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FDA approves 2 gene therapies for sickle cell. One is the first to use the editing tool CRISPR

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Regulators on Friday approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease that doctors hope can cure the painful, inherited blood disorder that afflicts mostly Black people in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration said the one-time treatments can be used for patients 12 and older with severe forms of the disease. One, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is the first approved therapy based on CRISPR, the gene editing tool that won its inventors the Nobel Prize in 2020. The other is made by Bluebird Bio and works differently.“Sickle cell disease is a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder with significant unmet need,” the FDA’s Dr. Nicole Verdun said in a statement announcing the approvals. “We are excited to advance the field especially for individuals whose lives have been severely disrupted by the disease.” The two gene therapies are the first approved in the U.S. for sickle cell. The FDA has previously OK’d 15 gene the...

Californian passes state bar exam at age 17 and is sworn in as an attorney

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

VISALIA, Calif. (AP) — A county prosecutor’s office says one of its law clerks passed the State Bar of California exam at age 17.The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said this week that, according to research, Peter Park is the youngest person to pass the exam.The State Bar said Friday in an email to The Associated Press that it could not confirm that Park is the youngest, but it hailed his achievement.“Passing the California Bar exam is a major accomplishment at any age, and for someone as young as Mr. Park, it is quite an extraordinary feat and one worth celebrating,” Executive Director Leah Wilson said.Park took the exam in July and received the test results on Nov. 9, according to a news release issued by the District Attorney’s office this week. “It was not easy, but it was worth it,” Park said in a statement. Park began high school at Oxford Academy in Cypress, California, in 2019 at age 13 and simultaneously began a four-year juris doctor...

Man who fired shotgun outside New York synagogue cited events in the Mideast, federal agent says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A man who fired a shotgun into the air outside a synagogue in New York’s capital city is an Iraqi-born U.S. citizen who told investigators he felt affected by events in the Middle East, a federal agent said in a court filing.No one was injured by the gunfire Thursday afternoon outside Albany’s Temple Israel, but children attending preschool had to shelter in place while police searched the area.Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, was arrested a short distance away from the temple after laying down the shotgun, police said. He said “Free Palestine” when officers arrested him, according to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.Federal prosecutors charged Alkhader with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person — a charge authorities said was related to his admitted use of marijuana. He could also face state charges. Hawkins said the episode was being investigated as a possible hate crime.The episode happened on the first night of Hanukkah amid rising fears of antisemiti...

Six French teens convicted over their roles in an Islamic extremist’s killing of a teacher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

PARIS (AP) — A French juvenile court on Friday convicted six teenagers for their roles in the 2020 beheading of a teacher by an Islamic extremist, an attack that shocked the country and shone a light on the real-world dangers of online hate speech.Samuel Paty, a history and geography teacher, was killed near his school after showing his class cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad during a debate on free expression. Attacker Abdoullakh Anzorov, a young Chechen who had become radicalized, was killed by police.The court found five of the defendants, who were 14 and 15 at the time of the attack, guilty of involvement in staking out the teacher and identifying him for the attacker. The sixth defendant, 13 at the time, was found guilty of lying about the classroom debate in a comment that aggravated online anger against the teacher.After the ruling, the six defendants left the courtroom without speaking. Some had their heads down as they listened to the verdict. One appeared to wipe tears.The ...

He was a bricklayer who played soccer at night. Now Federico Gatti is deciding games for Juventus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Federico Gatti once worked as a bricklayer and played soccer only at night. Now he’s taking over for Giorgio Chiellini as the physical presence in Juventus’ defense.The 6-foot-3 (1.90-meter) Gatti used his body to maximum effect to head in the only goal in Juventus’ 1-0 win over defending Serie A champion Napoli on Friday.Rising to meet a cross from Andrea Cambiaso, Gatti easily muscled his way up over Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani to redirect the ball into the far corner.It was Gatti’s third goal this season — more than any other defender in the Italian league. He also scored a late winner in a 2-1 win at Monza a week ago.“Federico is an example for all of us,” Juventus captain Danilo said. “He went through some tough times but he remained strong.”Juventus took the lead in Serie A by one point over Inter Milan, which hosts Udinese on Saturday.Napoli, which hasn’t scored in three of its last four Serie A matches, dropped 12 points beh...

Browns not naming starting quarterback for Jags, will be either Flacco or rookie Thompson-Robinson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Joe Flacco ‘s second straight start for the Browns appears inevitable, if not essential.It’s just not official.Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski remained noncommittal about his starter for Sunday’s crucial game against Jacksonville despite Flacco getting all the first-team quarterback reps during the portion of Friday’s practice open to the media.Flacco had an impressive debut for Cleveland last weekend, the 38-year-old’s first start in nearly one year, and is expected to play against the Jaguars (8-4).But while Flacco seems to be his best choice — over rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson — for a game with massive AFC playoff implications, Stefanski said after practice he was not ready to publicly announce his starter.“Both guys practiced this week. Both guys practiced well, I got faith in both guys,” Stefanski said.Pressed on why he’s not revealing his choice, Stefanski remained coy.“You don’t have to, I guess is probably the b...

Prosecutors in Guatemala ask court to lift president-elect’s immunity; OAS cites ‘coup attempt’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Prosecutors in Guatemala on Friday asked a court to strip President-elect Bernardo Arévalo of his immunity, saying there could be enough irregularities to annul the election results, a move that the OAS called part of “a coup attempt.”It was the third time they have done so since he won election in August, and the Organization of American States said the moves were part of “a coup attempt.”Arévalo is scheduled to take office on Jan. 14, and it was unclear whether the prosecutors’ continued targeting of him and his party could interfere with the inauguration.The most recent request from prosecutors cites alleged irregularities in the way Arévalo’s Seed Movement party gathered signatures to register years earlier.Authorities arrested a number of Seed Movement members in recent weeks. They also previously requested stripping Arévalo of immunity over alleged mishandling of party funds, and requested that he and his vice president-elect also lose their i...

Hoffenheim beats Bochum to end four-game winless streak in Bundesliga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric scored one and made another as Hoffenheim snapped a four-game winless streak with a 3-1 win over Bochum in the Bundesliga on Friday.Coming into the match, Hoffenheim had won only four points at home, the fewest of all 18 German clubs.But it was the hungrier of the two teams from the off and it took the lead in the 32nd minute, albeit thanks to a stroke of luck. Dutch striker Wout Weghorst took an inviting pass from Kramaric and, although his shot was saved, it hit Bochum defender Erhan Mašović and rebounded over the line.Kramaric was involved again 11 minutes later when Hoffenheim doubled its lead. He seized on a low cross from the right and neatly wrong-footed the Bochum defense before hammering home from close range.Bochum came more into the game in the second half but only five of its 22 shots were on target and substitute Ihlas Bebou sealed the game for the home side with the third goal 14 minutes from time. Gonçalo Paciência scored...

Stock market today: Wall Street hits 2023 high as it mulls whether economy is too warm or just right

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street climbed back to its best level in 20 months on Friday following a stronger-than-expected report on the U.S. job market.The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, enough to clinch a sixth straight winning week for the index, which is its longest such streak in four years. Wall Street’s main measure of health is now just 4% below its record set at the start of last year.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 130 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4%.Yields rose more sharply in the bond market following the report, which said U.S. employers added more jobs last month than economists expected. Workers’ wages also rose more than expected, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly improved.The strong data keep at bay worries about a possible recession, at least for a while longer, and stocks of some companies whose profits are closely tied to the strength of the economy rallied. Energy-related stocks had the biggest gain of the 11 sectors that make up the S&P 5...

Ex-Loveland paraprofessional accused of having images of child sex abuse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A 27-year-old man has been arrested for possessing images of child sexual abuse, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit.The investigation was launched over the summer when a sheriff's office investigator received several tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Boulder Sheriff warns of stolen Wyoming vehicle titles used in Colorado The center told the sheriff's office about images showing sexual abuse of young children and said the possession of the images was associated with an unknown suspect in unincorporated Larimer County.Joseph Major, 27, of Loveland, was arrested on Dec. 7 after a search warrant was obtained and used to search his home and seize his electronic devices on Nov. 29.Major is facing charges of possessing more than one video of sexual exploitation of a child and possessing over 20 images of sexual exploitation of a child. Major was employed by the Thompson School District f...