Iran and US envoys hold 1st negotiation over Tehran's nuclear program, and talk face-to-face

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Iran and the United States will hold more negotiations next week over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. Iranian state television reported Saturday that U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi “briefly spoke in the presence of the Omani foreign minister” at the end of the talks Saturday. A White House statement described the talks as “very positive and constructive.” It was the first round of talks between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The two sides spoke for over two hours at a location on the outskirts of Oman's capital, Muscat. They will meet again April 19.

Israel cuts off Gaza's southern city of Rafah and vows to 'vigorously' expand in the territory

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says it has completed construction of a new security corridor that cuts off the southern city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza. The military said Saturday it would soon expand “vigorously” in most of the small coastal territory. Palestinians are further squeezed into shrinking areas of land. It is not clear where Palestinians are meant to go. The Israeli statement urged them to stand up and remove Hamas and release remaining hostages. It said “this is the only way to stop the war.” Israel has vowed to seize large parts of Gaza to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.

As tariffs put trade between China and the US in peril, Chinese businesses ponder the future

The 145% tariff from the U.S. and the retaliatory 125% tariff from China are putting businesses doing trade between the U.S. and China on edge. They're fretting not only about their next orders but also the viability of their business if there’s no relief soon. Experts are worried the decades-long trade ties that have underpinned the bilateral relationship between the world’s two largest economies might be unraveling. The high-stakes tariff war has come more than 20 years after China joined the World Trade Organization and began to see its economy soar on luring foreign investments and exporting to U.S. and other Western markets.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of failing to pause strikes after US envoy leaves Moscow

Russia and Ukraine’s top diplomats have used a high-level conference in Turkey to once again trade accusations of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. The two foreign ministers spoke at separate events at the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Saturday, a day after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace prospects. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted Moscow has stuck to the terms of a limited 30-day ceasefire. His Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha says Russia has launched daily attacks at Ukraine since agreeing to the pause.

US won't say whether it's facilitating return of mistakenly deported man, despite judge's order

The Trump administration has confirmed to a federal judge that a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported last month remained confined in a notorious prison in El Salvador. But the government’s filing on Saturday ignored the judge’s demands that the administration detail to the court what steps it was taking to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States and said he is under the authority of the El Salvador government. The filing comes one day after a U.S. government attorney struggled in a hearing to provide U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis with any information about Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts.

Dominican club collapse death toll rises to 226 after woman pulled from rubble dies in hospital

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Health officials say one woman hospitalized after being rescued from the rubble of a roof collapse at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic died on Saturday. They said that raises the death toll to 226. Officials said 189 people were rescued alive from the rubble of the popular venue in the capital Santo Domingo. More than 200 were injured, with 14 of them still hospitalized. Early on Tuesday, the roof at the nightclub Jet Set collapsed during a merengue concert. Politicians, athletes and a fashion designer were among those enjoying live music when disaster struck.

Attacks on famine-hit camps in Sudan's Darfur leave at least 100 people dead, UN official says

CAIRO (AP) — A United Nations official in Sudan says at least 100 people, including 20 children and nine aid workers, have been killed in a two-day offensive by a notorious paramilitary group. The U.N. coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, says the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias launched attacks on the famine-stricken Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps for the displaced. They also attacked the nearby city of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, on Friday and again on Saturday. Sudan’s Doctors’ Union said six medical workers with Relief International were killed when their hospital came under attack.

New laws complicate Wyoming's abortion situation as bans set to be argued in state Supreme Court

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court will hear arguments on state abortion bans that a lower court judge has struck down as unconstitutional. But even if the state high court agrees with those rulings on Wednesday, abortion in Wyoming may remain largely unresolved. Two new state laws make getting an abortion more difficult. One requires Wyoming's only abortion clinic to be licensed as a surgical center at high cost and for its physicians to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Another new law requires women to get an ultrasound before a medication abortion. The laws could remain in effect even if the state Supreme Court upholds a right to abortion.

Intellectually disabled teen shot by Idaho police dies after being removed from life support

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Relatives say an autistic and nonverbal teenage boy who was shot by Idaho police from the other side of a chain-link fence while holding a knife has died. Victor Perez was 17. He was in a coma following the shooting and was taken off life support Saturday, his aunt told The Associated Press. He had undergone several surgeries, with doctors removing nine bullets and amputating his leg. Pocatello police responded April 5 to a report of an apparently intoxicated man with a knife chasing someone in a yard. It turned out to be Perez.

New gear could keep California crab fishermen on the water longer, and whales safe

After years of a shortened crab fishing season aimed at preventing whale entanglements off the West Coast, California crabbers are experimenting with a new fishing method that allows them to stay on the water longer while keeping the marine mammals safe. The state has been running a pilot program to try out so-called pop-up gear and is expected to fully authorize it for spring Dungeness crab fishing in 2026. Some fishermen have been skeptical, but others say it works and can help keep their businesses afloat while protecting whales. Environmental advocates support the method.