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What’s on tap: 

• Easter bombing convictions

• McDonald’s refresh

• Eiffel Tower movie theatre

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Big Stories

Sri Lanka Easter Bombing Convictions

• A Sri Lankan court sentenced 15 men to more than 200 years in prison each for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 267 people and wounded nearly 600 at churches and hotels. The Islamic State-inspired attacks were among the deadliest in the country's history.

• Nine suicide bombers carried out the coordinated attacks after pledging allegiance to then-Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. All died in the explosions. The men convicted Tuesday were accused of helping plan or support the attacks while nine other defendants were acquitted.

• Investigators are also examining whether former government and intelligence officials had connections to the attackers or knew of the plot beforehand. One has already been arrested: former intelligence chief Suresh Salley, who is accused of conspiring with Islamist extremists. Salley and other officials accused of involvement deny wrongdoing.

The “Fire Amoeba”

• Scientists discovered a new species of amoeba that can reproduce at temperatures up to 145°F, setting a new heat record for a eukaryote — the group of complex-celled organisms that includes plants, animals, fungi, and humans.

• Researchers found the organism in a geothermal stream at California's Lassen Volcanic National Park and named it Incendiamoeba cascadensis, or the "fire amoeba." It can continue moving above 145°F and survive brief exposure to water reaching 158°F.

• The amoeba carries extra genes that help keep proteins properly folded and repair damaged DNA, while other systems may help stabilize its membranes as temperatures rise. When conditions become too hot, it can form a protective dormant cyst and reactivate after temperatures fall.

Polo Powers Up

• Hurricane Polo became one of the strongest eastern Pacific hurricanes on record after rapidly intensifying off Mexico's southwestern coast. The storm peaked at Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 165 mph before weakening to Category 4 Wednesday.

• Polo went from a 40 mph tropical storm to Category 5 in roughly 36 hours during one of the fastest intensifications ever observed in the eastern Pacific. Its pressure also plunged to levels surpassed only by Hurricane Patricia in 2015, which further placed Polo among the most intense storms ever recorded in the basin.

• Polo's center is expected to remain offshore, but heavy rain, dangerous surf, and tropical storm conditions threaten parts of southwestern Mexico. Scientists say unusually warm Pacific waters and favorable wind patterns associated with El Niño helped fuel the storm's explosive strengthening.

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Quick Stories

U.S. News

• Three lawsuits accuse Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster of causing serious brain injuries as attorneys say more than 100 other riders have reported similar harm. (More)

• The Supreme Court rejected a surrogate’s request to block a California ruling recognizing the intended parents as the legal parents of a baby born with a serious heart defect. (More)

• A former U.S. Postal Service worker was indicted for allegedly throwing away mail including roughly 300 ballots intended for Utah voters ahead of a June primary. (More)

World

• Riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Madrid as authorities evicted an 87-year-old disabled woman from her apartment after three previous attempts had failed. (More)

• Fighting escalated in northern Ethiopia as Tigray rebels reportedly seized airports and clashed with government forces, threatening the fragile peace that ended a deadly two-year civil war. (More)

• The European Union extended sanctions on roughly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities through September 2029 while lifting restrictions on oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. (More)

Business & Economy

• U.S. stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -0.75%, Nasdaq -1.13%, Dow -0.68%), as Treasury yields climbed amid growing investor concerns that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates again. (More)

• U.S. mortgage rates climbed above 7% last week, with the average 30-year fixed rate reaching 7.12%, its highest level since May 2024. (More)

• McDonald’s will invest $8.5 billion to modernize its restaurants globally and add more protein-focused menu options as customers increasingly seek smaller, healthier meals. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Dolly Parton’s estate obtained a restraining order against her nephew and former security chief Bryan Seaver after accusing him of making repeated threats against estate officials. (More)

• Aaron Judge plans to be ready for the Yankees’ playoff opener Tuesday despite a right calf strain that manager Aaron Boone expects will keep him out. (More)

• Harvey Weinstein received a 15-year prison sentence, more than a year after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A 65-foot wall discovered beneath Paris may be part of ancient Lutetia’s defenses, potentially settling a long-running debate over where the city was originally founded. (More)

• U.S. alcohol consumption fell for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, though drinking remains above pre-pandemic levels and has continued rising among older adults. (More)

• Schooling fish can detect danger without seeing the threat themselves as specialized brain circuits recognize fleeing neighbors and rapidly trigger their own escape response. (More)

Extra Credit

The Eiffel Tower is turning into a temporary movie theatre.

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