Threatened by Trump tariffs, Japan walks a delicate tightrope between US and China

WASHINGTON (AP) — Among all U.S. allies being wooed by Beijing in its tariff stare-down with Washington, Japan stands out as a peculiar case. That's not only for its staunch commitment to its alliance with the U.S. but also for its complicated and uneasy history with its neighboring Asian giant, particularly the war history from the 20th century that overshadows politics of today. Its senior officials are visiting Washington and Beijing as Tokyo seeks a delicate balance, while its prime minister recently traveled to Vietnam and the Philippines in a rivalry with Beijing.

Israel plans to seize Gaza under a new plan, officials say

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Two Israeli officials say ministers have approved a plan to seize the Gaza Strip and to stay in the territory for an unspecified amount of time. If carried out, the move would vastly expand Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory and likely draw fierce international opposition. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans. Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in a vote Monday. The new plan calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza’s south. The details of the plan were not formally announced, and its exact timing and implementation were not clear.

Israel launches airstrikes on Yemen a day after Houthi rebels strike Israeli airport

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says it has carried out airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen’s Red Sea province of Hodeida. They come a day after the Iranian-backed rebels launched a missile that hit Israel’s main airport. The rebels’ media office said the United States and Israel launched at least six strikes Monday afternoon that hit the crucial Hodeida port. The rebels said other strikes hit a cement factory in the Bajil district in Hodeida province, killing one and wounding 35 others. On Sunday, a missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main international airport. Four people were lightly injured.

The Latest: Trump administration offers to pay immigrants in the US illegally for 'self-deportation'

The Trump administration says it will pay immigrants in the United States illegally $1,000 plus travel costs if they leave voluntarily as it accelerates its mass deportation agenda. The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that people who use the CBP Home app to announce their “self-deportations” would get the money and be “deprioritized” for detention and removal. Trump announced on social media that he's ordered federal agencies to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious and crumbling former island prison in San Francisco Bay. And he threatened a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, leaving unclear how that could possibly be implemented.

New York Times wins 4 Pulitzers, New Yorker 3; Washington Post wins for coverage of Trump shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times won four Pulitzer Prizes and The New Yorker three for journalism in 2024. Prizes were awarded on Monday for reporting, photography and commentary that touched on issues including the war in Gaza, the fentanyl crisis and last summer’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. ProPublica won the prestigious public service medal for the second straight year, this time for reporting on pregnant women who died because of doctors who did not provide care because of concerns about new abortion laws. The Pulitzers also honored editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes, who quit the Washington Post because it wouldn’t run her cartoon criticizing tech leaders that included her newspaper’s owner

Army pausing helicopter flights near Washington airport after close calls

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon. The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause flight operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following Thursday’s close calls, two Army officials confirmed to The Associated Press. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not publicly announced. The unit is continuing to fly in the greater Washington, D.C., region. The pause comes after 67 people died in January when a passenger jet collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan airport.

Ahead of the conclave, Vatican staff vow secrecy under threat of excommunication

VATICAN CITY (AP) — All Vatican personnel involved in supporting the upcoming papal conclave must take an oath of secrecy — under penalty of automatic excommunication. The ceremony  on Monday, mandated by Vatican law and revised by Pope Benedict XVI, includes clerics and lay staff alike: cooks, cleaners, doctors, nurses and security officials. Nearly 135 cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel, beginning on Wednesday, to vote in secret for Pope Francis’s successor. The oath, which explicitly forbids recording or disclosing anything from within the conclave, underscores the Church’s insistence on confidentiality. Cardinals are bound by their own rules of secrecy. They will take their oaths on Wednesday.

Boat believed to be carrying migrants capsizes off California coast, leaving 3 dead and 7 missing

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Officials say a small boat believed to be carrying migrants capsized off San Diego's Pacific coast, leaving three people dead, four injured and seven others missing. Officials said initially nine people were missing but later authorities apprehended two. It was unclear which agency apprehended them or why. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey says it was unclear where the boat was coming from before it flipped about 35 miles north of the Mexico border. He described the boat as a panga. Pangas are open boats designed for fishing but commonly used by smugglers. Coast Guard crews were searching near Torrey Pines State Beach.

Hegseth directs 20% cut to top military leadership positions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is directing the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers. The deep cuts are part of what the Trump administration says is an effort to promote efficiency but that critics worry could result in a more politicized force. Hegseth also is telling the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions. In a memo dated Monday, he said the cuts will remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” The Pentagon is under pressure to slash spending and personnel as part of the broader federal government cuts pushed by President Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Met Gala pays tribute to Black fashion and designers and includes Rihanna pregnancy surprise

NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna has shut down the rain-soaked Met Gala in a Marc Jacobs menswear-inspired look with a pinstripe jacket as a bustle. Many in the starry crowd stayed true to the menswear theme of fashion’s biggest night. Janelle Monáe epitomized the night’s theme, the Black dandy, in exaggerated pinstripes by Thom Browne. Lauryn Hill honored menswear in a butter yellow suit with exaggerated tailoring that screamed Black power. Doja Cat donned a Marc Jacobs bodysuit, while Teyana Taylor went for a stunning Zoot Suit look. The gala raises the bulk of the annual budget for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and this year took in a record haul: $31 million.