Iran says fire extinguished at a port rocked by explosion as the death toll rises to at least 70

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran says the fire at a southern port rocked by an explosion finally was extinguished as the death toll in the incident rose to at least 70 people killed. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni announced Monday the fire had been put out, while provincial emergency health official Mehrdad Hasanzadeh gave the death toll. The blast happened Saturday at the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. The port reportedly took in a chemical component needed for solid fuel for ballistic missiles — something denied by authorities who did not explain the source of the power that caused such destruction. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press showed the devastation of the explosion.

Russia declares a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for next week

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Kremlin has declared a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine next week as Russia marks Victory Day in World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the truce will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Kyiv insisted on a longer and immediate truce. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump scaled up efforts to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. Until now, Putin had refused to accept a complete unconditional ceasefire, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies to Ukraine and Kyiv’s mobilization effort.

Houthi rebels say a US airstrike that hit Yemen prison holding African migrants kills 68

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels say a U.S. airstrike that hit a prison holding African migrants killed at least 68 people. That’s according to the Houthis’ Civil Defense organization on Monday, which said 47 others were wounded. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the death toll. The U.S. military said it was investigating the alleged strike in Yemen’s Saada governorate, a stronghold of the Houthis. Some 115 prisoners were held at the site. Graphic footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded there.

Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 27 Palestinians

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Local health officials say Israeli strikes on the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 27 Palestinians early Monday. Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month. It has cut off the territory’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March in what it says is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages. The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.