Iran has offered to end its control over the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade and ends the war. That's according to regional officials. The proposal that emerged Monday would delay discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to accept the offer. The blockade prevents Iran from selling oil, affecting global prices and economies. Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, but a permanent settlement remains elusive. In other developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation. Talks between Iran and the U.S. have stalled. Pakistan has been attempting to mediate.
HAVANA (AP) — On a recent afternoon, a group of elderly residents slipped through the wooden doors of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Old Havana and gathered for a modest meal of ground meat, rice, red beans and crackers topped with mayonnaise — all finished with a cup of strong Cuban coffee.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have made their way to the White House. The British royal couple arrived in the United States on Monday afternoon on a four-day state visit aimed at celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed them to the White House for tea and a trip down to the south grounds to check out a new beehive made like a mini White House. Both Charles and Camilla support beekeeping to benefit the environment and for sustainability.
The U.S. stock market’s record-breaking rally slowed after uncertainty rose about what will happen next in the Iran war. The S&P 500 inched 0.1% higher Monday to its latest all-time high, a downshift following weeks of big gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% to its own record. The moves were stronger in the oil market, where prices climbed more than 2.5% as tankers find the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed. This upcoming week is packed with profit reports from Wall Street's biggest companies and interest-rate announcements from the world's most influential central banks.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war stalled again over the weekend as both sides dug in on their demands, even as they face mounting pressure to reach a compromise. Iran said it won’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the United States lifts its blockade and ends the war. U.S. President Donald Trump wants a broader deal that would end Iran’s nuclear program and address other issues like its missile program and support for regional proxies. For both sides, the clock is ticking.
Workers in Brazil have resumed the construction of the stage for the upcoming concert by Shakira this weekend on Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach. The work was halted amid a police investigation into the death of a 28-year-old locksmith at the scene. The boundary-breaking Colombian singer and pop star has not commented on the accident. Police said Gabriel de Jesus Firmino died on Sunday after being crushed by two stage elevators when the equipment was activated by another worker. The Brazilian company that operates the stage is under investigation for alleged non-compliance with workplace safety regulations. Shakira is giving a free concert on Saturday evening at the Copacabana.
OMDURMAN, Sudan (AP) — For three years, Dr. Jamal Eltaeb made excruciating choices. Who should live and potentially die? Should he operate without the right medicines if it might save someone's life? How would he find fuel to keep the hospital's lights on?
Hollywood's summer movie season is shaping up to be epic, with superheroes, franchises, and thrillers galore. The most eagerly anticipated release is Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey,” set to sail into theaters on July 17. The film features battles, gods, creatures, and stars like Matt Damon and Zendaya. It’s the first movie shot entirely on IMAX film. Other notable releases include “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Supergirl,” and “Toy Story 5.” The summer box office is crucial, accounting for around 40% of the year’s revenue.
Conservations say a Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a human-made canopy bridge to cross a public road on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Rapid development has been shrinking the jungle habitat of the critically endangered species. And fatal conflicts with people have been increasing. Conservationists told The Associated Press on Monday about the crossing. They say it marks the first documented case of a Sumatra orangutan using an artificial canopy bridge to cross a public road and connect the separate habitats. The bridge spans the Lagan–Pagindar road in Pakpak Bharat district. The vital corridor connects remote villages that cuts directly through prime orangutan habitat. It splits an estimated 350 orangutans into two isolated forest areas.
Authorities in Ukraine say a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa has wounded 14 people including two children. Officials said Monday that the drones hit residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. A Russian official said that a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people in the Russia-occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has fired approximately 1,900 attack drones and other weapons at Ukraine over the past week. Ukraine intercepts more than 90% of the drones but needs more American-made Patriot air defense missiles. Ukraine for its part has been targeting Russian oil infrastructure with long-range drones and missiles.
Pope Leo XIV has vowed to keep working to overcome differences with the Anglican Communion. He met Monday with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the first female leader of the Church of England. Leo acknowledged new problems have been added to historically divisive issues but said he remains committed to dialogue. Anglicans split from Rome in 1534, and big differences remain, especially over the ordination of women. Mullally, on a four-day pilgrimage to Rome, prayed with Leo at the Vatican. Her appointment has divided the Anglican Communion, with some conservative groups opposing her leadership.
MILAN (AP) — Venice’s renowned La Fenice opera house is breaking ties with contentious incoming music director Beatrice Venezi, who has ties to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, following months of protests by musicians.
When the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on the Trump administration’s plans to stop shielding Haitians and Syrians from deportation, people from more than dozen other countries will pay close attention, perhaps none more than an estimated 200,000 from El Salvador. Many Salvadorans have lived in the United States for 25 years under Temporary Protected Status, which allows those already in the country to stay with work permits. Court arguments Wednesday will focus on whether the administration fully weighed conditions in Haiti and Syria when it ended TPS and if it prejudiced non-white immigrants.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya has become the first person to break the fabled 2-hour barrier in the marathon in a huge moment in sports history. Sawe smashed the men’s world record by 65 seconds in winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The second-place finisher, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, also dipped under 2 hours by crossing the line in 1:59:41 in his first-ever marathon. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda broke the previous world-record time, set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023, by seven seconds in finishing in 2:00:28.
Around 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels are stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz that remains effectively shut by Iran. Indian Capt. Rahul Dhar and his crew have been stranded on their tanker for about eight weeks. They have witnessed drones and missile interceptions as they try to keep in touch with their families. Some other crews have faced shortages of food and water. A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has brought some hope, but anxiety over uncertainty has taken its toll. The International Maritime Organization has called for a safe corridor, but most ships remain stranded.
Iran's foreign minister has briefly visited Islamabad again as Pakistan's leaders work to restart ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington. But President Donald Trump says the two sides can talk by phone instead. Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistan's capital Saturday but returned to Islamabad before heading on to Moscow on Sunday. The White House had said Friday it would send envoys to Islamabad for a second round of talks, but Trump called off the mission due to a lack of progress. Pakistani officials say indirect talks are still ongoing. The standoff around the Strait of Hormuz does, too. Also on Sunday, oil prices rose when the market opened as traders absorbed the news of the stalled ceasefire talks.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia over the past day killed at least 16 people, authorities said Sunday as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster prompted new warnings about risks posed by attacks near the plant during Russia’s …
THE ATACAMA DESERT, Chile (AP) — It takes a moment for the eyes to adjust. A faint spark appears in the darkness; then another, brighter one. Soon, stars, planets and entire constellations emerge. Before long, a whole galaxy stretches across the sky, visible to the naked eye.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Two Israeli political heavyweights on Sunday said they would join forces in elections scheduled for later this year in an effort to unseat longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Malian Minister of Defense Gen. Sadio Camara was killed in an attack as jihadi and rebel forces seized towns and military bases across the country, according to a military officer and two other sources on Sunday.
Disease and cold temperatures killed nearly 30 sloths at a Florida import warehouse in 2024 and 2025, according to a state report. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection report from August states that a wildlife facility called Sanctuary World Imports in Orlando ordered 21 sloths from Guyana. They died after overnight temperatures in the warehouse fell to 46 degrees in late December 2024. The business ordered another 10 sloths from Peru. Two sloths were dead when they arrived and the other eight succumbed to what the report called “poor health issues.” Peter Bandre, listed in the report as the business' licensee, told inspectors that the warehouse was not ready to receive sloths during cold weather and that he would be looking for a new veterinarian.
Bombers have targeted a police station in Northern Ireland for the second time in less than a month. That has led one senior police official to condemn the attacks as an attempt to undermine the almost 30-year-old agreement that brought peace to the region. Police say the latest incident took place at about 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, when the attackers stopped a delivery driver, placed an improvised bomb in his vehicle and ordered him to drive to a police station on the outskirts of Belfast. The bomb, exploded as police were evacuating nearby residents. No one was hurt.
Ukrainians gathered in the city of Slavutych to remember those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 40 years ago. The midnight ceremony on Sunday honors those who died and the thousands who risked radiation exposure to contain the aftermath. Despite wartime curfews, residents show up for the vigil each year. The 1986 explosion highlighted lax safety standards and secrecy in the Soviet Union. It exposed millions to radiation and forced evacuations. Attendees like Liudmyla Liubyva, who said her husband lost the ability to walk from a radiation-related illness, emphasized the importance of remembering sacrifices. Slavutych, built for evacuated workers from Chernobyl, remains deeply connected to the disaster's legacy. The war in Ukraine has revived fears of lingering dangers.
An amateur pop choir in Serbia is finding unexpected success across the country. Its motto is simple: Anyone can sing. While community choirs are common elsewhere, they are rare in Serbia. The choir's no-stress, fun approach has attracted hundreds, mostly women of all ages. Since starting four years ago, Pop Hor has spread to 10 towns. There are no auditions, and newcomers don’t need to read music. Founder Nenad Azanjac says many join for stress relief and a sense of belonging. The choir often performs at festivals and events, bringing joy and reducing stress for its members.
Authorities in Colombia say that an explosive device on a bus has killed 13 people in the country's southwest region as violence there escalates. Octavio Guzmán, the governor of Cauca, wrote on X that the device was set off on Saturday while the bus was traveling along the Panamerican Highway in the region of Cajibio. At least 38 people were injured. Gen. Hugo López, commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces, told a news conference it was a “terrorist act” and blamed the network of a man known as “Iván Mordisco” — one of Colombia’s most wanted figures — and the Jaime Martínez faction, dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Philippine officials say two Americans were among 19 suspected communist guerrillas, who were killed in clashes with Filipino troops in a central province a week ago. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict said Saturday night that the Americans were killed with 17 other New People’s Army guerrillas in a series of clashes with troops on April 19 in Toboso town in Negros Occidental province. The task force warned Americans of Filipino descent in the United States to be wary of being lured by left-wing activist groups into supporting Filipino insurgents in the Philippines in a recruitment process it described as “terror-grooming.” The deadly fighting was first reported on Monday.
Barriers to tourism for people living with disabilities can range from the obvious, such as an out-of-service elevator, to an outing that’s too long or a setting that’s too loud. Tourist destinations that want to be truly accessible need to accommodate visitors with visible and invisible disabilities. In recent years, museums and other cultural institutions worldwide have added specialized guides and barrier-free tours for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, use wheelchairs, or with autism or dementia. Tourism agencies dedicated to serving these populations have sprung up, too. Disabled travelers also have created their own websites to share and exchange information.
Four candidates vying to lead the United Nations have spent hours being grilled about their views on issues from restoring global peace to ending escalating poverty. The U.N. General Assembly president calls it one of the toughest job interviews in the world. There was no clear victor after the candidates fielded questions from U.N. ambassadors this past week. Plus, other candidates could wait until after the initial auditions to jump into the race to succeed U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Jan. 1. All four said they would focus on peace, development and human rights in what are pillars of the U.N.
Islamic militants and separatists say they attacked several locations in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and other cities in one of the largest coordinated attacks in the West African country in recent years. The government gave no death toll but said that 16 people were wounded in the attacks on Saturday. Mali has previously faced insurgencies fought by militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, as well as a separatist rebellion in the country’s north. The al-Qaida-linked militant group JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks on Bamako’s international airport and four other cities. Residents in central and northern Mali reported gunfire and explosions, and videos showed militant convoys in Kati, while gunfire exchanges occurred in Kidal and Gao.
The post-Oct. 7 order in the Middle East is barely pieced together by conditional ceasefires and mutual threats. Israel has inflicted heavy blows on Iran and its allies Hezbollah and Hamas, but it has yet to vanquish them and is still regularly striking in Lebanon and Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting pressure to deliver a clear victory ahead of elections later this year. U.S. President Donald Trump still appears to be seeking a nuclear deal with Iran and wider peace in the Middle East. But ceasefire talks have so far produced little and the two countries are locked in an escalating standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest attempt at ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran appears to have failed. Tehran's top diplomat left Pakistan on Saturday, and President Donald Trump said he told envoys not to travel to Islamabad. The talks were meant to follow historic face-to-face negotiations earlier this month. Iranian officials have questioned U.S. trustworthiness after U.S. forces blockaded Iranian ports in response to Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had said talks with the U.S. would be indirect. The economic fallout continues. Another ceasefire, between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, was shaken as each side fired at the other.
Mexico’s government says that two U.S. federal agents recently killed in a car crash in the country’s northern region were not authorized to participate in operations in Mexico. The role of the two CIA agents who were returning from destroying a clandestine drug lab in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua remains unclear. A statement issued Saturday by Mexico’s Ministry of Security said one U.S. agent entered Mexico as a visitor while the other entered with a diplomatic passport. It also asserted that Mexico’s government was not aware of foreign agents operating or planning to participate in an operation on its soil.
King Charles III embarks on a state visit to the U.S. on Monday, aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, set a high bar with her 1991 speech to Congress, highlighting shared democratic values. Charles is likely to echo these themes as he celebrates America's 250th birthday. The visit includes a commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks and a tribute to fallen service members. Despite political tensions, Charles will seek to emphasize the enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. His speech to Congress will likely aim to unite lawmakers across party lines, focusing on long-term bonds over short-term disputes.
Russian drone and missile strikes have killed at least five people and wounded 46 in Dnipro and other areas of Ukraine. Authorities say the overnight attacks caused fires and partially destroyed several buildings. Another person was killed in a separate attack on Saturday afternoon. In Russian-held Luhansk, the Moscow-installed governor said three people were killed by a Ukrainian attack, while in Russia itself, a Ukrainian drone strike killed a woman and seriously wounded a man in Belgorod. Romania’s Defense Ministry reported finding drone fragments in Galati. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine is open to continuing peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan.
Businesses have doled out up to $4 million to send ships through the Panama Canal while trying to avoid the Iran war's risks and effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Passage through the canal usually comes at a flat rate via reservations. But companies without bookings can pay more to cross through an auction that awards slots to the highest bidder. The average price to cross the canal ranges between $300,000 and $400,000 depending on the vessel. Businesses that wanted earlier crossings previously paid an additional $250,000 to $300,000. In a number of cases recently, companies have paid big money to jump the line. The canal's administrator says one paid an extra $4 million.
In Baltic skies, there's a regular ballet of posturing between pilots from NATO nations and Russia. The military alliance regularly sends up fighter jets to intercept Russian flights that NATO says fail to adhere to international norms and endanger other flyers. The Associated Press spoke to French and Romanian pilots serving on a NATO mission in Lithuania. With spring bringing better weather for flying, they're being kept busy, taking to the skies to identify and watch Russian planes. Alliance members take turns policing Baltic skies around the clock, seven days a week.
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