Trump widens threat to all of Iran's power plants and bridges as his deadline for a deal approaches
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — President Donald Trump has expanded his threat against Iran to include all power plants and bridges as his Tuesday ultimatum approaches. This comes after Tehran on Monday rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, demanding a permanent end to the war. Trump insists that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic. Israel has increased pressure by attacking a major petrochemical plant and killing key Iranian commanders. Asked if he was concerned about accusations of war crimes, Trump responded, “No, not at all.” Negotiations continue with mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey attempting to broker a ceasefire.
Russian attacks kill 4 as Ukraine drones target oil infrastructure
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone attack on Odesa has killed two women and a toddler. The attack heavily damaged an apartment block, with rescuers pulling four people from the rubble. Eleven people were hospitalized, including a pregnant woman and two children. Russia has targeted civilian areas in Ukraine since its invasion over four years ago, killing more than 15,000 people, says the United Nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for partner countries to provide more air defenses. Meanwhile, Ukrainian long-range drones have targeted Russian oil facilities. Russia's Defense Ministry claims air defenses downed 50 Ukrainian drones overnight.
The South Pars natural gas complex is an energy lifeline for Iran
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Israel has again attacked Iran’s South Pars natural gas and petrochemical complex - an energy lifeline for Iran that both helps keep the lights on for civilians and provides a key source of export earnings. Israel’s defense minister said Monday that Israel attacked the petrochemical plant at Asaluyeh, the onshore industrial aspect of the gas field, which lies under the Persian Gulf. South Pars is a source of gas to generate electricity, and chemicals based on gas that can contribute export earnings
The Latest: Trump brushes off war crime concerns as he repeats threat to Iran’s infrastructure
U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s “not at all” concerned about committing possible war crimes as he the destruction of Iran’s bridges and power plants if they don’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president refused to say whether any civilian targets would be off-limits if Iran doesn't meet his Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline. Iran on Monday rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the war. Israel and the United States also carried out a wave of attacks on Iran, which responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors.
Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon flyby that included a solar eclipse
HOUSTON (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts have completed their record-breaking trip around the moon. Monday’s lunar journey comes after Artemis II surpassed Apollo 13’s distance record. During the flyby, the three Americans and one Canadian were treated to never-before-seen views of the moon’s far side by eye and also a solar eclipse. The crew temporarily lost contact with Mission Control as they swung behind the moon without stopping. They’re now on a path back toward Earth with a splashdown return set for Friday. More activities are planned before then including a phone call with the International Space Station.
Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today' anchor desk for first time since mother's disappearance
NEW YORK (AP) — Savannah Guthrie has returned to NBC’s “Today” show anchor desk for the first time since her mother's disappearance more than two months ago. Guthrie said “it is good to be home.” Guthrie has acknowledged being a changed person a little over a week ago. She also says it’s hard to go forward not knowing what happened to her mother. There has been no sign of the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie since she was reported missing from her Arizona home on Feb. 1. Authorities continue to believe she was abducted in the middle of the night. But they have not released any new evidence in weeks.
US stocks drift higher ahead of Trump's deadline to bomb Iranian power plants
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market drifted higher in tentative trading ahead of a deadline President Donald Trump has set to bomb Iranian power plants. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%. Like stock indexes, oil prices seesawed through the day amid continued uncertainty about what will happen in the war with Iran and how long it will slow the global flow of crude oil. Trump warned again he will bomb Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market.
Steve Bannon wins Supreme Court order likely to lead to dismissal of contempt of Congress conviction
WASHINGTON (AP) — Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon has won a Supreme Court order that’s expected to lead to the dismissal of his criminal conviction for refusing to testify to Congress. Prodded by President Donald Trump’s administration, the justices on Monday threw out an appellate ruling upholding Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the U.S. Capitol attack. The move frees a trial judge to act on the Republican administration’s pending request to dismiss Bannon’s conviction and indictment “in the interests of justice.” The dismissal would be largely symbolic. Bannon served a four-month prison term after a jury convicted him of contempt of Congress in 2022.
A mountain hideout and aircraft under fire: US carries out daring rescue of service member in Iran
The United States has pulled off a daring rescue of two aviators whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran. After plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines, it launched a complicated extraction of the second service member hiding deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him. The CIA looked to throw off Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word he had already been located. Rescuers also faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under fire and problems with two transport planes that forced the U.S. military to blow them up.
A 12-hour drive through Iran offers glimpses of destruction, defiance and daily life
ZANJAN, Iran (AP) — A black banner hangs over the border crossing and portraits of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stare down, promising vengeance against the United States and Israel. But on the 12-hour drive south to the capital, Tehran, daily life continues, with only occasional signs of the ongoing war, including a Shiite religious center that officials say was damaged by a recent airstrike. Associated Press reporters made the journey on Saturday after crossing into Iran from Turkey. They gained a glimpse of the country at the center of a regional war that has jolted the world economy and shows no sign of ending.
