Pope arrives in Angola on Africa tour overshadowed by Trump

Singer D4vd was charged Monday with the murder and dismemberment of a teenage girl whose decomposing body was found in an abandoned Tesla in the Hollywood Hills.

The 21-year-old, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was expected to appear in court Monday to face multiple charges over the horrifying death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in September, days after what would have been her 15th birthday.

"These charges include the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring: that is first degree murder with special circumstances," Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters.

"The special circumstances being lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain or murdering a witness in an investigation."

If convicted, Hochman said, Burke could face a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Burke, who shot to internet fame in 2022 when his song "Romantic Homicide" became a breakout hit on TikTok, also faces charges that he repeatedly had sex with Celeste -- who disappeared from her family home when she was 13 -- and that he cut up her body.

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Traffic once again seized up in the Strait of Hormuz as both Tehran and Washington imposed separate blockades, with Iranian vessels continuing to test the US shutdown, tracking data showed Monday.

Iran announced on Friday that it would reopen the strategic waterway, but the United States did not reciprocate for vessels going to and from Iranian ports.

Dozens of commercial vessels passed through the strait before Iran reclosed the passage on Saturday, later warning that any approaching ship would be treated as a target.

Since Sunday, only four ships have made the crossing in either direction, according to marine tracking firm Kpler.

One of those, the Iranian-flagged Nova Crest that is sanctioned by the US, headed out of the Gulf at around 0400 GMT on Monday, and continued to make its way through the Gulf of Oman, according to Marine Traffic.

However, it is usually when a vessel reaches the Iranian border with Pakistan that the US imposes its blockade.

Iran allowed the sanctioned gas tanker Axon I to enter the Gulf on Monday, destined for the UAE and therefore not subject to the US blockade. 

Gas tanker G Summer crossed in the opposite direction on Sunday, having gone into the Gulf earlier in the week, but did not appear to dock at an Iranian port.

It was last detected close to the open sea near the Omani capital of Muscat.

The fourth vessel to cross was the Panama-flagged Starway, owned by China-based firm Hechuang International Group, according to Bloomberg.

The tanker passed westwards through the Iran-approved route at around 0800 GMT on Monday, but made a U-turn around 1200 GMT and was last detected heading back towards the strait.

Since the start of the blockade, US forces have directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port, the US military said Monday.

The US appeared to have halted the progress of the sanctioned container ship Shamim on Sunday, which was last detected close to the Iranian port of Chabahar.

Iranian-flagged bulk carrier Artman was also redirected to Chabahar after apparently being intercepted by the US at around 2130 GMT Sunday.

LPG tanker Raine, also sanctioned, was close to entering open seas on Sunday before performing a U-turn and sailing back towards the strait.

While these vessels seem to have heeded US military demands to change course, President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday that the container ship Touska was seized after failing to respond to a warning to stop. 

Iran also took action to impose its own closure, with New Delhi summoning the Iranian ambassador on Saturday to lodge a protest over a "shooting incident" involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

French-flagged container ship CMA CGM Everglade also reported being hit by "an unknown projectile which caused damage to some of the containers", according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The brief opening of the waterway had little effect on reducing the number of vessels stuck in the Gulf.

More than 750 commercial vessels transmitted signals from within the Gulf on Sunday, of which around 350 were oil or gas tankers, according to tracking data collated by Bloomberg.

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Brazil's two-time World Cup winner Cafu said on Monday he believes this year's tournament is the perfect time for the five-time champions to take back the crown for the first time for 24 years.

Cafu was captain when Brazil won their fifth World Cup, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama.

He was also part of the side that beat Italy on penalties to win in 1994 in Pasadena.

"Twenty-four years after the last title win, I think it's the perfect moment for Brazil," Cafu told reporters in Madrid, where he is attending the Laureus Awards.

"We've also brought in a serial winner of a coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who will add to the greatness of the Brazilian national team."

Cafu, who was a right-back, said Brazil already had strength in midfield and attack, so Ancelotti had focused on strengthening the defence for this year's tournament to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada.

"Because if Brazil doesn't concede goals in a World Cup, they're sure to score a goal per game," Cafu said.

He said he hoped Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, a player often embroiled in controversy, would have a strong tournament, saying: "The World Cup is the best way to overcome any kind of controversy.

"In those eight matches (if they reach the final), Vinícius Junior has the potential to show the whole world his worth and what he can do in terms of football."

Vinícius produced an assist in the 3-1 victory over Croatia in Orlando on April 1, which helped dispel doubts after the defeat against France in another friendly.

Endrick, 19, also shone in the the Croatia win.

"I think it's a good time for him," said Cafu, who believes Real Madrid's decision to loan the forward to French club Lyon last year had been a positive move for the teenager.

"It did him a lot of good. It helped him grow, play, make his mark, and become a key player. It's obvious that at Real Madrid, with so many stars, it's difficult for a young player to become a key player.

"He's a young player who can contribute a lot to Brazil, and I'm sure Ancelotti is looking at him favourably," added Cafu.

Bookmakers have placed Brazil among the top five favourites, with reigning European champions Spain currently leading the way.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that his government would introduce sweeping measures, including restrictions on gun ownership, after two school shootings last week that shocked Turkey.

Eight students aged 10 and 11 and a teacher were killed Wednesday when a 14-year-old student opened fire at a school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras. 

Authorities said the attacker, who died at the scene, had brought five firearms and was the son of a former police inspector, who has since been arrested. 

A separate attack on Tuesday in southeastern Sanliurfa province involved a former student who opened fire at his old high school before taking his own life when confronted by police. 

"We will implement additional legal regulations regarding the limitation of gun ownership," Erdogan said after a weekly cabinet meeting. 

Penalties would be increased for firearm owners who fail to properly secure their weapons, particularly in cases where children gain access to them, he added.

Mass shootings are rare in Turkey, and the incidents have sparked public concern. 

"When we look at similar attacks around the world, especially those carried out in the United States, we see that one of the perpetrators' aims is to terrorise society," Erdogan said. 

"Such attacks target not only the shedding of innocent blood but also, like terrorist organisations, provoking public outrage and creating anxiety, unease, fear, and distress within society".

School safety would be among the government's top priorities, he added.

He also said the authorities would expand surveillance online, including by making use of artificial intelligence.

The relevant institutions would address what he described as "violence and moral decay" on television screens, he added, calling for greater emphasis on productions that promote family values. 

"Portraying perpetrators in productions themed around crime and violence as strong, influential, exempt from punishment, or even respectable undermines our youth's connection to reality," he said.

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Defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi completed a Kenyan double-double at the Boston Marathon on Monday, both delivering tactical masterpieces to clinch back-to-back victories in the 130th edition of the prestigious road race.

Korir took advantage of perfect racing conditions to claim the fourth marathon win of his career with a majestic performance to win the men's race in a new course record.  

The 29-year-old defending champion bided his time before pulling away from Ethiopia's Milkesa Mengesha after 20 miles to finish in a time of 2hr 1min 52sec.

Korir's winning time obliterated the previous course record of 2hr 03min 02sec set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.

Tanzania's world champion Alphonce Simbu finished second in 2hr 02min 47sec, sprinting past Kenya's Benson Kipruto down the closing straight.

Korir's second Boston victory follows his wins at the Chicago Marathon in 2024 and the Valencia Marathon in December.

Korir's serene victory was in stark contrast to last year's Boston win, when the Kenyan fell during the early stages of the race before recovering to clinch a memorable win.

"This year was a breeze for me because I had no problems at the start or at the finish," Korir said afterwards. "It felt like a race back home with all the people cheering. It was in my mind to set the course record and I thank God that he fulfilled my wishes."

- 'Patient' Lokedi dominates -

Korir's emphatic win in the men's race was emulated by Lokedi in the women's elite event, who took the tape in 2hr 18min 51sec.

The 32-year-old collected the third major marathon victory of her career after emerging from a crowded pack of around a dozen runners over the final six miles.

Lokedi broke clear after 21.7 miles with compatriots Loice Chemnung and Irine Cheptai alongside her, and then kicked again to lead by eight seconds from Chemnung at the 23-mile mark.

Lokedi showed no sign of flagging over the final few miles and led by 33 seconds heading into the final mile before kicking for home to complete a third major marathon win after victories in New York in 2022 and Boston in 2025.

Chemnung finished 44 seconds behind in second place, with Mary Ngugi-Cooper third in 2hr 20min 07sec.

Lokedi said patience had been the key to her victory -- and revealed that encouragement from a young fan had helped spur her finish.

"It just felt so good -- I just kept telling myself 'Be patient, be humble, you can do this'," Lokedi said. 

"And then I saw a little girl who said 'You got this ladies!'. And it was so cute, and that was what I needed."

Lokedi also said her friend and compatriot Hellen Obiri -- a Boston winner in 2023 and 2024 and runner-up behind Lokedi in 2025 who missed Monday's race -- had also offered support.

"I really wish I had (Hellen) there, but she texted me yesterday and said 'I know you can do it, I believe in you -- just go out there and show them who you are'," Lokedi said.

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(The Center Square) – Minnesota prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a federal immigration agent for his actions during Operation Metro Surge.

This comes as the state is pursuing more than a dozen additional investigations as part of Minnesota’s effort to scrutinize federal law enforcement.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced last week that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault stemming from a February highway incident.

A nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

According to prosecutors, on Feb. 5 Morgan was driving illegally on the shoulder of eastbound Highway 62 near the Portland Avenue exit in an unmarked rental SUV.

After a nearby driver briefly moved onto the shoulder, apparently to slow him down, Morgan allegedly accelerated, pulled alongside the vehicle, and pointed his duty weapon directly at the two inside, while continuing to drive on the shoulder.

County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the case represents a “milestone” in broader efforts to review federal agent conduct tied to Operation Metro Surge.

“Today’s charges reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on community,” Moriarty said.

She added that the investigation timeline was shorter than other cases because the Minnesota State Patrol was able to conduct its work “without obstruction or interference.”

The charges come as Moriarty’s office is investigating more than a dozen additional incidents involving federal agents during Operation Metro Surge.

In March, Moriarty announced the launch of a public portal seeking photos and videos to help identify potentially unlawful behavior. Her office is currently reviewing at least 17 cases, including an incident in which Border Patrol official Greg Bovino allegedly threw a smoke canister at protesters.

Bovino was later relieved of his role in the Twin Cities operation.

“There are many victims whose stories need to be told. We will investigate and pursue charges where appropriate,” Moriarty said in March. “If you saw or experienced unlawful conduct by federal agents, please submit any photo or video evidence.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security previously told The Center Square that such investigations are unwarranted and argued that federal agents are protected when acting within the scope of their duties.

“This does nothing to make Minnesota safer. Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause,” the spokesperson said. “Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law.”

Moriarty has rejected that argument, saying her office will pursue charges where appropriate and is prepared for potential legal challenges.

“We will investigate and pursue charging where appropriate, and we’ll seek collaboration with local law enforcement wherever ⁠and whenever needed,” she said. “Make no mistake, we are not afraid of any legal fight.”

Tensions between state and federal officials are also playing out in court.

In late March, Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and DHS, accusing the agencies of refusing to turn over key evidence tied to three high-profile shootings during the operation—the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis.

The lawsuit, led by Attorney General Keith Ellison alongside Moriarty and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans, argued that the state has both the authority and responsibility to investigate violent incidents within its borders.

“At stake is not only Plaintiffs’ access to evidence central to these shootings but also a fundamental principle of our constitutional system,” the filing stated.

DHS has defended the actions of its agents, saying all use-of-force incidents are reviewed under strict protocols and, in some cases, by outside agencies such as the FBI.

Operation Metro Surge brought thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities earlier this year and sparked sustained protests, particularly following the January shootings.

While the operation has officially ended, immigration enforcement activity continues across Minnesota.

Federal officials, including White House border czar Tom Homan, have defended the effort, saying agents apprehended more than 4,000 individuals, including violent offenders and gang members.

Moriarty doubled down on her efforts to prosecute federal agents in the announcement charges against Morgan last week.

“Our work continues on all fronts, from the killings of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti, to the shooting of Mr. Sosa-Celis, to the incidents being investigated by our Transparency and Accountability Project,” Moriarty said. “We will not rest until we get the answers we seek about federal agent conduct across Hennepin County and accountability is delivered wherever appropriate.”

Efforts to rescue a humpback whale stranded for weeks on Germany's Baltic Sea coast were complicated Monday when the animal unexpectedly swam away but then appeared to have got stuck again.

The 13.5-metre (44-foot) whale and its struggle for survival have captured the hearts of the German public, with some of the press calling him "Timmy".

Rescuers had cleared sand away from the spot where the whale had been stuck for around three weeks off the island of Poel, near Wismar, and sent a tugboat to be used in the rescue effort.

The plan was to lift the whale from the seabed using inflatable cushions and transport it with pontoons back to the North Sea or possibly as far as the Atlantic Ocean.

However, the animal swam free on its own on Monday, before coming to a halt on a different sandbank nearby, said Till Backhaus, environment minister for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Rescuers see the escape attempt as a sign that the whale is still relatively healthy and plan to try again, the Bild daily reported.

Backhaus, speaking at the scene, insisted the animal this time had not become fully stranded and was instead "resting".

The creature was first spotted stuck on a sandbank on March 23 near the city of Luebeck before freeing itself and then becoming stuck again several times.

On April 1, regional officials said they were convinced that the badly injured and distressed animal was going to die and could no longer be saved.

But local authorities last week approved a last-ditch rescue attempt proposed by two entrepreneurs, one of whom founded a major electronics retail chain.

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The Mizzou football support staff just got bigger with the addition of new director of player and recruiting engagement Deshon Lawrence Jr., a hiring first reported by CBSSports.com's Matt Zenitz on Monday.

Lawrence worked at UCF as the senior director of player development, pro liaison and internal operations for the past three years. His recruiting impact was particularly prevalent around Georgia. His familiarity with the state is particularly important as Mizzou has 11 rostered players who are either from Georgia or played high school football in the state.

Lawrence previously worked with Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz at Arkansas State in 2012. He was a defensive grad assistant with the program. Drinkwitz was the Red Wolves’ running-backs coach at the time.

Lawrence played football at Western Michigan from 2007-2009 as a cornerback, later working as the student assistant cornerbacks coach during the 2010-2011 school year.

Lawrence earned a master’s degree in sport and fitness administration/management at Western Georgia while serving as an academic ambassador for the university.

Outside of football, Lawrence spent nine years as an operations manager for the Cam Newton Foundation. In this role he primarily worked with “C1N7v7”, Newton’s 7-on-7 football league. Lawrence was part of a team that raised $5 million in partnerships and donations and worked with 10,000 children in lower-income areas of Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Lawrence will be working with a loaded support staff, likely engaging primarily with employees in similar roles: director of recruiting operations Olivia Ohlsen, director of player development and life skills Atiyyah Ellison and director of recruiting communications and strategy Maurey Bland.

The Tigers will continue to round out the support staff heading towards the 2026-27 season.

Iran is banking on the Strait of Hormuz as its main card in any peace negotiations with the United States, but using the waterway as leverage is not without risk for the Islamic republic.

Iran had for decades talked up the threat of blocking the strait, which is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.

With the US and Israel launching a surprise war on Iran on February 28 and killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran finally made good on those threats and brought the vital waterway to a standstill.

Since then, the United States has imposed its own blockade, bringing a halt to shipments of Iranian oil that had been spared from the closure. 

The situation has caused economic turmoil worldwide.

European politicians fear spiking inflation, food shortages and flight cancellations as jet fuel runs out.

In much of Asia, home to the biggest buyers of Middle East oil and gas, energy prices have spiked while poorer nations have been outbid for scarce supplies leading to shortages. In Sri Lanka, energy prices have increased 40 percent.

The loss of vital fertiliser supplies, of which the Gulf is a major producer, is also expected to send food prices soaring in the developing world 

- 'Not going to leave' -

While causing global economic pain gives Iran negotiating leverage, it can't escape the blowback entirely, with the US blockade halting oil exports worth tens of millions of dollars each day.

With the two-week ceasefire in the war due to run out this week, renewed conflict over the strait would also rattle a leadership trying to find its feet under new supreme leader, Khamenei's son Mojtaba, who has yet to appear in public.  

"The Strait is under the control of the Islamic republic," said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the veteran of the Revolutionary Guards now serving as Iranian parliament speaker and seen as the chief negotiator in talks with the US.

"When they wanted to send minesweepers to clear mines, we stood our ground, we confronted them. We said these are ceasefire violations," he said in remarks broadcast by Iranian television.

"We are here (in the Strait of Hormuz), we are not going to leave," he added.

- 'Who will blink first' -

The blockade of Hormuz represented a switch in strategy for the Islamic republic, which had long brandished the threat without following through. 

After decades seeking to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon -- an ambition the Islamic republic insists it does not have -- as well as battling pro-Tehran proxies, the West now faces a new and potentially long-lasting problem.

"As long as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in power, the Islamic Republic at times sent mixed signals about its nuclear program and threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, but stopped short of both," said Ali Alfoneh, senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute and author of "Political Succession in the Islamic Republic of Iran".

"With Khamenei gone and the regime in an existential struggle, that restraint no longer holds," he said, adding that "Iran's nuclear doctrine may also be under revision".

But he warned that the US counter-blockade on Iranian shipping in Gulf ports can also hurt the Islamic republic by cutting off its oil revenue at a time of intense economic vulnerability.

"The conflict is now a contest of endurance... Who will blink first?"

In his first major written statement since taking office, Mojtaba Khamenei on March 12 called for the use of "the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz".

With possible new talks between Iran and the US in the coming days, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Monday that "security of the Strait of Hormuz is not free".

"The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone."

Analysts at the International Crisis Group think tank said Iran's strategy for Hormuz was to signal it was open to diplomacy "but only on terms that show it has not suffered strategic defeat".

But with the US naval blockade seeking to "override Iranian control instead of negotiating over it" the strait has turned from a "bargaining chip into a flashpoint for potential military escalation". 

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(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging compliance with nondiscrimination policies for preschools that received public funds. 

The case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, challenges a nondiscrimination agreement that Colorado requires schools sign to participate in the state's universal preschool program. 

The nondiscrimination agreement requires that preschool providers cannot enroll or deny families based on sexual orientation, religious affiliation, income, race, disability or gender identity. Since 2022, the preschool program has allowed children 15 hours per week of free education for the year before kindergarten 

The archdiocese of Denver and two of its parishes filed a lawsuit against the state in 2024. The parishes said the nondiscrimination agreement violated their faith to hire LGBT teachers or enroll LGBT families, violating Catholic religious teaching. 

Lawyers for the Catholic parish said the nondiscrimination agreement is not all-encompassing. The lawyers argued that schools are allowed admit students at other schools solely based on on disability status and income level, despite the nondiscrimination agreement forbidding activity. 

"Colorado doesn’t disagree it is interfering with the religious exercise of parents and schools," lawyers for the parishes wrote. "Instead, it says it is perfectly fine to exclude Catholic preschools while letting in preschools preferring those with disabilities, limited income, or LGBTQ identity."

Lawyers for Colorado argued that the state's preference for schools that target students with disabilities and from low-income families, does not represent a significant shift from the text of the nondiscrimination agreement. 

"Preschools that prioritize children with disabilities and children from low-income families do not deny equal opportunity based on disability or income level in violation of UPK's statutory equal-opportunity requirements," lawyers for the state wrote. 

Justices on the court will likely hear the case in the fall. The justices will be tasked with determining whether the state explicitly discriminated against Catholic schools while allowing other schools to violate its terms for universal preschool access.