Trump again threatens widespread destruction in Iran if a deal is not reached 'shortly'
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, potentially including desalination plants that supply drinking water. Trump leveled the threats Monday, saying the U.S. would strike if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.” Iran, meanwhile, struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, and an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. A drone hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters, causing a fire. Israel and the U.S. launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, as the war raged with no end in sight.
Gulf allies privately make the case to Trump to keep fighting until Iran is decisively defeated
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf allies of the United States are urging President Donald Trump to keep prosecuting his war against Iran, saying the month of strikes has not weakened Tehran enough. That's according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials who were not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive diplomatic conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are pushing the hardest, with the UAE favoring a ground invasion. Oman and Qatar prefer diplomacy. Gulf leaders want big changes in Iran’s behavior, including ending its nuclear and missiles programs. Meanwhile, Iran is threatening Gulf neighbors' infrastructure if the war expands.
Israel's parliament approves the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament has passed a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a measure critics condemn as discriminatory and inhumane. The bill’s passage on Monday marked a major victory for Israel’s far-right, which has long pushed the measure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the chamber to vote yes in person. The law makes the death penalty — by hanging — the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted for nationalistic killings. It also gives Israeli courts the option of imposing the death penalty on Israeli citizens convicted on similar charges but legal experts say the language rules out Jewish citizens of Israel. The law is expected to face legal challenge in Israel’s Supreme Court.
Man who crashed pickup into Michigan synagogue was inspired by Iran-backed Hezbollah, FBI says
DETROIT (AP) — The FBI says a man with an assault-style rifle who crashed his pickup truck into a Detroit-area synagogue earlier in March was carrying out an attack inspired by the militant group Hezbollah and was seeking to kill many Jewish people. The head of the FBI in Detroit, Jennifer Runyan, disclosed the new information Monday about the March 12 attack. She said Lebanon native Ayman Ghazali made video recordings minutes before the attack, saying he wanted to kill as many as he could. Ghazali then smashed his truck loaded with fireworks and gasoline into the building and exchanged gunfire with a guard at Temple Israel before fatally shooting himself. The truck caught fire but did not explode. None of 150 children and staff members were injured.
Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say
Authorities say a 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school and then fatally shot himself. Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said they are still working to understand what led to the shooting Monday morning at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, a small but growing city near San Antonio. No other injuries were reported. The teacher was taken to a nearby hospital. Reynolds did not have an update on her condition Monday afternoon. He said the student shot the teacher before turning the gun on himself.
NASA begins the countdown for humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The countdown has begun toward humanity’s first launch to the moon in 53 years. NASA’s countdown clocks started ticking late Monday afternoon at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The 32-story Space Launch System rocket is poised to blast off Wednesday evening with four astronauts. After a day in orbit around Earth, their Orion capsule will propel them to the moon and back. NASA says the rocket is doing well after the latest round of repairs. The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was during Apollo 17 in 1972.
Airport bottlenecks ease as TSA workers get paid, but shutdown continues
The Transportation Safety Administration says most of its officers received most of their backpay Monday for working during the shutdown. Weary travelers hope the overdue paychecks will end the hourslong waits in security at several major U.S. airports. Wait times began improving when the TSA workers were promised their first paychecks in weeks. Bottlenecks disappeared at airports in Atlanta and Houston on Monday. Houston's main airport went from a four-hour line just day ago, to a 10-minute wait. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA officers immediately to ease the lines.
US stocks swing through another shaky day as oil prices keep climbing
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks swung as oil prices kept climbing because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran could end. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Monday and deepened its loss since the war began to pull 9.1% below its record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7%. Caution was prevalent throughout markets. After jumping to an initial gain of 0.9%, the S&P 500 quickly erased nearly all of it before seesawing lower. Indexes rose in Europe but fell sharply in some Asian markets, while the price of U.S. oil topped $100 per barrel.
Air Canada CEO will retire this year after his English-only crash message was criticized
TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada says CEO Michael Rousseau plans to retire. Rousseau had faced criticism over an English-only condolence message after a deadly crash this month at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The airline based in French-speaking Quebec said Monday that Rousseau told the board he will retire by the end of the third quarter. Two pilots died after an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal hit a fire truck on the runway. One pilot was a French-speaking Quebecer. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier François Legault criticized the airline CEO's English-only message. Hundreds have complained to Canada’s language watchdog.
NFL set to begin hiring and training replacement officials, AP sources say
PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the conversations are private. The league and the NFL Referees Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024. The current CBA expires on May 31. The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the people said.
