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New footage raises likelihood the US struck an Iranian school where a blast killed at least 165

March 9, 2026

By JULIA FRANKEL - Associated Press

The investigative group Bellingcat says newly released video “appears to contradict” U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for an explosion at an Iranian school that killed over 165 people. The video shared by Bellingcat is a three-second clip of a video on the day the school was struck, circulated Sunday by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency. The video shows a munition falling on a building. A Bellingcat researcher identified the munition as a Tomahawk cruise missile — which only the U.S. is known to possess in this war.

Iran names Khamenei’s son to succeed him, signaling no letup in war as oil prices surge

March 9, 2026

The Associated Press,

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei(CNN) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel. Oil prices surged as Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the U.S. and Israel bombed targets across Iran. The secretive 56-year-old…

US military kills 6 in strike on alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific

March 9, 2026

AP

The U.S. military says it has killed six men in a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against alleged traffickers. Sunday’s attack brought the death toll to at least 157 people since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in small vessels in early September. As with most of the military’s statements on the more than 40 known strikes, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. It posted a video on X that showed a small boat floating on the water and then being blown up.

Where things stand after another weekend of war

March 8, 2026

By CARA ANNA - Associated Press

The Iran war has begun its second week. Iran has named a son of its late supreme leader as his successor. U.S. President Donald Trump already had called Mojtaba Khamenei “unacceptable” in the role. Both sides kept striking new targets over the weekend, including civilian ones. Oil prices shot above $100 a barrel. The U.S. military announced the death of another soldier. Saudi Arabia announced the first deaths in the war there. Anger grew in Arab countries over Iran’s launching of hundreds of missiles and drones. The Israeli military’s chief of staff warned that the war “will take a long time.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 share index falls more than 6% as oil soars over $100 a barrel

March 8, 2026

By ELAINE KURTENBACH - AP Business Writer

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index has plunged more than 6% after oil prices soared to over $100 a barrel due to disruptions from the war in the Middle East. The Nikkei tumbled 6.2% to 52,166.92 shortly after trading began early Monday. South Korea’s Kospi sank 6.3% and shares in Australia and New Zealand more than 3%. Crude prices are at their highest level in more than three and a half years as the war ensnares major oil-producing countries and hinders exports from the Persian Gulf. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, was at $109.46 a barrel and U.S. benchmark crude traded at 107.37 a barrel. Both were 18% above their closing prices Friday.

Union Gospel Mission’s “Miles for the Mission” 5K draws over 100 people

March 8, 2026

Lauren Martinson,

DULUTH, Minn. — Over 100 people participated in the 2nd annual “Miles for the Mission” 5K, hosted by Union Gospel Mission. The event serves both as a fundraiser and a symbolic journey, with the route intentionally mirroring the path many Mission guests take upon leaving the Mission. Scheduled for March, the 5K challenges participants with cold, slippery conditions, highlighting the…

What China’s latest economic plans say about its tech ambitions and rivalry with the US

March 8, 2026

By KEN MORITSUGU and CHAN HO-HIM - Associated Press

Two major economic plans unveiled at the annual meeting of China’s legislature outline top priorities. One is building a robust domestic market. The other is building China into a tech leader. Together they highlight the government’s balancing act between its efforts to transform the economy while managing a prolonged period of sluggishness. China is such a large exporter that the choices it makes affect countries and jobs around the world. The plans were presented at the opening of the National People’s Congress and are set to be endorsed by the rubber-stamp legislature on the final day of the eight-day session on Thursday.

MnDOT: Blatnik Bridge replacement delay would add at least $400M to project

March 8, 2026

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The price tag to replace the Blatnik Bridge will rise by at least $400 million from inflation alone if construction does not begin this year for the five-year project, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT said it can’t begin construction without $1.8 billion in federal grants that were approved in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill during…

Fox News apologizes for showing old video of a hatless Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony

March 8, 2026

By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer

Fox News has apologized for airing old video of a hatless President Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony as part of its coverage. In polarized times, online critics suggested that Fox was trying to make Trump look better with pictures that suggested he wasn’t wearing a baseball cap on Saturday during the ceremony for the return of the remains of six service members killed in the Middle East war. Fox insisted this wasn’t so, that a staff member inadvertently called up video of an old ceremony when preparing the story. Fox News anchor Johnny “Joey” Jones said he believed it was an honest mistake, “but that doesn’t mean it was an acceptable one.”

‘Country’ Joe McDonald, ’60s rock star, proud protest counterculture icon, dies at 84

March 8, 2026

By HILLEL ITALIE - AP National Writer

“Country” Joe McDonald, a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music festival, died Sunday at 84. His death from complications of Parkinson’s disease was reported by his wife of 43 years, Kathy McDonald. The performer was a longtime presence in the Bay Area music scene, where peers included the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane and his onetime girlfriend, Janis Joplin. He wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from psychedelic jams to soul-influenced rockers, and released dozens of albums.

Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping

March 8, 2026

By ALEX VEIGA - AP Business Writer

Oil prices have jumped past $100 a barrel as the Iran war disrupts oil production and shipping in the Middle East. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was at $101.19 shortly after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, up 9.2% from its settlement price of $92.69 Friday. Crude prices haven’t been that high in more than three and a half years. The Middle East is home to the world’s largest concentration of proven oil reserves. Supply concerns have driven crude and gasoline higher as the war ensnares major oil-producing countries and hinders exports from the Persian Gulf.

Tarik Skubal rethinks World Baseball Classic plan after an emotional US start

March 8, 2026

AP

Tarik Skubal is thinking about pitching again for the United States in the World Baseball Classic after the Detroit Tigers ace had previously planned to make just one start. His mindset changed after he started for the U.S. in a 9-1 win over Britain on Saturday night. Skubal said he was talking with his agent, Scott Boras, and the Tigers about the situation but had not made a final decision.

29-year-old North Branch man killed in snowmobile crash

March 8, 2026

Maria Vollom,

One person is dead following a snowmobile crash in northern Minnesota. According to authorities, the crash happened just after 10 p.m. on March 5 along the Arrowhead Trail, about 25 miles north of Orr. First responders and law enforcement were called to the area after receiving a report of a single-vehicle snowmobile crash. The person who called said a friend…

Counterprotester threw improvised explosive at anti-Islam event in NYC, police say

March 8, 2026

Associated Press

A device thrown by a counterprotester during an anti-Islam demonstration in New York City was an improvised explosive. Police say the object contained nuts, bolts and screws, plus a hobby fuse. Police Commissioner Tisch said Sunday that the bomb squad confirmed the device was not a hoax or smoke bomb, but a life-threatening improvised explosive. Two counterprotesters are in custody with charges pending. The confrontation unfolded outside the home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a protest organized by the far right activist Jake Lang to “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City.” Police also said Sunday that they were looking into a second suspicious device found in the same area of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Japan rallies late to beat Australia 4-3, clinches first place in group at World Baseball Classic

March 8, 2026

By The Associated Press

Defending champion Japan became the first nation to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then rallied on Masataka Yoshida’s two-run homer in the seventh inning to beat Australia 4-3 at the Tokyo Dome and assure first place in its first-round group. Japan clinched advancement earlier Sunday when South Korea lost to Taiwan 5-4 in 10 innings. Japan’s win clinched first place in Group C for Shohei Ohtani and the Samurai Warriors, who are 3-0. At Miami, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero and Austin Wells homered as the Dominican Republic routed the Netherlands 12-1 in seven innings.

NTSB member says he was fired without explanation by the Trump administration

March 8, 2026

AP

A member of the National Transportation Safety Board says he has been fired without explanation by the Trump administration. Todd Inman says he received notice Friday that his position on the board had been terminated, effective immediately. The White House had no immediate response to a message left by The Associated Press seeking comment. Inman was the lead board member overseeing two major crash investigations last year. Those included the collision of an Army helicopter with an airliner near the nation’s capital and the deadly Kentucky crash of a UPS cargo plane. Inman’s dismissal follows the firing last year of another board member, who sued over his firing.

Bucks won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo available for Sunday’s game with Magic

March 8, 2026

AP

Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t play Sunday night against the Orlando Magic as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to work him back gradually from the right calf strain that caused him to miss 15 straight games. The Bucks are playing for a second straight night. The 6-foot-11 forward had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 27 minutes Saturday as the Bucks snapped a four-game skid with a 113-99 victory over the Utah Jazz. Antetokounmpo has played three games since returning from the calf injury that knocked him out for five weeks.

A retired Lebanese security officer vanishes and his family thinks it was a covert Israeli abduction

March 8, 2026

By BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press

A retired Lebanese security officer has gone missing and his family says Israeli operatives kidnapped him to get information about a long-missing Israeli airman. Relatives tell The Associated Press that a group of operatives lured Ahmed Shukr to the town of Zahle with a fake offer to buy some land from him. His wife says camera footage shows him leaving his car and getting into another. The family says his phone last registered in a nearby village the next morning. Lebanese prosecutors have charged four suspects. One of them is under arrest. Israel’s military has refused to comment. Shukr’s family says he is sick and needs daily medication.

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ bounds to No. 1 as Warner Bros.’ ‘The Bride!’ is on life support

March 8, 2026

By LINDSEY BAHR - AP Film Writer

Disney and Pixar’s new film “Hoppers” is leading the North American box office with a strong debut, while Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!” is stumbling. Studio estimates on Sunday show “Hoppers” made $46 million in its first weekend domestically and $88 million globally after adding in international receipts. In the same weekend, “The Bride!” opened with about $7.3 million in North America and a total of $13.6 million globally, despite a big production budget. “Hoppers” is a boost for original Pixar movies after “Elio” failed to connect with audiences. Reviews and audience scores also favor “Hoppers.” Meanwhile “The Bride!” is collecting mixed reactions from audiences and critics.

Police in Norway investigate an explosion outside the US Embassy in Oslo

March 8, 2026

By STEFANIE DAZIO and MATTHEW LEE - Associated Press

Norwegian police are investigating an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. No injuries were reported. Police say they received reports of a “loud bang” or explosion around 1 a.m. Sunday. Police say the explosion was caused by some sort of incendiary device. Investigators believe the embassy was the target and are searching for any perpetrators and their motive. The police security service called in additional personnel following the incident but hasn’t changed Norway’s terror threat level. The U.S. Embassy in Oslo referred media queries to the U.S. State Department which didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

International Women’s Day is a celebration and a call to action. Here are things to know

March 8, 2026

By The Associated Press

Women across the world will call for equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice and decision-making jobs during demonstrations marking International Women’s Day. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees in places around the world. This years’ theme is “Give to Gain.” It comes at a moment where many activists worry that the current political environment may result in a backsliding on many of the rights they’ve long fought for.

Iran soccer team exits Women’s Asian Cup and faces the prospect of a return home

March 8, 2026

AP

Iran’s national soccer team has finished the Women’s Asian Cup group stage in Australia and now faces a return home to a country embroiled in war. Iran lost 2-0 to Philippines after earlier losses to South Korea and Australia in the group stage. The squad arrived in Australia before strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran. Players have mostly declined to comment on the war, although a muted anthem moment has sparked debate. The Australian Iranian Council has urged Australia’s government to protect the squad while it is still in Australia. It has launched an online petition that had more than 50,000 electronic signatures by kick-off in Iran’s last group game.

Democrat Roy Cooper needs to defy North Carolina history to keep winning streak alive in Senate race

March 8, 2026

By GARY D. ROBERTSON and BILL BARROW - Associated Press

North Carolina Democrats have had success in winning elections for governor. It’s a different story in Senate races. A former governor is out to change that when Roy Cooper takes on Republican Michael Whatley in November. Whatley was Donald Trump’s national Republican Party chairman. Republicans want to frame Cooper as too far left for a state that Trump won three times. That tactic will test Cooper’s bond with voters established across four decades of winning campaigns. Cooper wants to turn that narrative on its head. He says Whatley is a tool of “well-connected friends in Washington” who can’t effectively represent the state.

Trump’s ‘roaring’ economy meets a rough start to 2026: What the latest numbers show

March 8, 2026

By JOSH BOAK - Associated Press

President Donald Trump promised that 2026 would be a bumper year for economic growth. Instead it’s kicked off with job losses, rising gasoline prices and more uncertainty about America’s future. In his recent State of the Union address, Trump said “the roaring economy is roaring like never before.” The latest batch of data on jobs, gasoline prices and the stock market suggests otherwise. There’s a gap between the boom that Trump has predicted and the results he’s produced. And that could set the tone in this year’s midterm elections as he tries to defend Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

Oil built the Persian Gulf. Desalinated water keeps it alive. War could threaten both

March 8, 2026

By ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG - Associated Press

As the Iran war widens, experts say the Middle East’s real strategic weak point may be water — not oil. Much of the Gulf’s drinking supply comes from desalination plants clustered along vulnerable coastlines within easy range of Iranian missiles and drones. Many of the individual plants supply water to millions of people. Without them, major cities could not sustain their current populations. In recent days, Iranian drones struck an energy facility that powers a desalination plant in the United Arab Emirates and sparked a fire at a desalination plant in Kuwait. Oil spills, contamination and sabatoge also could disrupt supplies of the freshwater that also sustains hotels, industry and some agriculture.

The Latest: Israel hits Lebanon and Tehran oil depot as desalination plants become targets

March 8, 2026

By The Associated Press

Israel has escalated its war with Iran with strikes in Lebanon and Tehran, and Iran has hit sensitive water sites in the Gulf. On Sunday, Israeli attacks ignited oil storage facilities in Tehran and left the capital under smoke. Iran says U.S. strikes also damaged a desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Bahrain says an Iranian drone damaged its desalination plant and wounded three people. Iranian leaders warned the conflict is driving oil prices higher and threatening supply. Iran’s president also threatened more attacks on U.S. targets as fighting spreads across the region.

Iran’s border with Turkey offers a way out, but few are leaving for good

March 8, 2026

By SERRA YEDIKARDES - Associated Press

Iranians are using a border crossing into Turkey as one of the only ways out during the war in Iran, with the country’s airspace closed. A major influx of refugees has not yet materialized. Many people are crossing for work or family ties, while some have moved up planned trips. A few say they want to wait out the fighting in Turkey. Travelers say lack of money has prevented many others from fleeing. Some fly onward from Van, but flight cancellations have also disrupted plans. Turkish officials took measures to prepare for refugees after at one point hosting nearly 4 million Syrian refugees.

China hopes 2026 will be a ‘landmark year’ for relationship with US

March 8, 2026

By HUIZHONG WU - Associated Press

China says it hopes this year will be a “landmark year” in relations with the United States, as the two sides prepare for an expected leaders’ summit later this month. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells reporters in Beijing that the two leaders have had “good exchanges” at the highest levels. U.S. President Donald Trump is due in Beijing near the end of March. While China did not confirm the summit, Wang says both sides have a ready agenda for discussions. The U.S. and China have tensions over issues from trade to national security.

12 years on, renewed hunt for missing Flight MH370 comes up empty as families press for answers

March 8, 2026

AP

Malaysian authorities say a renewed deep-sea search in the southern Indian Ocean has failed so far to find Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, twelve years after it disappeared. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau said Sunday that a seabed search conducted by marine robotics company Ocean Infinity between March 2025 and January 2026 surveyed thousands of square kilometers of ocean floor but has not produced any confirmed findings of the aircraft wreckage. Malaysia approved the hunt last year under a no-find, no-fee deal. The company gets paid only if it finds debris. Voice 370, a family advocacy group, is urging Malaysia to extend Ocean Infinity’s contract, which runs until June.

George Russell wins Formula 1’s Australian GP as Mercedes goes 1-2

March 8, 2026

By STEWART BELL - Associated Press

George Russell wins a dramatic season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and Mercedes seals a one-two with Kimi Antonelli. It’s Mercedes’ 61st one-two result and first since 2024’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc jumps into the lead at the first corner and then trades positions with pole sitter Russell. On lap 12, a virtual safety car comes out after Isack Hadjar stops on track. Mercedes pits both cars and gains an edge. Leclerc finishes third as Ferrari’s slow reaction during the yellow flags cost the team. Lewis Hamilton takes fourth. Oscar Piastri crashes before the start and misses his home race.

Photos show damage left by powerful storms as volunteers help communities clean up

March 8, 2026

By The Associated Press

Powerful storms tore through parts of Michigan and Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction that included flattened homes and scattered debris. Volunteers helped residents sift through rubble and begin cleanup as the threat of severe weather lingers across the nation’s midsection. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US & World News

Cocoa beans rot and West African farmers seek other options after commodity crash

March 7, 2026

By EDWARD ACQUAH and OPE ADETAYO - Associated Press

West African cocoa farmers are facing a squeeze after the price of the global commodity crashed on the international market in recent months. Now some across Ghana and Ivory Coast are turning their land over to other purposes like mining sites. The two countries are responsible for nearly 70% of the world’s supply of the commodity that feeds global chocolate cravings. Markets fluctuate, but one former agricultural union leader says authorities were not prepared for a crisis of this scale. Governments have long set the price for which farmers can sell their crop, but now the tradition is being challenged.

Decades after violence in Selma spurred the Voting Rights Act, organizers worry about its fate

March 7, 2026

AP

Alabama is marking the 61st anniversary of a key event in the Civil Rights Movement, when state troopers attacked voting rights marchers in Selma. The violence on March 7, 1965, shocked the nation and galvanized support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The annual commemoration pays homage to those who fought to secure voting rights for Black Americans. But the celebrations in Selma this weekend come as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the landmark legislation. Marchers are scheduled to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday.

AI is spurring a big expansion of high-voltage power lines. Landowners and locals are fighting back

March 7, 2026

By MARC LEVY - Associated Press

Bigger and bigger data centers are leading to proposals for massive electric power transmission lines, sometimes across hundreds of miles. These high-voltage power lines cost tens of billions of dollars a year and are the latest front line in the battle over tech giants’ massive operations. Artificial intelligence advances are seen by President Donald Trump as critical to the nation’s economic and national security. But their energy needs are threatening to overwhelm the power grid and the transmission expansion is drawing opposition from landowners, conservationists, local officials, consumer advocates and states.

Russia sits back as the Iran war escalates, expecting long-term gains

March 7, 2026

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV - Associated Press

As U.S. and Israeli missiles and bombs rain on Iran, Russia has responded with words of indignation — but no action to support its ally. The cautious stance is driven by President Vladimir Putin’s focus on Ukraine and his apparent hope that the Iran war will play into Moscow’s hands by boosting its oil revenues and eroding Western support for Kyiv. While Moscow’s failure to help another ally after the 2024 ouster of former Syrian ruler Bashar Assad and January’s U.S. arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro highlighted limits of its influence the Kremlin expects to reap benefits from the Iran war. Russia is already profiting from a surge in global energy prices.

Hurley ejected in final second of Marquette’s 68-62 win over No. 4 UConn

March 7, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Nigel James Jr. scored 19 points and UConn coach Dan Hurley was ejected in the final second as Marquette hung on for a 68-62 victory that prevented the fourth-ranked Huskies from claiming a share of the Big East regular-season title. UConn trailed 64-62 when the Huskies’ Silas Demary Jr. missed a contested driving layup attempt while being defended by Ben Gold. Marquette’s Chase Ross won the battle for the loose ball and got fouled with one second left. Hurley argued the lack of a foul call and was whistled for two technical fouls before heading to the locker room while shaking his head.

UConn’s Hurley beefing with officials again ahead of March Madness, draws $25K fine from Big East

March 7, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Add another chapter to UConn coach Dan Hurley’s combative history with officials just as March Madness is approaching. Hurley was ejected from the fourth-ranked Huskies’ 68-62 loss to Marquette on Saturday after picking up two technical fouls with one second remaining. Hurley argued that UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. was fouled by Marquette’s Ben Gold while driving to the basket with the Huskies trailing 64-62. Hurley approached John Gaffney and got his chest next to the official’s right shoulder while voicing his displeasure. The Big East fined Hurley $25,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Trump grieves with families during return of soldiers killed in war in the Middle East

March 7, 2026

Matt McConico,

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for the six U.S. soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, of White Bear Lake The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one…

Apparent murder-suicide under investigation in International Falls

March 7, 2026

Dan Hanger,

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — An apparent murder-suicide is being investigated in International Falls. At 4:40 a.m. Friday, a Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on routine patrol when he noted a vehicle running in the driveway of a residence in the 4100 block of Highway 11, according to a news release Saturday. The deputy was aware of a protection order…

Ford recalls 1.74 million of its cars over rearview display issues

March 7, 2026

AP

Ford has issued two recalls affecting nearly 1.74 million of its cars in the U.S., due to software issues impacting the vehicles’ rearview camera displays that could increase crash risks. According to notices published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week, an internal component inside the infotainment system of certain 2021-2026 Ford Broncos and 2021-2024 Ford Edges may overheat and shut down — preventing the rearview image from displaying when drivers are going in reverse. Meanwhile, some 2020-2022 Ford Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs, as well as 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviators and Explorers, may show a flipped or inverted rearview image.

US detainees in Iran risk becoming collateral damage in war, families and supporters fear

March 7, 2026

By PHILIP MARCELO and ERIC TUCKER - Associated Press

Families and supporters of Americans detained in Iran worry that their loved ones risk becoming collateral damage amid continued Israeli and American bombardment, or victims of retaliation from Iran’s repressive regime. Advocates for the detainees estimate there are at least six Americans are held in Iran, including some housed in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. Among the Americans currently detained are Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian American reporter, Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian American jeweler from New York, and Afarin Mohajer, a California resident originally from Iran. The Trump administration declined to respond to specific questions about the detainees, but called on Iran to immediately release them.

Cuba says crews repaired a large power plant that caused a massive outage

March 7, 2026

AP

Cuban officials say they expect to soon restart a large thermoelectric plant after it shut down earlier in the week and sparked a massive blackout. Felix Estrada Rodriguez, a top engineer at Cuba’s Electric Union, told state-owned Canal Caribe that the Antonio Guiteras plant should be operating by Saturday afternoon. Crews have repaired a broken boiler at the plant that caused the outage on Wednesday. It left millions without power in the island’s western region, the second such outage in three months.

Oil and gas prices rapidly rise as Iran war shows no signs of letting up

March 7, 2026

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ - AP Business Writer

The price of oil surged higher and showed no signs of halting its rapid climb a week after the U.S. and Israel launched major attacks on Iran that escalated into a war in the Middle East. Oil prices surpassed $90 a barrel Friday. The conflict has left ships that carry roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day stranded in the Persian Gulf. That disruption and damage to key oil and gas facilities in the Middle East has led to an interruption in the supply of oil and gas. The fallout is ratcheting up what consumers and business will pay for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, with some drivers already feeling it at the pump.

Families with missing loved ones like Nancy Guthrie face ambiguous loss. It freezes grief

March 7, 2026

By ED WHITE - Associated Press

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, remains missing after nearly 40 days in Arizona. In neighboring New Mexico, Lynette Pino says she has something in common: Her son remains missing nearly 18 years after leaving home to visit his father. Pino says she prays for the Guthrie family to get some answers. Experts say what Pino and the Guthries are experiencing is “ambiguous loss.” A loved one has disappeared, making it maddeningly mysterious and possibly permanent. Tai Mendenhall, a family therapist at the University of Minnesota, says faith and community can help.

Ex-rapper’s political party leads early results in Nepal’s first election since 2025 youth revolt

March 7, 2026

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA - Associated Press

Preliminary and partial results show that a new political party led by an ex-rapper is leading Nepal’s parliamentary election, the country’s first since last year’s revolt. The Rastriya Swatantra, or National Independent Party, had already won 60 of 165 directly elected seats and was leading in 61 other constituencies in the results published by Nepal’s Election Commission on Saturday. Its prime ministerial candidate is rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race and emerged as a leading figure in the 2025 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. The 35-year-old rode a wave of public anger toward traditional political parties to emerge as front-runner during the campaign.

Trump administration and Democrats at odds over risk to US weapons stockpiles from Iran war

March 7, 2026

By BEN FINLEY - Associated Press

The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have raised concerns among Democrats and others about diminishing American stockpiles of certain weapons. It illustrates a long-standing production problem that some experts say could present challenges if another conflict emerges. Missile defense systems are in high demand, particularly in Ukraine and Israel. Their use in Iran has worried some Democratic lawmakers about sufficient stockpiles. The Trump administration has repeatedly said American forces have all of the weapons they need to fight the war in Iran.

Trump will join grieving families for the return of soldiers killed in war in the Middle East

March 7, 2026

By SEUNG MIN KIM - Associated Press

President Donald Trump plans to attend the dignified transfer for the six U.S. soldiers killed in the Middle East. On Saturday afternoon, Trump will join their mourning families at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base as the soldiers’ remains return to the United States. The soldiers died last week in a drone strike on a command center in Kuwait. They served with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a logistics unit based in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump has said bearing witness to a dignified transfer is “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.

Pope names veteran Vatican diplomat as ambassador to the US to manage relations with Trump

March 7, 2026

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV named a veteran Vatican diplomat as his new ambassador to the United States. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia is tasked with managing one of the Holy See’s most important bilateral relationships, which has come under strain over the Trump administration’s war in Iran and immigration crackdown. Caccia is currently the Holy See’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He replaces Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who at age 80 is retiring as apostolic nuncio in Washington.

Trump looks to turn attention to Western Hemisphere, at least for a moment, at a regional summit

March 7, 2026

By AAMER MADHANI and JOSHUA GOODMAN - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is set to gather with Latin American leaders at his Miami-area golf club. The event Saturday comes as his administration is trying to demonstrate it remains committed to sharpening its focus on the Western Hemisphere even as it deals with crises elsewhere. The summit comes just two months after Trump ordered a military operation to capture Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro. Looming even larger is Trump’s decision to join with Israel to launch a war on Iran one week ago. The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago are set to attend.

The Latest: Israel hammers Beirut and Tehran as Iranian president apologizes to Gulf neighbors

March 7, 2026

By The Associated Press

Iran’s president has rejected a U.S. call for unconditional surrender as Israeli and US airstrikes keep hitting Iran. On Saturday, Masoud Pezeshkian also apologizes to Gulf countries after Iranian missiles and drones targeted Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman. Saudi Arabia says it intercepted drones aimed at its Shaybah oil field. Dubai International Airport halted flights after alerts, blasts and passengers sheltering in train tunnels. Israel is striking Beirut, southern Lebanon and Tehran. Officials report rising deaths in Iran, Lebanon and Israel, plus six U.S. troops killed.

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