UN imposes 'snapback' sanctions on a hungrier, poorer and more anxious Iran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Nations has reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. That further squeezes the Islamic Republic as its people increasingly find themselves priced out of the food they need to survive and worried about their futures. After last-minute diplomacy failed at the U.N., the sanctions took effect Sunday at 0000 GMT. The sanctions will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalize any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program, among other measures. It came via a mechanism known as “snapback,” included in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Trump to meet Monday with top four congressional leaders as government shutdown risk looms
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to meet with the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Monday, one day before the deadline to fund the federal government or face a shutdown. The meeting involving House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune as well as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was confirmed Saturday by a White House official and two other people familiar with the planning. The parties have been in a standoff for days as Democrats, namely in the Senate, have refused to offer the necessary votes to pass a funding measure that would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.
Trump says he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, in latest deployment to US cities
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will send troops to Portland, Oregon. He says he is “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” to handle what he is calling “domestic terrorists.” The announcement comes as the president expanding his deployments to more cities. Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek responded by saying Trump is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city that she said is doing “just fine” on its own. She was joined by other government, police and business leaders who all said soldiers are not needed and Trump is presenting a patently false picture of the city.
The sparse indictment of Comey by Trump's Justice Department belies a complicated backstory
WASHINGTON (AP) — The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is only two pages and alleges he falsely testified to Congress in 2020 about authorizing someone to be an anonymous source in news stories. There's a backstory and it involves a long-running feud between Trump and Comey. Trump blames Comey for having started an investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 campaign that led to the appointment of a special counsel. Trump has spent years bashing Comey and saying he was worthy of being charged with treason. Comey has hardly backed down. In a 2018 memoir, Comey compared Trump to a mafia don and said he was unethical and “untethered to truth.”
Trump asks Supreme Court to uphold restrictions he wants to impose on birthright citizenship
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration is asking the Supreme Court to uphold his birthright citizenship order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily aren't American citizens. The appeal was provided to The Associated Press on Saturday. It sets in motion a process at the high court that could lead to a definitive ruling from the justices by early summer on whether the citizenship restrictions are constitutional. Lower-court judges have so far blocked them from taking effect anywhere, and the administration isn't asking the court to let the restrictions take effect before it rules.
Airstrikes and gunfire kill at least 59 people in Gaza as pressure grows for ceasefire, hostage deal
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Health officials say Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed at least 59 people across Gaza. This comes as international pressure grows for a ceasefire, but Israel's leader remains defiant. Among the dead are nine from the same family in a refugee camp. The attacks occurred after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the U.N. General Assembly that Israel "must finish the job" against Hamas. Countries are urging the U.S. to press Israel for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, hospitals in Gaza are on the brink of collapse, with shortages of medicine, equipment and food.
Officials place Des Moines schools leader on leave after his arrest by immigration agents
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have put the leader of Iowa’s largest school district on administrative leave a day after federal immigration agents arrested him because they said he was in the country illegally. The Des Moines school board voted unanimously Saturday to place Superintendant Ian Roberts on paid leave during a three-minute-long special meeting. The board said Roberts was not available to carry out his duties for the 30,000-student district and stated that officials would reassess his status after getting more information. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents detained Roberts on Friday because he was in the country illegally, didn’t have authorization to work and was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024.
Russia tells UN: No intent to attack Europe, but aggression will get a 'decisive response'
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s top diplomat is insisting to world leaders that Russia has no intention of attacking Europe. But he says any aggression against his country “will be met with a decisive response.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke as unauthorized flights into NATO’s airspace — intrusions blamed on Russia — have raised alarm around Europe in recent weeks. That's particularly after NATO jets downed drones over Poland and Estonia said Russian fighter jets flew into its territory and lingered for 12 minutes. Russia denied that its planes entered Estonian airspace and said the drones didn’t target Poland. Moscow’s ally Belarus maintains that Ukrainian signal-jamming sent the devices off course.
Stampede at a political rally for popular actor Vijay in southern India kills 36, injures 40
NEW DELHI (AP) — The health minister in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu says a stampede at a rally for a popular actor and politician has killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others. The minister tells The Associated Press late Saturday that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital. He said the injured were stable. The rally was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politician in the Karur district. Indian media reports, quoting local officials, say the stampede was triggered when a group of Vijay’s supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus.
Tropical weather in the Atlantic slams the Caribbean and may hit Southeast US next
MIAMI (AP) — Crews are preparing for a weather system forecast to near South Carolina as a hurricane early next week. The state's governor has urged people to stay alert. And North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency for the system currently known as Tropical Depression Nine. Forecasters say it could become Tropical Storm Imelda. Meanwhile Hurricane Humberto strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Saturday, threatening the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Bermuda with dangerous surf and rip currents. The Bahamas and Cuba faced heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Florida officials are also monitoring the system closely.
