Doubts over talks between Iran and US after violence flares in Strait of Hormuz

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan is preparing for new talks between the U.S. and Iran, even as tensions rise around the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship over the weekend, accusing it of evading a blockade. Iran’s military has vowed to respond, calling U.S. actions disingenuous. With a ceasefire set to expire midweek, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts to resume talks on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump told The New York Post that negotiators were returning to Pakistan. Iran has not said whether it plans to attend. The conflict has also caused oil prices to soar, with Brent crude reaching about $95 a barrel. Iran warns of continued economic impact if tensions persist.

An Iraqi captain keeps sailing despite the threat of attack amid regional war

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri navigates the tense waters between the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran has disrupted global trade, leaving crews stranded and exposed to attacks. Al-Jubouri, a veteran since 1984, faces high-risk conditions as sporadic military strikes threaten vessels. He and his crew, currently sailing from the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, undergo regular safety drills. Last year, his tanker was bombarded at a Yemeni port, but the crew escaped unharmed. The dangers have reduced his team from 27 sailors to 17 as fear drives many away.

Supreme Court will hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. It’s the latest religious rights case for the conservative-majority court. The justices on Monday said they’ll hear from Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver, which are supported by the Republican Trump administration. The schools argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

Planned fight between young people escalates to shooting that kills 2 at North Carolina park

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a planned fight among young people escalated into a shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left two people dead. Winston-Salem police say the shooting happened Monday morning at Leinbach Park, which is near Jefferson Middle School. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation says several people were shot, including two fatally. The shootings happened in a park in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem.

Japan warns of slightly increased risk of mega-quake after a 7.7-magnitude one

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has issued an advisory for northern coastal areas for an increased risk of a possible mega-quake following a 7.7-magnitude quake earlier Monday. The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there is 1% chance for a mega-quake occurring in the area over the next week or so. That’s up from a 0.1% chance during normal times. The agency issued a tsunami alert following the quake, and a small tsunami was reported in some areas. One injury has been reported. Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Tokyo and Shin-Aomori have been partially suspended.

Louisiana community is struggling to understand after man killed 8 children

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Police say a Louisiana man who fatally shot seven of his children and another child used an an assault-style weapon despite a 2019 felony firearms conviction. The attack early Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana, was one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings in recent years. The shooter, identified as Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him. Louisiana law says a person convicted of certain violent felonies are banned from having a gun for at least 10 years. Officials say the children who died ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old. Police say two people escaped by jumping from a roof.

Oil prices rise and US stocks give back a bit of their record-breaking rally

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are climbing following the latest rise of U.S.-Iran tensions, but the moves are more modest than they were earlier in the war. U.S. stocks are meanwhile giving back a bit of their record-breaking rally Monday. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% from its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 109 points, and the Nasdaq composite dipped 0.5%. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed 5.4% to just above $95. The relatively muted moves suggest investors still see a possibility of a U.S.-Iranian agreement that could get oil flowing again from the Middle East to customers worldwide.

With no end in sight to their deployment, National Guard troops roam Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight months after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital and called up the National Guard, more than 2,500 troops remain. The National Guard deployment has grown increasingly routine, with no clear end in sight. Even with pivotal elections looming this year, the guard’s lingering presence is barely mentioned in city council meetings or by candidates running for mayor and Congress — perhaps reflecting both competing priorities and a sense that local officials have little power to stop it. Unless the courts step in, the National Guard will remain at least through the end of the year, if not longer.

Did Pope Leo find his voice in Africa? Or did the world finally hear him?

LUANDA, Angola (AP) — There is a case to be made that Pope Leo XIV found his voice on his epic and ongoing trip through Africa. He has been criticizing the “handful of tyrants” and “chains of corruption” that have held parts of the continent hostage for centuries. But Leo has been preaching this kind of message for a while, including in the context of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. It just took U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprecedented broadside and Vice President JD Vance’s claims of theological superiority for many people to pay attention, especially American Catholics.

Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, found decomposed in his car

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer D4vd has been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old girl who authorities say was found dismembered in his Tesla last year. Los Angeles prosecutors said Monday that the 21-year-old singer whose legal name is David Burke was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She was 13 when her family last saw her in 2024 and she was last heard from in April 2025. Her long-dead body was found in September. Burke’s lawyers said after he was arrested Thursday that he did not kill Rivas Hernandez and they will defend his innocence.