Trump says that he's asked 'about 7' countries to join coalition to police Iran's Strait of Hormuz
CAIRO (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has “demanded” that about seven countries heavily reliant on Middle East oil join a coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz. About one-fifth the world’s traded oil flows through the waterway. Trump spoke while answering reporters’ questions as he flew back to Washington from Florida aboard Air Force One. The president declined to name the countries he the administration is negotiating with for protection for the strait. “I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said about the strait
'Radiant' mother from Kentucky among 6 US service members who died in air crash in Iraq
The U.S. military is identifying the six service members who died last week when a KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq. The crew members are tied to National Guard and Air Force units in Alabama, Florida and Ohio. U.S. Central Command has said the crash happened while in “friendly” airspace as part of the war with Iran. Families are remembering their loved ones as devoted parents and steady leaders. The KC-135 refuels aircraft in midair and also supports medical evacuations and other missions.
Analysis: Two weeks into war with Iran, Trump has been knocked back on his political heels
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — Two weeks into the war with Iran, President Donald Trump has increasingly been knocked back on his political heels. He's struggled to sell the war at home as oil prices rise, his polling numbers fall and his electoral coalition shows signs of splintering. Trump has fumed at news coverage and sent mixed signals on goals. He's now asked other countries to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open and said “about seven” countries were talking to the U.S.. But it's unclear when that might happen. Iran says it'll keep using the strait as leverage. The turmoil has allowed Democrats to try to seize the moment and unite before the November elections.
Israeli military claims brother of man who attacked Michigan synagogue was Hezbollah commander
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military is claiming that the brother of a man who attacked a Michigan synagogue last week was a Hezbollah commander. Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon along with three other of the attacker’s relatives on March 5 — a week before authorities allege Ayman Mohamad Ghazali drove his car into a major synagogue outside Detroit and killed himself after security fired at him. The Israeli military on Sunday alleged Ibrahim Ghazali was a Hezbollah commander who managed weapons for a unit that fired rockets at Israel. The FBI declined to comment about the Israeli military’s claim about Ibrahim Ghazali.
Snow and wind batter parts of US, with threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes starting later Sunday
CHICAGO (AP) — A powerful storm chain has brought blizzard conditions to the Upper Midwest, with dangerous winds elsewhere and the threat of severe storms heading east. Heavy snow piled up Sunday in portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Forecasters also are tracking strong winds across the Plains, raising concerns about travel and wildfires. And the National Weather Service is warning about the threat of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and likely tornadoes starting in the mid-South late Sunday and along the East Coast on Monday, particularly from Maryland to South Carolina. Hawaii is also being affected by continued severe flooding.
As Trump pushes deportations, immigration data becomes harder to find
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is expanding, but the public data that tracks it is drying up. Researchers and advocates say they can't hold the administration to account for one of its most contentious policies. The Department of Homeland Security has stopped or slowed updates on major dashboards and monthly reports. Those tools used to show arrests, detentions, removals and nationalities. The numbers that are available have come from lawsuits or are mandated by Congress. Researchers are having to piece together the immigration landscape based on what they say are incomplete and unverifiable figures from the Republican administration.
AP finds an Israeli group discreetly organized the mystery flights evacuating Palestinians from Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An AP investigation has found that an Israeli group whose founder strongly supported U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza is behind several flights that transferred hundreds of people out of the war-torn enclave. AP’s finding is based on a contract, passenger lists, text messages, financial statements, and interviews with more than two dozen Israelis, Palestinians and other people involved with the trips. Founder Gilad Ach declined to be interviewed but said via text message in response to AP questions that he was proud to lead organizations voicing support for the rights of Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. Ach and Israeli officials didn’t address questions about whether Palestinians who took the flights would be allowed to return.
US-China trade talks open in Paris, paving the way for Trump-Xi summit
BEIJING (AP) — China's official news agency Xinhua reports that representatives from Beijing and Washington have begun their economic and trade talks in Paris. Sunday's meetings, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are expected to pave the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in about two weeks. The White House has said that Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not officially confirmed it. Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it would be a “big year” for China-U.S. relations.
Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida get top seeding for March Madness. Miami (Ohio) gets a shot
Duke is the top overall seed in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, with Arizona, Michigan, and Florida also landing on the No. 1 line. Miami (Ohio), which opened the season 31-0 before a loss early its conference tournament, got in as an 11 seed despite a weak schedule. They play a First Four game on Wednesday against SMU. The tournament begins Tuesday with other play-in games, including Texas versus North Carolina State.
The Latest: The 2026 Academy Awards get underway
The wait in Hollywood is over: The 98th Academy Awards are underway. Comedian Conan O’Brien is back for a second year to host the ceremony on Sunday, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s an Oscars race that seemed like a runaway for “One Battle After Another” but may be a close call after all, thanks to some late-season wins for “Sinners.” Other films with several nominations include “Sentimental Value,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein” and “Hamnet."
