AP News Summary at 12:33 a.m. EDT

Trump says that he's asked 'about 7' countries to join coalition to police Iran's Strait of Hormuz

CAIRO (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has “demanded” that about seven countries heavily reliant on Middle East oil join a coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz. About one-fifth the world’s traded oil flows through the waterway. Trump spoke while answering reporters’ questions as he flew back to Washington from Florida aboard Air Force One. The president declined to name the countries he the administration is negotiating with for protection for the strait. “I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said about the strait

Republicans resist calls for Iran war hearings, creating a new standoff with Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States’ war with Iran is entering its third week, but Congress has yet to publicly test the Trump administration’s case for the conflict. Republicans in Congress have so far side-stepped public debate over the war. But Senate Democrats are reaching for every tool at their disposal to demand hearings with Trump administration officials. Some Democrats are threatening this week to force a series of votes on the war, hoping that the efforts to gum up the Senate’s voting schedule will prod Republicans to action.

'Radiant' mother from Kentucky among 6 US service members who died in air crash in Iraq

The U.S. military is identifying the six service members who died last week when a KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq. The crew members are tied to National Guard and Air Force units in Alabama, Florida and Ohio. U.S. Central Command has said the crash happened while in “friendly” airspace as part of the war with Iran. Families are remembering their loved ones as devoted parents and steady leaders. The KC-135 refuels aircraft in midair and also supports medical evacuations and other missions.

Severe storms pummel parts of US with snow and high winds and raise tornado threat

CHICAGO (AP) — A severe weather front sweeping across much of the eastern half of the U.S. has dumped heavy snow around the Upper Midwest, spawned thunderstorms in the South and is threatening several mid-Atlantic states with heavy rain and possible tornadoes. The storm chain brought blizzard conditions on Sunday to the Upper Midwest, with dangerous winds elsewhere and the threat of severe storms heading east. Heavy snow piled up in portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The National Weather Service is warning about the threat of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and likely tornadoes along the East Coast on Monday, particularly from Maryland to South Carolina.

As Trump pushes deportations, immigration data becomes harder to find

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is expanding, but the public data that tracks it is drying up. Researchers and advocates say they can't hold the administration to account for one of its most contentious policies. The Department of Homeland Security has stopped or slowed updates on major dashboards and monthly reports. Those tools used to show arrests, detentions, removals and nationalities. The numbers that are available have come from lawsuits or are mandated by Congress. Researchers are having to piece together the immigration landscape based on what they say are incomplete and unverifiable figures from the Republican administration.

AP finds an Israeli group discreetly organized the mystery flights evacuating Palestinians from Gaza

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An AP investigation has found that an Israeli group whose founder strongly supported U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza is behind several flights that transferred hundreds of people out of the war-torn enclave. AP’s finding is based on a contract, passenger lists, text messages, financial statements, and interviews with more than two dozen Israelis, Palestinians and other people involved with the trips. Founder Gilad Ach declined to be interviewed but said via text message in response to AP questions that he was proud to lead organizations voicing support for the rights of Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. Ach and Israeli officials didn’t address questions about whether Palestinians who took the flights would be allowed to return.

'One Battle After Another' triumphs at 98th Academy Awards in coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has been crowned best picture at the 98th Academy Awards. Jessie Buckley won best actress and Michael B. Jordan won best actor at the 98th Academy Awards. After a lionized career stretching back three decades, Paul Thomas Anderson won his first Oscar for best director, a long-in-coming coronation for the “One Battle After Another” filmmaker. “Sinners” cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw has made Oscar history, becoming the first female director of photography to win the award in the 98 year history of the Academy Awards. Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler won their first Oscars and moving tributes were paid to Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner at the 98th Academy Awards.

US-China trade talks open in Paris, paving the way for Trump-Xi summit

BEIJING (AP) — China's official news agency Xinhua reports that representatives from Beijing and Washington have begun their economic and trade talks in Paris. Sunday's meetings, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are expected to pave the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in about two weeks. The White House has said that Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not officially confirmed it. Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it would be a “big year” for China-U.S. relations.

Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida get top seeding for March Madness. Miami (Ohio) gets a shot

Duke is the top overall seed in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, with Arizona, Michigan, and Florida also landing on the No. 1 line. Miami (Ohio), which opened the season 31-0 before a loss early its conference tournament, got in as an 11 seed despite a weak schedule. They play a First Four game on Wednesday against SMU. The tournament begins Tuesday with other play-in games, including Texas versus North Carolina State.

The Latest: Selection Sunday: Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida claim No. 1 seeds in men’s bracket

The men’s March Madness bracket is set, and Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida have claimed the four No. 1 seeds in the tournament. Duke, the No. 1 overall seed in the men’s tournament, will take on No. 16 Siena in the first round. Arizona, No. 1 in the West, will face Long Island University. Michigan and Florida will learn their opponents after the First Four, set for Mar. 17-18. Florida will play the winner of Lehigh vs. Prairie View, and Michigan will host the winner of UMBC vs. Howard. The women’s teams still await their fate, which will be revealed during an 8 p.m. ET Selection Sunday show.