasons. He was the fifth of six pitchers to combine on a no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 2003. The next year, he was part of the three-way trade that brought Carlos Beltran to the Astros. Dotel pitched for nine teams before he landed with the Cardinals, who acquired him from Toronto at the 2011 trade deadline. He appeared in 12 postseason games, including five in the World Series against Texas. In 2013, he pitched on the Dominican Republic team that won the World Baseball Classic with an 8-0 record.Dotel finished his major league career with 1,143 strikeouts in 951 innings, a magnificent rate of 10.8 per nine innings. He had a career 59-50 record, 109 saves and 3.78 ERA. St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel participates in a victory parade after defeating the Texas Rangers to win their 11th World Series in franchise history Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Octavio Dotel participates in a victory parade after defeating the Texas Rangers to win their 11th World Series in franchise history Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In 2019, Dotel and ex-major leaguer Luis Castillo were among 18 people taken into custody during a large U.S. and Dominican law enforcement operation against drug trafficking and money laundering. Dotel and Castillo were released when a Dominican magistrate judge found insufficient evidence to connect them to the operation.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Declan Rice said his free kick heroics against Real Madrid left him "speechless" but insisted Arsenal are targeting Champions League glory.

Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells was taken off the court on a stretcher after a scary fall at the rim in the first half of Tuesday's game vs. the Hornets.

This March 22, 2013, file photo shows the exterior of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)2025-04-08T17:47:53Z WASHINGTON (AP) The acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service is resigning over a deal to share immigrants tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S., according to two people familiar with the decision.Melanie Krause, who had served as acting head since February, will step down over the new data-sharing document signed Monday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The agreement will allow ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records.Two people familiar with the situation confirmed Krause was resigning and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The IRS has been in upheaval over Trump administration decisions to share taxpayer data. Acting Commissioner Douglas ODonnell announced his retirement from the agency after roughly 40 years of service in February as furor spread over Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to IRS taxpayer data. Krause replaced him. Acting chief counsel William Paul was removed from his role at the agency last month and replaced by Andrew De Mello, an attorney in the chief counsels office who is deemed supportive of DOGE, according to two other people familiar with the plans who were also not authorized to speak publicly. The Treasury Department says the agreement will help carry out President Donald Trumps agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants. Advocates, however, say the IRS-DHS information-sharing agreement violates privacy laws and diminishes the privacy of all Americans. The basis for the agreement is founded in longstanding authorities granted by Congress, which serve to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans while streamlining the ability to pursue criminals, said a Treasury official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to explain the agencys thinking on the agreement. Tom Bowman, policy counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology, said disclosing immigrant tax records to DHS for immigration enforcement will discourage tax compliance among immigrant communities, weaken contributions to essential public programs, and increase burdens for U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant taxpayers. It also sets a dangerous precedent for data privacy abuse in other federal programs.Todd Lyons, acting ICE director, told reporters at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix on Tuesday that the agreement will help ICE find people who are collecting benefits they arent entitled to and are kind of hiding in plain sight using someone elses identity.Working with Treasury and other departments is strictly for the major criminal cases, Lyons said. The IRS had already been called upon to help with immigration enforcement earlier this year. Noem in February sent a request to Bessent to borrow IRS Criminal Investigation workers to help with the immigration crackdown, according to a letter obtained by the AP. It cites the IRS boost in funding, though the $80 billion infusion of funds the federal tax collection agency received under the Democrats Inflation Reduction Act has already been clawed back.A collection of tax law experts for the NYU Tax Law Center wrote Monday that the IRS-DHS agreement threatens to violate the rights that many more Americans have under longstanding laws that protect their tax information from wrongful disclosure or dissemination.In fact, it is difficult to see how the IRS could release information to DHS while complying with taxpayer privacy statutes, they said. IRS officials who sign off on data sharing under these circumstances risk breaking the law, which could result in criminal and civil sanctions. The memo states that the IRS and ICE will perform their duties in a manner that recognizes and enhances individuals right of privacy and will ensure their activities are consistent with laws, regulations, and good administrative practices.___Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from Phoenix. FATIMA HUSSEIN Hussein reports on the U.S. Treasury Department for The Associated Press. She covers tax policy, sanctions and any issue that relates to money. twitter mailto

All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill landed on the injured list Tuesday, a week after finalizing a $135 million, nine-year deal with the San Diego Padres.

Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells is awake, alert and moving his extremities but suffered a broken wrist after a scary fall vs. the Hornets.

A currency trader reacts near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2025-04-09T01:09:25Z BANGKOK (AP) Asian shares sank again on Wednesday as the latest set of U.S. tariffs, including a massive 104% levy on Chinese imports, was due to take effect. Japans Nikkei 225 index initially lost nearly 4% and markets in South Korea, New Zealand and Australia also declined.On Tuesday, the S&P 500 dropped 1.6% after wiping out an early gain of 4.1%. That took it nearly 19% below its record set in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.8%, while the Nasdaq composite lost 2.1%. Uncertainty is still high about what President Donald Trump will do with his trade war. The sharply higher tariffs were scheduled to kick in after midnight Eastern time in the U.S., and investors have no idea what to make of President Donald Trumps trade war. The retreat overnight and into early Wednesday in Asia followed rallies for stocks globally earlier in the day, with indexes up 6% in Tokyo, 2.5% in Paris and 1.6% in Shanghai. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell more than 3.9% before leveling off. About an hour after the market opened it was down 3.5% at 31,847.40. South Koreas Kospi lost 1% to 2,315.27, while the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia declined 2% to 7,359.30. Shares in New Zealand also fell. Analysts have been warning to expect more swings up and down for financial markets given the uncertainty over how long Trump will keep the stiff tariffs on imports, which will raise prices for U.S. shoppers and slow the economy. If they last a long time, economists and investors expect them to cause a recession. If Trump lowers them through negotiations relatively quickly, the worst-case scenario might be avoided. Hope still remains on Wall Street that negotiations may be possible, which helped drive the mornings rally. Trump said Tuesday that a conversation with South Koreas acting president helped them reach the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries. On Tuesday, Japanese stocks led global markets higher after the countrys prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, appointed his trade negotiator for talks with the United States following a conversation with Trump. China said it will fight to the end and warned of countermeasures after Trump threatened on Monday to raise his tariffs even further on the worlds second-largest economy.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trumps threats of even higher tariffs on China will become reality after midnight, when imports from China will be taxed at a stunning 104% rate. That would coincide with Trumps latest set of broad tariffs, which are scheduled to kick in at 12:01 a.m. And Trump has made clear that he does not intend to have any exemptions or exclusions, according to the top U.S. trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer.The U.S. trade representative also said in testimony before a Senate committee that roughly 50 countries have already been in contact, and hes told them: If you have a better idea to achieve reciprocity and to get our trade deficit down, we want to talk with you, we want to negotiate with you. Trumps trade war is an attack on the globalization thats shaped the worlds economy and helped bring down prices for products on store shelves but also caused manufacturing jobs to leave for other countries. Trump has said he wants to narrow trade deficits, which measure how much more the United States imports from other countries than it sends to them as exports.___AP Business Writers Stan Choe and Matt Ott contributed. ELAINE KURTENBACH Based in Bangkok, Kurtenbach is the APs business editor for Asia, helping to improve and expand our coverage of regional economies, climate change and the transition toward carbon-free energy. She has been covering economic, social, environmental and political trends in China, Japan and Southeast Asia throughout her career. twitter mailto

null

As he plans out his third season on the Auburn sidelines, Tigers coach Hugh Freeze, 55, told ESPN's Chris Low this week that he is "at peace" with his cancer diagnosis, and now, following a 5-7 season, "we've got to go compete and win some more games."

Darius Garland scored 28 points, and the Cavaliers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 135-113 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

Paul Skenes might still be relatively new in the major leagues, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star isn't new to baseball and he won't be sweating a shaky start on Tuesday night in which he gave up a career-worst five runs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

A doctor testified Tuesday at the trial of seven medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of Diego Maradona that the...

Tigres held off a rally from the LA Galaxy to win 3-2 on Tuesday night in their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg and advance to the semifinals.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-04-09T04:07:11Z WASHINGTON (AP) By declaring a trade war on the rest of the world, President Donald Trump has panicked global financial markets, raised the risk of a recession and broken the political and economic alliances that made much of the world stable for business after World War II.Trumps latest round of tariffs went into full effect at midnight Wednesday, with higher import tax rates on dozens of countries and territories taking hold.Economists are puzzled to see Trump trying to overhaul the existing economic order and doing it so soon after inheriting the strongest economy in the world. Many of the trading partners he accuses of ripping off U.S. businesses and workers were already floundering.There is a deep irony in Trump claiming unfair treatment of the American economy at a time when it was growing robustly while every other major economy had stalled or was losing growth momentum, said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University. In an even greater irony, the Trump tariffs are likely to end Americas remarkable run of success and crash the economy, job growth and financial markets. Trump and his trade advisers insist that the rules governing global commerce put the United States at a distinct disadvantage. But mainstream economists whose views Trump and his advisers disdain say the president has a warped idea of world trade, especially a preoccupation with trade deficits, which they say do nothing to impede growth. The administration accuses other countries of erecting unfair trade barriers to keep out American exports and using underhanded tactics to promote their own. In Trumps telling, his tariffs are a long-overdue reckoning: The U.S. is the victim of an economic mugging by Europe, China, Mexico, Japan and even Canada. Its true that some countries charge higher taxes on imports than the United States does. Some manipulate their currencies lower to ensure that their goods are price-competitive in international markets. Some governments lavish their industries with subsidies to give them an edge. However, the United States is still the second-largest exporter in the world, after China. The U.S. exported $3.1 trillion of goods and services in 2023, far ahead of third-place Germany at $2 trillion.The fear that Trumps remedies are deadlier than the maladies hes trying to cure has sent investors fleeing American stocks. Since Trump announced sweeping import taxes on April 2, the S&P 500 has cratered 12%. Despite high trade deficits, the US economy is strongTrump and his advisers point to Americas lopsided trade numbers year after year of huge deficits as proof of foreigners perfidy. Hes seeking to restore justice and millions of long-gone U.S. factory jobs by taxing imports at rates not seen in America since the days of the horse and buggy.Theyve taken so much of our wealth away from us, the president declared last week at a White House Rose Garden ceremony to celebrate the tariffs announcement. Were not going to let that happen. We truly can be very wealthy. We can be so much wealthier than any country.But the U.S. is already the wealthiest major economy in the world. And the International Monetary Fund in January forecast that the United States would outgrow every other major advanced economy this year.China and India did grow faster than the United States over the past decade, but their living standards still dont come close to those in the U.S.Manufacturing in the U.S. has been fading for decades. There is widespread agreement that many American manufacturers couldnt compete with an influx of cheap imports after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Factories closed, workers were laid off and heartland communities withered.Four years later, nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs had been lost, though robots and other forms of automation probably did at least as much to reduce factory jobs as the China shock. Tariffs are Trumps all-purpose weaponTo turn around this long decline, Trump has repeatedly unsheathed the tariffs that are his weapon of choice. Since returning to the White House in January, hes plastered 25% taxes on foreign cars, steel and aluminum. Hes hit Chinese imports with 20% levies, on top of hefty tariffs he imposed on China during his first term.On Wednesday, he blasted his big bazooka: 10% baseline tariffs on just about everybody and reciprocal tariffs on everyone else that the Trump team identified as bad actors, including tiny Lesotho (a 50% import tax) and China (34% before adding earlier levies).Trump views tariffs as an all-purpose economic fix that will protect American industries, encourage companies to open factories in America, raise money for the U.S. Treasury and give him leverage to bend other countries to his will, even on issues that have nothing to do with trade, such as drug trafficking and immigration. The president also sees a smoking gun: The United States has bought more from other countries than it has sold them every year for the past half-century. In 2024, the U.S. trade deficit in goods and services came to a whopping $918 billion, the second-highest amount on record.Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro calls Americas trade deficits the sum of all cheating by other countries.However, economists say trade deficits arent a sign of national weakness. The U.S. economy has nearly quadrupled in size, adjusted for inflation, during that half-century of trade deficits.There is no reason to think that a bigger trade deficit means lower growth, said former IMF chief economist Maurice Obstfeld, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics and an economist at the University of California, Berkeley. In fact, the opposite is closer to the truth in many countries.A trade deficit, Obstfeld said, does not mean a country is losing through trade or being ripped off.Spend a lot, save a little and see trade deficits swellThe faster the U.S. economy grows, in fact, the more imports Americans tend to buy and the wider the trade deficit tends to get. The U.S. trade deficit the gap between what it sells and what it buys from foreign countries hit a record $945 billion in 2022 as the American economy roared back from COVID-19 lockdowns. Trade deficits typically fall sharply in recessions.Nor are trade deficits primarily inflicted on America by other countries unfair trading practices. To economists, theyre a homegrown product, the result of Americans propensity to save little and consume more than they produce.American shoppers famous appetite for spending more than the country makes means that a chunk of the spending is used for imports. If the United States boosted its saving for example, by reducing its budget deficits then that would reduce its trade deficit as well, economists say.Its not like the rest of the world has been ripping us off for decades, said Jay Bryson, chief economist at Wells Fargo. Its because we dont save enough.The flip side of Americas low savings and big trade deficits is a steady inflow of foreign investment as other countries sink their export earnings into the United States. Direct foreign investment into the U.S. came to $349 billion in 2023, the World Bank reported, nearly double No. 2 Singapores inflows.The only scenario in which tariffs reduce the U.S. deficit is if they cause investment in the U.S. to crash, said Barry Eichengreen, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley. That would be a disaster.Harvard University economist Dani Rodrik said a well-designed industrial policy supported by select tariffs might have fostered increased investment and capacity in manufacturing.Instead, Rodrik said, Trumps actions just throw up a lot of uncertainty and alienate Americas best allies, making for a terrible policy all in all.___AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., left, talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of a hearing at the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-04-09T04:15:10Z WASHINGTON (AP) Manufacturers struggling to make long-term plans. Farmers facing retaliation from Chinese buyers. U.S. households burdened with higher prices. Republican senators are confronting the Trump administration with those worries and many more as they fret about the economic impact of the presidents sweeping tariff strategy that went into effect Wednesday.In a Senate hearing and interviews with reporters this week, Republican skepticism of President Donald Trumps policies ran unusually high. While GOP lawmakers made sure to direct their concern at Trumps aides and advisers particularly U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who appeared before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday it still amounted to a rare Republican break from a president they have otherwise championed. Lawmakers had reason to worry: the stock market has been in a volatile tumble for days and economists are warning that the plans could lead to a recession. Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong? Republican Sen. Thom Tillis told Greer as he pressed for an answer on which Trump aide to hold accountable if there is an economic downturn. Tillis frustration was aimed at the across-the-board tariff strategy that could potentially hamstring U.S. manufacturers who are currently dependent on materials like aluminum and steel from China. His home state of North Carolina, where he is up for reelection next year, has attracted thousands of foreign firms looking to invest in the states manufacturing industries. Ever wary of crossing Trump, Republicans engaged in a delicate two-step of criticizing the rollout of the tariffs then shifting to praise for the presidents economic vision. In the afternoon, Tillis in a Senate floor speech said that the president is right in challenging other nations who have for decades abused their relationship with the United States, yet went on to question who in the White House was thinking through the long-term economic effects of the sweeping tariffs. Tillis even allowed that Trumps trade strategy could still turn out to be effective, but said there is a short window to show that it is worth the higher prices and layoffs that will burden workers.For his part, Greer emphasized to the committee that the U.S. was engaged in negotiations with other countries but that the trade deficit has been decades in the making, and its not going to be solved overnight.Republican leaders in Congress, as well as a sizeable chunk of lawmakers, have emphasized that Trump needs time to implement his strategy. Theyve mostly rejected the idea of putting a check on Trumps tariff power, but it is clear that anxiety is growing among rank-and-file Republicans about whats ahead.Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, said there is a company in his state that had spent millions of dollars moving its parts production from China to Vietnam. But now that Vietnam is facing steep tariffs, the business is unable to move forward with negotiating prices with retailers. Lankford pressed Greer for a timeline for negotiations, but the trade representative responded, We dont have any particular timeline. The outcome is more important than setting something artificially for us.Trade agreements between countries typically take months or even years to work out and often require the parties to navigate through a host of legal, economic and business issues. Still, Republicans said they were encouraged by the indications that Trump is entering into negotiations with other nations.Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, said at the committee hearing that he was very encouraged by news of trade negotiations and attributed a momentary upward tick in the stock market to hope that these tariffs are a means and not solely an end.He told Greer, Who pays these high tariffs? It will be the consumer. Im worried about the inflationary effect. Im worried if there is a trade war that were going to have markets shutting down for American farmers, ranchers and manufacturers. Other GOP lawmakers contended that the pain was worth bearing. Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said the president is on the right track.Its pain, but its going to be, he said. The president will make the right call. Hes doing the right thing.Still, traditional Republicans were looking for ways to push back on Trumps tariff plan. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior Republican, has introduced a bipartisan bill to give Congress the power to review and approve of new tariffs, and Republican members in the House were also working to gain support for a similar bill. Such legislation would allow Congress to claw back some of its constitutional power over tariff policy, which has been almost completely handed over to the president in recent decades through legislation. But the White House has already indicated that Trump would veto the bill, and both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have said they are not interested in bringing it up for a vote.Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican closely aligned with Trump, said on social media that the bill was a bad idea because Congress moves at the pace of a tortoise running a race.The reason why Congress gave this authority to the president to begin with is because the ability to pivot, he added.But the presidents unclear messaging has also left lawmakers only guessing as they try to decipher which advisers and aides hold sway in the White House. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said that as hes received calls from the business community in his state, hes had no answers for them besides telling them the prospects for the economy are uncertain. The communication from the presidents aides has often been conflicting, Kennedy said even as he voiced support for Trumps long-term goals.Kennedy told reporters, I dont think theres any way to double or triple your tariffs on the world when youre the wealthiest country in all of human history without being somewhat shambolic. STEPHEN GROVES Groves covers Congress for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

In a stunning 6-5 overtime victory Tuesday over the Dallas Stars, the Vancouver Canucks, still chasing a playoff spot in the Western Conference, made NHL history, becoming the first team to overcome a three-goal deficit in the final minute of regulation.

Luka Doncic said he was trash talking with a courtside fan in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' loss to the Thunder on Tuesday when an official thought Doncic's ire was directed at him, leading to an ejection for the Lakers guard.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event on energy production in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)2025-04-09T17:26:50Z WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court cleared the way Wednesday for President Donald Trumps administration to fire thousands of probationary workers, halting a judges order requiring them to be reinstated.A split panel for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the government will probably win by showing the mass firings must be appealed through a separate employment process rather than fought out in federal court. The decision in a case filed by nearly two dozen states in Maryland comes a day after the Supreme Court blocked a similar order from a judge in California. The Republican administration has already reinstated some 15,000 workers to full duty or paid leave, according to court documents. The states could seek further court review as the lawsuit continues to play out. LINDSAY WHITEHURST Whitehurst covers the Supreme Court, legal affairs and criminal justice for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C. Past stops include Salt Lake City, New Mexico and Indiana. twitter mailto

Jared Bossly walks past feed on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in one of the counties that a proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would cut through. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri)2025-04-09T12:10:50Z MANSFIELD, S.D. (AP) Jared Bossly was planting soybeans one spring night in 2023 on his 2,000-acre farm in South Dakota when he spotted a sheriffs vehicle parked at the corner of his property. He had a hunch it wasnt a social visit.Im like, Well, I doubt hes just being a friendly neighbor, giving a guy a beer at eight oclock at night, said Bossly, 43.He was right. The sheriffs deputy served him court papers. Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind a massive proposed carbon pipeline, was suing Bossly to use his land for the project through eminent domain, which is the taking of private property with compensation to the owner.He gives me a stack of papers about like this, Bossly said, stretching his hands several inches. They started the process of suing us to take our land.Bossly is one of many landowners who were sued by Summit Carbon Solutions as it unleashed a barrage of eminent domain legal actions in South Dakota to obtain land for the nearly $9 billion pipeline spanning five Midwest states. Lee Enterprises and The Associated Press reviewed hundreds of cases, revealing the great lengths the pipeline operator went to get the project built, only to be stymied in South Dakota by a groundswell of opposition from local farmers and landowners. The legal salvo generated so much outrage that South Dakotas governor signed a bill into law in early March that bans the use of eminent domain for building carbon dioxide pipelines, putting the future of the project in doubt. The review found that Summit brought 232 lawsuits against landowners across South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa including lawsuits seeking access to property for surveys. All 156 of the eminent domain actions were brought in South Dakota. Over the course of two days in late April 2023, the company filed 83 eminent domain lawsuits across the state. Summit spokesperson Sabrina Zenor said the companys priority is voluntary agreements and that the vast majority of easements have been and continue to be secured voluntarily.Condemnation is a legal tool available under the law, but its not our preferred approach, Zenor said. The numbers reflect thatweve reached agreements with thousands of landowners without litigation.The pipeline would span 2,500 miles (4,023-kilometers) across the five states and connect to 57 ethanol plants. The carbon dioxide produced by these plants would be captured and shuttled through the pipeline and ultimately stored underground in North Dakota, reducing carbon emissions and allowing the ethanol producers to market their fuel as less carbon intensive. The project would also allow ethanol producers and Summit to tap into federal tax credits. Summit dispatched representatives to state legislatures, county commissions and regulatory boards to make what seemed like an easy sell in a region where the corn and ethanol industry typically has broad support. But Summits legal actions and encounters with farmers provoked passionate opposition in South Dakota. Some said their first encounter with Summit was looking out the window and spotting surveyors on their land, and that company representatives were quick to threaten litigation.Landowners interviewed by Lee and AP described a range of aggressive financial offers made by Summit during the negotiations. One farmer declined an initial $80,000 offer for a 36-acre easement, and that offer grew to $350,000, which he also refused. Another said he turned down an offer north of $40,000. Jared Bossly speaks about his experiences with Summit Carbon Solutions employees on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Jared Bossly speaks about his experiences with Summit Carbon Solutions employees on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Bossly, like some other landowners, battled with Summit in court for months to keep the company from surveying his farm in Brown County, a rural farming stretch of northeastern South Dakota. As Bossly tells it, he found out that Summits surveyors had shown up on his property in May 2023 after his wife, home recovering from gallbladder surgery, called him claiming that there were strangers inside the house. (In court filings, Summits surveyors said they knocked several times before walking to a different building.) Bossly eventually turned his tractor around for the slow, 10-mile drive home from a neighbors farm where he had been planting alfalfa.The company accused him of threatening to kill the surveyors over the phone that day. That landed him in court in front of a judge, who had already ordered landowners not to interfere with Summits surveys. But the audience in the courtroom gallery underscored the larger anti-pipeline sentiment brewing in South Dakota: It was packed with farmers rallying in Bosslys defense. Bossly denies that he made the death threat. The backlash ultimately had major political consequences in the state. In last years primary election, a number of incumbent lawmakers were ousted by candidates opposed to the project.It created an odd political dynamic in the region: Farmers in some of the reddest counties in America joining forces with environmentalists to block a pipeline that was designed to cater to a bedrock Republican constituency Midwest corn farmers. Bossly proudly hangs a Donald Trump-JD Vance campaign banner from the ceiling of his shop.They did this all to themselves, Brian Jorde, an attorney representing landowners, said of Summit. Their legal plan was, We will force them into submission because the lawsuits will break them. A sign depicting a snake with the caption Another Summit Solutions Employee Trespassing hangs on Jared Bosslys garage on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) A sign depicting a snake with the caption Another Summit Solutions Employee Trespassing hangs on Jared Bosslys garage on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Pipeline backed by the ethanol industry Summits pipeline, first proposed in 2021, is viewed by the Midwest ethanol industry as a potential economic boon.Nearly 40% of the nations corn crop is brewed into ethanol, which is blended into most gasoline sold in the U.S. With the rise of electric vehicles and less of the fuel additive powering cars, some Midwest farmers and the ethanol industry see passenger jet fuel as a potentially huge new market for ethanol. But under current rules, the process for turning ethanol into aviation fuel would need to emit less carbon dioxide to qualify for tax breaks intended to reduce greenhouse gases. Supporters see carbon capture projects such as Summits pipeline as a way to fight climate change and to help the ethanol industry. Carbon capture involves separating carbon dioxide from the emissions of industrial facilities, such as ethanol plants, and pumping it underground where it is stored so it doesnt contribute to climate change.Carbon capture isnt without critics. Some environmentalists question its effectiveness at large scale and say it allows the fossil fuels industry to continue unchanged.Then theres the Midwest farmers who oppose the project, questioning whether the pipeline would be safe in the event of a rupture and saying Summit trampled over their property rights. Leroy Braun looks over maps of a proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline which he said had covered the table in his farm office for months in Spink County, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Leroy Braun looks over maps of a proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline which he said had covered the table in his farm office for months in Spink County, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Taking landowners to courtSome South Dakota landowners described troubling moments with Summits representatives. LeRoy Braun, a 69-year-old fifth-generation farmer in Spink County, said that land acquisition people working for Summit threatened to sue him during a March 2023 visit at his property after he refused to sign an easement agreement.Just as they were leaving, they said, Well, if you dont sign, were going to file eminent domain on you and youre going to get nothing compared to what were offering you, Braun said. He said his neighbors described similar interactions.The last time Summits representatives stopped by his property in late April 2023, they indicated that they wanted to continue a dialogue, Braun said. But a few hours after they left, a sheriffs deputy served him with condemnation court papers. I just thought, Well, these are the most arrogant, bullying type of people Ive ever dealt with, Braun said.In response to Brauns claim that he was threatened with litigation, Summit spokesperson Zenor said that they dont condone threats or coercion and the company cant confirm the exact wording of the interaction. She added that the timing of the eminent domain lawsuit was not a retaliatory act.Other landowners alleged that Summit had private armed security guards present during surveys. Craig Schaunaman, a farmer in Brown County and a former South Dakota legislator, said that during Summits survey of his land in May 2023, one of two on-site security guards was carrying a holstered pistol. I thought it was uncalled for, Schaunaman said.Zenor said that Schaunamans account is not consistent with our policies or our understanding of what occurred. She added that current policy does not include armed security.Such views arent uniform among South Dakota farmers. Walt Bones, a fourth-generation farmer in Minnehaha County and a former state secretary of agriculture, strongly supports the project for its potential economic benefits and said that his interactions with Summits representatives, who were interested in his land, were always respectful. South Dakotans who oppose the project were dug-in from the start and spread lies and overblown safety concerns about the pipeline, Bones said.When Summit started filing the condemnation lawsuits in April 2023, many South Dakota landowners, such as Bossly, werent surprised. What Bossly didnt expect was how his run-ins with Summit would galvanize opposition.After the threat allegations were detailed in court documents, Bosslys name was everywhere on television news and across social media. The company wanted a judge to hold him in contempt. During a May 2023 hearing, the judge declined to do so, but said Bossly must not come within 100 yards of Summits surveyors, according to a transcript of the hearing.So Bossly largely stayed confined to the area of his workshop after Summits surveyors hauled large machinery to his South Dakota farmstead on June 20, 2023. Sheriffs deputies were also present. The surveyors spent hours working on his farm. Photos and videos of the incident were posted online and circulated on social media.That day really kicked our opposition movement into gear because thats when we really got support from all over the state, said Ed Fischbach, a farmer in Spink County who helped organize the projects opponents. Even people that this pipeline doesnt even affect were so appalled by what this company was doing that day. Jared Bossly speaks about his experiences with Summit Carbon Solutions employees on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Jared Bossly speaks about his experiences with Summit Carbon Solutions employees on his ranch in Mansfield, S.D., March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More As for Bossly, life was different. A farmer who grows alfalfa, rye and other crops, Bossly became a standard bearer for the opposition to Summits pipeline. He was doing media interviews and speaking at public meetings about the project. Bossly got a standing ovation after speaking at a conference of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association a group whose website states that a sheriffs law enforcement power in a county is greater than that of any other official in Las Vegas in 2024.I didnt even know what Zoom was, Bossly said. And now, like, thats two or three nights a week where Im on Zoom with different people across the state or the nation.Summit kept filing eminent domain lawsuits in South Dakota until late August 2023. In seven cases, landowners signed easements after getting sued in condemnation, court records show. But after the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission rejected Summits permit application in September 2023, Summit paused or dismissed the legal actions, Zenor said. A wagon covered in signs protesting the installation of a Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline stands on a farm in Lake County, S.D., on Monday, March 10, 2025, in one of the counties that the pipeline would cut through. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) A wagon covered in signs protesting the installation of a Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline stands on a farm in Lake County, S.D., on Monday, March 10, 2025, in one of the counties that the pipeline would cut through. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Political falloutBy the end of 2024, Summit had secured approval for routes in Iowa and North Dakota, a leg in Minnesota and the underground storage. In Iowa, the commissioners who approved Summits route were appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican with strong backing from the states farming organizations. Although many Iowa landowners opposed the project, powerful groups such as the Iowa Corn Growers Association supported the proposal because of its promise to open new markets for corn-based ethanol. Summit was founded by Bruce Rastetter, a major Iowa donor to Republican political candidates.But Summit faced hurdles in South Dakota, where it still lacked a permit and the state Supreme Court ruled in August that the company had not yet proved that it qualified for eminent domain power. In the November election, South Dakota voters rejected regulations that opponents said would deny local control over such projects and consolidate authority with state regulators. Supporters framed the regulations as a landowner bill of rights. And the composition of the South Dakota Legislature had changed significantly after the 2024 primary, when voters elected new lawmakers who opposed Summits pipeline and its use of eminent domain, said Jim Mehlhaff, the Republican majority leader in the South Dakota Senate and a supporter of the pipeline. Lawmakers also were pressured by Summits vocal opponents to vote for the new eminent domain law, he said.Mehlhaff said that the new law sends a signal that South Dakota is not business friendly.The legislature, you know, at the behest of what I would call the shrill minority, will cut your legs out, he added.The federal governments approach to climate change also has changed dramatically since the pipeline was proposed. While former Democratic President Joe Biden increased tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to encourage carbon capture to slow climate change, Republican President Donald Trump has emphasized the need for more oil and gas drilling and coal mining. Zion Lutheran Church stands in Lake County, S.D., March 10, 2025, in one of the counties that a proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would cut through. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Zion Lutheran Church stands in Lake County, S.D., March 10, 2025, in one of the counties that a proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would cut through. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its unclear how Summit will proceed in South Dakota. The company asked state regulators to suspend its permit application timeline. Zenor said the company is focused on advancing the project in states that support investment and innovation but added that Summit continues to believe there is a path forward in South Dakota.But even some supporters of Summit say the company didnt do itself any favors in South Dakota.Did they get off to a bad start? Did they soil their sheets? No question, absolutely, Bones said. I mean, I wouldnt argue that a bit. Dotted Line with Center Square ___Kelety reported from Phoenix. AP writer Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.___This story is a collaboration between Lee Enterprises and The Associated Press.

Subscribe Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. Success Great! Check your inbox and click the link. Error Please enter a valid email address. A powerful Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, parts of which have been seen by 404 Media, allows the federal government to search for and filter people by hundreds of different, highly specific categories. Surveillance experts say the database is a tool that could possibly be helping ICE identify, detain, and deport people who are suspected of relatively minor infractions or who fit certain characteristics, but said the fact that we dont necessarily know the exact mechanisms by which people are being identified and detained is a major problem.The database, called Investigative Case Management (ICM), serves as the core law enforcement case management tool for ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to a 2021 privacy impact assessment for the tool.404 Media saw a recent version of the database, which allows filtering according to hundreds of different categories, which include things like resident status and entry status (refugee, border crossing card, nonimmigrant alien refused admission, temporary protective status alien, nonimmigrant alien transiting without visa, undocumented alien,); unique physical characteristics (e.g. scars, marks, tattoos); criminal affiliation; location data; license plate reader data; country of origin; hair and eye color; race; social security number; birthplace; place of employment; drivers license status; bankruptcy filings, and hundreds more. A source familiar with the database told 404 Media that it is made up of tables upon tables of data and that it can build reports that show, for example, people who are on a specific type of visa who came into the country at a specific port of entry, who came from a specific country, and who have a specific hair color (or any number of hundreds of data points).ICM was created by Palantir, the powerful and controversial surveillance and data management company. In 2022, Palantir signed a $95.9 million, five-year contract to work on ICM.ICE agents can set up a Person Lookout Query that sends email notifications if a person suddenly triggers the parameters of a search query. 404 Media has seen parts of the infrastructure of this database, which shows the characteristics that can be searched for, as well as several example reports that can be generated by it.A 2016 privacy impact assessment filed by DHS about the database says that ICM connects to other DHS and federal databases, including SEVIS, which are records about all people who are admitted to the United States on a student visa; another search tool called FALCON; real-time maps associated with ICEs location tracking tools; limited location data from license plate reader cameras operated by ICE, as well as information from other federal agencies. The Intercept previously reported those agencies include the DEA, the FBI, the ATF, and the CIA.

The Pentagon is working to incorporate AI into everything and it has given investigators a status update.

Britain's King Charles III, center, flanked by Ignazio LaRussa, President of the Italian Senate, left, and Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, addresses the Italian Chamber of Deputies in Rome, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)2025-04-09T17:04:32Z ROME (AP) Pope Francis and King Charles III met privately Wednesday at the Vatican during the kings four-day state visit to Italy, the Vatican announced.It was the first announced meeting since the popes return to the Vatican after five weeks in the hospital for life-threatening double pneumonia. Francis had planned to have an audience with Charles, but that was officially postponed due to the popes health.The pope has been convalescing at the Vatican since March 23, and appeared to the faithful in St. Peters Square on Sunday.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.ROME (AP) King Charles III stressed the need for close ties between Italy and the UK in a historic speech in the Italian parliament on Wednesday, calling for unity in defense of common values at a time of war in Europe.Charles, the first British monarch and fourth foreign leader to address a joint session of the Italian parliament, highlighted the long history between the UK and Italy and their shared culture, going back to the ancient Romans. Our younger generations can see in the news every day on their smartphones and tablets that peace is never to be taken for granted, Charles said. The British king was on the third day of his visit to Italy, seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to strengthen ties with its European allies amid global turbulences and rising instability. Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter, he said in his speech, warning that images of wars were now reverberating again across the continent.Charles added that Italian and British armed forces stand side by side as part of the NATO alliance, noting the two countries joint plans to develop with Japan a new fighter jet.It will generate thousands of jobs in our countries and speaks volumes about the trust we place in each other, he said. During the Italian trip, King Charles and Queen Camilla also marked their 20th wedding anniversary, which will be further celebrated Wednesday evening at a state dinner hosted by President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale palace.Earlier on Wednesday, Charles met Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at Romes Villa Doria Pamphili, enjoying a walk in the 17th Century palaces gardens.In a few weeks, he will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe together with Mattarella.Climate change warnings Charles also spoke passionately in his address about threats facing the planet, recalling another speech he gave in Italy 16 years ago and how the warnings he made at the time about the urgency of the climate challenge were depressingly being borne out by events.He noted extreme storms normally seen once in a generation are now an issue every year, and countless precious plant and animal species face extinction in our lifetimes.Sections of the speech were delivered in Italian, with the King prompting the applause of Italian lawmakers when he noted: And by the way, I hope Im not ruining Dantes language so much that Im no never invited to Italy again.Charles was on his first trip abroad this year after being taken to hospital over side effects related to his ongoing cancer treatment. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The Marathon Garyville Oil Refinery in Reserve, La., is seen Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)2025-04-09T16:27:05Z WASHINGTON (AP) Oil prices slumped to a four-year low Wednesday in anticipation of slowing economic growth and reduced energy demand, both casualties of a trade war that began after President Donald Trump ordered widespread tariffs against the imports of U.S. trading partners. U.S. benchmark crude fell 4.3% to $56.98 per barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices had fallen further earlier in the day to levels not seen since February 2021, the depth of the COVID-19 pandemic. Energy prices have fallen remarkably fast, with the cost of a barrel of oil sliding by more than $20 since the start of the year. At this time last year, a barrel of U.S. crude cost $85, or 34% more than it does now. A barrel was going for around $71 at the beginning of April, before tariffs were launched.Brent crude, the European standard, fell $2.36 to $60.46 per barrel. The most recent swoon in energy prices arrived when Trumps latest round of tariffs kicked in after midnight, including a 104% tax on goods coming from China. The worlds second-largest economy quickly retaliated, with Beijing saying it would raise tariffs on imported U.S. goods to 84% on Thursday. European Union member states followed suit, issuing retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods. For now, the targeted items are a tiny fraction of the 1.6 trillion euros ($1.8 trillion) in U.S.-EU annual trade. Rapidly falling oil prices signal pessimism about economic growth and can be a harbinger of a recession as manufacturers cut production, businesses cut travel costs and families rethink vacation plans. Delta Air Lines. which had anticipated a record year, pulled its financial forecasts for 2025 on Wednesday as the trade war scrambles expectations for business and household spending and depresses bookings across the travel sector. With broad economic uncertainty around global trade, growth has largely stalled, said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.Shares of major U.S. oil companies fell as well Wednesday. We are going into a recession, Neil Dutta of Renaissance Macro Research wrote in a note to clients. I dont think it is especially controversial to say so.

We start this week with Joseph's story revealing how the FBI secretly ran a massive money laundering ring to catch drug traffickers and hackers. After the break, we run through a bunch of tariff stories and how it's going to impact everything from the Nintendo Switch to the iPhone. In the subscribers-only section, Jason explains why he found the new book on Facebook particularly illuminating.Listen to the weekly podcast onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orYouTube. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism.If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player. Elon Musk Was a Prolific Money Launderer for Hackers and Drug Traffickers. It Was Secretly the FBIBig Tech Backed Trump for Acceleration. They Got a Decel President Instead'Sea of Idiocy:' Economists Say Trump Tariffs Will Raise Price of Switch 2 and Everything ElseA 'US-Made iPhone' Is Pure FantasyFramework Stops Selling Some of Its Laptops in the U.S. Due to Tariffs'Careless People' Is the Book About Facebook I've Wanted for a Decade

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01083-2Communities of researchers worldwide are taking on the toxic research cultures that drive poor psychological health among academics.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00966-8The academic impact of early morning lectures, alcohols effects on sleep and other highlights from sleep studies.

What can we glean from two weeks of baseball? Enough to make our experts go all-in on their boldest predictions.

The torpedo bat's rise has changed the industry for the companies that make them. Here is one bat-maker's story.

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Pool via AP)2025-04-09T15:57:12Z WASHINGTON (AP) The global economy appeared to be in open rebellion against President Donald Trumps tariffs as they took effect Wednesday. Business executives are warning of a potential recession caused by his policies, some of the top U.S. trading partners are retaliating with their own import taxes and the stock market is quivering after days of decline. Trumps tariffs kicked in shortly after midnight, including 104% on products from China, 20% on the European Union, 24% on Japan and 25% on South Korea. Administration officials have tried to reassure voters, Republican lawmakers and CEOs that the rates are negotiable, but by their own admission that process could take months.When a downturn appears on the horizon, investors typically crowd into U.S. Treasury notes as a safe haven, viewing the federal government as a source of stability. Not this time. Government bond prices are down, pushing up the interest rate on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note to 4.45% in a sign that the world is increasingly leery of Trumps moves. The market is highly nervous about foreign investors stepping away from the US Treasury debt, which is sending yields sharply higher, said Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities. Markets more broadly, not just the Treasury market, are looking for signs that a trade de-escalation is coming. Absent any de-escalation, its going to be difficult for markets to see stabilize. The Republican president was publicly defiant as the stock market recovered slightly, then sold off and then bounce back in morning trading. The S&P 500 stock index has fallen more than 18% since Feb. 18 as Trumps tariff plans crystallized. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! he posted on Truth Social, his social media site. BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before! Presidents often receive undue credit or blame for the state of the U.S. economy as their time in the White House is subject to financial and geopolitical forces beyond their direct control. But by unilaterally imposing tariffs, Trump is exerting extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks that could prove difficult to avoid if his plans do not pan out. After early success in exerting control over American institutions, from law firms and universities to federal agencies and cultural organizations, he is now facing off with global markets that will not simply bend to his will.JPMorgan Chase CEO and Chairman Jamie Dimon said there would probably be a recession, although he also deferred to his economists.I do think fixing these tariff issues and trade issues would be a good thing to do, he said in an interview with Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria.On CNBC, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the administration was being less strategic than it was during Trumps first term. His company had in January projected it would have its best financial year in history, only to scrap its expectations for 2025 due to the economic uncertainty. Trying to do it all at the same time has created chaos in terms of being able to make plans, he said, noting that demand for air travel has weakened.Economic forecasters say Trumps return to the White House has had a series of negative and cascading impacts that could put the country into a downturn.Simultaneous shocks to consumer sentiment, corporate confidence, trade, financial markets as well as to prices, new orders and the labor market will tip the economy into recession in the current quarter, said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the consultancy RSM.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously said it could take months to strike deals with countries on tariff rates, and the administration has not been clear on whether the baseline 10% tariffs imposed on most countries will stay in place. But in an appearance on Mornings with Maria, Bessent said the economy would be back to firing on all cylinders at a point in the not too distant future. He said there has been an overwhelming response by the countries who want to come and sit at the table rather than escalate. Bessent mentioned Japan, South Korea, and India. I will note that they are all around China. We have Vietnam coming today, he said.Even as the administration has tried to calm the world, new risks are forming. China imposed 84% tariffs on goods from the United States. Canada now has auto tariffs to match the 25% being charged by Washington. The EU approved new taxes on U.S. goods after the 25% steel and aluminum tariffs from Trump.Trump is already calling for more tariffs, looking at copper, lumber and computer chips. In a Tuesday night speech, he said taxes on imported drugs would happen soon. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Pool via AP)2025-04-09T15:33:16Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration McALLEN, Texas (AP) Federal judges in New York and Texas on Wednesday took legal action to block the government from moving five Venezuelans out of the country until they can fight the governments attempt to remove them under a rarely-invoked law that gives the president the power to imprison and deport noncitizens in times of war.The men were identified as belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang, a claim their lawyers dispute.Three men are being detained in a facility in Texas while two more are being held in an Orange County, New York, facility. One man in Texas is HIV positive and fears lacking access to medical care if deported.Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. signed a temporary restraining order in Texas while Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said at a New York hearing that he planned to sign a temporary restraining order as well to block removals while the court challenges proceed. The actions came after civil liberties lawyers in Texas and New York sued in defense of the Venezuelans who are at risk of removal from the U.S. under a rarely-invoked law that gives the president the power to imprison and deport noncitizens in times of war. All five men were identified by the government as belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang.In Texas, the three plaintiffs were detained in a facility and face possible deportation, including a man who is HIV positive and fears lacking access to medical care if deported. The men were identified as gang members by physical attributes using the Alien Enemy Validation Guide, in which an ICE agent tallies points by relying on tattoos, hand gestures, symbols, logos, graffiti, and manner of dress, according to the ACLU. Experts who study the gang have told the ACLU the method is not reliable.The lawsuit sought class action status to affect others who are detained and face similar deportation. The ACLU had requested a temporary restraining order to keep their petitioners in the U.S. and for the judge to declare the 18-century Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration is invoking, unlawful. In New York, Hellerstein set a hearing for April 22 to decide whether a temporary restraining order he planned to sign Wednesday would be turned into a preliminary injunction. The case pertains to two Venezuelan men who also face deportation under the Alien Enemies Act. Civil liberties groups have sued the government on behalf of the two men, one 21 the other 32, who are being held by immigration authorities at a jail about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of New York City.The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times in the past, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II, when it was used to justify the mass internment of people of Japanese heritage while the U.S. was at war with Japan.The United States is not at war with Venezuela, but President Donald Trumps administration has argued the U.S. is being invaded by members of the Tren de Aragua gang.U.S. immigration authorities already have deported more than 100 people and sent them to a notorious prison in El Salvador without letting them challenge their removals in court. On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use the wartime law to deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members, but it also ruled the administration must give Venezuelans the chance to legally fight any deportation orders.The ruling did not address the constitutionality of the act. The ACLU is asking the judge in Texas to decide on whether it is lawful to use the Alien Enemies Act.The administration plans to expand its use for members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, Todd Lyons, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, told reporters Tuesday during Border Security Expo, a trade show in Phoenix.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00912-8Scientists have fully sequenced the genomes of six living ape species, enabling long-awaited comparisons of hard-to-assemble genomic regions.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00965-9Finding an effective treatment for insomnia is one thing getting an insurance company to pay for it is another, says Rachel Nuwer.

The Pirates say their fan-purchased "Bucco Bricks" are in the process of being returned for a "more permanent display" at the stadium.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be limited in the spring as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery and is on schedule to be fully cleared by the time training camp begins.

President Donald Trump listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)2025-04-09T21:07:48Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Israel would be the leader of a potential military strike against Iran if Tehran doesnt give up its nuclear weapons program.Trump made the comments ahead of this weekends scheduled talks involving U.S. and Iranian officials in the Middle East sultanate of Oman. Trump earlier this week said the talks would be direct while Iran has described the engagement as indirect talks with the U.S.If it requires military, were going to have military, Trump said. Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. Theyll be the leader of that. But nobody leads us, but we do what we want to do.The United States is increasingly concerned as Tehran is closer than ever to a workable weapon. But Trump said on Wednesday that he doesnt have a definitive timeline for the talks to come to a resolution. When you start talks, you know, if theyre going along well or not, Trump said. And I would say the conclusion would be what I think theyre not going along well. So thats just a feeling.The U.S. and other world powers in 2015 reached a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. But Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement in 2018, calling it the worst deal ever. Iran and the U.S., under President Joe Biden, held indirect negotiations in Vienna in 2021 aimed at restoring the nuclear deal. But those talks, and others between Tehran and European nations, failed to reach any agreement. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department earlier on Wednesday issued new sanctions targeting Irans nuclear program.Five entities and one person based in Iran are cited in the new sanctions for their support of Irans nuclear program. The designated groups include the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and subordinates Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, Thorium Power Company, Pars Reactors Construction and Development Company and Azarab Industries Co. I want Iran to be great, Trump said Wednesday. The only thing that they cant have is a nuclear weapon. They understand that.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian again pledged Wednesday that his nation is not after a nuclear bomb and even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal.The comments by the reformist leader represent a departure from Irans stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred U.S. companies from coming into the country.His excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran, Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran, referring to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. American investors: Come and invest.___ AAMER MADHANI Madhani covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Keegan Bradley celebrates with sons Cooper, 4, and Logan, 7, left, on the seventh hole during the par-3 contest at the Masters golf tournament, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2025-04-07T16:38:34Z AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Masters begins Thursday at Augusta National, where defending champion Scottie Scheffler will try to win his third green jacket, Rory McIlroy will try again to win his first and the biggest names in golf will come together amid the Georgia pines for the years first major championship.There are 95 players in the field, the largest in a decade, even without five-time champion Tiger Woods, who had surgery in March to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Last year, Woods set a record by making the cut for the 24th time in a row.There is still a schism in the game, and just 12 from the breakaway LIV Golf league will be teeing up among the pink dogwoods and blooming azaleas. That includes Jon Rahm, the winner two years ago, and U.S. Open champion Bryson Dechambeau.Here is a look at what you need to know leading up to the Masters. When is the Masters?The first round begins at about 7:25 a.m. EDT Thursday, when honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson tee off on Tea Olive, the first hole at Augusta National. Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod were the first honorary starters in 1963, but it was not until Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen took over in 1981 that it became a treasured tradition.Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire are the first competitors off at 7:40 a.m., followed by groups of three. After the second round, the top 50 players and ties make the cut for the weekend and are paired according to score for the final two rounds. How can I watch the Masters?The Masters stream on its website begins Thursday at 7:15 a.m. and runs throughout the day, and cameras highlight holes and featured groups. The first two rounds are broadcast on ESPN beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. CBS takes over Saturday and Sunday with coverage on its Paramount+ platform at noon and on the network beginning at 2 p.m.What are the betting odds for the Masters?Scheffler, who has yet to win this season, is the 9-2 favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. McIlory is second at 13-2 after his wins at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship. Collin Morikawa is 14-1 while Rahm and DeChambeau are 16-1. Who should I watch at the Masters?Scheffler, who along with his green jacket and Olympic gold medal won seven times on the PGA Tour last year, got a late start to this season after cutting himself on a wine glass in December. But the world No. 1 comes into the Masters with momentum after a final-round 63 left him one shot back of winner Min Woo Lee in his last start at the Houston Open.McIlroy has been playing some of the best golf of his career. His collapse in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst last year in a Sunday duel with DeChambeau seems to have made the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland an even bigger sentimental favorite.Xander Schauffele won two majors last year and is seeking his first green jacket, though he seems to be still rounding into form following a rib injury. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has twice finished second at Augusta National.When are the featured groups?Morikawa, Lee and Joaquin Niemann tee off at 9:47 a.m. Thursday, beginning a run of high-profile groups. Phil Mickelson, Jason Day and Keegan Bradley are next, followed by Scheffler, who is grouped with Justin Thomas and U.S. Amateur champ Jose Luis Ballester. Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim and Tyrrell Hatton go off at 10:26 a.m.In the afternoon, McIlroy is grouped with Ludvig Aberg and Akshay Bhatia and tees off at 1:12 p.m., just behind the group of Schauffele, Adam Scott and Viktor Hoveland. DeChambeau, Hideki Matsuyama and Shane Lowery are off at 1:23 p.m., followed by Rahm, Wyndham Clark and Tommy Fleetwood. What is the weather forecast?While most of Mondays practice round was washed out, Tuesday and Wednesday were warm and sunny. The forecast for Thursday is clear, but storms could arrive overnight and the rain could continue into the early part of Friday.What happened Wednesday at Augusta National?The focus shifted from practice rounds on the championship course to the par-3 layout on what may be the most picturesque part of the property. Nicolas Echavarria and J.J. Spaun finished atop the leaderboard at 5 under in the family friendly event, but they may come to regret it nobody has won the Par 3 Tournament and gone on to win the Masters in the same year. What happened last year at the Masters?Scheffler shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday, keeping preternatural poise while his closest competitors faltered around Amen Corner, and finished with a four-shot victory over Masters newcomer Aberg for his second green jacket in three years.Aberg was among four players who had a share of the lead on Sunday; he lost ground when his approach went into the pond left of the 11th hole and he made double bogey. Morikawa had two double bogeys to fall out of the hunt, tying for third with Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa, whose own double bogey from the bushes at the par-3 12th ruined his chances.Woods closed with a 77 and finished at 16-over 304, the highest 72-hole score of his career.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf DAVE SKRETTA Skretta is a Kansas City-based sports writer for The Associated Press. He covers the Royals, the Chiefs and college sports along with auto racing, the Olympics and other sports.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01049-4A screen of interactions between genes involved in the cells response to DNA damage has revealed several previously unreported synthetic lethalities, in which disrupting a pair of genes, but not either gene alone, causes cell death. The resulting map of genetic interactions could help to identify therapeutic targets for cancer.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08878-3A global map of human subcellular architecture yields protein complex structures, reveals protein functions, identifies assemblies with multiple localizations or cell-type specificity and decodes paediatric cancer genomes.

Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez said on social media that several of his family members were inside the nightclub that collapsed in the Dominican Republic.

Five-star guard Brayden Burries, the second-highest-ranked prospect available in the senior class, committed to Arizona.

Raiden Hung of Jurassic Gymnastics from Boston, relaxes after competing on the uneven bars at the 2025 NAIGC national competition in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)2025-04-09T15:26:46Z PITTSBURGH (AP) Raiden Hung cant imagine a life without gymnastics. And to be honest, he doesnt want to.Theres always been something about the sport thats called to him. Something about flipping. Something about the discipline it requires. Something about the mixture of joy and calm he feels whenever he steps onto a mat.It keeps me sane, I guess, the 21-year-old student at Northeastern University in Boston said. Gymnastics is the love of my life basically. Raiden Hung of Jurassic Gymnastics from Boston, center left, celebrates with teammate Fay Malay after competing in the floor exercise at the 2025 NAIGC national competition in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Raiden Hung of Jurassic Gymnastics from Boston, center left, celebrates with teammate Fay Malay after competing in the floor exercise at the 2025 NAIGC national competition in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The hours in the gym have long served as a constant for Hung. The one thing he can always depend on. The one place where he can truly feel like himself.Still, Hung feared he would be forced to give up gymnastics when he realized in his late teens that he was non-binary. He had identified as female most of his life and competed in womens events growing up. He says he now identifies as trans-masculine.Part of Hungs transition included beginning hormone replacement therapy, something he considered putting off over worries that it meant he would no longer be able to compete.It was sort of like, Do I have to make a choice? Hung said. And that would have probably been awful for my mental stability, like having to choose between the two. The National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs gave Hung safe harbor. The stated mission of the steadily growing organization that includes more than 2,500 athletes and 160 clubs across the country is to provide a place for college and adult gymnasts to continue competing while pushing the boundaries of the sport. That includes, but is hardly limited to, being as gender-inclusive as possible.During local NAIGC meets, for example, there are no gender categories. Athletes compete against every other athlete at their designated skill level, which can run from novice/developmental routines to ones that wouldnt look out of place at an NCAA Division I meet. Gymnasts can also hop on whatever apparatus they want. Women on parallel bars. Men on the balance beam. Just about anything goes. At its annual national meet, the NAIGC even offers the decathlon, which allows athletes of all gender identities to compete against each other across all 10 disciplines six in mens, four in womens of artistic gymnastics.(We want) people to be able to continue doing gymnastics into adulthood in a way that feels comfortable and safe and supportive for them, said Ilana Shushanky, NAIGCs director of operations.A challenging climateThe approach comes as transgender athletes find themselves the target of increasingly heated rhetoric. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February that gave federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administrations view, which interprets sex as the gender someone was assigned at birth. A day later, the NCAA said it would limit competition in womens sports to athletes who were assigned female at birth.The message to the transgender community at large was clear: You do not belong here. Several trans and/or non-binary members of the NAIGC, which is independently run and volunteer-led and does not rely on federal money to operate, felt it. Calix Hill, a 26-year-old gymnast who identifies as trans-masculine, returned to the sport two years ago following a lengthy break, the fallout of what they described as an abusive environment in the gym where they trained as a child. Hill was going to law school in the South when they began transitioning and said it was not unusual for them to be met with homophobic slurs while walking across campus or being regularly misgendered or singled out by professors.Multiple trans or non-binary athletes who spoke to The Associated Press said they pondered quitting following last falls election, despondent over what at times feels like an increasingly hostile environment toward their community. None did. One viewed stepping away as ceding power over a part of who they are to someone else. Another pointed to the social aspect of gymnastics and how vital the feeling of acceptance in their home gym was to maintaining proper mental and emotional health. Part of my identity is as an athlete and to see myself as strong and able to do hard things, said Wes Weske, who is non-binary and previously competed in the decathlon before recently graduating from medical school. I think (gymnastics) really helped my self-image and was just an important part of understanding myself. A sense of normalcyThat sense of belonging was everywhere at the NAIGCs national competition in early April. For three days, more than 1,700 athletes, including a dozen who registered their gender as other, turned a convention center hall in downtown Pittsburgh into what could best be described as a celebration.Not just of gymnastics. But of diversity. And inclusion. There were no protests. No performative grandstanding. It all looked and felt and sounded like any other large-scale meet. Cheers from one corner following a stuck dismount. Roars from another corner encouraging a competitor to hop back up after a fall. It felt normal. Thats the NAIGCs point. Gymnastics is for everyone. For Hung and the 11 other competitors allowed to choose whether to compete in the mens or womens divisions, nationals provided the opportunity to salute the judges and stand alongside their teammates while being seen for who they really are. When Hung dismounted from his uneven bars routine, several members of Jurassic Gymnastics, the all-adult competitive team based in Boston that Hung joined, came over to offer a hug, pep talk or both.The group included Eric Petersen, a 49-year-old married father of two teenagers who competed on the mens team at the Air Force Academy 30 years ago. He now dabbles in womens artistic gymnastics alongside Hung at Jurassic, one of the largest adults-only gymnastics club in the country.Petersen has heard all the noise about transgender athletes. It does not jibe with the reality he experiences in the gym.Certain people want to convince people that this is a big issue and people are losing their (minds), he said. But its not like that. Other groups can be uptight about that if they want. But in this group, its about the love of the sport. If you love the sport, then do the sport and have fun, no matter who you are.Finding their wayTen Harder got into gymnastics after being inspired by watching Gabby Douglas win gold at the 2012 Olympics. They spent their childhood competing as a woman but became increasingly uncomfortable at meets as they grew older. Everyone is, like, fitting into the binary gender roles of being super feminine or being very masculine, said Harder, 22, now a Ph. D. student at Boston University who identifies as non-binary/trans masculine. Youre sort of, like, unsure of where your place is and how you can fit into it.Harder felt like they had to make their own path. So they did. They connected on TikTok with a non-binary gymnast from the Netherlands and started competing in a uniform that felt more natural, a practice leotard similar to a tank top and shorts. Over the last couple of years, they have run across other non-binary or queer athletes, easing their sense of loneliness.It doesnt have to just be me figuring this out on my own, they said. I can work together with all these other people and see how i can build my own space in this really feminine sport.While there are times Harder admits they still grapple with feeling self-conscious about their gender identity even around teammates who have become friends and allies, there is also something greater at play. I think its important to remember that trans athletes are just people, too, he said. We deserve to be in the sports that we love. And we deserve to get a chance to compete and do everything just as other people do.Harder, who began taking testosterone recently, competed in the mens-plus division of womens artistic gymnastics at nationals at their given level. It just felt right. Hung, by comparison, competed in the womens-plus division at his given level. Also, because it just felt right.One trans athlete told the AP they decided to enter the mens-plus division even though they have not started medically transitioning because they wanted to prove they could hold their own anyway.They did not win. It hardly mattered. For most NAIGC athletes, the results are almost beside the point.An evolving sportGymnastics is a difficult, thankless and often physically demanding pursuit. Its long been considered the domain of the very young, a niche sport whose popularity spikes every four years during the Olympics only to fade again into the background.That stereotype is changing on multiple levels. Simone Biles, then 27, became the oldest womens Olympic all-around champion in 72 years in Paris last summer. Interest in womens college gymnastics is soaring. And the number of adults in the sport is spiking. Community membership in the NAIGC, for example, has doubled since 2015. Many of those members are like Jennifer Castellano, a 30-something director of investment operations at a firm in Raleigh, North Carolina, who returned to the gym following a long layoff. The last few years have given her a deep appreciation for the community it builds. When Castellano sees a transgender athlete competing, what races through her mind is not anger, but awe.At no point am I ever like, Oh my gosh, like, hes taken testosterone, like thats not fair, because its incredible, said Castellano, who competes for Triumph Gymnastics in Cary, North Carolina. To go through that change and to be able to continue to feel at home and to feel welcomed is so important.Hung has finished ahead of cisgender women at local NAIGC meets since he began transitioning. Asked if hes ever received any pushback, he shakes his head and said, Its sort of like, were just doing gymnastics.As Fay Malay, a non-binary teammate of Hungs at Jurassic, put it, theres so much more to being a human than the bits and parts (we) got.That doesnt keep Hung from occasionally wondering if competing against cisgender women while taking testosterone gives him an edge. An admittedly anxious person, his mind keeps coming back to two immutable facts. Hes non-binary trans masculine, something he lives with 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not just the handful of hours a year hes competing. And hes a gymnast. Hung feels he should be allowed to love both and be allowed to be both. In what can feel like an increasingly fractured world, gymnastics gives him peace. Hes found a home at Jurassic and within the NAIGC, one that allows him the freedom to compete as he is, not how others want to define him. He hopes as do several other trans athletes who spoke to the AP for this story that the non-binary community within the NAIGC will one day be large enough to have a division of its own. Maybe down the road. Whether that happens or not, he knows he still has a place in gymnastics. And for now, thats enough. It feels like a sort of like, like a safe bubble or like whats stronger than a bubble? said Hung, who finished in the middle of the pack in his division. I dont know. But its like, it definitely feels like ... like a shield.___AP video journalist Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos contributed to this report.___AP Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports WILL GRAVES Graves is a national writer for The Associated Press, based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NFL, MLB, NHL, the Olympics and major college sports. twitter facebook mailto

This image provided by the Allen Institute on April 8, 2025, shows a digital representation of neurons in a section of a mouse's brain, part of a project to create the largest map to date of brain wiring and function, in Seattle, Wash. (Forrest Collman/Allen Institute via AP)2025-04-09T15:02:39Z WASHINGTON (AP) Thanks to a mouse watching clips from The Matrix, scientists have created the largest functional map of a brain to date a diagram of the wiring connecting 84,000 neurons as they fire off messages.Using a piece of that mouses brain about the size of a poppy seed, the researchers identified those neurons and traced how they communicated via branch-like fibers through a surprising 500 million junctions called synapses.The massive dataset, published Wednesday by the journal Nature, marks a step toward unraveling the mystery of how our brains work. The data, assembled in a 3D reconstruction colored to delineate different brain circuitry, is open to scientists worldwide for additional research and for the simply curious to take a peek.It definitely inspires a sense of awe, just like looking at pictures of the galaxies, said Forrest Collman of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, one of the projects leading researchers. You get a sense of how complicated you are. Were looking at one tiny part ... of a mouses brain and the beauty and complexity that you can see in these actual neurons and the hundreds of millions of connections between them. How we think, feel, see, talk and move are due to neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain how theyre activated and send messages to each other. Scientists have long known those signals move from one neuron along fibers called axons and dendrites, using synapses to jump to the next neuron. But theres less known about the networks of neurons that perform certain tasks and how disruptions of that wiring could play a role in Alzheimers, autism or other disorders. You can make a thousand hypotheses about how brain cells might do their job but you cant test those hypotheses unless you know perhaps the most fundamental thing how are those cells wired together, said Allen Institute scientist Clay Reid, who helped pioneer electron microscopy to study neural connections. With the new project, a global team of more than 150 researchers mapped neural connections that Collman compares to tangled pieces of spaghetti winding through part of the mouse brain responsible for vision. The first step: Show a mouse video snippets of sci-fi movies, sports, animation and nature.A team at Baylor College of Medicine did just that, using a mouse engineered with a gene that makes its neurons glow when theyre active. The researchers used a laser-powered microscope to record how individual cells in the animals visual cortex lit up as they processed the images flashing by.Next, scientists at the Allen Institute analyzed that small piece of brain tissue, using a special tool to shave it into more than 25,000 layers, each far thinner than a human hair. With electron microscopes, they took nearly 100 million high-resolution images of those sections, illuminating those spaghetti-like fibers and painstakingly reassembling the data in 3D.Finally, Princeton University scientists used artificial intelligence to trace all that wiring and paint each of the individual wires a different color so that we can identify them individually, Collman explained. They estimated that microscopic wiring, if laid out, would measure more than 3 miles (5 kilometers). Importantly, matching up all that anatomy with the activity in the mouses brain as it watched movies allowed researchers to trace how the circuitry worked.The Princeton researchers also created digital 3D copies of the data that other scientists can use in developing new studies.Could this kind of mapping help scientists eventually find treatments for brain diseases? The researchers call it a foundational step, like how the Human Genome Project that provided the first gene mapping eventually led to gene-based treatments. Mapping a full mouse brain is one next goal.The technologies developed by this project will give us our first chance to really identify some kind of abnormal pattern of connectivity that gives rise to a disorder, another of the projects leading researchers, Princeton neuroscientist and computer scientist Sebastian Seung, said in a statement. The work marks a major leap forwards and offers an invaluable community resource for future discoveries, wrote Harvard neuroscientists Mariela Petkova and Gregor Schuhknecht, who werent involved in the project.The huge and publicly shared data will help to unravel the complex neural networks underlying cognition and behavior, they added.The Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks, or MICrONS, consortium was funded by the National Institutes of Healths BRAIN Initiative and IARPA, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity.-The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08838-xA genomic barcoding scheme called two-layer DNA seqFISH+ enables the simultaneous mapping of more than 100,000 loci and has been used to identify cell-type-specific subnuclear compartments in the mouse brain.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08772-yA laser-plasma electron beam generated using active energy compression demonstrates reduction in energy spread and jitter by an order of magnitude to below the permille level, comparable with modern radio-frequency accelerators.

We break down the chances of Denver, Boston University, Western Michigan and Penn State.

Enjoy Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarterfinal action as Barcelona took on Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain took on Aston Villa.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08876-5A study using time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy reveals the swinging lever mechanism of myosin, providing information on the molecular basis behind the production of force and movement by myosin.

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08824-3An integrated optical parametric amplifier with an ultra-wide bandwidth was implemented using geometrically optimized low-loss nonlinear rib silicon nitride waveguides including the demonstration of broadband all-optical wavelength conversion.

Barcelona are facing competition to sign Liverpool's Luis Daz. Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.