NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, wearing a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt, will remain jailed and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and said it would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train that was stopped at the Coney Island station. Police said Tuesday the victim's identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, police said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta's lawyer, Ed Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. “Officers who were on patrol on an upper level of that station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. They eventually put the fire out, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later reentered the U.S. illegally. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. Overall, crime is down in the transit system compared to last year. Major felonies declined 6% between January and November compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five during the same period last year. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death last year of an agitated subway rider. The case became a flashpoint in debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is difficult, given the vast network of trains moving between 472 stations. Each stop contains multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms.

Kate Middleton is spreading positive holiday cheer with an uplifting message, while also mentioning "times of joy and sadness" ahead of her annual carol concert. The Princess of Wales -- who is continuing her recovery from cancer -- shared a heartfelt clip to her social media Tuesday ... urging everyone to “shine for each other.” The clip shows various images from the Christmas Carol event Middleton puts on each year, which was recorded at Westminster Abbey earlier this month ... with kids hanging decorations, playing steel drum and -- of course -- singing their hearts out. In the clip, Princess Kate talks about all the inspiring people in the United Kingdom ... embracing those in need -- saying this is the time of year when all people must shine for each other. She then mentions that "in times of joy and sadness, we are all each other's light." Middleton ends her message by wishing everyone and their families a Merry Christmas. Middleton and her family have certainly felt both joy and sadness this year ... 'cause while the princess is attending more public events, she's still fighting off cancer. As you know ... Kate announced her diagnosis in a video message back in March -- after speculation ran wild regarding her whereabouts. Throughout the rest of the year -- which her husband, Prince William , called the probably the most difficult of his life -- Kate has slowly returned to public duties ... making an appearance at Trooping the Colour in June and Wimbledon in July . Royal Carols: Together At Christmas -- the Christmas carol event -- is set to air in just a few minutes in the UK ... and will feature Princess Kate, Prince William and their three children -- Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte .

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The cryptocurrency market has seen unprecedented growth over the last few years, and while Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate the headlines, small-cap altcoins often deliver the most explosive returns. With 2025 approaching, investors are looking for the next big opportunities. Here’s a breakdown of five small-cap altcoins analysts believe could achieve 20x gains. >>>JOIN FXGUYS HERE>>JOIN FXGUYS HERE Financial advice: What to ask and how much it might cost > Are you retirement ready? Take our quiz and get financial planning help > Inheritance tax planning - what you need to know to protect your wealth Europe Summoning enthusiasm for Continental Europe will be hard in the months ahead. Germany, formerly the EU powerhouse, has been in recession in all but name, while France is politically gridlocked and facing fiscal problems of such magnitude that Abrdn argues it should be seen 'as a peripheral market, rather than a core one'. This sounds unappetising but contrarian investors may think differently. Jules Bloch, co-portfolio manager of the JPMorgan European Discovery trust, says the valuations of European smaller companies are 'at some of their most attractive since 2012 - interest rates have peaked, real wages are growing, and consumer sentiment is improving'. Bloch argues these companies include the next winners from AI and drug-assisted weight loss. This month the heady rise of Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, was halted by poor results for its new Cagrisema drug. But a more obscure Danish firm is waiting in the wing: Zealand Pharma, whose products also include a weight-loss treatment. The woes of France and Germany have overshadowed the bounceback in Spain, whose Ibex index is up by 13pc this year, and in Italy where the Borsa Italiana has increased by 10pc. The European Smaller Companies trust is a way to take a stake in the recovery of the beautiful south - and a bounceback elsewhere. China China will be the primary target of Trump's tariffs. But there are indications that Beijing is readying itself for a trade war, preparing to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand. The world's second largest economy will be endeavouring to arrest its decline with a three trillion yuan (£327bn) bond issue to finance innovation. But betting on a successful outcome will require strong nerves, in light of this year's failed stimulus packages. Nevertheless, as John Citron of the JP Morgan Emerging Markets investment trust says, China's advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle sectors are thriving, thanks to government policies that do seem effective. BYD, the electric vehicle maker, is on track to sell more cars in 2024 than Ford or Honda. Its shares have soared by 634pc since 2019. But analysts still rate the shares a 'buy'. Can the combative Trump (pictured) block BYD's progress? Or will the company continue to move faster than the European car makers in 2025? That is one of the things that investors will be watching in 2025 - in a year when no one can assume that they have all the answers. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Where to put YOUR money in 2025: Our share guru reveals her best tips to boost returns e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.UN expert: Myanmar's desperate military ramps up attacks including beheadings, rapes and torture

Sarnia councillor won't apologize to mayor and staff for vulgar attacks during meetingNHP Data Showed CD117 Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Conditioning Successfully Achieved Long-term Engraftment of Base-edited Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Induced Robust Levels of Hemoglobin F mAb Dosing Well Tolerated Without Need for Supportive Care Beam on Track to Initiate Phase 1-enabling Studies by End of 2024 Beam to Host Investor Event on Dec. 8, 2024, at 8 p.m. PT SAN DIEGO, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beam Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAM), a biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines through base editing, today announced new data for its Engineered Stem Cell Antibody Evasion (ESCAPE) conditioning platform. Presented in an oral session at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, the data demonstrated that conditioning and in vivo selection with an anti-CD117 antibody enabled engraftment of base-edited hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and induced robust, durable production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in a non-human primate (NHP) model. ESCAPE is comprised of two investigational drug products: BEAM-103, an anti-CD117 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is designed to suppress and/or eliminate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that express CD117, and BEAM-104, a cell therapy that includes an edit to the promoter region of the HBG1/2 genes intended to elevate HbF, plus an additional edit to CD117 designed to prevent binding of BEAM-103, allowing the edited cells to function normally and evade targeting by the antibody. Together, this approach aims to provide a non-genotoxic alternative to traditional transplant myeloablative conditioning. The company intends to advance BEAM-103 and BEAM-104 for development in sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia. “The data presented today at ASH represent a potential paradigm shift—the first in nearly 70 years—in transplant medicine,” said Giuseppe Ciaramella, Ph.D., president of Beam Therapeutics. “For decades, the field has relied on genotoxic conditioning regimens, which come with significant side effects and risks, limiting access to potentially curative therapies for many patients. With ESCAPE, we are moving toward a less toxic, more accessible approach that could expand the eligible patient population, potentially making gene editing therapies a viable option for patients with both severe and more moderate disease. These proof-of-concept data provide a strong foundation for advancing ESCAPE into the clinic, with the potential to transform transplant medicine for patients with sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia and beyond.” In the preclinical study, conducted in the laboratory of John Tisdale, M.D., at the National Institutes of Health, CD34+ cells from three rhesus NHPs were multiplex base-edited ex vivo with BEAM-104 to introduce edits to CD117 and to HBG1/2. NHPs were then conditioned with only the BEAM-103 CD117 mAb at doses of either 10 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg, seven days prior to transplantation. Post-transplant, additional BEAM-103 treatments were administered to sustain a negative selective pressure on unedited cells. Highlights from the study include the following: Administration of the BEAM-104 edited cells to antibody-conditioned animals led to long-term engraftment. Long term engraftment of HSCs in the marrow was demonstrated by the presence of edited cells in the periphery beyond 6 months. Dosing with the BEAM-103 mAb led to rapid and near complete replacement of wild-type erythroid cells by edited cells, leading to early induction of therapeutically relevant levels of HbF. Levels of cells containing HbF reached >80% post-transplant. All NHPs achieved >40% γ-globin, a key constituent of HbF, post-transplant. Rapid and sustained reactivation of HbF post-transplant showed promise of therapeutic benefit in SCD patients. BEAM-103 dosing was well tolerated with no need for transfusions, antibiotics or additional supportive care. In contrast to busulfan conditioning, NHPs that received BEAM-103 demonstrated only minor decline in neutrophil counts and platelet levels, an expected outcome of the mAb targeting CD117 on wild-type hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The CD117 base-edit showed normal receptor function in vitro and in vivo. No changes to CD117 signaling, structure or expression were observed following editing. In NHP studies, normal hematopoietic reconstitution was observed post-transplantation. ASH Investor Event Information Beam will host a live and webcast investor event at 8:00 p.m. PT on Dec. 8, 2024, in San Diego to review the key presentations from this year’s ASH meeting. The event will be webcast live and can be accessed under “Events & Presentations” in the Investors section of the company's website at www.beamtx.com. The archived webcast will be available on the company's website beginning approximately two hours after the event. About Beam Therapeutics Beam Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BEAM) is a biotechnology company committed to establishing the leading, fully integrated platform for precision genetic medicines. To achieve this vision, Beam has assembled a platform with integrated gene editing, delivery and internal manufacturing capabilities. Beam’s suite of gene editing technologies is anchored by base editing, a proprietary technology that is designed to enable precise, predictable and efficient single base changes, at targeted genomic sequences, without making double-stranded breaks in the DNA. This has the potential to enable a wide range of potential therapeutic editing strategies that Beam is using to advance a diversified portfolio of base editing programs. Beam is a values-driven organization committed to its people, cutting-edge science, and a vision of providing life-long cures to patients suffering from serious diseases. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to: the therapeutic applications and potential of our technology, including with respect to SCD, beta-thalassemia, and ESCAPE; our plans, and anticipated timing, to advance our programs; the clinical trial designs and expectations for ESCAPE; and our ability to develop life-long, curative, precision genetic medicines for patients through base editing. Each forward-looking statement is subject to important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize our product candidates, which may take longer or cost more than planned; our ability to raise additional funding, which may not be available; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for our product candidates; the uncertainty that our product candidates will receive regulatory approval necessary to initiate human clinical trials; that preclinical testing of our product candidates and preliminary or interim data from preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of the results or success of ongoing or later clinical trials; that initiation and enrollment of, and anticipated timing to advance, our clinical trials may take longer than expected; that our product candidates or the delivery modalities we rely on to administer them may cause serious adverse events; that our product candidates may experience manufacturing or supply interruptions or failures; risks related to competitive products; and the other risks and uncertainties identified under the headings “Risk Factors Summary” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and in any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Contacts: Investors: Holly Manning Beam Therapeutics hmanning@beamtx.com Media: Dan Budwick 1AB dan@1abmedia.comNone