Observers started showing up just after 5 a.m. for the sacred service on Easter Sunday, a tradition that’s been happening for more than 30 years.

This sunrise service has brought out hundreds of people for decades now.

Dave Bass said he’s been coming to the beachside ceremony for more than 10 years.

He said being there with the wind and the sun in the sand does something to your soul.

It was just one of many Easter services and celebrations held across South Florida.

“Amazing stadium. I can’t wait to see what’s to come,” said Sebastian Munoz, an Inter Miami fan.

Inter Miami CF fans have been waiting years to be a part of this moment -- and now, the team finally has a place to call home turf.

In the fan zone, supporters are getting others hyped and game-ready after a long build-up.

“We just love the team. So we’re giving out team calendars, encouraging everyone to come out and see the games,” said Christian Benavides.

“We’re privileged to have been able to be along the journey and see the team grow, both before and after the arrival of Messi. It’s been nothing but incredible,” said Vincenzo Hid Arida.

Fans are even traveling from out of town to be part of the experience.

“I’m really excited to see Stuver, the goalie. Oscar -- who else are we excited for? Messi,” said Jeremy Landa, an Austin FC fan. “Clearly they are ready for Miami.”

Construction is still ongoing around the stadium, but that’s not a concern for fans who have waited a long time to see this become reality.

Another plus for fans -- the drive to see their favorite soccer team won’t be as long.

“What’s good about it being so close -- even if you’re not at the game, you’re downtown. The environment is still there. People are wanting to watch the game and go out. Being close is nice,” said David Merced.

The deportees will start arriving in Congo this month, the Congolese Ministry of Communications said in a statement, without further details on the date or the number of deportees expected.

It described the arrangement as a “temporary” one that reflects Congo’s “commitment to human dignity and international solidarity.” It would come with zero costs to the government with the U.S. covering the needed logistics, it said.

The U.S. has struck such third-country deportation deals with at least seven other African nations, many of them among countries hit the most by the Trump administration’s policies that have restricted trade, aid and migration.

The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to countries other than their own, according to a report released recently by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Lawyers and activists have raised questions over the nature of the deals with countries in Africa and elsewhere. Several of the African nations that have signed such deals have notoriously repressive governments and poor human rights records — including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.

A key bone of contention in many such agreements is that they involve many migrants with protection orders from a U.S. immigration judge not to be returned to their home countries over major safety concerns.

Congo’s government said no automatic transfer of the deportees is planned, adding: “Each situation will be subject to individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements.”

No injuries were reported and no suspect was found after a search of the park and the surrounding area after midnight, the agency said in an online post.

President Donald Trump was spending the weekend at the White House, which had no immediate comment on the incident. White House operations remained as normal but security in the area was increased, according to the Secret Service.

The park has been fenced off for weeks of renovations.

The Secret Service said it was working with District of Columbia police and U.S. Park Police.

The Writers Guild of America West said on X that its negotiating committee unanimously approved a tentative agreement with The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios. The alliance confirmed the deal in a separate statement on its website Saturday.

“We look forward to building on this progress as we continue working toward agreements that support long-term industry stability,” read the alliance statement.

The precise terms of the deals were not immediately announced, but it is expected to include several writers’ priorities such as better health care plans and more protections against artificial intelligence. The union said on X that the deal protects the writers’ health plan builds on gains from 2023 and “helps address free work challenges.”

The contract agreement, a year longer than a typical three-year deal, must be approved by the guild’s board and members before it is ratified.

The surprise agreement came within weeks of negotiation — a stark contrast to the contentious contract negotiation three years ago when Hollywood writers went on a historic strike that partially brought the industry to a standstill.

The screenwriters voted almost unanimously to approve that agreement, which provided them with more compensation, length of employment and control of artificial intelligence. The current contract was set to expire in May.

The studios were also working on new deals with union leaders representing actors and directors, whose contracts are set to expire at the end of June. Sean Astin, president of the SAG-AFTRA, said in a February interview with The Associated Press that he has seen signs that the studios want “to work as partners again.” Hollywood actors also walked out of their jobs for months in 2023 demanding for a better contract.

The writers' tentative deal with studios came as the Writers Guild of America West faces an ongoing strike by its own staff union that started in February. More than 100 people working in legal, events and residuals departments went on strike over allegations of unfair labor practice, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It is not clear how, or whether, the weekslong strike would have an impact on the tentative deal with the studios. The union announced last month it canceled its annual award ceremony because of the staff union strike.

Maybe you read parts of it from a floppy disk or a CD-ROM for that social studies project due tomorrow. Or scanned its list of countries for Latvia, because that is the country you are representing next week in Model U.N. Even better, you wandered the earth in your imagination as you held the physical Factbook in your own hands, unfolding its maps and understanding, perhaps for the first time, that the thumbs-up gesture your friends flash each other is considered an obscene insult in parts of the Middle East, Europe and Argentina.

Who knew? The Factbook and its readers did, for more than six decades.

Its authors — some of the world's best intelligence-gatherers, who contributed thousands of their own photos — kept the curated database updated and online for public use at no charge. The reasons stated were geopolitical and philosophical. But since we are talking about facts, it also is true that the Factbook went public in 1975 with lofty statements of purpose at a time when Congress was revealing abuses by U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA.

“We share these facts with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpins the functioning of free societies,” the CIA itself explained in its pages.

The spy agency is not sharing them anymore.

On Feb. 4, the Trump administration abruptly shuttered this widely accepted account of humanity and its flags, nations, customs, militaries and borders. The CIA framed the move as one of progress for an agency whose core mission has changed.

A great wave of grief rose from Factbook fans. Many said they mourned an America that valued knowledge for its own sake. Some saw darker forces at work under a president whose administration has promoted — in times of war and peace — “alternative facts.”

“Stay curious,” the CIA advised in its “fond farewell" to the Factbook.

And, it might have added: Good luck figuring out what's true from the wild and frequentlyinaccurate world of the internet and artificial intelligence.

The Factbook's origin story

Decades before Google became an everyday verb, there was the Factbook.

Its origin story is rooted in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, a U.S. intelligence failure that inspired a more coordinated approach to gathering and organizing information on America's enemies. The Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies was born, the country's first interdepartmental basic intelligence program. But by 1946, national security experts agreed that “the conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities — not just the enemy and his war production,” in the words of one, George S. Pettee.

The job of gathering basic intelligence on other countries was assigned to the newly minted CIA in 1947, according to the agency's website.

The Cold War exposed the ongoing need for a one-stop source of basic intelligence — and an opportunity for what in 1971 became the unclassified Factbook. It was released to the public four years later.

In addition to becoming useful to students, it held geopolitical influence. The Factbook showed off American intelligence capabilities to the former Soviet Union and other enemies. Being included in it could confer legitimacy upon a nation or an opposition party. And it was ironic that an agency founded on the need to know and keep secrets was sharing so much data — called “basic intelligence” — with the public.

The Factbook also likely served as a boost to the CIA's public image and put distance between it and other intelligence agencies tarnished by congressional investigations. In 1975, U.S. Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, convened a panel that held more than 100 public hearings, many televised, of the most significant oversight of intelligence agencies since World War II.

In 1976, the Church Committee reported widespread abuse by the CIA, IRS, the National Security Agency and FBI, including the revelation of the CIA's “Family Jewels.” That was an internal account of illegal CIA activities, such as spying on American activists and an assassination plot against Cuba's Fidel Castro.

Also in 1975, what would become the CIA World Factbook went public, ascending as a reliable research tool often recommended in class projects. There was never confirmation that the bad press inspired the wide release of the Factbook, but doing so around the same time fit the CIA's need to rehab its brand.

In 1981, the CIA renamed the publication The World Factbook, and in 1997, it leapt online. The CIA has described it as representing “a tremendous culmination of efforts from some of our country's brightest analytic minds."

The jolt of its Trump-era demise

News of the Factbook's end shocked more than just U.S. students and researchers. It was picked up by news outlets abroad. The story shot across social media, with Reddit users pointing each other to archived Factbooks and racing to set up and identify other sources of unbiased information that might suffice.

Isabel Altamirano, chemistry librarian assistant professor at Auburn University in Alabama, said the information is still out there, but “it'll be harder to find.” University libraries, for example, offer similar resources to students, who get access through their tuition.

“It was so easy, because it was all in one place,” she said in an interview, noting that on Feb. 4, when she saw the news, she rushed to delete the Factbook from a list of resources for her students in a business communications class.

Fundamentally, one analyst said, a Factbook assembled by a government agency with secret agendas and shadowy methods might never have been unbiased in the first place.

“The compilers aren't, nor can they be expected to be, neutral,” said Binoy Kampmark, a professor of global, urban and social studies at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Mourning its loss, he wrote in an email, would be “misplaced.”

The Factbook, he added, might be better saved as a historical document. Its last publication on Feb. 4 is already outdated, according to an archived version: Under Iran, the country's head of government is still listed as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was reported killed March 1 in U.S. and Israeli strikes. And the world changed once again, this time without the Factbook to note it.

“What was the nature of the controversy of Graham’s tattoo he received while in the Marines?” an emcee recently asked at a local community center.

The answer? “It was claimed to be a Neo-Nazi tattoo (totenkopf).”

This was not a new way of delivering opposition research, but an official campaign event for Platner's supporters. And it showed how the 41-year-old oyster farmer and military veteran has capitalized on voters' willingness to forgive past transgressions and embrace a populist message.

Platner is facing Gov. Janet Mills, 78, in the June 9 primary, with the winner taking on five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, in a race that could help determine Senate control.

“Graham Platner’s campaign gave me a place to put my energy in a positive way,” said Beth Knight, a 63-year-old teacher who attended the trivia night in Kittery, a small seaside town on the border with New Hampshire. “I believe he has a true redemption story.”

Participants drank soda and ate cookies while listening to Dropkick Murphys, a Boston punk band that Platner likes. Some seemed to know a lot about a candidate who was practically unknown just last year, from his dog's name to the name of a bar where he once worked in the nation's capital.

Among the questions was “what characteristics make Graham the best candidate to beat Susan Collins?” One of the options was “he is handsome and has a deep voice,” but the correct answer in the game was "he has grown as an individual and is honest.”

Mills, now in her second term, is backed by the party leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, and other Democrats who say it is too risky to support an untested candidate such as Platner. Maine has one of the oldest voting populations in the country, and voters often elect politicians with a reputation for being moderate.

But Platner has excited some supporters with an antiestablishment message that his campaign believes could carry him to victory.

“What specific group did Graham identify as the primary enemy in his campaign launch video?” the emcee asked at trivia night. The answer was "the oligarchy and the billionaires.”

Increased visibility

Platner has centered his campaign on affordability issues such as housing and health care, but much of the news coverage has focused on his past behavior. He has been dogged by questions about the skull-and-crossbones tattoo reminiscent of a Nazi symbol that he said he got during a night of drinking while on military leave in Croatia.

Platner has maintained that he was unaware at the time that the image had been associated with Nazis, and he has since covered the tattoo with a different design. But there also have been lingering questions about inflammatory comments he made in old online postings, which he has since disavowed. More recently, he has been questioned for being a guest on a podcast hosted by Nate Cornacchia, a retired Green Beret who has been accused of antisemitism.

All the while, Platner keeps filling theaters, meeting halls and rallies. From his August campaign announcement to the end of March, Platner had hosted 50 town halls throughout Maine. His campaign accused Mills and Collins of holding none.

The events include traditional canvassing and phone-banking training, as well as happy hours at breweries and poster-making before No Kings protests. That wide footprint has increased Platner's visibility. For example, on the same night that the campaign hosted the recent trivia game in Kittery, Platner was more than 350 miles away at a town hall in Fort Kent, in the state's far north.

“He’s bringing an energy of wanting to create something in this race, win or lose. He wants to create a lasting connection in communities where people can get together and can actually talk to their neighbors face to face again,” said Megan Smith, a community organizer with the Maine People’s Alliance, an advocacy group that has endorsed Platner.

The Mills and Collins campaigns both rejected the idea that Platner is more accessible to voters, and both cited their candidate’s busy workload as an elected official.

“As the only Democrat to have won statewide in 20 years, voters trust Janet Mills, they know she is the only candidate who has delivered progress for Maine people, and they see her leading our state every single day,” Mills campaign spokesperson Tommy Garcia said.

Collins spokesperson Blake Kernen said that “town halls are often organized by partisan or dark money groups."

“She prefers smaller group meetings, rather than holding town halls where very few people get to speak, and the level of civility is often not that high,” she said.

Spending and scrutiny ramp up

To date, Platner has significantly outspent Mills on advertising since jumping into the race in August, $4.8 million compared with Mills’ $1.5 million according to a recent analysis by AdImpact.

The spending comes as the campaign intensifies as the primary nears. Mills recently released a video in which women read some of Platner’s old social media posts that were dismissive of sexual assault.

Platner's defenders do not appear worried about that increased attention, arguing that Democrats are more willing to elect candidates who are honest about past mistakes as long as they make an effort to show how they have changed.

“In this environment, you know, where we have people like Donald Trump in public office who have done terrible things, there is more appetite in the Democratic Party to have people that are not just purely polished and have been on an election track their whole lives,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat who has endorsed Platner.

Questioning the establishment

Smith, the community organizer, said some voters bristle at the assumption that outsiders such as Schumer know better than Mainers.

“Mainers are kind of stubborn and we don’t like to be told what to do,” she said. “They’re not thrilled to have D.C. Democrats weighing in on our primaries.”

Still, Platner will have to overcome historical precedent to beat Mills.

“Historically, there’s been an inclination of Democratic primary voters in Maine to pick the known candidate,” said Michael Franz, a government professor with Bowdoin College. “Oftentimes, that is an older candidate who’s been in office for a while.”

Franz described Platner as “a high-risk, high-reward type of candidate.”

“He might end up being the new national figure that captures everyone’s attention if he’s elected to the Senate," he said. "Or he might just be the candidate that everyone thought could come out of nowhere but ended up only getting 42% of the vote.”

___

Kruesi reported from Providence, R.I. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Washington contributed to this report.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, emphasized Easter’s message of hope as a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after being crucified.

“Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” the pope implored.

With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in its second month and Russia’s ongoing campaign in Ukraine, Leo acknowledged a sense of indifference “to the deaths of thousands of people ... to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow … to the economic and social consequences they produce.’’

Without mentioning the wars by name, Leo quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, who during his last public appearance from the same loggia last Easter reminded the faithful of the “great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day.’’

Francis, weakened by a long illness, died the next day on Easter Monday.

The Urbi et Orbi blessing, Latin for “to the city and the world,’’ has traditionally included a litany of the world’s woes. Leo followed that formula during his Christmas blessing. There was no immediate explanation for the shift.

Earlier, Leo addressed some 50,000 faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter’s Square flanked with white roses, while the steps leading down to the piazza where the faithful gathered were filled with spring perennials, symbolically resonating with the pope’s words.

He implored the faithful in his homily to keep their hope in the face of death, which lurks "in the abuses that crush the weakest among us, because of the idolatry of profit that plunders the earth’s resources, because of the violence of war that kills and destroys.’’

Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.

“On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that makes us feel powerless in the face of evil,’’ he said.

Small shifts in traditions

Leo greeted the global faithful in 10 languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Latin, reviving a practice that his predecessor Pope Francis had let lapse.

Before retreating into the basilica, Leo stepped forward out of the loggia’s shadow and waved to the cheering crowd below. He later greeted people in the piazza from the popemobile that took him all the way down Via della Conciliazione toward the Tiber River and back.

During the marathon that is Holy Week, Leo also reclaimed the tradition of washing priests’ feet on Holy Thursday, a gesture of encouragement toward clergy, after Francis had chosen a more inclusive path, traveling to prisons and homes for the disabled to wash the feet of women, non-Christians and prisoners.

The 70-year-old pontiff also became the first pope in decades to carry the light wooden cross for the entire 14 stations during the Way of the Cross on Good Friday.

Christians in the Holy Land mark a subdued Easter

Traditional ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered by Christians as the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, were scaled back under an agreement with Israeli police. Authorities have put limits on the sizes of public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks.

The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover. On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall — normally attended by tens of thousands — was limited to just 50 people.

The restrictions have strained relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders. Police last week prevented two of the church’s top religious leaders, including Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On Tuesday, the pope had expressed hope that the war could be finished before Easter.

Armenian Christians celebrate Easter in Iran, in show of normalcy

Armenian Christians celebrated Easter at a church in Iran’s capital on Sunday, striving to maintain a sense of normalcy five weeks into the war.

Families embraced and children exchanged painted eggs at the St. Sarkis Cathedral in central Tehran. Iran’s capital has been targeted by daily airstrikes since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.

“Whether we like it or not, we have young children who do not understand what’s going on,” said Juanita Arakel, 40, an English language teacher. “They just need to feel normal.”

The Islamic Republic, with a population of around 90 million, is home to some 300,000 Christians, mostly Armenians, and three seats in parliament are reserved for Christians.

“My appeal first is to those who started the war to look up to the sky where love and mutual respect was given to us, whether through the birth of Jesus or his rising from the dead,” said Sepuh Sargsyan, the archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran. “Our calls and prayers are that we will be able to end this war.”

____

Barry reported from Milan. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

That was the praise Hunter heaped on the Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell after the right fielder made three homer-robbing catches, the last a spectacular leaping grab while crashing into the seats near the right-field foul pole in the ninth inning, in a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.

“I’ve never seen three home run robberies in one game, and I’ve never seen a guy on the third one fall into the stands, catch the ball and keep his feet in like he’s a wide receiver,” said the 50-year-old Hunter, a special assistant to the general manager who watched the game from the bench. “I was jumping up and down. I almost passed out.”

Adell, who struggled on defense for several years before transforming into a Gold Glove finalist in 2024, leaped high above the yellow line on the wall in straight-way right field to deny Cal Raleigh of a solo homer in the first inning, and made a nearly identical catch to against Josh Naylor in the eighth.

J.P. Crawford then led off the ninth with a drive toward the right-field corner, where Adell raced toward the ball, leaped to glove it, flipped over the low wall and fell into the first row of seats before holding his glove up to present the catch, which was upheld after a replay review.

“After the first one, I was pretty fired up,” Adell said. “When I got to the second one, which looked identical to the first, I thought, ‘Wow, my routes are on point tonight.’ The third one was just grit. Top of the ninth, you have to get it done. It was crazy.

“You just get there, then it’s decision-making. The ball was hit high enough to where I could get there. I watched it (into my glove), fell over and ended up in somebody’s lap. I don’t know who it was, but it was a softer landing than I expected. The fans were as fired up as me.”

According to Inside Edge, Adell has 10 home run robberies since 2020, tied with Kyle Tucker of the Dodgers for the most in the big leagues. The outfielders with the most home run robberies in the entire 2025 season were Jacob Young of the Nationals and Fernando Tatis of the Padres. Both had four.

This was believed to be the first time in baseball history a player has robbed three homers in one game.

“It was like a movie scene,” Hunter said about Adell’s third catch. “It was like the music was playing, then he caught the ball, then he went down and we didn’t see him anymore. The music paused, he came up and said, ‘Yeah!’ I started cheering and almost blacked out.”

Hunter, the former Minnesota Twins, Angels and Detroit Tigers star, has worked extensively with Adell on defense during the past few years.

“His impact has been huge,” Adell said. “It’s mental when you’re out there — it’s a mindset of going to get the baseball, being aggressive. Early, I was caught in between on some plays, and sometimes that happens.

“When you err on the side of being aggressive and trying to make the plays, you’d be surprised at how many plays you make. That’s the mindset Torii had all those years, winning all those Gold Gloves.”

___

P MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Not only has the conflict cut off vital shipping routes, creating a global energy crisis, it’s also disrupting supply chains for aid groups, forcing them to use costlier, more time-consuming routes.

Key pathways such as the Strait of Hormuz have been effectively shuttered and routes from strategic hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have also been impacted. Transport costs have spiked with higher fuel and insurance rates, meaning less supplies can be delivered with the same amount of money.

The World Food Program says it has tens of thousands of metric tons of food heavily delayed in transit. The International Rescue Committee has $130,000 worth of pharmaceuticals intended for war-torn Sudan stranded in Dubai and nearly 670 boxes of therapeutic food meant for severely malnourished children in Somalia stuck in India. The U.N. Population Fund says it's delayed sending equipment to 16 countries.

Steep U.S. cuts to foreign aid already had hobbled many aid groups, who say the war is exacerbating the problem.

The United Nations says this is the most significant supply chain disruption since COVID, with up to a 20% cost increase on shipments and delays as goods are rerouted. And the war is creating new emergencies, such as in Iran, and also in Lebanon where at least one million people have been displaced.

“The war on Iran and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz risk pushing humanitarian operations beyond their limits," said Madiha Raza, associate director for public affairs and communications for Africa for the International Rescue Committee.

Even when the fighting stops, the shock to global supply chains could continue to delay lifesaving aid for months, she said.

Longer and more costly routes

The war has forced organizations to find new ways to transport goods, with some bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal and rerouting vessels around Africa, adding weeks to the delivery.

Others are using a hybrid of methods, including land, sea and air, increasing costs.

Jean-Cedric Meeus, chief of global transport and logistics for UNICEF, said his agency is using a mix of land and air routes to send vaccines to Nigeria and Iran in order to get them there in time for the vaccination campaigns, but the costs have soared.

Before the war, UNICEF sent vaccines to Iran by plane directly from vendors around the world. Now it’s flying the vaccines to Turkey and driving them into Iran, which has increased costs by 20% and has added 10 days to the delivery time, he said.

Save the Children International, which would normally send supplies by ocean freight from Dubai to Port Sudan, will now have to truck the goods from Dubai through Saudi Arabia and then by barge across the Red Sea, it said. The route adds 10 days and increases costs by about 25%, at a time when over 19 million Sudanese face acute food insecurity. The delay puts more than 90 primary health care facilities across Sudan at risk of running out of essential medicines, it said.

The spike in prices also means organizations have to choose what to prioritize.

“In the end, you sacrifice either the number of children that you serve ... or you sacrifice the number of items that you can afford to buy,” said Janti Soeripto, president of Save the Children for the United States. The group said it has stockpiles in countries where it works but some of those could run out within weeks.

Rising costs are also impacting people's ability to seek help within their countries.

Doctors Without Borders said rising fuel prices across Somalia — where some 6.5 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity — have driven up transport and food costs, making it harder for people to get care. In Nigeria, the IRC says fuel prices have surged by 50% and clinics are struggling to power equipment, such as generators and mobile health teams have scaled back operations.

Hunger crisis could deepen

One of the biggest concerns is the impact the war will have on global hunger.

WFP warns that if the conflict continues through June, 45 million more people will be acutely hungry, adding to nearly 320 million people facing hunger around the world.

Some 30% of the world's fertilizer comes through the Strait of Hormuz and with planting season ahead in areas like East Africa and South Asia, small farmers in poor countries will be hard hit. Sudan imports more than half its fertilizer from the Gulf and Kenya approximately 40% from there, aid groups say.

The U.N. secretary-general has established a task force to facilitate fertilizer trade — modeled on the Black Sea Grain Initiative. But aid groups say that won't be enough. If there's no ceasefire, governments need to provide more funding for organizations to respond to the rising costs, they say.

Humanitarian experts say there's been a slower international response to fund aid during this war compared to previous conflicts like Ukraine, which could reflect growing pressure to invest in security over aid at a time when the world is in turmoil.

“They’re making hard choices between defense security and humanitarian aid,” said Sam Vigersky, an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who has written about the war’s impact on aid.

He said when the U.S. goes to war, it normally has provisions for aid, but hasn't been “activating” those provisions. “It’s not a capacity issue, it’s a policy decision,” he said.

Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said that the U.S. has been the “most generous country in the world" when it comes to humanitarian aid.

The department said it's releasing an additional $50 million in emergency assistance to Lebanon, including to the World Food Program and working closely with the United Nations and others to address the humanitarian needs.

—

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations

Trump punctuated his threat with profanity in a social media post Sunday, saying that Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.”

He also offered details of the rescue of a “seriously wounded and really brave” U.S. service member he identified as a “respected colonel” who was missing since Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle on Friday.

The U.S. president said the rescue was a rarely attempted type of operation because of the potential dangers. A second crew member was rescued earlier in “broad daylight” after seven hours over Iran.

The war began with joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Feb. 28 and has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. Both sides have threatened, and hit, civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes.

Here is the latest:

Democratic US Sen. Kaine warns Trump administration on war rhetoric

As he expressed “overwhelming relief” at the rescue of the military personnel in a downed U.S fighter jet in Iran, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine called on the president and his top officials to dial down their rhetoric amid the war in the Middle East.

Kaine referenced remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month when the latter declared “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies” at a news conference.

“This kind of rhetoric is really dangerous,” Kaine said Sunday in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.

He added: “That really encourages them to mistreat our folks.”

Turkish foreign minister to meet with Syrian and Ukrainian presidents

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Damascus Sunday, with Turkish media reporting that he will hold a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

According to state-run Anadolu Agency, topics of discussion will include joint projects for the rebuilding of Syria as well as regional developments, such as the integration of northeast Syria into the central government and the impact of nearby conflicts in Iran and Lebanon.

Fidan’s last visit to Syria was on Dec. 22, 2025, alongside Defense Minister Yasar Guler and National Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin.

Christians celebrate Easter in wartime Tehran

Armenian Christians celebrated Easter at a church in Iran’s capital on Sunday, striving to maintain a sense of normalcy five weeks into the war.

Families embraced and children exchanged painted eggs at the St. Sarkis Cathedral in central Tehran. Iran’s capital has been targeted by daily airstrikes since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.

“Whether we like it or not, we have young children who do not understand what’s going on,” said Juanita Arakel, 40, an English language teacher. “They just need to feel normal.”

The Islamic Republic, with a population of around 90 million, is home to some 300,000 Christians, mostly Armenians, and three seats in parliament are reserved for Christians.

“My appeal first is to those who started the war to look up to the sky where love and mutual respect was given to us, whether through the birth of Jesus or his rising from the dead,” said Sepuh Sargsyan, the archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran. “Our calls and prayers are that we will be able to end this war.”

Across the Middle East, Christians have departed in large numbers in recent decades, fleeing war, persecution and upheaval, and seeking economic opportunities in the West.

Arakel said her family wants to stay in Iran, but that will depend on the war’s consequences. “Maybe we will be forced to leave Iran, but if it’s up to us, and it’s our choice, we prefer to stay here.”

Trump offers details of ‘seriously wounded’ pilot's rescue

U.S. President Donald Trump said the rescue of the second F-15 pilot was a rarely attempted type of operation because of the potential dangers.

Trump said in a social media post Sunday that the pilot was “seriously wounded and really brave” and rescued from “deep inside the mountains” in Iran.

“The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close,” Trump wrote. “He is a highly respected Colonel.”

He also gave details of the rescue of the first pilot, who Trump said was rescued in “broad daylight” after seven hours over Iran.

Trump promises to strike Iran’s infrastructure on Tuesday if Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened

U.S. President Donald Trump is hardening his threats to strike Iran’s critical infrastructure if the government in Tehran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Monday deadline.

In a profanity-laced social media post Sunday, Trump says Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it.”

His direct message to Iran’s leaders is, “Open the F------ Strait, you crazy b-------, or you’ll be living in HELL – JUST WATCH.”

The Republican president has threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, potentially including desalination plants that supply drinking water, if the vital waterway doesn’t reopen.

Iran threatens more forceful attacks if its civilian installations are targeted

Iran’s joint command threatened on Sunday to step up its attacks on oil and other civilian infrastructure facilities if the U.S. and Israel attack Iranian civilian facilities.

Iran’s state-run news agency quoted the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters as saying that it had attacked a number of other oil infrastructure facilities in Israel and in Gulf Arab countries after an Israeli airstrike struck Iran’s largest petrochemical complex.

“We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful,” the IRNA news agency quoted a spokesman.

President Donald Trump has threatened to unleash “all Hell” on Iran if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened.

Iran says it destroyed 4 US aircraft

Iran’s joint command claimed on Sunday that the aircraft were destroyed during the complex rescue of an airman whose fighter jet was shot down on Friday.

Iran's state TV quoted the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters as saying the aircraft, which included two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters, were destroyed in the province of Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

Earlier Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing what it claims are parts of a U.S. aircraft that they had shot down and a photo of thick black smoke rising into the air.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Israeli strike severely damages 3-story building in Beirut neighborhood

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the building in the Jnah neighborhood was filled with residents and sustained “severe damage.”

It's located across the street from the government-run Rafic Hariri University Hospital.

The strike came without warning soon after an earlier one that came with advance notice.

Casualties were rushed to nearby hospitals, but there was no immediate word on their number.

UAE reports attacks with dozens of missiles and drones

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry said on Sunday that among the 60 projectiles fired at the country were nine ballistic missiles, 50 drones and one cruise missile.

This brings the total number of projectiles that have targeted the UAE during the war to 507 ballistic missiles, 24 cruise missiles, and 2,191 drones.

Iran’s internet blackout becomes the world’s longest

Iran’s internet blackout is now the world’s longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record, according to an internet monitoring group.

NetBlocks said Sunday the internet blackout in Iran has lasted for 37 consecutive days, exceeding all other comparable incidents the group has recorded.

Drone attacks ignite fires at oil and petrochemical facilities in Kuwait

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said the drone attacks ignited fires at several of the company’s operational facilities, as well as to facilities at the Petrochemical Industries Company.

Damage was described as “significant.” Firefighters were working to control the fires.

No casualties were reported.

Israel says Iran has launched new missile barrage

The Israeli military said on Sunday that its air defenses are being activated.

Israeli military says it struck 120 targets in Iran in 24 hours

The Israeli military said on Sunday the strikes focused on air defense, drone and missile systems.

The announcement comes in the wake of Iran’s downing of two U.S. warplanes.

Officials from Iran and Oman discuss transit through the Strait of Hormuz

The Omani Foreign Ministry posted on social media Sunday that deputy foreign ministers and experts from both countries met to discuss “a number of visions and proposals” to ensure “smooth transit” through the strait.

Oman has often served as a mediator between the US and Iran in the past.

Saturday’s meeting came two days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed deadline for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz was due to expire.

Trump had warned of “devastating consequences” if Iran doesn’t comply by Monday.

4-year-old girl among 7 killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s Health Ministry’s statement Sunday was issued after Israel struck the town of Kfar Hatta near the coastal city of Sidon.

The Israeli military had called on the entire town late Saturday to evacuate.

Kfar Hatta hosts many displaced people who fled from southern Lebanon.

Iranian drones attack Bahrain petrochemical plant

Bahrain’s official news agency said Sunday the attack ignited fires in two units at the state-run petrochemical plant.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, which cited the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, firefighters have placed the fire under control and authorities were assessing the damage.

Iran says 10 killed, 7 injured from strikes in country’s southwest

Nournews, a media outlet believed to have close links with Iranian security forces, reported on Sunday that the strikes occurred in Dehdasht county and the Vezq district, around 360 miles (580 kilometers) south of Tehran.

Nournews didn’t specify if those killed included military personnel, but said two were tourists.

Media reports had said on Friday that a U.S. pilot who went missing after his aircraft was shot down may have been in the same areas where the strikes happened.

Nournews didn’t say if the deaths were linked to a rescue operation for the U.S. pilot.

Egypt’s foreign minister discusses ways to de-escalate day before Trump’s Hormuz deadline expires

Minister Badr Abdelatty has spoken by phone with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as with his Turkish and Pakistani counterparts who are also helping mediate between the U.S. and Iran.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Abdelatty discussed a day earlier “ideas and proposals to achieve the required calm” and warned of an “unprecedented explosion” in the Middle East.

It didn’t elaborate further.

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face devastating consequences.

Hezbollah says it attacked an Israeli military barge with a cruise missile

The militant group said in a statement on Sunday that the barge was some 78 miles (126 kilometers) away from the Lebanese coast.

Although most Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in this latest war have been conducted by jets and drones, some have come by sea.

The Israeli military did not immediately issue a statement.

Production halted at a United Arab Emirates petrochemicals plant after attack

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said Sunday that they have responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant.

They said the fires were caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defense systems.

The plant is in Ruwais, near the UAE’s western border with Saudi Arabia.

It is a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and Borealis of Austria.

Pakistan, Iran foreign ministers discuss de-escalation of war

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it had conveyed to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Islamabad supports “all efforts aimed at de-escalation.”

It said in a statement that the two diplomats exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and agreed to remain in close contact.

Pakistan is currently helping to broker a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran by offering to host peace talks.

Iran says it has shot down 3 more U.S. aircraft

Iran’s state TV on Sunday quoted a statement from the country’s joint military command that two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport aircraft had been shot down in the city of Isfahan.

The statement said the aircraft were taking part in a failed rescue operation for a U.S. pilot.

The state broadcaster showed still images of an aircraft as well as a long-distance shot of a column of dark smoke rising from a desert area.

The pilot had been missing since Friday when Iran downed a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle. A second crew member had been rescued earlier.

U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to questions about the aircraft.

A regional intelligence official briefed on the mission said the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction that forced them to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue.

He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Aid groups warn that Iran war has hindered food and medicine delivery to millions

Aid groups say that more people will suffer if the violence continues, as the conflict is also disrupting supply chains and forcing them to use costlier, more time-consuming routes.

Key pathways such as the Strait of Hormuz have been effectively cut off and flights from strategic hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have spiked in cost with higher fuel and insurance rates.

This means fewer supplies can be delivered with the same amount of money, further straining humanitarian response in conflict-hit countries across the region.

The U.N. food agency warns that if the conflict continues through June, 45 million more people will be acutely hungry, adding to nearly 320 million people facing hunger around the world.

Drone attack strikes government office complex in Kuwait

Kuwait’s Finance Ministry said Sunday’s drone attack resulted in “significant damage” to its office complex in Kuwait City.

It said no casualties were reported.

Iranian drone attack takes out water desalination plant and 2 power plants in Kuwait

Kuwait’s Electricity Ministry said in a statement Sunday that damage to the facilities was “significant.”

The ministry said the attack resulted in two power generation units being taken out of service.

No injuries were reported.

Bahrain’s petroleum company says Iranian drone set fire to one of its storage tanks

BAPCO Energies said in a statement Sunday that the fire was extinguished and that no injuries were reported.

It said emergency response teams responded immediately in close coordination with authorities to contain the fire.

It added that damage to the storage facilities is now being assessed.

Iran executes 2 men who took part in January protests

Mizan Online, a media outlet for Iran's judiciary, said on Saturday that Mohammad Ami Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast had been convicted on charges of taking part in an attack on a military facility, setting fire to it and attempting to reach its arms depot.

It said the two men were hanged after the country’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court death sentence.

A crackdown on nationwide protests in January resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the arrests of thousands more.

Rescues kept secret to avoid risk to operation

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States didn’t confirm the rescue of the first aviator from the F-15 fighter jet that was shot down in Iran on Friday “because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.”

In his social media post early Sunday, Trump said the second aviator “was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour.”

Trump says service member rescued in Iran is injured

U.S. President Donald Trump said a service member rescued in Iran is injured but “will be just fine.”

Trump said in a social media post early Sunday that the aviator took refuge “in the treacherous mountains of Iran.”

He said the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft” and that the U.S. had been monitoring his location “24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”

US service member missing in Iran rescued

U.S. officials say a service member missing after Iran shot down a fighter jet has been rescued.

That’s according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement.

It comes after a frantic search-and-rescue operation. The crew member had been missing since Friday, when Iran downed a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle. A second crew member had been rescued earlier.

By Matthew Lee and Konstantin Toropin

Senegal limits foreign trips for officials as the fallout from Iran war deepens

The country banned all but essential foreign trips for government ministers as part of cost-saving measures triggered by the energy crisis linked to the war.

Senegal, like many African countries, imports most of the petroleum products it consumes. That leaves its economy vulnerable to supply disruptions such as the chokehold on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has sent the price of crude soaring.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said his office is taking steps to limit public expenditure, pointing out that initial budget forecasts were based on an oil price of $62 per barrel. It is now almost double that.

“I have taken a number of drastic measures to restrict everything related to government spending, including the cancellation of all nonessential missions abroad,” the government-owned newspaper Le Soleil quoted Sonko as saying.

He added that he canceled several trips, including to Niger, Spain and France.

Michigan still might need a healthy Yaxel Lendeborg to end the Big Ten's 26-year title drought.

It's a Monday night title tilt between two loaded teams that have peaked during March Madness. The Wolverines have been installed as 7 1/2-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

“There’s no better feeling than being on that bus on Monday night, just being one of the last two teams standing,” Huskies coach Dan Hurley said after Saturday's 71-62 victory over Illinois. “It’s just a cool experience. I look forward to obviously the ability to max out the season to get to the last game.”

Hurley has grown accustomed to playing into April. Three years ago, his team beat surprise finalist San Diego State 76-59 to win the school's fifth title. Two years ago, UConn beat Purdue 75-60 to become the first back-to-back champ since Florida in 2006-07.

After making an early exit against the Gators last season, UConn is back with a chance to celebrate Hurley's 200th win with the Huskies by becoming just the third Division I school to win seven national titles. North Carolina and the UConn are tied at six, behind only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight).

No school has won three crowns in four seasons since the UCLA dynasty won eight in nine (1967-75), with only N.C. State's 1974 title preventing a clean sweep. Alex Karaban can become the first player since those Bruins squads to win three titles during his career.

Behind 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, coach Dusty May's Wolverines have looked virtually unbeatable in the tournament, winning four games by 17 or more points, including the last two. They are the first team to reach the 90-point mark five times in a single March Madness.

The good news for UConn: Hurley faced a similar predicament in 2024, when the Huskies had to contend with Purdue and 7-4 Zach Edey, the two-time national player of the year.

The Wolverines could be even more formidable. After losing starting point guard L.J. Cason to a season-ending torn ACL in late February, Michigan has steamrolled through its schedule, with the exception of an 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

The biggest question for Michigan: What's the status of Lendeborg, a first-team All-American who averages a team best 15.2 points per game? He reinjured his left ankle and sprained the MCL in his left knee against Arizona.

“I’m going to bust through,” Lendeborg said. “There’s no way I’m missing the game on Monday night no matter what goes on.”

Michigan also has some unfinished business.

The program's only title came in 1989, when it beat another Big East foe, Seton Hall, 80-79 in overtime after coach Steve Fisher replaced Bill Frieder for the tourney. Since then, Michigan has lost four straight title games — with the Fab Five in 1992 and 1993 against Duke and North Carolina, respectively, to Louisville in 2013 and to Villanova in 2018.

Michigan State was the last Big Ten team to win the title in 2000, and that came in Indianapolis.

Move over, Sparty. Big Blue could cut down the nets in Indy on Monday night.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Iran showed no signs of backing down, striking economic and infrastructure targets in neighboring Gulf Arab countries even as Trump demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In an expletive-laden post Sunday morning, Trump expanded upon earlier threats, promising strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges. He vowed the “crazy bastards” would be “living in Hell” if the waterway isn’t opened to marine traffic by Tuesday. He ended his post with “Praise be to Allah.”

The U.S. airman's extraction followed a search-and-rescue operation after the Friday crash of the F-15E Strike Eagle, as Iran also promised a reward for anyone who turned in an “enemy pilot.” Trump said the servicemember was injured but in stable condition.

A second crew member was rescued earlier.

The fighter jet was the first American aircraft to have crashed in Iranian territory since the U.S. and Israel launched the war, striking Iran on Feb. 28. Both sides have threatened and hit civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes. The war has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices.

As Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump, in an earlier social media post, threatened to unleash “all Hell” if it isn’t opened by Monday. He has issued such threats before and extended them when mediators have claimed progress toward ending the war on agreeable terms.

Iran threatens more retaliation

The threats came after Trump said last week that the U.S. had “decimated” Iran and would finish the war “very fast.” Two days later, Iran shot down two U.S. military planes, showing the ongoing perils of the bombing campaign and the ability of a degraded Iranian military to continue to hit back.

The other jet to go down was a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it crashed was immediately known.

On Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of American aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising into the air. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down an American transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

However, a regional intelligence official briefed on the mission told The Associated Press that the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction, forcing it to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s military joint command on Sunday claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the rescue operation and warned of stepping up retaliatory attacks on regional oil and civilian infrastructure if the U.S. and Israel attacked such targets in the Islamic Republic, according to state television.

“We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful,” a spokesman said in comments run by IRNA news agency.

Iran attacks infrastructure and economic targets in three Gulf states

In Kuwait, Iranian drone attacks caused significant damage to power plants and a petrochemical plant. They also put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported, the ministry said.

In Bahrain, a drone attack caused a fire at one of the national oil company’s storage facilities and a state-run petrochemical plant, the kingdom’s official news agency said.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities responded to fires at a petrochemical plant in Ruwais that they said were caused by intercepted debris, halting operations.

The strikes came a day after Israel struck a petrochemical plant in Iran that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said generated revenue that it had used to fund the war.

The petrochemical industry is a key sector in many Gulf states. Plants in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Iran convert oil and gas into products like plastics, polymers and fertilizer, bringing in billions in export revenue.

Trump renews threat

Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face consequences, writing Saturday in a social media post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”

The waterway is a critical chokepoint for commerical trade, especially oil and gas moving from the Persian Gulf to Europe and Asia. Disruptions there have injected volatility into the market and pushed oil and gas-importing countries to seek alternative sources.

“The doors of hell will be opened to you” if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi with the country’s joint military command said late Saturday in response to Trump’s renewed threat, state media reported. In turn, the general threatened all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told AP that his government’s efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track” after Islamabad last week said that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, according to two regional officials.

The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement, according to a regional official involved in the efforts and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have died there.

___

This report has been corrected to show that Borealis is an Austrian company, not Australian.

___

Metz reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

She was considering traditional therapy but decided instead to try single-session counseling. Rather than committing to weekly therapy sessions, she would get only 60 minutes to tackle the problem. It worked.

“It helped me get unstuck, is how I would describe it, in a very positive, meaningful and effective way,” said Hart, of Springfield, Virginia.

Hart joined what experts say is an increasing number of people who, at least for now, have decided to forgo the weeks, months or even years that traditional therapy implies in favor of a more targeted approach.

The therapy is what it sounds like: one session, typically an hour, where a counselor helps the client identify concrete steps toward relieving a specific problem. The intention is not to completely solve a problem, but rather to help clients walk away with a toolbox of strategies on how to approach it.

“Those strategies made all kinds of sense,” Hart said. “But you can’t identify them when you’re in it.”

Where single-session therapy comes from

It’s not new. Sigmund Freud notably offered it.

But it has become increasingly common as a way to fill gaps in access to mental health care, and the need is greater than ever, said Jessica Schleider, a Northwestern University psychology professor and the founding director of the Lab for Scalable Mental Health.

The cost of traditional therapy has risen to several hundred dollars a month, and even those who can afford it or have insurance encounter long waiting lists.

“Even if we doubled miraculously the number of trained mental health professionals overnight, we still wouldn’t come anywhere close to meeting the need for mental health support,” Schleider said.

That doesn’t factor in other barriers, such as people who can’t take time off work to attend weekly sessions.

Besides, data show that the most common number of sessions people are likely to receive is just one because many people start and don't come back, Schleider said.

“It’s a really elegant solution to get people support they need at the moment that need arises,” she said.

How it differs from traditional therapy

Sharon Thomas, a psychologist and director of signal-session therapy at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C., said both counselor and client enter the session with expectations: “That the client will be able to have meaningful change in their life, and that we’ll see an improvement in both their self-efficacy and a decline in their symptoms in just one visit.”

Rather than do a full assessment of the client’s past and current circumstances, the counselor targets a specific problem. By the end of the session, the client walks away with a written plan of steps toward alleviating it.

“Not everyone wants to discuss childhood trauma,” Thomas said. “It’s very much focused on what the client wants to focus on in that moment.”

Who it’s for

Most people can benefit from single-session therapy, whether they are struggling with a difficult circumstance like a work problem or something more persistent, such as anxiety, said Arnold Slive, a psychology professor at Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas, who helped pioneer walk-in single-session therapy clinics in Canada in the 1990s.

Slive said counselors still have an obligation to screen for risk of self-harm, and many people with chronic mental health issues could still benefit from traditional therapy or medication.

“It’s not meant to replace all those other things that mental health professionals do, but it can help people feel better,” Slive said.

Another expectation is that every client already walks in with strengths that will help them address their issue. Single sessions also often attract a different type of client, such as someone who might be skeptical about whether traditional therapy is right for them.

“It’s like putting a toe in the water,” Slive said.

Experts point to research that it works

Schleider said research on single-session intervention has “blossomed in the past five or 10 years to where this has become a more well-established form of mental health support.”

Her lab conducted a meta-analysis of 415 clinical trials and found that in most cases, single-session approaches reduced mental health difficulties across various problems, including depression and anxiety, for both youth and adults, she said.

For Hart, she has continued to feel better months later, and she said she felt more confident because she knew she could come back.

“I left feeling so optimistic,” Hart said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about wellness, food and travel. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com

Off went the jackets and backpacks, on came burgundy cassocks and white surplices. Then they trooped into the cathedral, opened their mouths and sang as one. The youthful gaggle had become a choir, giving voice to a tradition of choral music in the Church of England that has survived largely unchanged for almost 500 years.

“I think for me, it’s one of the sounds of our country,’’ said Adrian Bawtree, the choir’s music director. “All of our cathedrals are beautiful, sacred spaces where you can come and just sit and be and you can be immersed, bathed, nourished, sent out back into the world transformed by an experience in 30 minutes.”

The epitome of that tradition is Choral Evensong, an evening service of hymns, psalms and prayers laid out by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant archbishop of the Church of England, in 1549. The service is performed by the choir, with the congregation participating simply by listening.

But that tradition is under threat as the demands of modern life, declining church attendance and tight funding make it harder to find and train the next generation of choristers.

Enthusiasts are trying to reverse that, launching a campaign for the government to recognize English choral services as an important part of Britain’s culture under a U.N. program that seeks to protect “intangible cultural heritage,” as well as historic buildings and natural wonders.

Traditions strengthen identity

The U.K. government is seeking nominations for a nationwide inventory of cultural traditions — from Morris dancing to the craft of building dry stone walls — that should be preserved. Protecting such traditions is crucial to strengthen community identity and bolster the U.K. economy as heritage tourism generates billions of pounds in annual spending, the government says.

While many people have been introduced to English choral services through the angelic voices of the choristers in flowing robes and Elizabethan ruffs who sing at royal weddings and carol services, choirs perform every day in much more humble settings.

And many are struggling, according to the Cathedral Music Trust, which was founded in 1956 to stem the decline of church music after World War II. Last year it gave 500,000 pounds ($661,000) to 28 cathedrals and churches around the country.

It can be a lot. Rochester, for example, spends about 250,000 pounds ($330,000) a year on music, a substantial outlay for a provincial cathedral but less than some.

The trust hopes recognition of the English choral tradition will bring attention and much-needed funding to choirs, which it says are an important training ground for the musicians of tomorrow, both religious and secular.

“Whilst it happens every day, it is actually quite fragile,” trust CEO Jonathan Mayes said. “It takes an awful lot of work and it takes a lot of funding to actually make it happen and that doesn’t come without effort.’’

Evensong links the present day to the Protestant Reformation

Preserving Evensong is important historically because the service was instrumental in the development and spread of the modern English language, said Diarmaid MacCulloch, an expert on Christianity and an emeritus professor at the University of Oxford.

The service is based on the Book of Common Prayer, compiled by Cranmer to make English the language of the Church of England after it broke away from the Latin-dominated Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation.

The idea was to create services everyone could be part of.

“It is very much a drama, and it is a drama which has been performed by the people of England from 1549 through to the present day,” MacCulloch said. “It’s far more a vehicle of public consciousness performance than any play of Shakespeare.’’

And while a growing number of choirs including Rochester now take girls as well as boys, in other respects it hasn't changed much since then.

“The service would be really quite recognizable to Queen Elizabeth I as much as Queen Elizabeth II," MacCulloch said. "And that’s quite remarkable.”

The power of music to transform lives

Bawtree, the music director at Rochester Cathedral, is one of those working to preserve the tradition as he oversees the youngest singers, aged 9-13, known as choristers, as well as a youth choir for older children. All are backed by professional adult singers.

Bawtree said he was captured by church music the first time he heard an organ play and a choir sing when he was about 9 years old. Now he wants people to know that services like Evensong make it possible for anyone to turn up and listen to beautiful choral music, regardless of their beliefs.

“When I heard it, it was like big octopus arms came and grabbed me and said, ‘You’ve got to be part of this.’ So I think I am trying to speak to that 9-year-old child and saying actually this is something that could speak to most people, if not everyone.

“And because I had that experience, I would like to share that with future generations and be passionate about that," he said. "We talk in the world of mindfulness and the power of music to transform lives. This is an extraordinary arena where that can happen.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Only when he turned to the courts as a last resort did he learn that the girl had suffered alleged sexual abuse at the foster home where she’d been placed after immigration officials separated her from her mother.

“She was so long in there,” said her father, who is a legal permanent resident in the United States. “I just think that if they would have moved faster, nothing like that would have happened.” He spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to prevent identifying his daughter as a victim of sexual abuse.

President Donald Trump’s administration began targeting detained immigrant children, like the man’s daughter, last year when it implemented new rules and procedures, which were immediately followed by a dramatic jump in detention times. The federal government intensified efforts to expand family detention indefinitely by motioning to terminate a cornerstone policy ensuring the protection of immigrant children in federal custody.

For months after the girl was placed in foster care, her father’s attempts to be reunited stalled as the government told him it couldn't make an appointment to take his fingerprints.

During that time, according to court documents, the girl said she was sexually abused by an older child staying with her in foster care in Harlingen, Texas. A caregiver noticed the child’s underwear was on backward, according to the lawsuit. The girl then told the caregiver she was abused multiple times and it caused bleeding. Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement officials told the father that there had been an “accident” and his daughter would be examined, he told the AP in an interview.

“I asked them, ‘What happened? I want to know. I’m her father. I want to know what’s going on,’ and they just told me that they couldn’t give me more information, that it was under investigation," the father said.

The girl underwent a forensic exam and interview. Although the father wasn't told of the outcome, the older child accused of the abuse was removed from that foster program, according to the lawsuit.

The girl was forensically examined and interviewed, according to the lawsuit. The abuse allegations were reported to local law enforcement, said Lauren Fisher Flores, the lawyer representing the girl. The Associated Press does not typically name people who have said they were sexually abused.

“To have your child abused while in the government’s care, to not understand what has happened or how to protect them, to not even be told about the abuse, it is unimaginable,” Fisher Flores said. “Children deserve safety and they belong with their parents.”

The ORR and its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, were named in the child's lawsuit but did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Trump administration changes release policies

The girl and her mother illegally crossed the border near El Paso on Sept. 16 of last year. When her mother was charged with making false statements and they were separated, the toddler was sent to the custody of the ORR, which cares for immigrant children in shelter or foster settings.

Children in ORR's care are released to parents or sponsors who submit to a rigorous process that has grown more extensive under the Trump administration.

Stricter rules were imposed on documentation required for sponsors, border agents started pressuring unaccompanied children to self-deport before transferring them to shelters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement started arresting some sponsors in the middle of the release process.

Legal advocates filed lawsuits challenging the policy changes, anticipating that they would result in prolonged detention.

Average custody times for children cared for by ORR grew from 37 days when Trump took office in January 2025 to almost 200 days this February. The total number of children in ORR custody fell by about half during the same time period.

Attorneys are now turning to habeas petitions, which function as emergency lawsuits, to expedite the release of children to their parents and sponsors.

Fisher Flores, legal director of the American Bar Association’s ProBar project, said that this year the organization has worked on eight habeas corpus petitions representing children who have been held in federal custody for an average of 225 days. They had not filed these kinds of petitions for children before the start of this Trump administration.

Fisher Flores said that legal intervention helped prompt the federal government to respond to the father’s sponsorship application.

Alleged abuse wasn't immediately disclosed to the father

After the monthslong delay, attorneys sent the government a letter in February and prompted them to allow the father to receive appointments for a fingerprinting background check, a home visit and a DNA test. Then ORR stalled again, offering no timeline on her expected release.

Attorneys filed the habeas petition in federal court and two days later, ORR released the girl to her father.

It was while the attorneys prepared the lawsuit that the father realized that the “accident” officials had told him about was alleged sexual abuse.

“Increasingly, we have to turn to the federal courts to challenge these harmful legal violations and demand that children be released,” Fisher Flores said.

The fingerprinting policy was challenged during the first Trump administration by legal advocates including the National Center for Youth Law. Other nationwide lawsuits are opposing more recent changes affecting the custody and care of immigrant children.

“This represents yet another version of family separation,” Neha Desai, managing director at Children’s Human Rights and Dignity at the National Center for Youth Law, said of the 3-year-old girl’s case.

“A bipartisan Congress designed protections around the simple principle that children should be released to their family quickly and safely. This administration has been consistently flouting its legal obligations to release children to their families, profoundly jeopardizing children’s health and well-being,” Desai added.

When the father finally reunited with his daughter, he cried. His daughter was happy to see him, too.

But after her five months in detention, he started noticing changes: She had nightmares and was easily upset. “She was never like that” before, her father said.

The pair now live in Chicago with the girl's grandparents while her case moves through the immigration court.

Michigan overpowered Arizona early and humbled the ’Cats for 40 long minutes Saturday, turning their highly anticipated Final Four matchup into a 91-73 Wolverines dunkfest-slash-highlight reel.

Junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds. About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American who landed on an Arizona player's foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee, but still had 11 points over 14 minutes.

He vowed he'd be ready for Monday's title matchup against UConn, a 71-62 winner over Illinois in the early semifinal that was billed — wrongly — as the undercard to this battle of No. 1 seeds.

“It’s going to take a full 40 minutes of fighting,” Lendeborg said.

This one was over in about five.

The Blue blew through their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits while becoming the first team to break 90 points five times in a single tournament.

It was all quite a shock, considering Michigan and Arizona came in with the nation’s top two defenses, a pair of top-five offenses and somewhere between eight and a dozen NBA stars between them.

But it was the Wolverines (36-3) who looked like pros, running to a double-digit lead only 5:31 into the contest, then swatting (three blocks) and slamming (nine dunks) Arizona into oblivion.

“These guys have such, I guess, extensive background in playing high-profile basketball games,” said Michigan coach Dusty May, who was spotted at courtside earlier in the evening, scouting UConn-Illinois for a Monday night game he sensed he'd be part of. “We just felt like we are battle-tested.”

The game plan against the Big 12 champion Wildcats (36-3) couldn't have worked any better.

Michigan packed the paint on defense, basically giving the team that averaged the fifth-fewest 3-point attempts in the country this year free rein from long distance, then daring Arizona to create inside. The Wildcats failed at both.

Koa Peat had a quiet 16 points and 11 rebounds for Arizona, which shot 6 for 17 from 3, 36% overall and had two assists and nine turnovers over a first half that ended with them trailing 48-32. Sparkplug Jaden Bradley got his fourth foul 94 seconds into the second half and finished with 13 points, most in extended garbage time.

Arizona’s only two losses before this were by four and by three back in February. The Wildcats trailed by nine less than 2:30 into this one.

“No one has been able to do that to us all year,” said Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, who got a contract extension over the weekend, presumably to keep him from going to North Carolina.

Making it all the more impressive for Michigan was that it started this runaway without Lendeborg, who committed two fouls within five seconds of each other less than 90 seconds into the game, then landed on Motiejus Krivas’ foot a little later and went to the locker room for ice.

Lendeborg called the injury “a weird feeling” but promised, “there’s no way I’m missing the game on Monday no matter what goes on.”

In fact, he returned for the second half and made two quick 3s to push Michigan's lead past 20. He was on the bench — and the stationary bike — for good with 5:19 left, enough time for rest and ice to get ready for UConn, which is going for its third title in four seasons.

Michigan is going for only the program’s second championship (1989), though its most famous team — the Fab Five, which made the final twice in the early ’90s — was in the building to helm an “alt-cast” of this Michigan celebration.

Some of this — the dunks, the alley-oops, the rim hanging and jersey tugging (but no baggy shorts) — might have reminded them of them.

Freshman Trey McKenney made four 3s and had 16 points for the Wolverines. Elliot Cadeau overcame a bout with his nut allergy to compile a crazy stat line: 13 points, 10 assists, six turnovers, five rebounds and four steals on 5-for-17 shooting. Even with that, Michigan finished 47.8% from the floor and 12 for 27 from 3.

Asked why he kept Lendeborg in for as long as he did, May recalled UConn’s second-half comeback from 19 down against Duke in the Elite Eight.

“We felt like the game was still in hand,” May said.

Not really.

What sufficed for drama down the stretch was whether May’s team would join Jerry Tarkanian’s 1990 UNLV juggernaut as only the second team to hit triple digits at the Final Four in the modern era.

The Wolverines emptied the bench with a few minutes left and came up short, but no matter. Everybody knew who the better team was in this one. That it got figured out so early was the real shock.

“It's tough for me to process this right now,” Peat said.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

“She was such a power. And she’s just gonna be so greatly missed,” said Tray Johns, a colleague.

At the Freedom Lab Saturday night, a Miami community center Metayer was a part of, loved ones laid down flowers and lit candles in her honor.

“As an abolitionist, I hope they put him up under the jail. Yes,” Johns added.

The vigil aimed to shine a light on Metayer’s life. She was a community organizer dedicated to showing up for her neighbors.

“Have anybody ever came to you and said anything bad about her? Never. You never heard anything bad,” said one organizer.

Metayer also went above and beyond for racial and environmental justice.

“Nancy’s just been a rising, shining star in the state of Florida with such a gentle, beautiful spirit,” Johns said.

In Coral Springs, her community came together earlier Saturday for a peace walk led by the city’s mayor alongside neighbors and friends.

It was good enough to salvage a point for Inter Miami.

Messi scored on a header in the 10th minute, Suarez hammered home a volley in the 82nd minute and Inter Miami escaped with a 2-2 tie against Austin FC in the defending MLS champions’ first match at their still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport on Saturday night.

Inter Miami (3-1-2) is now unbeaten in its last five MLS matches, and Austin (1-2-3) is now winless in its last four contests.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber was at the match, lauding the work that David Beckham — who picked Miami 13 years ago — did to get to this day. Inter Miami is in its seventh MLS season, its third with Messi, but has played home matches in Fort Lauderdale until now.

Garber touted the stadium opening as the latest sign of growth for MLS.

“I think our best days are still ahead,” Garber said. ”David shined a light on our league, and Leo’s taking that torch, and he’s showing it around. And we’re getting calls from players around the world.”

The Herons never led; Austin took a 1-0 lead on Guilherme Biro’s goal — the first ever at Nu Stadium — in the sixth minute, and the visitors went up 2-1 when speedy reserve Jayden Nelson scored in the 53rd minute.

Messi and Suarez both got tying goals, and Inter Miami missed some chances for a potential winner in the final minutes. Maybe the best of the lot: Mateo Silvetti’s chance in the 87th minute, when he accepted a cross from the right wing and tried to one-time the ball but sent it sailing high.

“We already know what Leo is capable of and the trouble he causes for the opposition, and even without the ball as well,” Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcon told Apple TV after the match. “And Luis, too — whenever he’s inside the box, he’s lethal, and he proved that once again.”

Suarez thought he scored in the 90th minute after a free kick from Messi, but the play was called offside. And Messi had a chance about three minutes later from inside the box, but Brad Stuver got low for a save diving to his left to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

Stuver said it was a great result, especially given the circumstances — against the MLS champs, who were opening their new stadium.

“We got to be the villains,” Stuver said.

Austin led much of the second half, after Nelson came on at intermission and gave his club a spark.

Nelson — who played for Vancouver against Inter Miami in last season’s MLS Cup final — got behind the defense, avoided going offside and took a pass from Myrto Uzuni in the middle of the field about 30 yards from the goal.

He sent a low shot that got past charging Inter Miami goalie Dayne St. Clair and kissed off the inside of the left goalpost before settling into the net.

Up next

Austin: Host LA Galaxy on April 11.

Inter Miami: Host New York Red Bulls on April 11.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

He spent much of that time grimacing or biting his lip. And he didn't look much more comfortable when he did return to start the second half Saturday night against Arizona.

The good news is Michigan didn't need much from the first-team All-American as it cruised to an unexpectedly lopsided 91-73 win in a matchup of the NCAA Tournament's last two No. 1 seeds, not with the Wolverines' depth simply overwhelming the Wildcats. The question now is how Lendeborg's injuries might affect him for Monday night's NCAA title game against UConn.

Lendeborg said he rolled his left ankle and sprained his MCL. He also was emphatic when asked if there was any chance he would miss the Wolverines' first appearance in the championship game since 2018.

“Absolutely not,” he said at his locker, surrounded by multiple rows of reporters. “Unless I wake up and I get up and fall off my feet, I'm going to be in that game.”

Lendeborg was effective even when hobbled

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lendeborg entered the game averaging 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists, offering strength and size with versatility to chase on the perimeter. He finished with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting in 14 minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers in his hobbled post-halftime minutes.

For much of the second half, he rode an exercise bike behind the Michigan bench, clapping for baskets or screaming with glee as the Wolverines made big play after big play.

He also spent time late in the game sitting on the court near the end of the bench and almost alongside the photographers on the baseline before having an ice pack wrapped around his left knee. He wore that for the final minutes and still had it on as he carefully made his way through the postgame handshake line with the Wildcats.

But he stayed engaged throughout, climbing to the raised court to greet teammates with high-fives as coach Dusty May emptied the bench in the final minute.

“Our team has extreme depth,” guard Roddy Gayle Jr., said. “We have the ability to feel happy when other people are being successful. Then, even when you're having a bad night, you're able to lean on your teammates for extra help.”

Lendeborg had to count on his entire team to carry the load without him.

Injury leads to a scary moment

Lendeborg had a rough start with two quick fouls and then exited after he stepped on the foot of Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas and twisted his left ankle, the same one he had tweaked during the loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Fear hit hard in that moment.

“I tried my best to get up as quickly as possible to try to not dwell on that feeling. I tried to walk it off,” Lendeborg said, adding with a chuckle: “It didn't get walked off.”

Lendeborg left the bench for trainers to retape his ankle and treat it with ice, returned briefly, then went back to the locker room again.

“I was going to give it a go but there was like five minutes left (before halftime) so they advised it was best to get treatment right away,” he said. “I sat there, got treatment, got ice. I did the best I could to analyze the situation. I was watching the game and trying to make it feel better.”

Lendeborg wore a brace on his left knee when he returned for the second half.

Getting ready for Monday

Lendeborg checked out at the 13:02 mark and headed to the bike. He returned again at the 7:10 mark after Arizona had cut a 30-point deficit to 20, saying he wanted to be a secondary ballhandler.

Why did May put him back in with the big lead?

“Well, apparently you missed the UConn-Duke game,” May said, referencing the Huskies' rally from 19 points down to stun the tournament's No. 1 overall seed in the Elite Eight.

Lendeborg said he told his teammates he would largely work around the arc and avoid crashing into the interior to raise the risk of aggravating the injury. He also said he wanted to get a feel for how he might be able to function with the Wolverines headed for one more game.

Michigan had more than enough to put away Arizona, notably with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara going for 26 points to lead five players in double figures. Michigan shot 47.8% and made 12 of 27 3-pointers. Now, Lendeborg will race to be ready for the shot at leading Michigan to its first national title since 1989, as well as the first by a Big Ten school since 2000.

“For me, it's a lot of treatment, a lot of time with the trainer, a lot of time away from my teammates which I'm not going to like,” Lendeborg said.

Whatever it takes.

“I'm playing,” he said. “I have to.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Many worried game day could turn into a gridlock nightmare.

“I had a lot of anxiety, that’s why I brought my scooter,” said Alex Valle.

On two wheels, Valle zipped past slow but steadily moving cars driving into Freedom Park.

“You know what, I’m actually pretty surprised how clear the traffic is, because it’s a first game for a new stadium -- right next to the airport, people catching their flights, but you know the traffic is not that bad,” he said.

It was a welcomed surprise after days of traffic warnings from law enforcement and the nearby airport. Miami Police said conditions have been very positive overall.

“That’s why we came early -- five hours before -- so we can see how it is. But so far it’s pretty much very smooth,” said Javier Jaramillo.

“I thought it was going to be a mess to get here, but to be honest it took 15 minutes from my place in downtown to here,” said Santiago.

Officers were ready to reroute drivers and deploy drones to spot congestion hotspots. Neither was needed.

“For Miami traffic, yeah it was good,” Santiago added.

“Everything seems nice. Super organized. Better than I expected,” said David.

There were restrictions for parking in residential areas. Police say no citations were issued.

The strike by thousands of workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, began on March 16 in coordination with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union in a bid for higher wages and better health care.

The strike came as U.S. cattle numbers hit a 75-year-old low this year, a decline driven in part by drought and low prices offered to ranchers. Meanwhile, beef prices have soared to record levels, adding to economic anxiety in the U.S.

The union said in a statement that workers will return to work Tuesday morning after plant owner JBS USA agreed to reopen talks later in the week.

“Workers remain united and will continue to fight,” said local union president Kim Cordova in a statement.

JBS USA spokesperson Nikki Richardson said the company is “preparing to resume and ramp up operations at the Greeley plant next week.”

“Our Last, Best and Final offer remains on the table,” Richardson said in an email that did not include terms. “We hope employees will have the opportunity to review and vote on it soon.”

The strike at Greeley is the first strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since workers walked out at a Hormel plant in Minnesota in 1985. That strike lasted more than a year and included violent confrontations between police and protesters.

JBS is the world’s largest meatpacking company with a market capitalization of $17 billion. It is the top employer in Greeley, a city 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Denver with a population of about 114,000 people.

The strike at Greeley was launched on accusations by union officials that management at Swift Beef Co. retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices.

The union said the company had offered less than 2% more a year in wages, which is less than inflation in Colorado. JBS USA has denied any labor law violations and said its contract offer was fair.

The Greeley plant has about 6% of the total U.S. beef slaughterhouse capacity, said Abby Greiman, a livestock market adviser for industry consultant Ever.Ag.

An extended strike threatened to disrupt the industry, which could ultimately drive up prices, said Jennifer Martin at Colorado State University’s animal sciences department.

The price for 100% ground chuck beef more than doubled over the past two decades from $2.55 to $6.07 per pound, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Colorado walkout followed the January closure of a meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, which was expected to ripple through the local economy and community. Tyson Foods cited the smaller herd and millions of dollars in expected losses this year.

JBS shares were approved for trading on the New York Stock Exchange last May despite environmental opposition and a federal probe that led to its guilty plea in October to bribing Brazilian officials for the financing it used for its U.S. expansion.

At the Greeley plant, union officials said the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said.

Miami; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE:

Washington will try to stop its three-game road slide when the Wizards face Miami.

The Heat are 24-23 in Eastern Conference games. Miami is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 12.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Kel’el Ware averaging 2.9.

The Wizards are 11-35 in conference matchups. Washington is 2-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Heat score 120.4 points per game, 3.9 fewer points than the 124.3 the Wizards give up. The Heat average 112.7 points per game, 5.5 fewer points than the 118.2 the Heat allow to opponents.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 150-129 on March 10, with Bam Adebayo scoring 83 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Adebayo is scoring 20.3 points per game with 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 20.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the past 10 games.

Bub Carrington is averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 17.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES:

Heat: 2-8, averaging 119.6 points, 41.6 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.3 points per game.

Wizards: 1-9, averaging 113.2 points, 36.6 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.6 points.

INJURIES:

Heat: Norman Powell: day to day (illness).

Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Kyshawn George: out for season (elbow), D’Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Not far away, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler headed dejectedly to his bench, pulling his jersey over his face. He disappeared into the arms of consoling teammates, then emerged with his head covered by a towel as the handshake line formed.

Only one of the two fantastic freshmen could end the night in triumph, but both led their teams on a rough offensive night for the Huskies and the Illini in UConn's 71-62 win Saturday in the Final Four.

Mullins — the home-state hero who hit an incredible shot to send UConn to Indianapolis — got off to a fast start and finished with four 3-pointers and 15 points. Wagler, a second-team All-American, had a game-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds while the Illini never found the groove that had brought them to their first Final Four since 2005.

Both hit key 3s as UConn fought to maintain its tenuous late lead. And by the final horn, Mullins and Wagler had become the first opposing freshmen with at least 15 points in a Final Four game since 1982 — when a couple of kids named Michael Jordan (North Carolina) and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) were squaring off for the national title.

Only Mullins will have a chance to add to his March run.

“We’re so ready for the national championship game,” Mullins said after exchanging an exuberant hug with coach Dan Hurley. “This is what I came here for. Let’s get it on Monday.”

Mullins is an Indiana star and the face of March Madness

Mullins was a prep star out of Greenfield, roughly 30 miles from Lucas Oil Stadium, the cavernous home of the Indianapolis Colts that hosted the Final Four. He was already the star of the week in Indianapolis after hitting the 3-pointer that capped UConn's stunning comeback from 19 points down to beat No. 1 overall tournament seed Duke in the Elite Eight last weekend.

This time, he faced an opponent that had elevated its defense to go with its season-long efficiency. The Illini allowed just 0.976 points per possession through four NCAA Tournament wins to lead the four remaining teams while leaning on their paint-controlling size advantage.

That only magnified the importance of Mullins, a 6-foot-6 wing who came armed with a fearless look — whether shaking off a second half full of misses or ending up on the floor after getting stuffed at the rim on a baseline drive before halftime.

He set the tone during the opening three minutes, when he knocked down his first two 3-point tries, the second after losing Jake Davis around a screen then backpedaling and clapping with a big grin. He even banked in a straightaway 3 for a 37-27 lead, prompting him to grin sheepishly and stick out his tongue.

“The shot clock was winding down and I was just trying to find a pick and pop,” Mullins told reporters huddled around his locker. “I knew when I saw that separation I was going to put it up. But I did not expect to hit glass. You’ve got to have a smile on your face when that happens because those shots do happen.”

He saved his biggest moment for the second half. Mullins was 0 for 5 since halftime when Illinois had trimmed a 14-point deficit to four. Alex Karaban missed a 3-pointer, but Silas Demary Jr. outfought Illinois’ Ben Humrichous for the rebound to set up Mullins’ 3 with 52.1 seconds left.

It was his only second-half basket as UConn shot just 28.6% after halftime in a rock fight of a game.

Wagler has raw emotions after loss

It was a harder night for Wagler, the former four-star recruit who rose to prominence this season as part of a stellar freshman class nationally. He finished 7 for 16 from the floor but went just 2 for 10 from 3-point range — he entered shooting 40.7% from behind the arc — on a night when Illinois shot just 33.9% overall.

“I felt like I was settled in, it was just my shot was off, which happens,” Wagler said. “So I was just trying to stay confident throughout the game and keep shooting them. I felt like I'm a good shooter so I kept shooting them.”

He came through with a big one to answer Mullins' late 3, hitting a step-back against Demary with 43.5 seconds left to keep Illinois within four. But he missed another one moments later, slapping his right thigh in frustration as it became clear the game was finally out of reach.

By the end of the night, he sat his locker with teammate Ty Rodgers' left arm wrapped around him.

“Every day when you go through something like this with a group for this long, and you love them, it's hard when it ends,” Wagler said, pausing to fight back tears as Rodgers patted him on the shoulder. “You know, when it ends, it's just sad.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Leer en español

City of Lauderhill commissioner Melissa P. Dunn said in a news release that the effort reflects a growing awareness of the importance of personal health.

“I believe that people care about their health now more than ever because life is short and we really have to make every single second count and this body is the only body we have,” she said.

She also pointed to ongoing health challenges in the community and the need for continued focus on wellness.

“Unfortunately in the city of Lauderhill, we have a high incidence of diabetes and other chronic disease and so for me it’s critical that our residents eat better, move more and really take care of their health and well-being including their mental wellness and their financial wellness,”Dunn said.

The Get Active Lauderhill campaign, led by Dunn, launched Jan. 31 and encouraged participants to take simple, consistent steps toward improving their physical, emotional and overall well-being.

Organizers said the initiative emphasized accessibility, community engagement and sustainable habits for residents of all ages and fitness levels.

The event concluded with the community-wide 5K Run/Walk event Saturday at Lauderhill Sports Park at 7500 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Leer en español

The signature event raised funds to support the nonprofit’s mission of providing food and resources to families across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. An awards ceremony followed the walk/run.

Paco Velez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida, said the organization remains focused on addressing growing food insecurity in the region.

He said the event helps fund programs that provide immediate access to nutritious food and support advocacy and education efforts. He also noted that for every $1 donated, the organization can provide about four meals.

“Everybody was happy. They were excited. They were motivated. They were eager to run, and it showed in the times,” Velez said. “But the most important part is that we are able to help a lot of families here today.”

He also emphasized the role of volunteers, saying more than 36,000 people assist the organization each year across food distribution and events.

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” Velez said.

Organizers said more than 1.2 million people in South Florida are food insecure, with one in nine residents unsure where their next meal will come from due to rising costs for housing, groceries, fuel and other expenses.

The organization also highlighted recent donations, including eggs from partners Cal-Maine and Morningstar Farms, which Velez said are a high-demand protein source for families.

Participants could register as individuals or teams, and those not running were encouraged to support the effort through personalized fundraising pages by clicking here.

Registration is currently open to all four counties that Feeding South Florida serves, including Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Fabulous freshman Braylon Mullins made another last-minute 3-pointer — his only basket of the second half — and the Huskies muscled their way past Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach their third national championship game in four years.

Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Mullins finished with 15 points as the Huskies (34-5) rode strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet 16 or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

They'll face Michigan with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999, as Hurley tries to become the only active coach with more than two championships.

“We’re a tough program, we’re a group of fighters,” said Hurley, who won it all in 2023 and 2024. “We’ve got incredible will. We go into these games, we’re ready for battle. For us, it’s not a game that we’re just kind of running around in uniforms throwing the ball around, hoping it goes in. That’s not what we’re doing out there. We’re fighting. It’s a life-and-death struggle for us to get to Monday night for the opportunity to win a championship.”

Mullins sent the Huskies past Duke, the top overall seed, in the Elite Eight last weekend with the shot of the tourney — a 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. He was equally effective this time, a short drive from his hometown of Greenfield, Indiana.

After Silas Demary Jr. secured an offensive rebound, Mullins hit a catch-and-shoot 3 with 52 seconds left that gave UConn a 66-59 and thwarted Illinois' late charge.

“The set was going to be run for anybody on the team. You’ve just got to shoot with confidence,” Mullins said. “Just trying to find the best look on the floor, and I know our point guards are going to get us the ball, so I think that was the biggest shot I hit tonight.”

UConn needed it on a night star forward Alex Karaban struggled with his shot. He had nine points on 1-of-8 shooting while adding four rebounds and four assists as he tied Hurley's brother, Bobby, for second in career March Madness victories by a player with 18. A win Monday also would make him the first player since John Wooden’s dominant UCLA teams in the 1960s and 1970s to finish as a three-time champion.

Thanks in part to Karaban, the Huskies haven’t lost a tournament game played past the opening weekend since 2009, when they fell in the national semifinals to Michigan State. With one more victory, they would break a tie with North Carolina and move into third place alone in national titles, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight).

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Fighting Illini (28-9), who reached their first Final Four since losing the championship game to UNC in 2005.

Wagler and Mullins became the first pair of freshmen to top 15 points in a Final Four game since Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing in 1982.

“It’s margins, they’re so small,” said Illinois' Brad Underwood, a 62-year-old coaching lifer who reached his first Final Four. “Getting here is really hard. Winning is really hard. It’s why I have so much appreciation for Alex Karaban. He’s been to three of them. That’s freaky. It’s a rebound, it’s a loose ball, it’s a ball rolling in, it’s a banked 3.”

Tomislav Ivisic had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Illini, who couldn’t replicate the blueprint that carried them to double-digit victories over Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa. Illinois made just 3 of 14 3-pointers in the first half and finished 6 of 26 beyond the arc.

UConn took full advantage even though the Huskies had two long scoring droughts — nearly six minutes in the first half and more than six minutes in the second. The latter allowed Illinois to charge back from its biggest deficit of the season, 57-43 with 9:43 to play, to get within 57-53 with 5:03 remaining.

But the Huskies answered and closed it out at the free-throw line for their fifth straight win in the series. UConn beat Illinois 74-61 on Nov. 28 in Madison Square Garden, and now the Huskies have held the Illini to their two lowest scoring totals and shooting percentages of the season. UConn also beat Illinois 77-52 in the Elite Eight two years ago.

“We held them to 35 percent (shooting),” Underwood said. “They just made more 3s than we did.”

And finished with a little more punch.

“The year hasn’t been a joy ride,” Hurley said. “We haven’t been a machine of destruction. We’ve been a team that’s had to grind out games like this.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

The NBA issued a statement offering an update on the investigation Saturday, a day after Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic that he’s healthy and he wants to play.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since leaving a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly on a dunk. The Bucks released an injury report Saturday ruling him out for Sunday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, which will mark the 11th straight game he has missed.

“The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute,” an NBA spokesman said. “The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”

ESPN first reported that an investigation was taking place.

Since that Indiana game, the Bucks have ruled Antetokounmpo out due to left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. Antetokounmpo has been participating in pregame warmups lately with no apparent limits.

“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told reporters before the Bucks’ 133-101 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”

The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention on March 28, snapping their string of nine straight playoff appearances.

Sunday will mark the career-high 42nd game Antetokounmpo has missed this season. He had two extended absences earlier this season due to right calf strains. He also sat out four games early this season with a left adductor strain.

The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo says he’s feeling better now and wants to get back on the floor. He has played his entire 13-year career with Milwaukee, which selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

Given his long history with the team, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks should have known he wouldn’t want to be shut down for the season just because their playoff hopes have vanished.

“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said Friday. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”

This dispute comes amid much speculation regarding Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after Monday’s game that he wishes this disagreement had been kept between the two parties. Rivers added that “this is a grown man’s game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.”

“I just don’t like that this is so public,” Rivers said. “This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not be public, and I don’t like that.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

El mandatario colombiano, sus familiares y funcionarios cercanos, fueron sancionados por el gobierno estadounidense en octubre de 2025, rechazando su política antinarcóticos que permite “que los carteles de droga prosperen”, argumentó Washington en su momento.

La sanción implica restricciones comerciales y bloqueos financieros. Estados Unidos también le retiró a Colombia su certificación antidrogas, debido al presunto auge de cultivos de coca, señalamientos que han sido rechazados por el gobierno de Petro.

“La lista OFAC ya no es un arma contra el narcotráfico, el narcotráfico se burla de ella, y se hospedan en Dubái, allí compran residencia por unos 4.000 dólares y viven en medio del lujo”, señaló el mandatario en la red social X.

Petro afirmó que la OFAC “sólo sirve para perseguir oposiciones políticas y domesticarlas en el mundo”.

El presidente colombiano, el primero de izquierda en la historia del país, aseveró que cabecillas del Clan del Golfo y de la Segunda Marquetalia, otra de las disidencias de las extintas Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), se encuentran en Emiratos Árabes Unidos.

“Los jefes de Iván Mordisco, Chiquito Malo y la Segunda Marquetalia no se encuentran porque viven en Dubái y los protegen con los acuerdos judiciales en Estados Unidos porque allá negocian no exportar cocaína a los Estados Unidos, pero aumentan sus exportaciones al resto del mundo y se hacen más poderosos”, señaló el gobernante, sin presentar pruebas de sus afirmaciones.

Afirmó también que alias “Iván Mordisco” —principal cabecilla del Estado Mayor Central (EMC), una de las disidencias de las extintas FARC, y uno de los criminales más buscados del país— no ha sido localizado porque “compra a los comandantes que deben capturarlo”.

“Mordisco”, cuyo verdadero nombre es Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández, ha estado al frente del EMC desde 2022, después de no acogerse al proceso de paz firmado hace una década. Es perseguido por delitos de terrorismo, homicidio, reclutamiento forzado y narcotráfico y ha sido dado por muerto más de una vez durante bombardeos de las fuerzas colombianas contra sus campamentos, de los cuales ha logrado escapar.

En tanto, Jobanis de Jesús Ávila, alias “Chiquito Malo”, comanda al Clan del Golfo luego de la captura y extradición de su predecesor Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias Otoniel, en 2022.

Aunque la relación del gobierno colombiano con Estados Unidos ha sido tensa, un reciente acercamiento telefónico entre Petro y su homólogo Donald Trump y su posterior visita a la Casa Blanca ayudó a desescalar la situación.

Petro recuperó su visa estadounidense que le había sido revocada en septiembre de 2025, aunque permanece en la lista de la OFAC. La embajada de Estados Unidos en Bogotá no se han pronunciado hasta el momento sobre las afirmaciones del gobernante colombiano.

That sets up a marathon finish Sunday in the final event before the Masters, with some players having to go 30 holes to finish the tournament. Groups will stay together the rest of the way.

MacIntyre was at 15-under par at the TPC San Antonio. Ludvig Aberg had three birdies in six holes playing alongside MacIntyre to reach 13 under.

No one played more than 14 holes of the third round. That included Matt Wallace, who was 7 under for the round through 14 holes and within four shots of the lead. Marco Penge, who makes his Augusta National debut next week, shot 30 on the front nine and was at 10 under through 11 holes.

Penge was among 15 players in the Masters who made the cut.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

“This is just such a devastating loss,” said Jeff Adelman, a friend of Metayer.

Others were still struggling to process the sudden loss.

“Honestly today is so surreal. I don’t want to believe this even occurred. She was such a sweet person,” said Coral Springs Commissioner Joe McHugh.

Mayor Scott Brook led a peace walk Saturday in honor of the 38-year-old public servant, who was remembered for her warmth and presence.

“The vice mayor just always had a smile. She would come into a room and it would be lighter,” Brook said.

Hugs and shared memories offered comfort as those who worked closely with Metayer reflected on her impact.

“The best memory I have was just last week,” said McHugh. “I went to go shake one of our commissioners’ hands and she goes, ‘Where’s my hug?’ And I gave her a big hug.”

Metayer’s legacy continues to resonate in the city she was born and raised in -- a community she served and inspired.

“I know the impact she had on me,” Brook said. “I’m inspired every day by her while she was here and I continue to be inspired by her.”

Easter Sunday is shaping up to be warm across South Florida. It will not be a washout, but a few isolated showers are possible throughout the day. Expect a high near 83 degrees.

A cold front is on the move. While temperatures will not drop significantly, much-needed rain is expected, especially on Tuesday.

Bam Adebayo — who scored 83 points in Miami’s last game with Washington — faced a triple-team on his first possession and scored 14 for Miami. Andrew Wiggins had 21 and Pelle Larsson scored 16 for the Heat. Adebayo also had nine rebounds and seven assists.

Miami reached 150 points for the third time in franchise history. It scored 153 against New Orleans last April 11 — and finished with 150 against the Wizards in Adebayo’s 83-point night on March 10.

Will Riley scored 31 for Washington, which has reached the 60-loss mark for the third straight season. Sharife Cooper scored 20 for the Wizards, who trailed by as many as 35 at one point.

Jaquez was heading to Phoenix for the women’s final — he’s a UCLA grad and his sister, Gabriela, plays for the Bruins, who’ll face South Carolina on Sunday.

“That’s the beauty of their family relationship. They really support each other,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”We’ve gotten to know his sister from all the times that she has visited. And it’s awesome to see.”

The Heat paid tribute to retiring public address announcer Michael Baiamonte, who is making this his 35th and final season. He got a standing ovation from fans after the first quarter.

“I’ve enjoyed the greatest seat to some of the greatest basketball in the world,” Baiamonte said.

Up next

Wizards: Visit Brooklyn on Sunday.

Heat: Visit Toronto on Tuesday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Reaves and Doncic both incurred potentially significant injuries on Thursday in Oklahoma City, throwing a major complication into the postseason hopes of the Lakers (50-27). Doncic is out for at least the next two weeks after straining his left hamstring in the Lakers' blowout loss to the Thunder.

Reaves and Doncic both got injured in the first half Thursday, but both returned to the game. Doncic was diagnosed with his second significant hamstring injury on Friday, while Reaves had an MRI on Saturday and was subsequently ruled out by the Lakers, who play at Dallas on Sunday.

Both Doncic and Reaves have been diagnosed with injuries that often take a month or more to heal properly, but the Lakers haven’t speculated on their availability beyond the next five games.

Reaves has blossomed into an elite NBA scorer and remained a vital offensive option alongside Doncic and LeBron James this season during the Lakers' run to the Pacific Division title. The former undrafted free agent is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds while playing in 51 games this season, his fifth with the Lakers.

Reaves missed 19 games after straining his left calf on Christmas. He would be the NBA's 11th-leading scorer if he had played enough games to qualify.

The Lakers have won 16 of their last 19 games to surge into the third seed in the Western Conference. The playoffs begin in two weeks.

Before the severity of Reaves' injury was announced, Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters in Dallas on Saturday that the team can't stop moving in Doncic's absence.

“Our mission, it hasn’t changed,” Redick said. “The rest of these guys and my staff, we’re going after the 3-seed, and we’re going to try to win a playoff series.”

After his breakout offensive play in his first full season alongside Doncic, Reaves will be eligible for a significant contract extension this summer if he declines his player option for the 2026-27 season as expected. Reaves and the Lakers both expect him to stay with the club.

The Lakers’ regular-season finale is April 12 at home against Utah.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Pride with how interest and investment in women's hoops has skyrocketed since her days dominating at Southern California. Pride with how women's athletes are celebrated. Pride with the development in player skill over the years.

“A lot of these players are so dedicated, not just the X's and O's or the physical, their skillset," said Miller, who was honored this week as one of the greatest players of The Associated Press women’s basketball poll era, "but taking care of their bodies, the nutrition and sleeping better and what’s provided for them now at certain universities and programs. It’s just the evolution of the game itself.”

Miller and other women's basketball trailblazers, including Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman and former UCLA standout Ann Meyers Drysdale, spoke about the state of college sports at “The AP Top 25 Fan Poll Experience,” which was held at Arizona State’s First Amendment Forum in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix.

Most conversations centered on how name, image and likeness along with the transfer portal are shaping the college game.

The changes in college sports have permeated politics, and ahead of the start of the Final Four for both men and women, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at restoring “order, fairness and stability” to college athletics.

The order directs federal agencies to bolster the effectiveness of key rules on transferring, eligibility and pay-for-play by evaluating whether violations of such rules render a university unfit for federal grants and contracts.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, whose team will play Sunday in the national championship game for the fourth time in five years, recently said her conversations with recruits nowadays reflect the new college sports landscape. While Staley's talks with recruits once centered on earning degrees, they're mostly focused now on money, especially with players in the transfer portal.

That's the same adjustment Arizona State coach Molly Miller has been forced to make.

"Recruiting a high school athlete is a lot different than recruiting a portal athlete," Miller said on a panel hosted by the AP on Thursday.

“Their questions are totally different than the portal kids,” she added. "Their questions are, ‘What’s the student-to-teacher ratio?' When you get in the portal they’re like: ‘Am I going to play? What’s the depth chart like, is the culture good and how much (money)?’”

Ackerman, who was the first president of the WNBA, sees tremendous growth in institutional investment in women's college sports, which she pointed out was evident in the success of the Final Four teams — South Carolina, UConn, Texas and UCLA — in Phoenix.

While that growth is paying off in brand value and fan engagement, Ackerman worries that it will lead to a wider disparity between schools with major football revenue and institutions that rely on smaller revenue streams.

“I’m not sure what the future holds,” she said. “I think it’s going to require leadership on campuses and innovation in terms of how to deploy resources that are finite for all sports.”

___

AP Top 25 Fan Poll Experience: https://apnews.com/https:/apnews.com/projects/arizona-state-fan-poll-experience/

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Authorities announced the arrest of Roberto Mazzarella, 48, following a raid Friday on a villa on the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy after allegedly using false documents to rent the luxury coastal property.

Meloni, who is on a tour of Gulf states, described Mazzarella’s arrest as an “an important blow against the Camorra,” referring to the notorious criminal organization that originated in Naples.

“This sends a clear message that the state will not back down” Meloni said in an online post.

Mazzarella is wanted in connection with a 2000 fatal shooting at a delicatessen in central Naples.

The bearded 41-year-old was recognized on the video board by the Stars early in the game, and plenty of Dallas fans joined a vocal Avs contingent in cheering for Burns.

The all-time ironman streak belongs to forward Phil Kessel, who played in 1,064 consecutive regular-season games from Nov. 3, 2009, to April 13, 2023. He appeared with Toronto, Pittsburgh, Arizona and Vegas.

Burns, who appeared in his 1,500th game in October against the Stars, has been in the lineup for every game since Nov. 21, 2013, with San Jose. He also has played for Minnesota and Carolina.

Burns is in his first season with the Avalanche and has 11 goals. He and Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom are the only defensemen in league history to score double-digit goals at 40 or older.

The meeting with the Stars is Burns' 1,572nd career regular-season game. He entered the game with 941 points (272 goals, 669 assists). Burns spent 11 of his 22 seasons with the Sharks.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Asterisk Talley never imagined the nightmare that helped make it possible Saturday in the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

Marin stuck to her plan of staying close until a moment that changed everything with shocking swiftness — her changing her mind and going for the green on the par-5 13th for a go-ahead birdie, and Talley adding to the sad history of collapses on the back nine at the home of the Masters.

“I just reminded myself that I had to stay really, really patient because anything can happen out here,” Marin said after closing with a 4-under 68 for a four-shot victory. “When that last putt sank in, I just thought to myself, ‘Well, I made it.’ All of my hard work has paid off, and I’m just extremely proud of myself.”

Talley was devastated. The 17-year-old Californian twice went from the back bunker into Rae's Creek for a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3 12th hole. That allowed Marin to go from a tight contest to a five-shot lead.

Talley, who didn't make her first bogey of the tournament until the 11th hole of the final round, shot 42 on the back nine for a 75 to finish six shots behind.

“I’m just a little emotional, not only because I didn’t get it done today, but also just everyone is so supportive,” Talley said. “It’s hard when they have to watch that and see you not do well or not accomplish what you wanted. I still played fine today even though that one hole just kind of got me.”

Marin, a junior at Arkansas, becomes the third NCAA champion to win at the home of the Masters, following Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang, and this one featured a shocker on the back nine.

Talley, who led by as many as four shots early, missed a short birdie chance on the 10th and a short par putt on the 11th to fall into a tie with Marin.

And then it all came undone.

Talley went long with an 8-iron into a back bunker on the 12th, the hole that ruined Jordan Spieth's chances of a repeat Masters victory in 2016. She went at the right pin with a shot too strong, and the ball rolled off the front, down a slope and into the water. Talley decided to drop in the bunker, and then did the same thing again.

“I didn’t think going to the other side was the best option at the time,” Talley said. “I thought since we could rake the bunker, maybe we could get it to not be so hard. It was still the same after dropping. The same thing happened. Just couldn’t really get under the ball there.”

Stunned, she took her next penalty drop on the other side of the water, pitched to about 8 feet and holed that for a quadruple-bogey 7.

“Probably should have done that the first time,” Talley said. “But you don’t really think of that when you’re in the moment.”

Marin had far better fortune on No. 12. Her shot came up short, and was close enough to the bunker that it stayed up on a small shelf of grass instead of rolling into the water. She saved par, and began to pull away with her two-putt birdie on the 13th and Talley's big blunder on No. 12.

“I think it was just God holding the ball there,” Marin said.

The last challenge for Marin came from Andrea Revuelta, who birdied Amen Corner to stay on the fringes of contention.

Marin finally saw a leaderboard showing her four shots ahead and said the adrenaline played a part in hitting a wedge over the green. She had to make a 5-foot putt for bogey, right after Revuelta narrowly missed an 8-foot birdie.

Marin hit 7-iron to 6 feet for her sixth birdie that put it away.

Revuelta closed with a 68 and was runner-up. Talley took a double bogey on the 16th — she played par 3s in 6 over on the back nine — and wound up in a five-way tie for fourth. Meja Örtengren of Sweden, playing in the final group with Talley, shot 74.

Marin set an Augusta National Women's Amateur record at 14-under 202. The smile never left her face as she walked up the 18th green, raising her right hand when she tapped in for par. Among those who celebrated with her was Maria Fassi of Mexico, another Arkansas star who was runner-up in the inaugural tournament. Marin has called that moment a big inspiration.

Masters chairman Fred Ridley presented the trophy to her in Butler Cabin, and Marin held it aloft, smiled wide and said, “It's so pretty.”

“Winning in this place, I don’t think there’s ever going to be a feeling to describe it. It’s just magical,” she said. “This is the temple of golf, and just getting this win, it’s amazing for me.”

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

El inicio del partido está previsto para las 7:30 p.m., con más de 20,000 aficionados esperados en el juego inaugural en Miami Freedom Park.

Equipos trabajan para garantizar que el partido se desarrolle lo mejor posible.

Funcionarios de la ciudad dijeron que aún están trabajando para emitir un certificado temporal de ocupación (TCO) antes del partido.

En un comunicado, la ciudad indicó que está “trabajando diligentemente con los representantes del estadio Nu para emitir el TCO antes del juego inaugural del 4 de abril”.

Los funcionarios añadieron que, si el TCO no se emite a tiempo, el evento aún podría llevarse a cabo bajo un permiso de evento limitado, “el cual se limita a ese día, con horarios específicos, restricciones y precauciones adicionales”, señalando que es “un recurso que se utiliza con frecuencia en estas situaciones”.

A pesar de esa incertidumbre, se espera que el partido se realice según lo previsto.

Durante un recorrido por el estadio, el copropietario de Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, reconoció que la construcción continúa fuera del recinto.

“Fuera del estadio es una zona en construcción mientras avanzamos con las obras, pero creo que será una caminata muy bonita”, dijo Mas. “Habrá actividades muy agradables, así que hay mucho por hacer en las próximas 48 horas, pero todo se está haciendo para brindar una gran experiencia a los aficionados el sábado”.

Añadió que la experiencia para los aficionados mejorará con el tiempo.

Leer en español

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with more than 20,000 fans expected to attend the inaugural match at Miami Freedom Park.

Crews are doing everything they can to ensure the game goes smooth as possible.

City officials said they are still working to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) ahead of the game.

In a statement, the city said it is “working diligently with the representatives of Nu Stadium to issue the TCO by April 4th’s inaugural game.”

Officials added that if the TCO is not issued in time, the event could still proceed under a limited event permit, “which is limited to that day, with specific hours, restrictions, and additional precautions,” noting it is “a recourse often used in these situations.”

Despite that uncertainty, the match is still expected to go on as planned.

During a walkthrough of the stadium, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas acknowledged that construction remains ongoing outside the venue.

“Outside of the stadium it’s a construction site as we prepare construction, but I think it’ll be a beautiful walk up,” Mas said. “We’ll have really nice activities, so there’s a lot to do in the next 48 hours, but it’s all being done to make this a great fan experience on Saturday.”

He added that the fan experience will improve over time.

“Obviously the second game will be better, the third, the fourth, as you grow into it into any new facility, the experiences will get smoother, they’ll get better, but I’m very, very happy with what’s happened and the time period that we’ve been able to complete the stadium,” he said.

Meanwhile, a traffic alert has been issued by the Miami Police Department for Saturday, with major congestion expected before and after the match.

Traffic congestion expected times:

• Pre-match: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Post-match: 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Residential streets around Miami Freedom Park will be restricted to residents only, and drivers are urged not to cut through neighborhoods as police will enforce closures.

Fans driving to the stadium are advised to use only designated entrances:

• Northwest 37th Avenue (Douglas Road)
• Northwest 14th Street (between Northwest 37th and Northwest 42nd avenues)

Drivers should follow variable message signs along the Dolphin Expressway and Le Jeune Road for routing.

Those using public transit or parking at the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) should follow the designated pedestrian route to Northwest 21st Street and Northwest 38th Court, then continue along the Sheraton access road to the pedestrian bridge leading into Nu Stadium. ADA shuttles will be available from the MIC to stadium entrances.

Officials urge fans to plan ahead, expect delays and follow directions from law enforcement directing traffic.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said Saturday that he and his Artemis II crewmates got to watch the film with their families before launching on the lunar fly-around. He said it was “a real treat” to view the movie while getting ready for his own space adventure.

Gosling, a fellow Canadian, sent best wishes to the four astronauts ahead of Wednesday's liftoff.

“Art imitates science and vice versa,” Hansen said during a live televised event arranged by the Canadian Space Agency. “I thought it was just such an inspirational example — somebody who goes out there and just gets what was done to save humanity. It’s a pretty extraordinary example that we can all follow.”

Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Following an NHL-record 14 seasons of futility, during which the team finished no better than 19th in the league, the Sabres clinched a berth on Saturday when the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation. Buffalo's playoff drought was among the four North American major sports’ longest active streaks, ranking second behind the NFL's New York Jets, who last qualified in 2010.

The Sabres clinched with six games left in their season, before being beat 6-2 at Washington on Saturday night, and are in contention to earn the Eastern Conference's top seed. At 46-23-8, Buffalo is riding a 35-9-4 surge that has vaulted the team after sitting last in the East in early December.

The turnaround has been remarkable for a franchise that through Saturday has gone 5,458 days since the Lindy Ruff-coached team lost Game 7 of a first-round series to Philadelphia on April 26, 2011.

“Obviously unbelievable. I’m happy for the city, I’m happy for all the guys that have been grinding here for years, like the equipment managers, trainers, my teammates ... wow, it’s going to be special, that’s for sure,” captain Rasmus Dahlin said.

In the ensuing years, the Sabres have finished last overall four times and are on their seventh coach, with Ruff back for a second stint, and their fourth general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen.

Buffalo’s run up the standings coincided with Kekalainen being promoted from his position as senior adviser on Dec. 15, replacing Kevyn Adams, who was fired after five-plus seasons.

The Sabres already had won three straight when the change occurred and proceeded to go on a franchise record-matching 10-0 run. They’ve not looked back since. Buffalo is 14-4-2 since returning from the Olympic break, and the team’s worst stretch since December has been a 0-1-2 skid.

“The guys have worked so hard to get to this point,” Ruff said. “Every month has been pretty darn consistent, and we played a good brand of hockey. We’ve gotten rewarded for how hard we’ve played.”

Though Adams’ firing played a role in spurring the team, so did Buffalo getting healthier.

The Sabres’ top two lines were replenished with the return of Josh Norris and Jason Zucker, and their goaltending got a boost with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shaking off an early season injury to resume sharing the starting duties with Alex Lyon. After opening the season 4-5-1, Luukkonen has gone 15-4-2 since Dec. 21.

“I find that we deserve to be where we’re at. ... From where we were at the start of December to where we got, asked a lot of the players and got a lot back,” Ruff said.

Kekalainen also added depth at the trade deadline last month by acquiring center Sam Carrick, forward Tanner Pearson and defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn.

The team is led by two of its longest-tenured players: Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, and forward Tage Thompson, who was acquired in a trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in the summer of 2018.

Dahlin ranks sixth among NHL defensemen with 69 points, while Thompson is tied for 11th among all skaters with 38 goals.

The next test for Buffalo is winning a playoff series, something the team hasn’t done since beating the Rangers in six games in the second round in 2007.

The turnaround has revived a fanbase that had grown weary with losing, various rebuilding plans that failed to generate a winner and a revolving door of talent being shuffled in and out of Buffalo — from O’Reilly’s departure to Jack Eichel being dealt to Vegas in November 2021 following a lengthy standoff over how to repair a neck injury. Each went on to win the Stanley Cup with his new team.

The Sabres have not hoisted the Cup through their first 54 seasons of existence.

“It’s something that we’ve worked hard for for a long time to be able to get into the postseason,” Thompson said. “It felt good.”

“I’m really proud of the group,” Alex Tuch added. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Buffalo has had 21 home sellouts this season, including 15 in a row, a year after selling out just five games.

This season, the Sabres have shown resolve in rallying back from deficits. Buffalo entered Saturday with 19 come-from-behind wins, tied for seventh in the NHL. That included defeating Tampa Bay 8-7 last month after trailing 7-5 with nine minutes left in regulation.

The Lightning also clinched Saturday, before beating the Bruins, for their ninth consecutive appearance and 12th in 13 years.

___

AP freelance writer Sammi Silber in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Leer en español

At The Berry Farm in southwest Miami-Dade, children and parents spread out across 40 acres Saturday for the farm’s annual Eggstravaganza.

Kids of all ages raced through egg hunts, played on playgrounds, visited baby animals and posed for photos with the Easter Bunny.

“We actually live in Chicago,” said Christine Burger, a grandmother attending the event. “And the weather is better than Chicago. It’s a whole lot of outdoor activities for us to do today too.”

Karl Wiegandt of The Berry Farm said the event has grown over the years and has become a tradition for many families.

“This is the sixth year we’ve done the egg hunts here at the berry farm and we’ve really learned a lot,” Wiegandt said. “We do 39 egg hunts to keep organization, enough eggs for all the kids, and really for parents to be able to get those pictures where it’s not a congestion of kid running at the same time.”

“We always say we try to create that forever moment and picture and those memories. I think we’ve done a great job of it,” he added.

The event continues on Easter Sunday.

In Broward County, families gathered in Plantation for the city’s annual Royal Easter Egg Hunt at Pop Travers Park.

Children from toddlers to 10 years old were split into age groups, each taking turns running across the field to collect eggs.

“It was very nice to come out on a Saturday. I got up really early to do it. I wasn’t expecting this but it was really good. The kids enjoyed it,” said Ambria Butts.

After the hunt, families stayed to enjoy inflatables, games and a visit from the Royal Easter Bunny.

En The Berry Farm, al suroeste de Miami-Dade, niños y padres se distribuyeron el sábado en 40 acres para la “Eggstravaganza” anual de la granja.

Niños de todas las edades participaron en las búsquedas de huevos, jugaron en áreas recreativas, visitaron animales bebés y se tomaron fotos con el Conejo de Pascua.

“De hecho vivimos en Chicago”, dijo Christine Burger, una abuela que asistió al evento. “Y el clima es mejor que en Chicago. Hay muchas actividades al aire libre para hacer hoy”.

Karl Wiegandt, de The Berry Farm, dijo que el evento ha crecido con los años y se ha convertido en una tradición para muchas familias.

“Este es el sexto año que hacemos búsquedas de huevos aquí en la granja y hemos aprendido mucho”, dijo Wiegandt. “Realizamos 39 búsquedas para mantener la organización, suficientes huevos para todos los niños y para que los padres puedan tomar fotos sin aglomeraciones de niños corriendo al mismo tiempo”.

“Siempre decimos que tratamos de crear ese momento y esa foto para siempre, esos recuerdos. Creo que hemos hecho un gran trabajo”, añadió.

El evento continúa el domingo de Pascua.

En el condado Broward, familias se reunieron en Plantation para la búsqueda anual Royal Easter Egg Hunt en el parque Pop Travers.

Niños desde pequeños hasta los 10 años fueron divididos por grupos de edad, cada uno tomando turnos para correr por el campo y recolectar huevos.

“Fue muy agradable salir un sábado. Me levanté muy temprano para hacerlo. No lo esperaba, pero estuvo muy bien. Los niños lo disfrutaron”, dijo Ambria Butts.

Después de la búsqueda, las familias permanecieron para disfrutar de inflables, juegos y una visita del Conejo de Pascua Real.

Leer en español

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and with gas prices rising, along with the cost of living and fluctuating inflation, many people are feeling the pressure.

According to a Harris Poll of more than 3,000 adults, 62% report living with stress. While stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including anxiety and burnout, it can also take a toll physically and mentally.

However, not everyone views stress negatively. Some say it can serve as a motivator, helping people push through challenges, meet deadlines and achieve goals.

It often depends on the source and severity of the stress. Everyday pressures may encourage productivity, but more serious stress — such as concerns about health or loved ones — can weigh heavily on individuals.

How do you view stress and how do you manage it? Let us know in the comment section below.

A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina’s 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.

“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. “I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”

Staley said Saturday morning she was focused on the title game against UCLA on Sunday and not what happened a night earlier.

“For me, no distractions at this time. I'm concentrating on winning a national championship, that’s it,” Staley said. “That’s a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.”

Staley added that she would address the issue at a later point.

After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday night.

“I have no idea,” the South Carolina coach said after the game. “But I’m going to let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand.

“I don’t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”

According to the NCAA's policy in its operations manual for the tournament, after starting lineups are announced for both teams, the two coaches are directed to meet at midcourt and shake hands. Staley and Auriemma shook hands earlier in the pregame, but not after introductions, which irked Auriemma.

The women’s basketball committee always reviews issues that arise in the tournament after it concludes, the NCAA said.

South Carolina advanced to play UCLA in Sunday's title game. The Gamecocks are seeking their third championship in five seasons.

UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other in each of the next two seasons, with the first game in Connecticut.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Abril es el Mes Nacional de la Concienciación sobre el Estrés y, con el aumento en los precios de la gasolina, el costo de vida y la inflación fluctuante, muchas personas sienten la presión.

Según una encuesta de Harris Poll a más de 3,000 adultos, el 62% reporta vivir con estrés. Aunque puede ser causado por diversos factores, incluyendo la ansiedad y el agotamiento, también puede afectar física y mentalmente.

Sin embargo, no todos ven el estrés de forma negativa. Algunos dicen que puede servir como motivador, ayudando a las personas a superar desafíos, cumplir plazos y alcanzar metas.

A menudo depende de la fuente y la intensidad del estrés. Las presiones cotidianas pueden fomentar la productividad, pero el estrés más serio —como preocupaciones por la salud o seres queridos— puede pesar mucho sobre las personas.

¿Cómo ves el estrés y cómo lo manejas? Cuéntanos en la sección de comentarios.

El avión de combate estadounidense, identificado por Irán como un F-15E Strike Eagle, fue uno de los dos atacados el viernes. Un tripulante militar fue rescatado. Irán ha prometido una recompensa para quien entregue al piloto desaparecido. Era la primera vez que Washington perdía aeronaves en territorio iraní durante una guerra que ya lleva seis semana, lo que podría aumentar la presión sobre Trump para poner fin a los combates.

El mando militar conjunto de Irán afirmó el sábado que también impactó dos helicópteros Black Hawk de Estados Unidos el día anterior, pero The Associated Press no pudo verificarlo de forma independiente.

El conflicto, iniciado por Estados Unidos e Israel el 28 de febrero, se ha extendido por Oriente Medio. Hasta el momento ha causado miles de muertos, sacudió las bolsas de todo el mundo, interrumpió rutas marítimas clave, disparó los precios del combustible y no muestra señales de calmarse, al tiempo que Irán responde con ataques en toda la región.

Trump afirmó a principios de la semana en un discurso a la nación que el país había “vencido y diezmado por completo a Irán”. Washington e Israel se habían jactado de que las defensas antiaéreas de la República Islámica habían quedado diezmadas.

Pero el sábado, un supuesto dron iraní causó daños en la sede del gigante tecnológico estadounidense Oracle en Dubái, Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Ambas partes han amenazado, y atacado, objetivos civiles e infraestructura en la guerra.

También el sábado, la Organización de Energía Atómica de Irán señaló que un ataque aéreo alcanzó las inmediaciones de su instalación nuclear de Bushehr, mató a un guardia de seguridad y dañó un edificio de apoyo. Es la cuarta vez que la instalación es atacada durante la guerra. El jefe de la corporación nuclear estatal rusa, Rosatom, dijo que se estaba evacuando a 198 trabajadores.

Irán señala disposición al diálogo

El portavoz del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Pakistán, Tahir Andrabi, dijo a la AP que los esfuerzos de su gobierno para negociar un alto el fuego están “en el camino correcto”. La semana pasada, Pakistán anunció que pronto será sede de conversaciones entre Estados Unidos e Irán.

El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Irán, Abbas Araghchi, dijo que “nunca nos hemos negado a ir a Islamabad”.

Mediadores de Pakistán, Turquía y Egipto están trabajando para llevar a Estados Unidos e Irán a la mesa de negociaciones, según dos funcionarios regionales. Indicaron que estaban trabajando para acortar la brecha entre las exigencias de ambas partes a fin de detener la guerra y reabrir el crucial estrecho de Ormuz.

El compromiso propuesto incluye un cese de hostilidades para permitir un acuerdo diplomático, según un funcionario regional involucrado en los esfuerzos y un diplomático del Golfo informado sobre el asunto. Ambos hablaron bajo condición de anonimato para tratar una diplomacia a puerta cerrada.

Irán busca a “piloto enemigo”

La búsqueda del piloto estadounidense se centró en una región montañosa en la provincia suroccidental iraní de Kohgiluyeh y Boyer-Ahmad.

Ni la Casa Blanca ni el Pentágono hicieron pública información, pero en un correo electrónico del Pentágono obtenido por The Associated Press, el ejército señaló que recibió la notificación de “un avión derribado” en Oriente Medio, sin aportar más detalles.

Un miembro de la tripulación de esa aeronave fue rescatado. Pero el Pentágono notificó al Comité de Servicios Armados de la Cámara de Representantes que se desconocía el estado de un segundo militar.

En una entrevista telefónica con NBC News, Trump dijo que lo ocurrido no afectará las negociaciones con Irán.

Por separado, la prensa estatal iraní reportó que una aeronave de ataque A-10 de Estados Unidos se estrelló en el golfo Pérsico tras ser alcanzada por fuerzas de defensa iraníes. Un funcionario estadounidense, que habló bajo condición de anonimato para tratar una situación militar delicada, apuntó que no estaba claro si el aparato se estrelló o fue derribado. De momento se desconoce el estado de la tripulación.

El conductor de una televisora afiliada a la cadena estatal iraní instó a los residentes a entregar a la policía a cualquier “piloto enemigo”, algo inédito en la guerra. Irán ha hecho anteriormente afirmaciones sobre el derribo de aeronaves tripuladas que resultaron no ser ciertas.

Atacan oficinas de Oracle en Dubái

La sede en Dubái de Oracle fue impactada luego que la Guardia Revolucionaria, la fuerza paramilitar iraní, amenazó a la empresa. Imágenes verificadas por la AP fuera de Emiratos mostraron un gran agujero en la esquina suroeste del edificio.

La oficina de prensa de Dubái, que habla en nombre del gobierno del emirato, señaló un “incidente menor causado por escombros de una interceptación aérea que cayeron sobre la fachada”, y agregó que no hubo heridos.

Oracle Corp., con sede en Austin, Texas, no ha dado respuesta a una solicitud de comentarios.

La Guardia Revolucionaria ha acusado a algunas de las principales compañías tecnológicas estadounidenses de participar en operaciones de “espionaje terrorista” contra la República Islámica y afirmó que eran objetivos legítimos. Antes, ataques con drones habían alcanzado instalaciones de Amazon Web Services tanto en Emiratos Árabes Unidos como en Baréin.

Amenaza velada de Irán de interrumpir otra vía marítima

El presidente del Parlamento iraní, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, lanzó una amenaza velada el viernes por la noche de interrumpir el tráfico a través de una segunda vía marítima estratégica en la región, el estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb.

El estrecho, de 32 kilómetros (20 millas) de ancho, conecta el mar Rojo con el golfo de Adén y el océano Índico. Por él pasa más de una 10ma parte del petróleo mundial transportado por mar y una cuarta parte de los buques portacontenedores.

“¿Qué parte del petróleo mundial, GNL, trigo, arroz y envíos de fertilizantes transita por el estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb?”, escribió Qalibaf, en referencia al gas natural licuado. “¿Qué países y empresas representan los mayores volúmenes de tránsito por el estrecho?”.

Más de 1,900 personas han muerto en Irán desde el inicio del conflicto.

Más de dos docenas de personas han muerto en Estados árabes del Golfo y en la Cisjordania ocupada. Israel ha reportado 19 decesos y 13 soldados estadounidenses han fallecido. En Líbano, más de 1,400 personas han muerto y más de un millón están desplazadas. Allí han muerto también 10 soldados israelíes.

Verlander, the major league's oldest active player at 43, was placed on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation. On Sunday night, Verlander was scheduled to make his first start in a Tigers uniform at Detroit's home park since Aug. 20, 2017.

“It's frustrating for me, obviously,” Verlander said. “I also know a lot of fans were excited about tomorrow night.”

Verlander was dealt to Houston at the trade deadline in 2017. He re-signed with Detroit on a one-year, $13 million contract in February after spending last season with San Francisco.

Verlander made 380 starts for Detroit from 2005-17. In his first start this season, Verlander gave up five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings on Monday against Arizona and took the loss.

The injury popped up during that start. Verlander said it wasn't serious and that he might have been able to pitch on Sunday but the organization wanted to take a cautious approach.

“It was really sore the next day or two but it's been trending in the right direction,” he said. “So it was kind of a wait-and-see game if it could get good enough. To be quite frank, it probably is good enough if we wanted to push it. But AJ (manager AJ Hinch) and the front office — and I agree with them — felt it was not the time of year to do that. And unfortunately we don't have an off-day to finagle with it, which also kind of hurts.”

Verlander believes he'll have a short stay on the IL.

“It's not ideal but nothing too bad,” he said. “I think we got it under control.”

RHP Keider Montero was recalled from Triple-A Toledo and is expected to start the finale of a three-game series against St. Louis.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Ahem, tortoise.

This all probably needs an explanation.

During a game last August, Brewers manager Pat Murphy was caught taking a pancake from the pocket of his hoodie for a midgame bite, right in the middle of a dugout interview during a game against the Nationals. It wasn't necessarily new for Murphy, who's been known to have everything from waffles to eggs rolls close at hand should he get the munchies.

But given the game was nationally televised, the moment immediately went viral. And the Brewers even latched onto the momentum, introducing “Murph's Pocket Pancakes” as concession items for Sunday home games at American Family Field.

Back to the turtle — er, tortoise.

The Brewers were supposed to play the Royals on Friday night on Apple TV, though the game was called 90 minutes before first pitch because of the rain. During a pregame interview with Apple's reporter, Tricia Whitaker, Murphy said he was informed “under no uncertain circumstances, no pocket pancakes” during their talk, so he pulled out what was supposed to be a pocket turtle.

“This is Bobby Jr.,” Murphy said in presenting it to her, having named the creature after his longtime friend, Bobby Witt, and his son, Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. “I didn't want to pull out pancakes so here we are.”

Whitaker posted the moment on social media, and fans immediately informed her that the reptile was not, in fact, a pocket turtle — or any turtle. It was a tortoise, or more specifically a Sulcata tortoise, which can live 70 years and grow to 100 pounds.

“How am I supposed to fly this home?” Whitaker asked.

Good question.

Turns out, as Whitaker later posted on social media, American Airlines has “a strict no reptiles policy,” so Bobby Jr. had to stay behind in Kansas City. The agreement, she wrote, is that the club would keep the tortoise for the time being.

Indeed, the reptile was happily living under a heat lamp in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, though the plan is to find Bobby Jr. a good home soon. He won't be traveling with the club all season.

“It was suggested by one player,” Whitaker said, “that they get to keep the ‘rally turtle' if they win today. If they lose, I am hoping, consideration will be given to send me the tortoise.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

In a motion filed Friday, National Park Service lawyers say that the federal judge's order to suspend construction of the new facility is “threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the President and his family, and the President’s staff.”

“Time is of the essence!” the lawyers write, citing materials that will be installed to make a “heavily fortified” facility. The ballroom construction also includes bomb shelters, military installations and a medical facility, according to the filing. The ballroom is part of President Donald Trump's plans to quickly remake Washington.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington on Tuesday ordered the temporary pause of the construction project that has included demolishing the East Wing of the White House. He concluded that unless Congress approves the project, the preservationist group suing to stop it is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

The judge suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days acknowledging that the administration would appeal his decision.

Leon's ruling and the appeal come the same week a key agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in the Washington region gave final approval to the project.

In his ruling Leon, who was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, suspended enforcement of his order recognizing that "halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”

Leon also addressed national security in his ruling, saying that he reviewed information that the government privately submitted to him and concluded that halting construction wouldn't jeopardize national security. He exempted any construction work that is necessary for the safety and security of the White House from the scope of the injunction.

Trump lashed out at the ruling, but also noted that it would allow work on underground bunkers and other security measures around the White House grounds to continue — even though those will be paid for by taxpayers. Trump has pledged that he, along with private donors, will cover the costs for the ballroom construction.

But the National Park Service argues in its motion that the president has “complete authority to renovate the White House” and the current state of the grounds, which is an open construction site, make it harder to protect the White House.

“Canvas tents, which are necessary without a ballroom, are significantly more vulnerable to missiles, drones, and other threats than a hardened national security facility,” the motion says.

The Trump administration is asking the appeals court to make a decision on its request by Friday. It also asked that the 14-day suspension of Leon's order be extended by another two weeks so that the case can be taken to the Supreme Court.

La comisionada de la ciudad de Lauderhill, Melissa P. Dunn, dijo en un comunicado de prensa que el esfuerzo refleja una creciente conciencia sobre la importancia de la salud personal.

“Creo que a la gente le importa su salud ahora más que nunca porque la vida es corta y realmente tenemos que hacer que cada segundo cuente y este cuerpo es el único que tenemos”, dijo.

También señaló los desafíos de salud persistentes en la comunidad y la necesidad de mantener el enfoque en el bienestar.

“Desafortunadamente, en la ciudad de Lauderhill, tenemos una alta incidencia de diabetes y otras enfermedades crónicas, por lo que para mí es fundamental que nuestros residentes coman mejor, se muevan más y realmente cuiden su salud y bienestar, incluyendo su bienestar mental y financiero”, dijo Dunn.

La campaña Get Active Lauderhill, liderada por Dunn, se lanzó el 31 de enero y alentó a los participantes a dar pasos simples y constantes para mejorar su bienestar físico, emocional y general.

Los organizadores dijeron que la iniciativa enfatizó la accesibilidad, la participación comunitaria y hábitos sostenibles para residentes de todas las edades y niveles de condición física.

El evento concluyó con la carrera/caminata 5K comunitaria el sábado en Lauderhill Sports Park, ubicado en 7500 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

El accidente inicial ocurrió alrededor de las 11:55 p.m. cerca de Northwest 135th Street y Northwest 57th Avenue, según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade.

Los investigadores dijeron que un vehículo se estrelló contra un árbol y se incendió.

Indicaron que equipos de Miami-Dade Fire Rescue extinguieron las llamas y declararon muerto en el lugar al conductor, un hombre cuya identidad no ha sido revelada.

Alrededor de las 2:44 a.m., un vehículo de la MDSO estaba estacionado bloqueando una intersección debido al choque previo en el área de Northwest 135th Street y Northwest 47th Avenue, informaron las autoridades.

Un vehículo distinto atravesó la intersección y chocó contra el lado derecho del vehículo del agente, causando daños, dijeron las autoridades. El agente sufrió heridas leves y fue atendido en el lugar, confirmaron las autoridades el sábado por la mañana.

Las autoridades dijeron que el conductor del vehículo que impactó la patrulla fue detenido.

No se divulgaron de inmediato más detalles sobre ninguno de los dos choques.

Leer en español

The initial crash occurred around 11:55 p.m. near Northwest 135th Street and Northwest 57th Avenue, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said a vehicle struck a tree and caught fire.

They said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews extinguished the flames and pronounced the male driver, who has not been identified, dead at the scene.

At about 2:44 a.m., a MDSO vehicle was parked while blocking an intersection because of the earlier crash in the area of Northwest 135th Street and Northwest 47th Avenue, authorities said.

They said a separate vehicle drove through the intersection and struck the deputy’s vehicle on the right side, causing damage. The deputy sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities confirmed Saturday morning.

Authorities said the driver of the vehicle who struck the deputy’s vehicle was detained.

No other information about either crash was immediately released.

El evento principal recaudó fondos para apoyar la misión de la organización sin fines de lucro de proporcionar alimentos y recursos a familias en los condados de Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade y Monroe. Una ceremonia de premiación se llevó a cabo tras la caminata/carrera.

Paco Velez, presidente y director ejecutivo de Feeding South Florida, dijo que la organización sigue enfocada en abordar la creciente inseguridad alimentaria en la región.

Señaló que el evento ayuda a financiar programas que brindan acceso inmediato a alimentos nutritivos y apoyan esfuerzos de defensa y educación. También destacó que por cada dólar donado, la organización puede proporcionar aproximadamente cuatro comidas.

“Todos estaban felices. Estaban emocionados. Estaban motivados. Tenían ganas de correr, y se reflejó en los tiempos”, dijo Velez. “Pero lo más importante es que podemos ayudar a muchas familias aquí hoy”.

También enfatizó el papel de los voluntarios, señalando que más de 36,000 personas colaboran con la organización cada año en la distribución de alimentos y eventos.

“Nuestros voluntarios son la esencia de nuestra organización”, dijo Velez.

Los organizadores dijeron que más de 1.2 millones de personas en el sur de Florida enfrentan inseguridad alimentaria, con uno de cada nueve residentes sin certeza de dónde provendrá su próxima comida debido al aumento de costos de vivienda, alimentos, combustible y otros gastos.

La organización también destacó donaciones recientes, incluidos huevos de socios como Cal-Maine y Morningstar Farms, que Velez dijo son una fuente de proteína de alta demanda para las familias.

Los participantes podían inscribirse de forma individual o en equipos, y quienes no corrieron fueron alentados a apoyar el esfuerzo mediante páginas personalizadas de recaudación de fondos haciendo clic aquí.

La inscripción está abierta en los cuatro condados a los que sirve Feeding South Florida: Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade y Monroe.

Según Hollywood Fire Rescue, el incendio fue reportado a las 2:12 a.m. en el Hollywood Gateway Inn, ubicado en la cuadra 2900 de Polk Street.

“Al llegar, las unidades encontraron un incendio activo en el lado este del edificio, que fue controlado rápidamente”, indicó HFR en un correo electrónico a Local 10. “La mayoría de los ocupantes ya se habían autoevacuado”.

Wilson Rodriguez, quien se hospedaba en el hotel, dijo a Local 10 que se despertó al escuchar a alguien gritar “¡fuego!”

“Cuando abrimos la puerta, lo único que vimos fue fuego y mucho humo”, dijo Rodriguez. “Había personas saltando desde el balcón. Salvamos a una señora con su hija”.

Los bomberos confirmaron que dos personas fueron asistidas desde un balcón del segundo piso y fueron evaluadas por inhalación de humo, pero ambas rechazaron ser trasladadas al hospital.

Indicaron que otros dos ocupantes fueron trasladados a un hospital local por lesiones sufridas mientras evacuaban el edificio.

En total, más de 60 personas fueron evacuadas del edificio.

Los bomberos informaron que el incendio fue extinguido y que las unidades pasaron aproximadamente una hora “realizando labores de remoción de escombros”.

Los bomberos creen que el incendio comenzó en el segundo piso, dentro de una de las habitaciones, y señalaron que parece haber sido accidental y de origen eléctrico.

Un portavoz de HFR señaló que las alarmas de humo del edificio “funcionaron exactamente como debían”, atribuyendo a estas el haber ayudado a salvar vidas.

“Hollywood Fire Rescue recuerda a la comunidad que las alarmas de humo que funcionan salvan vidas”, dijo el portavoz. “Recomendamos a todos probar sus alarmas regularmente, reemplazar las baterías cuando sea necesario y asegurarse de que cada hogar tenga alarmas funcionando en cada nivel”.

Rodriguez dijo a Local 10 que está feliz de ver un nuevo día.

“Cualquier cosa puede pasar en cualquier momento”, dijo. “Te despiertas en la mañana con una expectativa de cómo podría terminar el día, pero nunca sabes realmente qué puede pasar”.

No está claro cuándo se permitirá a las personas regresar al hotel.

The latest actions were taken just this week when Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and staffers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations were also revoked.

In a statement on Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards.

“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the statement said, adding that Afshar’s husband has also been banned from entering the United States.

Afshar and her daughter had been living a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles for many years while publicly supporting the Iranian government and anti-American attacks, according to the statement.

She is “an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the “Great Satan,” Rubio said in a post on X. “The Trump administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”

The Iranian mission to the U.N. had no comment Saturday.

Afshar and her daughter are just the latest Iranians to have their legal status in the U.S. rescinded by Rubio, who recently revoked the visas of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, an academic and the daughter of Iran’s former national security adviser Ali Larijani who was killed in a U.S.-Israel airstrike last month. Her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, also had his visa revoked, the State Department said. Neither are still in the U.S.

In early December, well before the surge of anti-government protests in Iran and the start of the war, the State Department revoked or declined to renew visas of several Iranian diplomats, including the deputy ambassador, and staffers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations.

The department said Friday that action had been taken on Dec. 4 but declined to comment further “for privacy and security reasons” except to note that it was unrelated to either the protests or the war.

___

AP reporter Farnoush Amiri contributed to this story.

Leer en español

Officers with the Hollywood Police Department said they conducted a traffic stop just before 8 p.m. near North 19th Avenue and Tyler Street.

During the stop, an officer observed a large amount of cash, a gun and “illicit drugs” inside the vehicle, police said. They said Brandon Cleve Dawkins, who was in the vehicle, was on federal probation for an offense out of Georgia.

Investigators said Dawkins was asked to step out of the vehicle but instead jumped back inside and sped away.

They said he eventually crashed into an electrical control box and continued fleeing before abandoning the vehicle. Officers later located him at ArtsPark at Young Circle in Hollywood, where he was taken into custody by members of HPD’s ACE Unit, according to police.

Jail records show Dawkins is facing multiple charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of oxycodone, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

As of Saturday morning, he was being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail.

Según un informe de arresto, agentes de la policía de Miami Beach fueron enviados poco antes de las 2 p.m. a Stillwater Park, ubicado en 8440 Hawthorne Ave., en referencia a un altercado que involucraba un arma.

La policía de Miami Beach dijo que se realizaron varias llamadas por las partes involucradas en la disputa, incluida una del sospechoso, Ahmad Zeeshan, quien le dijo al 911 que “un hombre acompañado por niños le apuntó con un arma de fuego” después de preguntarle si eran judíos.

El informe indica que la víctima también realizó una llamada, en la que reportó que Zeeshan utilizó insultos antisemitas contra él y sus hijos.

Los agentes respondieron y localizaron a ambas partes después de que habían sido separadas.

La víctima dijo a los investigadores que estaba en el parque con su familia cuando fueron abordados por Zeeshan mientras se retiraban.

Según el informe, Zeeshan preguntó a las víctimas: “¿Ustedes son judíos?”

Después de que la víctima confirmó que lo eran, Zeeshan presuntamente comenzó a agredirlos verbalmente, diciendo: “Lárguense de aquí, malditas personas sucias”, según el informe.

La policía dijo que Zeeshan continuó usando lenguaje vulgar e insultos con carga racial, y luego le dijo a la víctima que iba a atacarlo y “golpearlo”.

Indicaron que la víctima le advirtió a Zeeshan que se detuviera y que se mantuviera alejado, pero este continuó presionándolo, lo que provocó que la víctima temiera por su seguridad y la de sus hijos. La víctima, que estaba con sus dos hijos de 7 y 5 años, sacó entonces un arma que porta para protección después de suplicarle a Zeeshan que desescalara la situación, dijeron los agentes.

Según el informe, la presencia del arma hizo que Zeeshan retrocediera brevemente, pero luego volvió a acercarse a la familia y continuó haciendo amenazas verbales.

La policía dijo que una testigo cercana le pidió a la víctima que se colocara detrás de ella porque también estaba asustada por el comportamiento de Zeeshan. La víctima le pidió a la testigo que llamara a la policía y grabara el incidente.

Indicaron que Zeeshan también comenzó a grabar y abandonó el parque en su vehículo. Posteriormente fue detenido en la cuadra 900 de Stillwater Drive en un Kia K4 gris 2025 con placa de Virginia “TAJ8641”.

Mientras estaba bajo custodia, el informe señala que Zeeshan dijo en múltiples ocasiones que “solo estaba ejerciendo sus derechos de la Primera Enmienda”. Los investigadores dijeron que también afirmó que es musulmán y que “no le gustan los judíos”.

La policía escribió que Zeeshan atacó a la víctima y a su familia debido a su religión y que sus acciones pusieron en peligro a otras personas en el parque y sus alrededores.

“El acusado se le abalanzó. Él temió por su vida, percibió que él y sus hijos estaban en peligro, y testigos intentaron intervenir”, dijo el oficial de la policía de Miami Beach Christopher Bess.

El informe añade que Zeeshan “parece mentalmente inestable” y expresó que “probablemente no estaría vivo en unos meses”, señalando que tiene cáncer en etapa 4 y está en tratamiento. Los agentes indicaron que la víctima y sus hijos parecían visiblemente afectados tras el incidente, mientras que Zeeshan no mostró remordimiento y sostuvo que sus acciones estaban justificadas.

Los fiscales dijeron que Ahmad Zeeshan compareció el viernes ante el tribunal de fianza, donde solicitaron al juez imponer una fianza más alta, argumentando que las acusaciones implican conducta motivada por prejuicio y la presencia de menores. La defensa pidió una fianza estándar, señalando que no tiene antecedentes penales.

El juez rechazó la solicitud de la defensa, calificando el presunto comportamiento de Zeeshan como “repugnante” y enfatizando la participación de un arma y la presencia de niños.

El juez encontró causa probable para un cargo de agresión con prejuicio basado en la religión y ordenó que Zeeshan se mantenga alejado y no tenga contacto con las víctimas.

Hasta la tarde del viernes, permanecía detenido con una fianza de $5,000 USD en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Agentes del Departamento de Policía de Hollywood dijeron que realizaron una parada poco antes de las 8 p.m. cerca de North 19th Avenue y Tyler Street.

Durante la detención, un oficial observó una gran cantidad de efectivo, un arma y “drogas ilícitas” dentro del vehículo, según la policía. Indicaron que Brandon Cleve Dawkins, quien se encontraba en el vehículo, estaba en libertad condicional federal por un delito en Georgia.

Los investigadores dijeron que se le pidió a Dawkins que saliera del vehículo, pero en su lugar volvió a subirse y huyó a toda velocidad.

Señalaron que finalmente chocó contra una caja de control eléctrico y continuó huyendo antes de abandonar el vehículo. Posteriormente, los agentes lo localizaron en ArtsPark at Young Circle en Hollywood, donde fue detenido por miembros de la Unidad ACE del HPD, según la policía.

Los registros carcelarios muestran que Dawkins enfrenta múltiples cargos, incluidos agresión agravada contra un agente del orden, posesión de oxicodona, posesión de un arma o municiones por un delincuente convicto, huir y evadir a la policía, resistirse a un oficial sin violencia y conducir con una licencia suspendida o revocada.

Hasta la mañana del sábado, permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en la cárcel principal del condado Broward.

The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston on Friday granting the preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. It will only apply to public universities in plaintiffs.

The federal judge said the federal government likely has the authority to collect the data, but the demand was rolled out to universities in a “rushed and chaotic” manner.

“The 120-day deadline imposed by the President led directly to the failure of NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) to engage meaningfully with the institutions during the notice-and-comment process to address the multitude of problems presented by the new requirements,” Saylor wrote.

President Donald Trump ordered the data collection in August after he raised concerns that colleges and universities were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race, which he views as illegal discrimination.

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the use of affirmative action in admissions but said colleges could still consider how race has shaped students’ lives if applicants share that information in their admissions essays.

The states argue the data collection risks invading student privacy and leading to baseless investigations of colleges and universities. They also argued that universities have not been given enough time to collect the data.

“The data has been sought in such a hasty and irresponsible way that it will create problems for universities,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Michelle Pascucci, told the court, adding that the effort seem was aimed at uncovering unlawful practices.

The Education Department has defended the effort, arguing taxpayers deserve transparency on how money is spent at institutions that receive federal funding.

The administration's policy echoes settlement agreements the government negotiated with Brown University and Columbia University, restoring their federal research money. The universities agreed to give the government data on the race, grade-point average and standardized test scores of applicants, admitted students and enrolled students. The schools also agreed to be audited by the government and to release admissions statistics to the public.

The National Center for Education Statistics is to collect the new data, including the race and sex of colleges’ applicants, admitted students and enrolled students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said the data, which was originally due by March 18, must be disaggregated by race and sex and retroactively reported for the past seven years.

If colleges fail to submit timely, complete and accurate data, the administration has said McMahon can take action under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which outlines requirements for colleges receiving federal financial aid for students.

The Trump administration separately has sued Harvard University over similar data, saying it refused to provide admissions records the Justice Department demanded to ensure the school stopped using affirmative action. Harvard has said the university has been responding to the government’s requests and is in compliance with the high court ruling against affirmative action. On Monday, the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights directed Harvard to comply with the data requests within 20 days for face referral to the U.S. Justice Department.

Encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) in Riverside County, about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the Springs Fire was no longer growing and at least 75% percent contained Saturday, said Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department. It was 25% contained on Friday.

Fire officials also lifted evacuation orders for a large swath of neighborhoods Saturday morning. Fernandez said she expected the rest will be lifted by the end of the day.

“It's pretty much under control,” Fernandez said.

The fire was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds with gusts predicted to get up to 45 mph (72 kph) on Saturday. But winds had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, helping the efforts of fire crews, Fernandez said. Natural equestrian trails around the area also helped firefighters make access to the fire and build effective containment lines around its perimeter, she said.

So far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed.

Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, including crews from around the region who are building and strengthening the containment lines and laying hose, she said.

A handful of zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.

The fire is located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County that is a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Leer en español

Levi is described as smart, friendly and active — traits typical of cattle dog breeds.

He weighs about 41 pounds, is potty trained, good in the car and gets along well with kids, cats and other dogs. He would do best with an active family, especially one with another dog or a yard where he can run and play.

At the Humane Society of Broward County, Cherie Wachter said exercise is key for a dog like Levi, noting that without it, pets can become bored and develop unwanted behaviors.

She added that Levi would likely thrive with regular activity, whether it’s walks, runs or time at a dog park.

Meanwhile, Wachter also confirmed that a hedgehog named Shadow that was recently featured on Local 10 has been adopted.

Click here for more information on how you can adopt a pet.

Levi es descrito como inteligente, amigable y activo — rasgos típicos de las razas de perros de ganado.

Pesa alrededor de 41 libras, está entrenado para hacer sus necesidades, se comporta bien en el auto y se lleva bien con niños, gatos y otros perros. Le iría mejor con una familia activa, especialmente una con otro perro o un patio donde pueda correr y jugar.

En la Sociedad Protectora de Animales del condado Broward, Cherie Wachter dijo que el ejercicio es clave para un perro como Levi, señalando que sin él, las mascotas pueden aburrirse y desarrollar comportamientos no deseados.

Agregó que Levi probablemente prosperará con actividad regular, ya sea caminatas, carreras o tiempo en un parque para perros.

Mientras tanto, Wachter también confirmó que un erizo llamado Shadow que fue presentado recientemente en Local 10 ha sido adoptado.

Haga clic aquí para más información sobre cómo puede adoptar una mascota.

Leer en español

Police say it happened Thursday evening after the dog jumped into the water. The woman went in moments later trying to save it.

Dimitry Shaposhnikov and his wife witnessed the incident from across the water.

“I don’t know what’s going on. She goes, ‘No, no, no, there’s someone in the water,’” Shaposhnikov said.

They watched as first responders worked to pull both the woman and her large dog out, using ladders and floating devices during the rescue.

Shaposhnikov said low tide made it difficult for the woman to get out on her own.

“I guess she jumped in because the dog was trying to come out. It was low tide, so at that point for her to even get somewhere was almost impossible. I didn’t even see a ladder or anything to come up, so she was stuck,” he said.

Once back on land, the dog shook off the water and wagged its tail while the woman climbed up a ladder to safety.

Shaposhnikov praised first responders for how they handled the situation.

“It wasn’t chaotic at all. Law enforcement and first responders handled it extremely professionally. You could see everyone was super calm,” he said.

No one was hurt.

Hallandale Beach police say the incident is a reminder to keep pets on leashes, especially near waterways.

La policía dijo que ocurrió la noche del jueves después de que el perro saltara al agua. La mujer entró momentos después intentando salvarlo.

Dimitry Shaposhnikov y su esposa presenciaron el incidente desde el otro lado del agua.

“No sé qué está pasando. Ella dice: ‘No, no, no, hay alguien en el agua’”, dijo Shaposhnikov.

Observaron cómo los equipos de emergencia trabajaban para sacar tanto a la mujer como a su perro grande, utilizando escaleras y dispositivos flotantes durante el rescate.

Shaposhnikov dijo que la marea baja dificultó que la mujer pudiera salir por sí sola.

“Supongo que saltó porque el perro intentaba salir. Era marea baja, así que en ese momento para ella llegar a algún lugar era casi imposible. Ni siquiera vi una escalera o algo para subir, así que estaba atrapada”, dijo.

Una vez en tierra, el perro se sacudió el agua y movió la cola mientras la mujer subía por una escalera hasta ponerse a salvo.

Shaposhnikov elogió a los equipos de emergencia por cómo manejaron la situación.

“No fue caótico en absoluto. Las autoridades y los equipos de emergencia lo manejaron de manera extremadamente profesional. Se podía ver que todos estaban muy calmados”, dijo.

Nadie resultó herido.

La policía de Hallandale Beach dijo que el incidente es un recordatorio de mantener a las mascotas con correa, especialmente cerca de vías acuáticas.

Leer en español

The lakeside memorial includes a fairy garden created by Jasmine Kessler in honor of her daughter, Kallie.

“It’s bringing me more peace of mind outside with the breeze,” Kessler said.

Kallie, who was nonverbal and autistic, wandered off in October and ended up in the lake. Her father found her after a frantic search.

“This is the last spot I personally seen her, but not where she took her last breath,” he said.

Family members gathered at the site to sing one of Kallie’s favorite songs from the musical “Wicked.”

“She loved the song ‘Defying Gravity’ and she would act out Elphaba’s part,” a relative said.

Since her death, the family has worked to honor her memory by turning their grief into action.

They’ve created a nonprofit aimed at helping families in low-income neighborhoods, including providing resources and raising awareness about autism.

“Kids who are on the spectrum are drawn to water. Kids with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers,” said Lailah Stukes, Kallie’s sister.

The family says they’re determined to keep moving forward.

Kallie’s parents have also launched a GoFundMe to help install fences around residential lakes, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

El homenaje junto al lago incluye un jardín de hadas creado por Jasmine Kessler en honor a su hija, Kallie.

“Me da más paz estar afuera con la brisa”, dijo Kessler.

Kallie, quien era no verbal y tenía autismo, se alejó en octubre y terminó en el lago. Su padre la encontró tras una búsqueda desesperada.

“Este es el último lugar donde yo la vi, pero no donde dio su último aliento”, dijo.

Familiares se reunieron en el sitio para cantar una de las canciones favoritas de Kallie del musical “Wicked”.

“Le encantaba la canción ‘Defying Gravity’ y representaba la parte de Elphaba”, dijo un familiar.

Desde su muerte, la familia ha trabajado para honrar su memoria convirtiendo el dolor en acción.

Han creado una organización sin fines de lucro destinada a ayudar a familias en comunidades de bajos ingresos, incluyendo la provisión de recursos y la concienciación sobre el autismo.

“Los niños en el espectro se sienten atraídos por el agua. Los niños con autismo tienen 160 veces más probabilidades de ahogarse que sus pares neurotípicos”, dijo Lailah Stukes, hermana de Kallie.

La familia dice que está decidida a seguir adelante.

Los padres de Kallie también han lanzado una campaña en GoFundMe para ayudar a instalar cercas alrededor de lagos residenciales, con la esperanza de prevenir tragedias similares.

Leer en español

Lopez, 46, was the captain of the 25-foot “Wood Chuck” tugboat that was involved in a fatal crash on July 28, 2025, in Biscayne Bay.

“We intend to accept responsibility for his conduct, and out of respect for the victims’ families and the pending court process at this time, we are not going to have any other comments,” Attorney Walter A. Reynoso, who was representing Lopez, said on Friday.

The collision killed 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich, 10-year-old Arielle Buchman, and 13-year-old Erin Ko Han, who were in a Hobie Getaway sailboat, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“He feels awful. He hasn’t slept since the incident,” Reynoso said of his client to Local 10 News.

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced the case against Lopez on Tuesday. Investigators accused Lopez of getting distracted with his phone while shopping online when he struck the Miami Yacht Club sailboat.

Mila, Arielle, and Erin were sailing with 7-year-old Calena Areyan Gruber, another girl, and their 19-year-old Miami Yacht Club sailboat camp counselor, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A judge set Lopez’s bond at $100,000. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He is also prohibited from operating a vessel while out on bond.

He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents, including his U.S. and Cuban passports.

He was released from jail Friday night after posting bond.

Lopez, de 46 años, era el capitán del remolcador “Wood Chuck”, de 25 pies, involucrado en un choque fatal el 28 de julio de 2025 en Biscayne Bay.

“Tenemos la intención de asumir responsabilidad por su conducta y, por respeto a las familias de las víctimas y al proceso judicial en curso, no haremos más comentarios en este momento”, dijo el abogado Walter A. Reynoso, quien representa a Lopez.

El choque dejó muertas a Mila Yankelevich, de 7 años, Arielle Buchman, de 10, y Erin Ko Han, de 13, quienes se encontraban en un velero Hobie Getaway, según la Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos.

“Se siente terrible. No ha dormido desde el incidente”, dijo Reynoso sobre su cliente a Local 10 News.

La Fiscalía de Estados Unidos para el Distrito Sur de Florida anunció el caso contra Lopez el martes. Los investigadores acusaron a Lopez de distraerse con su teléfono mientras compraba en línea cuando impactó el velero del Miami Yacht Club.

Mila, Arielle y Erin navegaban junto a Calena Areyan Gruber, otra niña de 7 años, y su consejera de campamento de vela del Miami Yacht Club, de 19 años, según la Guardia Costera.

Un juez fijó la fianza de Lopez en $100,000 USD. De ser declarado culpable, enfrenta hasta 10 años en una prisión federal. También tiene prohibido operar embarcaciones mientras esté en libertad bajo fianza.

Además, se le ordenó entregar sus documentos de viaje, incluidos sus pasaportes de Estados Unidos y Cuba.

Fue liberado de la cárcel el viernes por la noche tras pagar la fianza.

Se han pronosticado más lluvias para los próximos días en todo Afganistán, y la autoridad advirtió a la población que se mantenga alejada de las riberas de los ríos y de las zonas propensas a inundaciones.

En lo que va de año, decenas de personas han muerto debido al clima extremo en Afganistán, un país empobrecido que es altamente vulnerable a los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos. A principios de este año, las fuertes nevadas y las inundaciones repentinas dejaron decenas de muertos en todo el país.

El saldo reciente incluye 26 personas fallecidas en las últimas 48 horas, indicó la autoridad de desastres. En total, 793 viviendas han quedado completamente destruidas y otras 2.673 han resultado dañadas, y las inundaciones y los deslizamientos han destruido 337 kilómetros (unos 210 millas) de carreteras, añadió.

También han resultado dañados negocios, tierras agrícolas, pozos de agua y canales de riego, y en conjunto más de 5.800 familias se han visto afectadas, señaló la autoridad.

Varias autopistas que conectan la capital del país con las provincias también han sido dañadas por inundaciones y deslizamientos, lo que ha obligado a los viajeros a tomar rutas largas y sinuosas para llegar a Kabul, manifestó el sábado Ashraf Haqshinas, portavoz del Ministerio de Obras Públicas.

Entre ellas está la autopista Kabul-Jalalabad, que es la principal vía que enlaza la capital con la frontera con Pakistán y las provincias del este de Afganistán. Un deslizamiento de tierra y desprendimientos de rocas, además de inundaciones, cerraron la autopista el jueves por la mañana, y Haqshinas indicó que los equipos trabajaban para reabrir la carretera.

El Ministerio de Obras Públicas advirtió a los viajeros que tengan precaución al utilizar las carreteras en las zonas afectadas.

Las inundaciones también han cerrado el camino de Salang, un paso de alta montaña en la cordillera del Hindu Kush que conecta Kabul con el norte del país, incluidas las principales ciudades de Kunduz y Mazar-e-Sharif.

La nieve y las fuertes lluvias a menudo desencadenan inundaciones repentinas que matan a decenas, o incluso a cientos, de personas de una sola vez en Afganistán. En 2024, más de 300 personas murieron en inundaciones repentinas de primavera.

___

Elena Becatoros colaboró a este despacho desde Kabul, Afganistán. ___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

On the downside, their toilet is on the blink again.

The three Americans and one Canadian are set to reach their destination Monday, photographing the mysterious lunar far side as they zoom around. It is the first moon-bound crew in more than 53 years, picking up where NASA’s Apollo program left off.

“The Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger,” pilot Victor Glover reported.

Until the Orion capsule's bathroom is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to break out more of the backup urine collection bags. The so-called lunar loo malfunctioned following Wednesday’s liftoff and has been hit-and-miss ever since. A version of the Artemis II toilet was tested on the International Space Station several years ago.

Engineers suspect ice may be blocking the line that is preventing urine from completely flushing overboard. The toilet is still open for No. 2 business.

Debbie Korth, NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, said the astronauts have also reported a smell coming from the bathroom, which is buried in the floor of the capsule with a door and curtain for privacy.

“Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand .. it’s always a challenge,” she said, noting that the space shuttle toilet was also often on the fritz.

John Honeycutt, chair of the mission management team, said it is human nature to be interested in the space commode, and even though it is “in a good state right now,” he’d like it to be working at 100%.

“They’re OK,” he said of the astronauts. “They trained to manage through the situation.”

Artemis II is poised to set a distance record for humans, traveling more than 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon and heading home without stopping or entering lunar orbit. The record is currently held by Apollo 13.

The Canadian Space Agency celebrated the country’s role in the mission, speaking from Quebec with astronaut Jeremy Hansen as he headed toward his lunar rendezvous. Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

“Today he is making history for Canada,” Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell said. “As we watch him taking this bold step into the unknown, let his journey remind us that Canada’s future is written by those who dare to reach for more.”

In the live televised linkup, Hansen said he has already witnessed “extraordinary” views from NASA's Orion capsule.

Hansen, Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch are the world's first lunar astronauts since Apollo 17's crew of three in 1972. Koch and Glover are the first female and first Black astronauts to the moon, respectively.

Their nearly 10-day mission — ending with a Pacific splashdown on April 10 — is the first step in NASA's bold plans for a sustainable moon base. The space agency is aiming for a landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Leer en español

That included her mentee, Christel Luidor.

“She was always there for everybody, every day,” Luidor said. “Every time I talked to her, it was always, ‘What are we gonna do to help the people?’ She was always a selfless person.”

On Wednesday, relatives rushed over to Metayer Bowen’s Coral Springs home after she failed to show up to several scheduled meetings. The urgency escalated on voices in the 911 call released Friday.

“Tell them to break down the door by whatever means,” a relative is heard saying.

Her lifeless body was found inside of a bedroom, wrapped in a blanket and garbage bags. Detectives believe Stephen Bowen, Metayer Bowen’s husband, used a rifle to shoot his spouse three times on the night before she was discovered and slept downstairs afterwards.

It’s crime Stephen Bowen allegedly admitted to his own uncle.

“My nephew, her husband, came to my house this morning and told me that he did something to her,” Bowen’s uncle is heard saying on the 911 call.

Stephen Bowen is now in jail on premeditated murder and tampering with evidence charges.

Over the years, the 40-year-old has documented his fascination with guns on social media. More recently, his name is tied to a Broward faith-based non-profit called “Men of St. Luke.”

The arrest document lists his place of employment as Delray Medical Center and he holds an active license as a radiology technician.

Metayer Bowen’s loss is drawing people from near and far for a planned candlelight vigil Friday evening on the steps of the place she served diligently.

“We’re doing our best to honor this incredible woman, incredible leader, incredible human being,” Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said. “She was so committed to so many, including our youth.”

Friday’s vigil, scheduled for 7 p.m., is not a city organized event, but city officials are expected to attend.

Organizers asked the community to bring white candles and to either wear or bring orange all to honor Metayer Bowen’s life.

“Nadie puede reemplazarla”, dijo una de sus aprendices.

Seres queridos, colegas y residentes se reunieron en una vigilia para honrar el compromiso de la mujer de 38 años con su comunidad.

“No era una política común”, dijo una amiga. “Organizaba desde el corazón”.

Tras una semana difícil, muchos vistieron de naranja y verde —los colores favoritos de Metayer— aportando algo de luz a una velada por lo demás sombría.

“El naranja y el verde representan a FAMU”, dijo otra amiga. “Pedimos a la gente que vistiera de verde para honrar su alma mater”.

La policía encontró a Metayer Bowen muerta dentro de su vivienda el miércoles, envuelta en una manta y bolsas de basura. Llamadas al 911 captaron el pánico cuando alguien reportó que intentaban derribar una puerta.

Su esposo, Stephen Bowen, de 40 años, fue arrestado y enfrenta cargos de asesinato premeditado y manipulación o fabricación de evidencia física.

Aun así, los presentes dijeron que querían mantener el enfoque en su vida, no en la forma en que terminó.

“Para una persona joven morir así es muy doloroso”, dijo una amiga de un centro para adultos mayores. “¿Se imaginan por lo que están pasando sus padres ahora mismo?”

Con flores en mano y apoyándose unos a otros, líderes políticos, amigos y miembros de la comunidad recordaron a Metayer como una servidora pública dedicada cuyo impacto no será olvidado.

Entre ellas estaba su aprendiz, Christel Luidor.

“Siempre estaba para todos, todos los días”, dijo Luidor. “Cada vez que hablaba con ella, siempre era: ‘¿Qué vamos a hacer para ayudar a la gente?’ Siempre fue una persona desinteresada”.

El miércoles, familiares acudieron a la casa de Metayer Bowen en Coral Springs después de que no se presentara a varias reuniones programadas. La urgencia quedó reflejada en las voces de la llamada al 911 divulgada el viernes.

“Díganles que derriben la puerta como sea”, se escucha decir a un familiar.

Su cuerpo sin vida fue encontrado dentro de un dormitorio, envuelto en una manta y bolsas de basura. Detectives creen que Stephen Bowen, esposo de Metayer Bowen, utilizó un rifle para dispararle tres veces la noche anterior a que fuera encontrada y luego durmió en la planta baja.

Es un crimen que, según se alega, Stephen Bowen admitió a su propio tío.

“Mi sobrino, su esposo, vino a mi casa esta mañana y me dijo que le hizo algo”, se escucha decir al tío de Bowen en la llamada al 911.

Stephen Bowen se encuentra ahora en la cárcel enfrentando cargos de asesinato premeditado y manipulación de evidencia.

A lo largo de los años, el hombre de 40 años ha documentado su fascinación por las armas en redes sociales. Más recientemente, su nombre está vinculado a una organización sin fines de lucro basada en la fe en Broward llamada “Men of St. Luke”.

El documento de arresto indica que su lugar de trabajo es el Delray Medical Center y cuenta con una licencia activa como técnico en radiología.

La muerte de Metayer Bowen está atrayendo a personas de distintos lugares para una vigilia con velas programada para la noche del viernes en las escalinatas del lugar donde sirvió con dedicación.

“Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para honrar a esta increíble mujer, increíble líder, increíble ser humano”, dijo el alcalde de Coral Springs, Scott Brook. “Estaba muy comprometida con muchos, incluidos nuestros jóvenes”.

La vigilia del viernes, programada para las 7 p.m., no es un evento organizado por la ciudad, pero se espera la asistencia de funcionarios municipales.

Los organizadores pidieron a la comunidad llevar velas blancas y vestir o llevar algo naranja para honrar la vida de Metayer Bowen.

Fresh off losing the English League Cup final to City before the international break, Arsenal saw another potential trophy slip from its grasp when conceding in the 85th minute to lose 2-1 at Southampton — a team in seventh place in the Championship.

It left City as the big favorite to clinch a cup double this season, with the thrashing of Liverpool securing a place in the FA Cup semifinals for a record eighth straight season.

Mohamed Salah’s failure from the penalty spot added to the woes of Liverpool, whose meltdown at Etihad Stadium will put more heat on under-pressure manager Arne Slot.

Chelsea also advanced, routing third-tier Port Vale 7-0. The semifinal line-up will be completed Sunday when West Ham hosts Leeds, after which the last-four draw will be made.

Arsenal cup hopes disappearing

So much for Arsenal's hopes of a quadruple of major trophies this season.

It's now just the Premier League and Champions League up for grabs with manager Mikel Arteta's decision to field a weakened lineup backfiring at St. Mary's stadium.

Trailing to a 35th-minute strike by Ross Stewart, Arsenal sent on Viktor Gyokeres — fresh off scoring the goal that lifted Sweden into the World Cup on Tuesday — and the striker equalized in the 68th.

Still, Southampton continued to look dangerous on the counterattack and Shea Charles, a former academy product at Man City, fired home from inside the area to secure a famous win.

“To go and beat arguably the best team in Europe at the minute is an incredible feeling,” Stewart said.

In an added blow to Arsenal ahead of its upcoming Champions League quarterfinal against Sporting Lisbon, Brazil center back Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off with a left knee injury midway through the second half. He was seen later with ice on the knee.

“This is the first moment that we have (this season) with a certain level of difficulty,” said Arteta, whose team has a nine-point lead in the Premier League.

Haaland's 12th hat trick for City

Haaland's 18-minute hat trick started with a penalty in the 39th minute after Virgil van Dijk tripped Nico O'Reilly. Then he headed home a cross from Antoine Semenyo in first-half stoppage time, before sweeping in a finish off the crossbar in the 57th.

The Norway striker's first hat trick of the season for City was his 12th for the club since he joined in 2022.

Semenyo scored the other goal in the 50th for City, which sealed a return to Wembley Stadium two weeks after beating Arsenal there in the League Cup final.

“This club has to win trophies,” said Haaland, who was described after the game as a “machine” by City assistant coach Pep Lijnders — the former Liverpool No. 2 who was deputizing in the dugout while Pep Guardiola served a touchline suspension.

Salah, who announced during the international break he’s leaving Liverpool after nine trophy-filled seasons, was beginning his long goodbye to the Reds but couldn’t mark it with a goal. The best of the many chances he spurned came from a penalty, which City goalkeeper James Trafford palmed away in the 64th.

It was a record 18th straight home win for City in the FA Cup, dating to 2017. Guardiola's team shared a record with Clapham Rovers for reaching seven consecutive FA Cup finals but now holds it outright.

Many Liverpool fans were seen leaving the stadium after the fourth City goal.

“The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough," Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said. "None of us were there to be honest as much as we could.

“It’s a hard time but we have to stick together."

Chelsea overwhelms Port Vale

Like City, Chelsea romped to a big win — though this one was expected.

Playing without Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez for disciplinary reasons, Chelsea still had more than enough to dispatch Port Vale at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals by Jorrel Hato, Joao Pedro, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho. There was also an own-goal.

Chelsea has won the FA Cup eight times, most recently in 2018.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leer en español

“No one can replace her,” one mentee said.

Loved ones, colleagues and constituents gathered for a vigil honoring the 38-year-old’s commitment to her community.

“She was not a regular politician,” a friend said. “She organized from the heart.”

After a difficult week, many wore orange and green -- Metayer’s favorite colors -- bringing brightness to an otherwise somber evening.

“Orange and green signify FAMU,” another friend said. “We asked people to wear green to honor her alma mater.”

Police found Metayer Bowen dead inside her home Wednesday, wrapped in a blanket and garbage bags. 911 calls captured the panic as someone reported trying to break down a door.

Her husband, Stephen Bowen, 40, has been arrested and is facing charges of premediated murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Still, those gathered said they wanted the focus to remain on her life, not the way it ended.

“For a young person to go like this, it’s very upsetting,” a friend from a senior center said. “Can you imagine what her parents are going through right now?”

Holding flowers and each other, political leaders, friends and community members remembered Metayer as a dedicated public servant whose impact won’t be forgotten.

The blaze broke out in the Kadamtali area of Keraniganj near Dhaka, according to the fire service and civil defense.

Seven firefighting units were deployed to extinguish the blaze, which started in the afternoon, the fire department said. It took several hours to bring it under control.

Firefighters recovered five bodies by the evening and they couldn't immediately be identified.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Según un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, un supervisor de la oficina notificó a los investigadores sobre la actividad ilegal el 25 de marzo.

Los agentes indicaron que se revisó video de vigilancia que mostraba al empleado, Waldersee Oge, de 46 años y residente de North Miami, emitiendo permisos de conducir temporales el mes pasado a al menos cuatro personas que no estaban presentes en la oficina.

En un incidente, Oge fue visto en video hablando por su teléfono celular con uno de los clientes, recopilando su información personal y luego ingresándola en la base de datos Orion.

Según el informe, el supervisor comenzó a sospechar la semana pasada tras observar a Oge revisando documentos escaneados dentro del sistema de mantenimiento de clientes utilizando la base de datos Orion, a pesar de que no había clientes en el mostrador de servicio en ese momento.

Los detectives dijeron que Oge fue detenido en su lugar de trabajo el jueves y confesó haber realizado múltiples transacciones a cambio de pagos a través de Zelle.

Los investigadores dijeron que también están analizando si los beneficiarios siquiera tenían estatus legal en Estados Unidos.

“Es posible que no lo tengan”, dijo el recaudador de impuestos de Miami-Dade, Dariel Fernandez. “Este tema es un asunto de seguridad nacional para Estados Unidos. Por eso lo tomamos en serio”.

Enfrenta múltiples cargos, incluidos mala conducta oficial de un servidor público, compensación o recompensa ilegal por conducta oficial, delitos contra usuarios de computadoras, uso ilegal de un dispositivo de comunicación, emisión ilegal de una licencia de conducir y falsificación de registros públicos.

Hasta la mañana del viernes, Oge permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight. Los registros carcelarios en línea indicaban que su fianza total estaba “por determinar”.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report, Miami Beach police officers were dispatched just before 2 p.m. to Stillwater Park, located at 8440 Hawthorne Ave., in reference to a disturbance involving a gun.

Miami Beach police said several calls were placed by parties involved in the dispute, including one from the suspect, Ahmad Zeeshan, who told 911 that “a male accompanied by children pointed a firearm at him” after asking whether they were Jewish.

The report states that a call was also placed by the victim, who reported that Zeeshan used antisemitic slurs toward him and his children.

Officers responded and located both parties after they had been separated.

The victim told investigators he was at the park with his family when they were approached by Zeeshan as they were leaving.

According to the report, Zeeshan asked the victims, “You guys are Jewish?”

After the victim confirmed they were Jewish, Zeeshan allegedly began verbally assaulting them, saying, “Get the f--- out of here, you f------ dirty people,” the report states.

Police said Zeeshan continued using vulgar language and racially charged insults, later telling the victim he was going to attack him and “f--- him up.”

They said the victim warned Zeeshan to stop and told him to stay away, but Zeeshan continued to press him, causing the victim to fear for his and his children’s safety. The victim, who was with his two children ages 7 and 5, then drew a gun he carries for protection after pleading with Zeeshan to de-escalate, officers said.

According to the report, the sight of the weapon caused Zeeshan to retreat briefly, but he later began moving back toward the family and continued making verbal threats.

Police said a witness nearby asked the victim to stand behind her because she was also frightened by Zeeshan’s behavior. The victim asked the witness to call police and record the incident.

They said Zeeshan also began recording and left the park in his vehicle. He was later stopped in the 900 block of Stillwater Drive in a 2025 gray Kia K4 with Virginia tag “TAJ8641.”

While in custody, the report states Zeeshan said multiple times that he was “just exercising his First Amendment rights.” Investigators said he also stated that he is Muslim and “does not like Jews.”

Police wrote that Zeeshan targeted the victim and his family because of their religion and that his actions placed others in and around the park in danger.

“The defendant charged at him. He was in fear for his life, he perceived that him and his kids were in harms way, witnesses attempted to intervene,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.

The report further states Zeeshan “appears mentally unstable” and expressed that he “likely would not be alive in a few months,” saying he has stage 4 cancer and is undergoing treatment. Officers noted the victim and his children appeared visibly shaken after the encounter, while Zeeshan showed no remorse and maintained his actions were justified.

Prosecutors said Ahmad Zeeshan appeared in bond court Friday, where they asked the court to impose a higher bond, arguing the allegations involved bias-motivated conduct and the presence of children. The defense requested a standard bond, noting he has no prior criminal record.

The judge rejected the defense request, calling Zeeshan’s alleged behavior “disgusting” and emphasizing the involvement of a gun and children.

The judge found probable cause on a charge of assault with prejudice based on religion and ordered Zeeshan to stay away from and have no contact with the victims.

As of Friday afternoon, he was being held on a $5,000 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

For the cake and soaking:

1 sponge cake, either purchased or use your favorite recipe!

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

14 ounces evaporated milk

1 cup coconut milk

½ cup passion fruit puree

½ cup mango puree

For garnish:

1 cup fresh sliced mango

2 cups heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup toasted coconut flakes for garnish

Use a skewer to poke holes all over the surface of your sponge cake.

Whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk until combined. Stir in the passion and mango puree. Pour the entire mixture slowly and evenly over the poked cake. Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Beat the heavy whipping cream with the powdered sugar and the vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe generously over the chilled cake. Top with fresh mango and toasted coconut flakes.

More rain has been forecast for the coming days throughout Afghanistan, and the authority warned the public to stay away from river banks and areas prone to flooding.

So far this year, dozens of people have died due to extreme weather in Afghanistan, an impoverished country that is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Earlier this year, heavy snowfall and flash floods left dozens of people dead across the country.

The recent toll includes 26 people killed over the past 48 hours, the disaster authority said. Overall, 793 homes have been completely destroyed and a further 2,673 have been damaged, while floods and landslides have destroyed 337 kilometers (about 210 miles) of roads, it said.

Businesses, agricultural land, water wells and irrigation canals have also been damaged, with more than 5,800 families affected overall, the authority said.

Several highways connecting the country’s capital to the provinces have also been damaged by floods and landslides, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach Kabul, Public Works Ministry spokesman Ashraf Haqshinas said Saturday.

They include the Kabul to Jalalabad highway, which is the main route linking the capital to the Pakistani border and eastern Afghan provinces. A landslide and rockfalls, as well as flooding, shut the highway on Thursday morning, and Haqshinas said crews were working to re-open the road.

The Public Works Ministry warned travelers to be cautious when using roads in affected areas.

Flooding has also shut the Salang Pass, a high mountain pass in the Hindu Kush mountain range that connects Kabul to the country’s north, including the major cities of Kunduz and Mazar-e-Sharif.

Snow and heavy rain often trigger flash floods that kill scores, or even hundreds, of people at a time in Afghanistan. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods.

___

Elena Becatoros contributed from Kabul, Afghanistan.

For the coconut shrimp:

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

½ cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

pinch cayenne pepper

1-2 cups vegetable oil, for frying

For the Mango Honey Mustard:

1 cup fresh mango, diced (or 1/2 cup mango puree)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2-3 teaspoons honey

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

pinch of salt

For the sauce:

Blend the mango or mango puree, mustard, honey, lime juice, and the salt together until smooth. Taste for salt, sweet and lime. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Set out three shallow bowls. One with the flour, seasoned with a teaspoon of salt, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Another one with the eggs, and the last one with the coconut and panko breadcrumbs mixed together.

Pat the shrimp, peeled and deveined, with a paper towel until dry. Dredge in seasoned flour, dip in egg, then press firmly into the coconut-panko mixture, coating all sides well. Set aside on a plate.

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F.

Working in batches, fry shrimp for about 2 minutes per side until deeply golden and coconut is toasted and the shrimp is cooked through. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Place the shrimp on a platter with the sauce on the side.

Serve immediately.

8 pound-bone-in spiral sliced ham

1 cup guava paste

3 tablespoons whole grain Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons brown sugar

juice of 4 oranges

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham cut-side down in a roasting pan. Score the top in a diamond pattern if not already sliced. Cover tightly with foil. Bake the ham until warmed through.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the guava paste, mustard, brown sugar, orange juice, cider vinegar, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the guava paste melts and the glaze is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat.

Brush the glaze generously over the entire ham. Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake for 25-30 minutes, brushing with glaze every 10 minutes, until deeply caramelized.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before serving. Brush with any remaining glaze.

“We've beaten and completely decimated Iran,” he said in a prime-time speech from the White House on Wednesday. “They are decimated both militarily and economically and in every other way.”

He added: “Their radar is 100% annihilated. We are unstoppable as a military force.”

His certitude is now colliding with the uncertainty of war.

The American fighter jet that was shot down in Iran on Friday was a searing reminder of the dangers associated with war, prompting a search operation that resulted in the rescue of one crew member. Another U.S. aircraft was hit by Iranian air defenses, Iranian state media reported, days after Trump said Iran had “no anti-aircraft equipment.”

For the Republican president, who did not appear in public Friday, the developments were the latest example of his triumphal characterization of the war appearing misplaced.

He has expressed surprise at Iran's moves to strike its Gulf neighbors. He has struggled to respond to Iran's move largely shuttering the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and sending pump prices soaring in the United States. His overtures to world leaders to help him reopen the vital waterway have been rebuffed, with some allies waiting for the fighting to end before addressing that situation and others openly critical of a war that Trump chose to initiate.

Trump has long relied on unyielding self-confidence to propel him through the worlds of business and politics, boasting during the 2016 campaign that “I alone can fix it.” That has often translated into a go-it-alone approach where only Trump has the answers in a chaotic world and dysfunctional Washington. This view of the presidency has justified his executive orders at home and tariffs that affect the global economy.

But the war with Iran, which he undertook alongside Israel and without consulting other allies or Congress, has provided a test like almost nothing before. For Trump, it is no longer “America First” but America alone, and he is the principal.

“You can be the most assertive, aggressive president in the world but you don’t control what happens overseas,” said Julian Zelizer, a history professor at Princeton University.

Some traditional allies speak out

As the war enters its sixth week, that reality is becoming more apparent. Trump spent most of the first year of his second term using trade penalties as a weapon that would force other countries to bend to his will. Today, in a time of war, some traditional American allies are becoming more outspoken.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this week that the United States “can hardly complain afterward that they are not being supported in an operation they chose to undertake alone.”

“This is not our operation,” he said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not budged from his refusal to be drawn into the war despite fierce criticism by Trump. France and the United Kingdom are leading efforts to reopen the strait once the fighting ends.

At home, even some of Trump's fellow Republicans are reinforcing the need to maintain strong international relationships. After the president threatened to withdraw from NATO this week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said there were not enough votes in the Senate to support that.

“We got an awful lot of people who think that NATO is a very critical, incredibly successful post-World War II alliance,” Thune said of past conversations among Republicans about the move. “I think in the world today, you need allies.”

Trump made no mention of leaving NATO during his White House address.

John Bolton, a first-term Trump national security adviser who has since become an adversary, said the current administration made a “serious mistake” by not consulting allies before going to war.

“If you don’t build your coalition before the war, it’s pretty tough to do it while you’re in it,” said Bolton, who pleaded not guilty last fall to federal charges accusing him of emailing classified information to family members and keeping top secret documents at his Maryland home.

But he also cautioned European leaders against reflexively opposing Trump out of frustration with his lack of consultation. That, Bolton said, would be “juvenile and petulant.”

Trump on his own terms

Trump's penchant to work on his own terms is not limited to the war.

Just this week, he said congressional approval of a ballroom he wants to build at the White House is “not necessary” despite a judge's ruling. He signed an executive order to create a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and to restrict mail-in voting.

In a first for a sitting president, he appeared in the courtroom of the Supreme Court as his administration tried to defend an executive order restricting birthright citizenship.

But as with the war, Trump's go-it-alone strategy at home is also confronting limits.

The Supreme Court struck down his far-reaching tariff program. Democrats quickly challenged his voting executive order in court and, despite his courtroom presence, the justices seemed skeptical of his bid to dismantle the Constitution’s provisions providing birthright citizenship.

Then there is the uncertainty about the ballroom.

During private comments at an Easter lunch at the White House this week, Trump — ever the builder — seemed to lament the constraints on his job.

“I’m such a king I can’t get a ballroom approved,” he said to laughter from an audience that included Cabinet members and religious leaders. "I’m doing a lot. But I could be doing a lot more if I was a king.”

___

Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.

The winning numbers were 1-6-7-14-25, with a total prize of $42,581.80 split among the three winners.

In Miami-Dade County, a Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Bravo Supermarket at 11247 SW 152nd St., in the county’s Richmond Heights neighborhood, according to lottery officials.

Another Quick Pick ticket was sold in Broward County at a BP station, located at 6450 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines.

A third winning ticket was sold at a Publix in Jupiter, located at 10142 W. Indiantown Road.

All three winners matched all five numbers to claim their share of the prize.

The next Fantasy 5 drawing is set for Saturday.

Mortgage rates have been rising since the war began, as surging energy prices heighten worries about higher inflation, pushing up the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

As recently as the last week of February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to just under 6%, its lowest level in more than three and a half years. It climbed this week to 6.46%, its highest level in nearly seven months.

The conflict is also injecting more uncertainty into the U.S. economic outlook at a time when the job market is sputtering.

While rates are still down from a year ago, their recent upward trend has already led to a slowdown in mortgage applications. Further increases threaten to put a damper on home sales during what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for the housing market.

“The war in Iran has seriously complicated the spring buying season,” said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com. “I expect that many buyers will be put off by rising rates and mounting economic uncertainty, choosing to bide their time rather than jumping on board for a purchase before rates go up.”

Home shoppers who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates this spring are likely to find a more buyer-friendly housing market than this time last year. That means they'll have more leverage when negotiating with sellers, who in many cases are watching their property go unsold for weeks, potentially making them more willing to lower their initial asking price or offer buyers money for closing costs, repairs or other concessions in order to get a deal done, real estate agents say.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, lower listing prices and more homes on the market are forcing many sellers to price their home more competitively or consider offering some incentives to land a buyer, said Matthew Crites, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty.

“It’s been a really good buyer’s market to kind of start the year off with,” he said.

The trends helped give home shopper Anne King a strong hand when she set her sights on a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style house in Fort Worth listed at $275,000.

The contract administrator offered $10,000 below the listing price. She also asked that the seller kick in $5,000 toward closing costs. The seller accepted, and later agreed to throw in another $12,000 for repairs after a home inspection revealed roof damage.

“Fortunately for me, the seller was in a position they needed to sell,” said King, 57. The purchase was finalized in late February, just before the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

King had hoped mortgage rates would ease further before she bought the home, but decided it made sense to buy sooner, rather than risk having to compete this spring against more homebuyers who could potentially trigger a bidding war -- something she experienced last May when she bought a two-bedroom, two-bath townhouse in Arlington, Texas.

She locked in a 6% rate on her mortgage and plans to refinance to a lower rate whenever rates drop.

“I feel like I got a good deal on this property, and that’s all that matters,” she said.

Home shoppers gain more leverage

While the inventory of homes for sale nationally is still low by historical standards, active listings — a tally that encompasses all homes on the market except those pending a finalized sale — jumped nearly 8% in February from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com.

The increase varies across the U.S., with the West, Midwest and South far outpacing the Northeast. Still, some 43 of the 50 largest metro areas had more homes for sale in February than a year earlier, with listings up between 10% and 38.5% in many markets, including Seattle, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Houston and Denver.

As homes take longer to sell, prices have started falling. The median listing price was down in February from a year earlier in just over half of the nation’s biggest 50 metro areas, including a nearly 9% drop in Austin and Memphis, and declines of more than 5% in Washington D.C., San Diego and Los Angeles.

In another sign that buyers may have the edge negotiating with sellers this spring, an analysis by Redfin estimates that there were about 46% more sellers than prospective buyers in the market nationally in February. That’s up from about 30% a year earlier and represents the largest gap between buyers and sellers on records going back to 2013, according to Redfin.

Miami, Nashville and Austin are among the metro areas where sellers most outnumber buyers, Redfin found.

A buyer's market, if you can afford it

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. They have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in January and February versus a year earlier.

While the pace of home price growth has slowed or fallen in many metro areas, affordability hurdles remain daunting for many aspiring homebuyers because wage growth has not kept up with home prices.

Consider, the median price of an existing home sold in February was $398,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. That's nearly five times the median household income. A historic rule of thumb was that homes generally cost three times the household income.

The recent increase in mortgage rates adds slightly to the affordability challenge. On a $400,000 home near downtown Dallas, for example, factoring in a 20% down payment and a 30-year mortgage at 6%, the buyer’s monthly payment would be about $2,248. At a 6.4% rate, that payment would climb to $2,331.

And while mortgage rates are still lower than a year ago, making monthly payments more manageable, rates are still much higher than the sub-3% averages available to homebuyers during most of 2020 and 2021 as the weakened economy dealt with the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.

Sellers under pressure

The housing market has cooled considerably since earlier this decade, when rock-bottom mortgage rates set off a frenzy that sent home prices soaring. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon for a home to fetch well above the seller’s asking price after receiving offers from multiple buyers.

While some sellers are still receiving multiple offers now, it’s far from the norm.

Jo Chavez, a Redfin agent in Kansas City, tells clients looking to sell to expect that their home probably won’t sell right away. She also advises them to be “reasonable” with how they price their home.

“We have a lot of sellers who have that idea of like, ‘well, my neighbors sold for this much, and so I think I should price $10,000 above them,’” said Chavez. “And that’s obviously not a logical approach, because there were less sales last year.”

Kansas City is among the few metro areas where the median listing price isn’t falling. It rose 4.1% in February from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com. However, the number of homes on the market soared by nearly 20%.

Gail Sanders and her husband, David, put their four-bedroom, three-bath home in Olathe, Kansas, on the market in late February. But even after hosting a couple of open houses, and after lowering their asking price from $535,000 to $525,000, the couple had yet to receive any offers as March drew to a close.

The couple wants to sell the house and buy a home in another Kansas City suburb closer to their three adult children and grandchildren. But until they find a buyer, those plans are on hold.

“We just didn’t think it was fair to somebody else to put a contingent offer on (another house), but then also lock ourselves into something when we weren’t sure how fast ours was going to move,” said Gail Sanders, a senior claims director. “I don’t want to be stuck with two house mortgages on the off chance.”

Mohibullah Niazi, a neighbor who helped in the rescue efforts, said Saturday that the eight people killed on the outskirts of Kabul after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan the previous night were a refugee family recently returned from neighboring Iran.

There was only one survivor: a boy of around 3 years old, who was injured and has been hospitalized in Kabul.

Afghanistan's deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on Saturday increased the overall death toll from the quake to 12, with another four people injured. Fitrat said five homes were destroyed and another 33 significantly damaged, affecting 40 families in the provinces of Kabul, Panjshir, Logar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan.

The Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority put the overall death toll at nine. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.

The family near Kabul was among the millions of Afghan refugees who have recently returned from Iran and Pakistan, after both countries launched crackdowns in 2023 on foreigners — particularly Afghans — living in their countries.

They had arrived 15 days ago and were living in a tent on land next to Niazi’s home. The family head, Najibullah, who was about 50 years old, “had no other shelter," Niazi said. “He was a very poor person.”

‘We tried our best’

The family had set their tent up next to a wall separating the plot of land from Niazi’s home, which stood on higher ground, in the village of Ittefaq on the eastern outskirts of the Afghan capital.

Heavy rains over the past several days, which have led to deadly floods in many parts of Afghanistan, had left the ground sodden and soft. When the earthquake struck, the wall collapsed on the family.

“My daughter shouted to me that a wall had fallen on them. The whole family ran, but there were so many big rocks,” Niazi recounted Saturday as he stood at the scene. “We tried our best.”

On Saturday morning, piles of bricks and mud were all that were left, along with blankets, cooking utensils and other personal belongings salvaged from the rubble and set into a pile.

“For about three minutes, I could hear the voices of these people,” Niazi said. “But we couldn’t do anything. There were two or three of us, but this was not the work of three people.”

Neighbors soon rushed to help, digging through the mud and rubble with spades and their hands. They alerted the local Taliban police checkpoint, which sent rescuers and ambulances.

The young boy, Aarash, was pulled out alive but injured, and rushed to the hospital. Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman, who visited the boy Saturday, said he was being treated for a severe head injury.

For the rest of the family — the father and mother, four daughters aged between 12 and 23, and two sons — it was too late. The rescuers could only recover their bodies.

Niazi said he had hosted the family in his own home one night. On Friday, just half an hour before the earthquake struck, he had renewed the offer, telling the family they could spend the night in his own guest room to shelter from the cold and rain. “But they did not come with me,” he said.

A string of deadly quakes

Friday night’s quake had an epicenter in the Hindu Kush mountain range, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of the northern city of Kunduz, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center and the U.S. Geological Survey. The area is roughly 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of Kabul.

Afghanistan lies in a highly seismically active part of the world, and quakes have caused thousands of deaths in recent years.

Last August, a 6.0 earthquake that struck a remote, mountainous part of eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people. Most casualties were in Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep valleys.

In November, a 6.3 earthquake struck Samangan province in northern Afghanistan, killing at last 27 people and injuring more than 950. It also damaged historical sites, including Afghanistan’s famed Blue Mosque in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, and the Bagh-e-Jahan Nama Palace in Khulm.

On Oct. 7, 2023, a 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks in western Afghanistan killed thousands of people.

___

Associated Press writer Abdul Qahar Afghan in Ittefaq, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.

He was already a social media star — in part through his relentless attacks on his cousin, Trump administration heath secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and had been bouncing around the national Democratic scene very much looking the part of a Kennedy heir.

Now, among a crowded field hoping to win a prized House seat in Manhattan, Schlossberg has another potential advantage no other candidate could dream of: a hit TV show about his family that's renewed Kennedy clan fervor.

But even with the familial connections and the excitement over the show, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy insists the buzz is all organic.

“They don’t just like me because I’m a Kennedy. Ask them how they feel about RFK Jr.,” he said. “They like me because of my experience, my ideas and they trust me because they see what’s going on with their very own eyes.”

So far, one of the big criticisms of Schlossberg is that he's never held public office, though he's tried to spin that in his favor, casting himself an energetic, outsider candidate whose big online following proves that he can excite young voters and bring fresh ideas to Washington.

Despite Schlossberg's thin political resume, his candidacy has received both attention and financial support, along with the endorsement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, long a Kennedy backer.

No love for ‘Love Story’

Schlossberg, whose full name is John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, is no fan of the “Love Story” series, previously criticizing it as a cash grab at the expense of his famous family.

“I don't watch much TV,” he said.

Nevertheless, lots of people did tune in and the series became a hit, stoking the enduring mystique of the Kennedy family, especially among a younger generation of new fans.

Spots where Schlossberg's aunt and uncle dined and hung out have attracted viewers of the TV show, with leather-jacket-wearing women and button-down-and-tie guys lining up to get in. Not too long ago a crowd gathered in Washington Square Park for a JFK Jr. look-alike contest where young men donned suits, backward hats or rollerblades, attempting to mimic his style.

Also recreating JFK Jr.’s style is Schlossberg himself, copying one of his uncle’s best known looks — riding a bike in suit and tie and a backward cap and a heavy chain bicycle lock around his waist — in a photo on his campaign website, which was posted before the show’s debut.

But does the Kennedy family still have the juice to sway an election? George Arzt, a longtime Democratic political consultant in the city, isn't too sure.

“I don’t think that gets you votes,” he said. “People will say ‘Who’s Schlossberg?’ And they’ll go ‘He’s the grandson of JFK.’ So? What’s that going to do for me?”

Schlossberg maintains people on the street are less interested in his family ties than his policies, including one that, if passed, would allow rent payments to be tax deductible.

He batted away criticism over his scant professional experience, noting a stint at the State Department's environmental bureau, his joint law and business degree from Harvard and a handful of political opinion pieces he wrote for Vogue. He also cited his social media presence, which has at times been zany. In August, for example, he posted a video of himself in a blonde wig reading a letter that first lady Melania Trump wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I’m the only one who has engaged millions of people on a progressive and aggressive political message,” he said. “I’m not just an influencer who’s hawking products. I make informative videos.”

A crowded field

Schlossberg faces solid opposition in the June primary, which is usually the deciding contest in the safely Democratic district.

The district's current representative, U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is retiring, endorsed his former aide Micah Lasher, a state Assemblymember who's spent his career working in New York politics and casts himself as a seasoned, serious candidate.

“The voters of this district are highly informed voters. They do their homework before they make their decisions,” he said.

State Assemblymember Alex Bores is also running and has racked up local endorsements, including support from former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who represented parts of the district for decades before it was redrawn and she lost her seat to Nadler.

George Conway, who was once married to former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway before turning into a vocal antagonist of the president, hopped in the race earlier this year as a Democrat.

Conway, a lawyer who helped create the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said he does think Schlossberg has a big advantage because of his family name and excitement around “Love Story.” But he believes voters will ultimately opt for someone who has more experience.

“There's something very appealing about a young, fresh face and I think he's very smart to play that up,” Conway said. “But I also think there's something to be said for an older, experienced fresh face and that's what I'm trying to be.”

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said Saturday that his counterparts from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria had signed a letter to the European Commission citing “market distortions” caused by the price spike.

“The conflict in the Middle East has caused oil prices to rise, placing a significant burden on the European economy and on European citizens,” the letter, dated Friday and made public by Cuerpo in an online post, said.

“It is important to ensure that this burden is distributed fairly,” it added.

Europe is largely dependent on imported oil and gas, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. In 2022, turmoil in energy markets following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed inflation into double digits in many European countries.

At the time, the EU imposed a “solidarity contribution” that included caps on excess energy profits.

“Given the current market distortions and fiscal constraints, the European Commission should swiftly develop a similar EU-wide contribution instrument,” the letter said. “It would also send a clear message that those who profit from the consequences of the war must do their part to ease the burden on the general public.”

Driven largely by higher oil prices, the annual inflation rate in the 21 countries that use the euro rose to 2.5% in March, from 1.9% in February.

Iran has blocked most tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and gas — in a move that threatens to stress fuel markets for months.

European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned this week that disruption caused by the closure means fuel prices are unlikely to “go back to normal in a foreseeable future.”

The attacks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He will also meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians.

“We are working to strengthen our partnership to ensure the real protection of lives, advance stability, and guarantee security in Europe and the Middle East. Joint efforts always yield the best results,” Zelenskyy said in a post on the messaging app Telegram after arriving in Istanbul.

Russia fired 286 drones at Ukraine overnight, 260 of which were downed, the Ukrainian Air Force said in an online statement.

Five people — three women and two men — were killed in the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and 19 others were wounded, the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Hanzha said. The attack damaged market stalls and a shop.

In the city of Sumy, not far from the border with Russia, a strike wounded 11 people, the National Police said. Residential areas were hit, and houses, cars and utility networks were damaged in the attack.

In the capital, Kyiv, a drone strike caused a fire on the first floor of a three-story office and warehouse building, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. No casualties were reported.

In the partially occupied Donetsk region, a Russian drone strike hit a civilian car on the Kostyantynivka–Druzhkivka road on Saturday morning, killing one woman and wounding another, according to the head of the Kostyantynivka City Military Administration, Serhiy Horbunov.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Saturday that its forces fired “long-range air- and ground-based precision weapons, as well as strike drones” at unspecified “military-industrial and energy facilities used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

Meanwhile, the Russian-installed head of the occupied Luhansk region, Leonid Pasechnik, said Ukrainian forces hit railroad infrastructure in the region and private houses, killing a family of three — a couple and their 8-year-old child.

The Security Service of Ukraine, also known as the SBU, claimed it used drone strikes to halt production at a metallurgical plant in the Russian-occupied city of Alchevsk in the Luhansk region, most of which is controlled by the Russian forces.

The SBU said on its Facebook page that drone strikes damaged blast furnaces, key production workshops, distillation columns, gas pipelines and electrical substations that power the plant, which supplies Russia’s state tank and railroad car plant, Uralvagonzavod.

There was no immediate comment from Russian officials.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian military overnight shot down 85 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions, the annexed Crimea region and the Black Sea.

In Russia's Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, one person was killed and four sustained injuries, according to the region's governor, Yuri Slyusar. The attack sparked a fire at a warehouse facility of an unspecified logistics company, and another fire on a dry-cargo vessel flying a foreign flag several kilometers from the shore, Slyusar said.

In the Samara region's city of Tolyatti, one person was wounded, Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. The roof of a residential building was damaged and windows were shattered in several apartments, he said.

High pressure off the North Carolina coast will keep steady easterly winds in place. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for boaters, and there is still a very high risk of rip currents at the beaches throughout the weekend.

Rain chances stay at 20% to 30% both days, with highs in the lower to mid-80s. Those rain chances increase by the middle of next week as a front moves in and stalls for a couple of days. Until then, any showers will be hit or miss.

Trump has called Tehran “beaten and completely decimated " in the war, now in its sixth week, but the downing of two U.S. warplanes on Friday and Iran’s call to find the “enemy pilot” have again raised the stakes.

“The doors of hell will be opened to you” if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi with the country's joint military command said late Saturday in response to Trump’s renewed threat, state media reported. In turn, the general threatened all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region.

The war began with joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Feb. 28 and has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. Both sides have threatened, and hit, civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes.

“We will continue to crush them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, and confirmed that Israel's military struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr that he said helps to fund the war. Five people were killed and 170 injured, Iranian state media reported, citing a provincial security official.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that an airstrike hit near its Bushehr nuclear facility, killing a security guard and damaging a support building. The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said that 198 workers were being evacuated. It was the fourth time the facility was targeted.

Hopes for talks

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told The Associated Press that his government’s efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track" after Islamabad last week said that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that Iranian officials “have never refused to go to Islamabad.”

Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, according to two regional officials.

The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement, according to a regional official involved in the efforts and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy.

Trump reminded Iran of his deadline in a social media post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them."

A missing US pilot

The U.S. warplane, identified by Iran as a F-15E Strike Eagle, was one of two attacked on Friday. Iran’s joint military command on Saturday said that it also struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters, but the AP couldn’t independently verify that.

The search for the U.S. pilot focused on a mountainous region in Iran’s southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. An anchor on a channel affiliated with Iranian state television urged residents to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police.

In an email from the Pentagon, obtained by the AP, the military said that it received notification of “an aircraft being shot down” in the Middle East. A U.S. crew member was rescued. The Pentagon notified the U.S. House Armed Services Committee that the status of a second service member wasn't known.

Trump told NBC News that what happened wouldn't affect negotiations with Iran.

Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others — in the same area where the missing American crew member is believed to be.

A second U.S. Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East on Friday, according to a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation. It wasn't clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down, or whether Iran was involved.

Iranian state media said a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf after being struck by Iran’s defense forces.

Oracle's Dubai headquarters struck

The Dubai offices of tech company Oracle was hit after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened the firm. Footage verified by the AP outside the UAE showed a large hole in the building's southwestern corner.

The sheikhdom’s Dubai Media Office, which speaks for its government, noted a “minor incident caused by debris from an aerial interception that fell on the facade," saying there were no injuries. Oracle Corp., based in Texas, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Guard has accused some large U.S. tech companies of being involved in “terrorist espionage” operations against the Islamic Republic and called them legitimate targets. Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and Bahrain were hit in earlier drone strikes.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, issued a veiled threat late Friday to disrupt traffic through a second strategic waterway in the region, the Bab el-Mandeb.

The strait, 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. More than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships pass through it.

“Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” Qalibaf wrote.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed and there have been more than 1 million displaced people. Ten Israeli soldiers have died there.

___

Jon Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Samy Magdy from Cairo. Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia; and Konstantin Toropin, Seung Min Kim, Will Weissert, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro and Ben Finley in Washington, contributed to this report.

Eleven months after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and just over two months after publishing an apology letter for his antisemitism, Ye let two decades of hits — and 70,000 screaming loyal fans — speak the loudest on Friday night at SoFi Stadium.

"I want to thank y’all for sticking by me all these years. Through the hard times, through the low times," he told the crowd. “I love you for that.”

Hill joined Ye on a stage for the first time ever for an energetic rendition of his 2004 hit “All Falls Down,” which originally sampled her voice. Ye left the stage as she performed “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” before rejoining for his 2021 “Doo Wop”-sampling song “Believe What I Say.” They hugged as she exited.

Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Ye's tween daughter North West also strapped on safety harnesses to join Ye high above the stadium floor atop a striking half-orb stage, which alternately depicted a moon, a rotating Earth and a smoking sphere throughout the two hours-plus livestreamed performance.

A loud singalong of “Heartless” midway through the more than 40-song Good Friday show seemed to boost Ye’s spirits: “That’s what 80,000 people sound like, ladies and gentlemen. … They said I’d never be back in the States. Two sold-out concerts, baby!”

The first SoFi show Wednesday, his first major U.S. performance in nearly five years, turned out to be more of a warm-up as Ye was tentative in his rapping and drew attention to technical mishaps.

Fans at that show said they separated the 48-year-old performer’s personal beliefs and public statements from his music — and were ready to forgive after his January apology letter.

“You gotta back your family no matter what,” said Vince Da Prince, a rapper from Downey, Calif. “He’s a part of our fam since we were little kids.”

Added fan Yovani Contreras: “I don’t really bring into politics or the way someone’s personal opinion are. I’m into the music artistry … Like, I just, to me, Ye is always gonna be Ye. Kanye is always gonna be Kanye.”

Luis Velasquez said he’d been a longtime fan and had been put off by controversies in recent years, but felt the apology was sincere.

“Yeah he did apologize,” he said. “He’s taking the medication I think is what he mentioned. … For me as a fan that’s, like, respect, right? Like I think that’s cool enough to bridge that gap.”

Ye released his latest album, “Bully,” under both the names Ye and Kanye West, at the end of March. He dominated hip-hop and pop charts in the 2000s and early 2010s, winning 24 Grammy Awards despite public outbursts and a polarizing personality. He lost nearly all his major business partnerships and many fans after a string of controversies in the last several years including antisemitic remarks and social media posts.

He closed Friday night's show with his “toast to the douchebags" hit “Runaway,” and walked out of the stadium behind his wife Bianca Censori and two of his children.

Auriemma said it started at the beginning of the game, but the ending is what everyone will talk about.

A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the waning seconds of South Carolina's 62-48 victory over his UConn team in the Final Four and appeared to chastise her before the two shook hands. Staley responded with “don't do that" while assistant coaches from both teams separated them.

Auriemma later said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused.

“I have no idea,” Staley said when asked what happened. “But I’m going to let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand.

“I don’t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”

The Gamecocks will play UCLA in their third straight title game on Sunday, but not everyone was willing to move on from the exchange so quickly.

Auriemma immediately left the court without shaking hands when the game ended, and the moment quickly spread on social media.

Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, a former Olympic teammate of Staley, posted on X: “It’s a real shame that #Geno took the low road! We have all had to lose with class! Geno of the @UConnWBB needs to start with an apology!!!”

There were no apologies Friday night, but Auriemma explained why he was frustrated before ultimately following up with an apology on Saturday.

“For 41 years I’ve been coaching and, I don’t know, 25 Final Fours,” Auriemma said. “The protocol is before the game you meet at halfcourt. Anybody see that before? Two coaches meet at halfcourt and they shake hands, correct? Ever see it? They announce it on the loudspeaker.

“I waited there for like three minutes. So it is what it is.”

Auriemma and Staley have been the gold standard in women's basketball for years, and their battle for supremacy has produced some of the most thrilling moments in women's college basketball over the last decade.

They've coached some of the greatest talent in the game. They have a combined 15 national championships and nearly 2,000 wins with their respective programs, and their teams have faced each other 15 times.

Despite the intensity on the court, Staley and Auriemma have typically exchanged public pleasantries, complimenting each others' successes and importance to the women's game. They sparked conversations in 2023 when Staley defended her team after Auriemma criticized the Gamecocks' physicality — but their rivalry had never boiled over in the way it did on Friday.

Auriemma ripped the officiating in the third after the Gamecocks were not whistled for a foul in the quarter. He continued to voice his displeasure with how Staley spoke to the refs in his postgame news conference.

“I’m of the opinion that if I ever talk to an official like that, I would get tossed,” he said. “So I just want to make sure there’s not a double standard, that some people are allowed to talk to officials like that and other people are not. That’s it.”

Staley did not want to talk about the exchange in her postgame news conference.

“You can ask Geno the question,” she said. “He’s the one that initiated the conversation. I don’t want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Both Richardson and Coleman are racing from “scratch” in the 144th edition of the event, meaning they must run the entire distance and chase down opponents who in some cases may start up to 25 meters ahead of them.

Richardson, who gave away 10 meters to her closest competitor at the start, won her heat in 13.815 seconds Saturday and Coleman his in 12.681.

On Monday there will be six semifinals in each of the men's and women's divisions, with the winners of each of the heats advancing to the respective finals. Only two men and two women have won the race starting from scratch.

“My experience so far is just reminding me what track and field feels like — love the respect and also fun,” Richardson told Seven Network television after her heat.

“It felt like being a kid again, playing tag, like playing rabbit. I had a great time, and it just kind of woke my body up with this being the first time running in 2026 . . . chasing everyone actually made me activate and work on my race pattern."

Richardson is one of the fastest women of all time, winning a silver medal in the 100 meters in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and gold in the 4x100 relay that same year.

Coleman is a former world champion over 100 meters. He and Richardson appear to have continued their relationship despite a domestic violence charge against Richardson last July.

There are more than 700 competitors in the Stawell race, including many of Australia's top runners, in the event held about 235 kilometers (145 miles) west of Melbourne. The men's and women's finals each carry a prize of 40,000 Australian dollars ($27,500).

It has not been disclosed whether Richardson or Coleman have been paid appearance money to take part in the race. Last year Australian media reported that top Australian sprinter Gout Gout was paid 50,000 Australian dollars (35,000) to run at Stawell, where he was eliminated in the semifinals.

Richardson said this week that she was excited about the handicap format.

“I’ve been known to be a chaser in a couple of races, so actually the challenge of the stagger makes me more technical and sound, and with that comes great results," she said in comments on the Australian Athletics website.

Coleman, known for its fast starts, said he's the opposite.

“I’m usually leading from the front and people are trying to come catch me. I feel that this will be the perfect start to the season, to have some fun, but also be able to work on the things I have been practicing,” he said.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Meanwhile the search continued for a second day in a remote area of Iran for a missing U.S. pilot whose warplane was shot down. Iran has urged residents to turn in the “enemy pilot” for a reward.

And Israel vowed to “continue to crush” Iran and confirmed it struck a petrochemical complex Saturday. Iranian state media reported at least five people were killed.

Here is the latest:

Senegal limits foreign trips for officials as the fallout from Iran war deepens

The country banned all but essential foreign trips for government ministers as part of cost-saving measures triggered by the energy crisis linked to the war.

Senegal, like many African countries, imports most of the petroleum products it consumes. That leaves its economy vulnerable to supply disruptions such as the chokehold on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has sent the price of crude soaring.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said his office is taking steps to limit public expenditure, pointing out that initial budget forecasts were based on an oil price of $62 per barrel. It is now almost double that.

“I have taken a number of drastic measures to restrict everything related to government spending, including the cancellation of all nonessential missions abroad,” the government-owned newspaper Le Soleil quoted Sonko as saying.

He added that he canceled several trips, including to Niger, Spain and France.

Housing market trends favor home shoppers, but Iran war clouds the outlook for mortgage rates

The economic fallout from the war is driving up the cost of buying a home, even as other housing market trends in many parts of the country favor home shoppers this spring.

Mortgage rates have been rising since the war began, as surging energy prices heighten worries about higher inflation, pushing up the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

As recently as the last week of February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to just under 6%, its lowest level in more than three and a half years. It climbed this week to 6.46%, its highest level in nearly seven months.

“The war in Iran has seriously complicated the spring buying season,” said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com. “I expect that many buyers will be put off by rising rates and mounting economic uncertainty, choosing to bide their time rather than jumping on board for a purchase before rates go up.”

▶ Read more

Leo celebrates his first Easter vigil service as pope, calls for harmony and peace in a world torn by war

Pope Leo XIV ushered in Christianity’s most joyous celebration Saturday night, calling for the holy day to bring harmony and peace to a world torn by wars.

In his homily, Leo called sin “a heavy barrier that closes us off and separates us from God, seeking to kill his words of hope within us,’’ and likened it to the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb but was found overturned, revealing his resurrection.

Leo said there are stones representing sins to be overturned today, some “so heavy and so closely guarded that they seem to be immovable.”

“Some weigh heavily on the human heart, such as mistrust, fear, selfishness and resentment; others stemming from these inner struggles, sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.

“Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by them!” Leo said, calling for a commitment “so that the Easter gifts of harmony and peace may grow and flourish everywhere and always throughout the world.’’

▶ Read more

Iranian state media reports airstrikes in southwest Iran killed at least 3 and wounded others

The attack took place in the same area where a missing American crew member is believed to be.

Iran vows to open ‘gates of hell’ if the US and Israel escalate attacks

The commander of the joint military command said his country will target all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region, as well as Israel’s infrastructure, if aggression against Iran escalates.

Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi’s comments Saturday evening, carried by state media, came a few hours after Trump warned Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating consequences.

“Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump said via social media, as he re-upped a previous April 6 deadline for opening the shipping channel.

5 university professors and 60 students killed since war started, Iranian official says

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Sarraf spoke to reporters Saturday while checking the aftermath of strike on a university research center in southern Tehran.

A laser and plasma research center at the prestigious Shahid Beheshti University was damaged Friday following an airstrike.

“The enemy with no roots in history, culture and civilization is acting worse than (humans living) in the stone age and attacks a scientific center,” he told reporters while standing in the midst of the wreckage. AP video from the scene shows fallen ceilings and walls, blown out windows and damaged equipment.

It wasn’t clear if the strike was carried out by the United States or Israel or why the center was targeted. Iranian media did not report any casualties.

Since 2011, Shahid Beheshti University has been sanctioned by the EU for its involvement in nuclear weapons development.

AP journalists witness destruction at Shiite religious complex in Zanjan, Iran

Residents in the northwestern Iranian city told the AP an airstrike that hit the Grand Husayniyya of Zanjan on March 31 also caused damage to a library and clinic within the complex where people used to get treated for free. Part of the Husayniyya, a congregation hall for Shiite commemorations and rituals, is centuries old.

Damage could be seen in the building’s golden dome and nearby minaret during a visit Saturday. A nearby building within the complex was heavily damaged. Workers were still cleaning up debris.

Jaafar Mohammadi, director general of cultural and Islamic guidance in Zanjan province, said the strike killed two people, including the caretaker of the library, Alirezza Soubatlo, and a volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The library was home to more than 35,000 books, many of which are very old and handwritten.

Prediction market taking bets on search for missing US military service member has been shut down

A prediction market accepting bets on the search for a U.S. military service member still missing from a fighter jet shot down in the Iran war Friday has been shut down by Polymarket for violating its standards.

Polymarket, which has turned prediction markets into an increasingly popular phenomenon alongside rival operator Kalshi, disclosed it blocked the wagering on the search for the missing military member about two hours after U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton posted a note of outrage on social media.

“This is DISGUSTING,” wrote Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts who was in combat in the Middle East while serving in the Marines.

In its response on the social platform X, Polymarket said Friday that it removed the market cited by Moulton and was investigating how it slipped through the safeguards set up to protect its integrity standards.

Polymarket has recently been coming under increasing scrutiny, including calls for tougher regulation of prediction markets.

The criticism has mounted after some of its users made substantial bets ahead of the war in Iran and the military action in Venezuela earlier this year.

Police forcibly dispersed anti-war protest in Tel Aviv amid wartime restrictions

Several hundred people attended the demonstration at Habima Square in Tel Aviv calling for an end to the war, in between sirens warning of incoming missiles from Iran and from Yemen.

Israeli wartime restrictions currently limit gatherings in public areas to 150 people. But in response to an appeal, supreme court justices on Saturday evening issued an interim ruling saying at least 600 people would be allowed to gather at Habima Square and 150 at each of several other locations across the country.

At around 8 p.m., police declared the demonstration unlawful, claiming there were “hundreds more than the court ordered” at the protest. Police officers forcibly removed protesters from the square and arrested at least 17.

Argentina says Iran’s top diplomat has been expelled from the country

Argentina’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Saturday it had expelled Iran’s top diplomat as tensions increase between Iran’s theocratic regime and Argentina’s libertarian government, which is closely aligned with the Trump administration.

In a message on X, Argentina’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno said Iran’s Charge D’Affaires, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, had left the country “in compliance” with a resolution issued Thursday that gave the Iranian diplomat 48 hours to leave the South American country.

Tensions between both nations intensified earlier this week after Argentina declared Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. The measure will enable the Argentine government to issue financial sanctions against those conducting business with that branch of Iran’s armed forces and seize any assets it could own in Argentina.

Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry replied to the terrorism designation with a statement which said Argentina’s actions amounted to an “unforgivable offense” influenced by the United States.

Iran state media say five killed in strikes on petrochemical facilities

The U.S.-Israeli strikes also wounded others in the attack on the facilities in the Mahshahr Special Petrochemical Economic Zone in southwestern Iran, state media cited a provincial security official as saying.

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack on the facilities earlier Saturday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a video statement on X to press ahead with more attacks. He claimed the complex was “responsible for producing and exporting chemical materials to the regime’s armed forces” and that the targeted facilities were “used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missile, and additional weaponry.”

White House says Trump is ‘working nonstop’

As the clock ticks closer to the U.S. president’s Monday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the White House says Trump is firmly at work.

“There has never been a President who has worked harder for the American people than President Trump,” Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, posted on X. “On this Easter weekend, he has been working nonstop in the White House and Oval Office. God Bless him.”

The president often travels to his Palm Beach, Florida, club on the weekends, but he’s staying in Washington for the Easter weekend. Since he delivered his prime-time address on Iran on Wednesday night, the president has held a series of closed-press meetings at the White House.

Meloni says Gulf visit aimed at solidarity and protecting Italy’s energy and security interests

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a video message released by her office Saturday that her mission to the Gulf was aimed at showing solidarity with countries “that continue to suffer unjustified attacks by Iran,’’ while also addressing Italian security and energy interests.

Meloni is the first EU leader to travel to the Gulf since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran began, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on a two-day visit.

“I think it is important for Italy in such a difficult moment to be present in the places where a fundamental part of our security is being decided, and also our economic future,’’ Meloni said in the video shot as she was being driven in the back of a car through Doha, Qatar. “Because when instability increases in the Gulf, not just the international balance is impacted, but also energy prices,’’ which affect companies’ cost and families’ purchasing power.

She noted Italy receives 10% of its natural gas from Qatar and the Gulf region supplies 15% of its petroleum needs.

Netanyahu confirms Israel hit Iranian petrochemical factories, says they’ll continue to ‘crush’ Iran

“After we destroyed 70% of its ability to create steel, which is used as the raw material for the weapons used against us, today we attacked their petrochemical factories,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on his X account.

The Israeli military said that earlier Saturday its air force struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, in southwestern Iran. It alleged the complex was “responsible for producing and exporting chemical materials to the regime’s armed forces” and that the targeted facilities were “used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missile, and additional weaponry.”

“I promised you that we will continue to crush the terrorist regime in Tehran, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said.

World commodity prices rise for 2nd straight month with Strait of Hormuz closure posing additional risks

World food commodity prices rose for a second consecutive month in March, driven largely by increasing energy costs linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization reported Friday.

The latest FAO benchmark index, tracking monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, rose 1% from a year ago, highlighting how geopolitical tensions are pushing up production and transportation expenses, adding renewed pressure on global food markets. Prices were up 2.4% from a month earlier.

Price surges have been relatively contained compared with after the start of the Ukraine war in 2022 because markets remain well-supplied following strong harvests in major growing regions, said David Laborde, the FAO agrifood economics director.

With a large portion of the world’s fuel and fertilizer moving through the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that a long-term closure will force farmers to make difficult planting decisions. That will affect the cost of producing the next harvest, as well as yields.

Iran says Iraq is exempt from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s joint military command spokesperson said in a statement in Arabic on Saturday that the restrictions imposed in the Strait of Hormuz “only apply to enemy countries.”

Addressing Iraqis, Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a speech carried by state media that “you are a nation that bears the marks of American occupation on your chest, and your struggle against America is worthy of appreciation and praise.”

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on U.S. bases and other facilities in the country in solidarity with Tehran since the war began.

The Iran war, now its second month, has dealt a massive blow to Iraq’s economy. The country is heavily dependent on oil revenues for almost 90% of its budget and most of its oil is exported through the Strait of Hormuz, where cargo traffic has effectively been stopped by Iran during the conflict.

Israel says a ballistic missile from Yemen was launched against the country

The attack triggered sirens across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The Houthis in Yemen have launched several missiles against Israel since joining the war last week in support of Iran.

Israel says another soldier killed in Lebanon

The death brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon in the current war to 11.

A military official said the soldier was killed by friendly fire. He spoke anonymously in line with military regulations.

— Natalie Melzer

Meloni wraps Gulf tour in UAE, discusses end to conflict and new investments

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni concluded her two-day visit to three Gulf states in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, discussing with the country’s leader additional investments by both countries in energy, defense and security, her office said in a statement.

Meloni is the first EU, G20 and NATO leader to visit the Gulf region since the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. She began her two-day visit Friday in Saudi Arabia and visited Qatar earlier Saturday. The start of the mission was unannounced due to security concerns.

Meloni and UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also discussed ways to bring an end to the conflict in the region and open the Strait of Hormuz, Meloni’s office said. The Italian leader also expressed her support for the country, which has suffered attacks from Iran following the launch of the war.

US revokes green cards and visas of several Iranian nationals connected to Tehran government

The Trump administration has revoked the green cards or U.S. visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who’ve been detained by immigration authorities and are to be deported.

The latest actions were taken just this week when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and staffers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations were also revoked.

In a statement Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards.

▶ Read more

Pakistan says US-Iran talks effort on track as Tehran denies refusing Islamabad visit

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Saturday there was no truth to speculation in local media that the mediation effort had stalled due to Iran’s refusal to send a delegation.

He dismissed reports suggesting an impasse in the regionally backed initiative, saying the peace efforts are right on track.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X also said Tehran had “never refused to go to Islamabad” but was seeking a “conclusive and lasting” end to the conflict. “We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad,” Araghchi wrote.

He said “What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed Araghchi’s remarks, saying he appreciated the clarification.

Pakistan, with backing from regional partners, is still working to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiations table. However, no dates have been set for the proposed talks and it remains unclear whether any such engagement would be direct or indirect.

Israel says it identified another launch of missiles from Iran, the 8th on Saturday

It comes shortly after an attack that damaged buildings in East Jerusalem. Sirens were activated across northern Israel.

Buildings damaged in East Jerusalem after the latest barrage in a day of consistent fire from Iran

For the seventh time Saturday, missiles launched from Iran triggered sirens in multiple cities and towns in Israel.

Fire and Rescue services said their teams were treating two sites in East Jerusalem where buildings were damaged in the latest round. It wasn’t immediately clear if the impact was from parts of a missile or of an interceptor. No injuries were reported.

The military had said its defense systems were activated to try and intercept the missiles.

Hezbollah on Saturday also kept up its rocket fire on communities in northern Israel. Most were intercepted and there were no reports of injuries.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims it struck two US Black Hawk helicopters

In a briefing Saturday, Iran’s joint military command spokesperson said it hit other enemy targets Friday, including the two helicopters.

The AP could not independently verify the claims. Some media outlets in the U.S. have reported the helicopters were hit.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a statement carried by state media that it “must be called a black and humiliating Friday for the American and Zionist enemies.”

Iran had claimed the downing of two American warplanes Friday.

On Saturday, the U.S. military was pressing ahead with its search for a missing pilot over a remote area in southwestern Iran.

Israeli fire kills one Palestinian in central Gaza, health officials say

The airstrike on a civilian vehicle wounded two others, according to health officials at Al-Aqsa hospital, where the casualties arrived.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Gaza Strip has seen near-daily Israeli fire and strikes since a fragile ceasefire was reached in October, and nearly 713 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Since the Iran war began over a month ago, Gaza militants have sat out the conflict and haven’t claimed any attacks against Israel.

US military jets hit in Iran war are the first shot down by enemy fire in more than 20 years

Iran shooting down two American military jets marks an exceedingly rare assault for the U.S. that hasn’t happened in more than 20 years and shows the Islamic Republic’s continued ability to hit back despite President Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated.”

The attacks came five weeks after U.S. and Israeli strikes first pounded Iran, with Trump saying earlier this week that Tehran’s “ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed.”

Iran shot down a U.S. F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet Friday, with one service member getting rescued and the search still underway for a second, U.S. officials say. Iranian state media also said a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being hit by Iranian defense forces.

The last time a U.S. warplane was shot down by enemy fire in combat was an A-10 Thunderbolt II during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, a former F-16 fighter pilot.

▶ Read more

Kuwait continues to intercept Iranian aerial attacks

In its daily briefing posted on X, the Kuwaiti army said Saturday that it had intercepted eight ballistic missiles and 19 drones over the last 24 hours.

Since the war began, Kuwaiti air forces have engaged with a total of 709 Iranian drones, 327 ballistic missiles and nine cruise missiles, according to the briefing.

Less than a quarter later, Flagg became the first teenager to score 51 points in an NBA game in Dallas' 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Flagg scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall were ejected for complaining about what they thought was a no-call when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg.

Kidd was tossed even though he was assessed just one technical foul, while Marshall had gotten another tech at the end of the first half. His second came just moments after Kidd was thrown out.

“It’s great to see,” Flagg said after going 19 of 30 from the field and making all seven of his free throws to top his previous career high of 49 in a 123-121 loss to Charlotte on Jan. 29.

“I already know that coach has my back and Naji ... I know he has my back for sure out there,” Flagg said. “Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even further.”

Flagg initially exited the game with 45 points, but assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling in for Kidd, told the 19-year-old he was just resting him during a defensive possession.

Vogel called a timeout to get Flagg back in with 3:22 remaining, and Flagg made history a little more than a minute later. He missed a 3-pointer the first time down, then missed a follow attempt on Brandon Williams' miss, got the rebound again and made a corner 3.

On the next Dallas possession, he hit an off-balance shot in the lane while getting fouled to clinch 50, made the free throw and left to a standing ovation.

The Mavericks were down 30 when Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive home loss. It's the longest home losing streak since Dallas lost the first 19 games at since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said. “The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

Flagg said he thought it was obvious Bane had fouled him in the opening two minutes of the fourth.

“I think it was warranted,” Flagg said about Kidd's reaction. “I’m not going to lie. I talked to Bane after the play, and he told me he was intentionally trying to foul me. I honestly don’t know how they didn’t see that. Obviously, they must not have had the right view, or they weren’t paying attention. But they missed it.”

Kidd said there was “a lot of excitement in the back” as he watched Flagg on a TV delay, hearing the crowd reaction before the buckets as the former Duke standout was 8 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from deep in the fourth.

Flagg's previous career high came against former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick and fellow contender for rookie of the year.

Kidd continues to stump for Flagg to win the same award that Kidd won with the Mavs 31 years ago, and dropped a Michael Jordan reference after Flagg's latest milestone. Yes, Jordan was the 1985 Rookie of the Year.

“He should be rookie of the year,” Kidd said. “It’s unbelievable. The country’s not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year. And as a teenager, to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy, playing the game, win or lose, his spirit, is about winning. Right now we’re not.”

For at least one night, the rookie overshadowed the long home losing streak, even though he couldn't end it.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

South Carolina will be trying to win its fourth national championship in nine years. The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the Huskies' 54-game winning streak in the semifinals of March Madness on Friday night.

UCLA played incredible defense of its own in its 51-44 win over Texas. The Bruins spoiled a chance at the first all-SEC title game since 2017, when Staley’s team beat Mississippi State, which was led by current Texas coach Vic Schaefer. That victory was South Carolina's first title and started the current run that the Gamecocks have been on over the last decade.

South Carolian and UCLA have played each other many times over the past few seasons. UCLA coach Cori Close has been impressed with what Staley has built at South Carolina.

“Dawn does such a great job and is a standard-bearer in our sport,” Close said. "Thankful for what they’ve done, not just for South Carolina, but for the game. We also are an incredibly competitive, confident group. I’m sure they are as well. All you can ask for is to play your best basketball for a national championship."

The Bruins have been on a mission this season since losing to UConn in the Final Four last season. It was the Bruins' first-ever trip to the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. With most of the key players back from that team and a couple of new additions, UCLA ran through the regular season with the only loss in November to Texas in a tournament in Las Vegas.

That loss was the only blemish the Bruins had this year, and they cruised to both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championship.

Now, they'll have a tall test with South Carolina, which put on a defensive clinic against UConn. The ending of that game was overshadowed by a dust-up between Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma as they were shaking hands with less than a second left. The two coaches needed to be separated by their assistants.

Coming into the season Staley wasn't sure about this team as they were dealing with injuries and trying to work in star transfer Ta'Niya Latson from Florida State. The country's leading scorer last season while at Florida State just wanted to have a chance to win a national championship.

“This is why I came to South Carolina. It was a personal sacrifice that I had to make. I mean, I know a lot of people don’t get that, they don’t understand my why,” said Latson. “This is my why. This is why I came to South Carolina.”

Close and her team will try and hang a championship banner to go with the one the school won by taking the 1978 AIAW title, which was the postseason tournament for women's basketball before the NCAA took over in 1982.

The Bruins are a veteran team, even though they have no championship game experience. UCLA's starting five, led by center Lauren Betts, are all seniors or graduates.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness