JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 870

Portland, Maine. Lawmakers this week passed a one-year moratorium on construction of large data centers, sending LD 307 to Gov. Janet Mills after the House voted 79-62 and the Senate 21-13; the bill now awaits the governor’s signature and would pause new large-scale approvals.

The pause applies to large, energy- and water-intensive facilities while allowing smaller centers to proceed; residents and environmental advocates cited concerns about electricity demand, water use, and community disruption, and developers face project delays as state regulators and legislators prepare further review.

Washington: The International Monetary Fund said global financial markets have so far absorbed volatility from the Middle East conflict without major disruption, presenting its Global Financial Stability Report. IMF Financial Counsellor Tobias Adrian said markets have functioned in an orderly manner, with no widespread margin calls or forced deleveraging, and that banks remain well capitalised and liquid. He warned, however, that elevated public and private debt, rollover risks and the growing role of non-bank financial institutions could amplify stress and destabilise markets if conditions worsen.

Adrian also noted that policy space has been drawn down in many countries after years of crisis support, urging authorities to monitor risks closely and be ready to inject liquidity if needed. The IMF said the conflict has pushed up oil prices and lifted near-term inflation expectations, though markets currently see longer-term expectations as anchored. Emerging markets face added pressures from volatile capital flows and higher energy costs, while the IMF flagged risks from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and called for stronger regulatory and operational readiness. On private credit, the report judged default risk manageable for now, with mechanisms such as redemption gates helping limit systemic spillovers.

Washington, April 15 — US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran is "close to over," speaking in a Fox Business interview recorded on Tuesday, and reiterated that Tehran wants to negotiate; he added that if US forces withdrew, rebuilding Iran would take decades.

This week officials and diplomatic sources reported that marathon talks in Islamabad produced no final agreement but could lead to a second round within 48 hours; the US has enacted measures affecting Iranian ports, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said talks are likely to resume, and negotiators face tight deadlines to de-escalate tensions.

Philadelphia — On Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4, as Nico Hoerner delivered key hits with runners in scoring position including a sixth-inning two-run single that turned a tie into a multi-run advantage. Alex Bregman followed with an additional two-run single in the same inning to extend the lead.

The win gave the Cubs a boost in early-season standings while the Phillies faced immediate bullpen scrutiny and lineup questions, with manager decisions expected for the Wednesday game; Hoerner's season slash and team-leading RBI totals were cited by teammates and managers as evidence of his hot start.

Columbia, S.C. On Tuesday lawmakers held a public hearing and on Wednesday a Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee approved S.1095, the 'Unborn Child Protection Act,' which would make it unlawful to intentionally perform most abortions, restrict abortion-inducing drugs, and remove existing exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomalies.

The bill will go before the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee on Thursday; sponsors like Sen. Richard Cash say they seek stricter limits, while Planned Parenthood and other witnesses warned it would criminalize patients and providers. The subcommittee vote followed more than two hours of testimony and sets the stage for further debate and potential vote.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Tuesday night LaMelo Ball drove for a game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime and Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell’s attempt at the buzzer as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat 127-126 in a play-in game, eliminating Miami from the postseason.

The Hornets were led by Ball’s 30 points and 10 assists and Bridges’ 28 points and nine rebounds; Coby White added 19. Miami’s Davion Mitchell scored 28 and Andrew Wiggins 27, while Bam Adebayo exited with a reported lower-back injury. Charlotte will play the loser of Wednesday’s Philadelphia-Orlando matchup on Friday for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

ST. PAUL, Minn. The Minnesota Wild beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday in the regular-season finale as rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 35 saves and Hunter Haight scored his first career NHL goal. Danila Yurov and Robby Fabbri also scored for Minnesota, while Mason McTavish scored twice for Anaheim.

The outcome leaves the Ducks with 90 points and one regular-season game remaining after clinching a playoff berth Monday following a Nashville loss; they can no longer win the Pacific Division. The Wild will evaluate Wallstedt alongside Filip Gustavsson for potential postseason goaltending rotation, and Anaheim faces potential lower seeding and a tough first-round matchup.

Minneapolis. Byron Buxton hit two home runs and collected four hits, and Mick Abel pitched seven scoreless innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0 on Tuesday night at Target Field. Buxton scored four runs, and Luke Keaschall supplied an early RBI; Abel struck out a career-high ten while allowing four hits and no walks.

The victory extended Minnesota's winning stretch to eight of nine games and marked the Red Sox's first shutout loss of the season; the Twins secured their third consecutive series win and have scored at least six runs in four straight games this week. Boston starter Sonny Gray gave up five runs in four innings, leaving the Red Sox still in last place in the AL East.

Tehran demonstrators gathered to protest what they described as a United States threat to an oil route, JQJO reported today. Participants voiced opposition to actions they said imperil a transit line used for energy shipments, and the report said the gathering reflected broader public concern about disruptions to energy transit. JQJO did not provide figures for attendance or identify precise locations of the protest, nor did it include detailed accounts of interactions between demonstrators and security forces.

The article included no official statements from Iranian government authorities or from United States officials, and it did not supply a timeline of events or specific demands from the protesters. JQJO's account underscores the need for further reporting to verify the protesters' claims, establish an accurate chronology, and determine whether any official responses or security measures followed the demonstration.

Amherst, Massachusetts. Hampshire College announced Tuesday that its Board of Trustees voted to close the college later this year after the fall semester, citing increasingly complex financial pressures. Administrators said efforts to increase enrollment, refinance debt and generate revenue through land sales fell short, prompting the decision to end operations.

The college's president, Jennifer Chrisler, posted on Instagram this week acknowledging the difficulty and saying the institution will support students in completing their studies and assist faculty and staff with next steps. Officials said transition planning and coordination with other institutions and stakeholders will begin immediately, with the closure effective after the upcoming fall semester.