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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, marking their second encounter at the White House since Trump's return to the presidency. Confirmed by both a White House representative and Netanyahu’s office on Saturday, the meeting occurs as Israel expands its military presence into a new security zone within Gaza to exert pressure on Hamas. Israel's defense minister has indicated plans to annex significant portions of Gaza into these security zones. Last month, Israel broke the existing truce with a surprise attack on Gaza, following attempts to push Hamas toward accepting revised ceasefire conditions, an action supported by the White House. This has resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths. Israel has stated its intention to intensify military actions in Gaza until Hamas releases all remaining hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, disarms, and withdraws from the region. Additionally, Israel has stopped all deliveries of food, fuel, and aid to Gaza. Netanyahu’s office communicated via social media that discussions with Trump would cover “the tariff issue, efforts to free our hostages, relations between Israel and Turkey, the threat posed by Iran, and the dispute with the International Criminal Court.” Israel is currently subject to a 17% tariff. Netanyahu faces potential charges from the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza, although the U.S. is not a member of this court. In February, Netanyahu was the first international leader to visit the White House during Trump’s second term. Their discussions then centered on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the subsequent steps following a ceasefire agreement. During a joint press conference following their February meeting, Trump unexpectedly proposed relocating displaced Palestinians from Gaza permanently and suggested the U.S. should lead the redevelopment of the area into "the Riviera of the Middle East." This proposal faced opposition from Palestinians, who were against leaving their homeland, and drew criticism from Arab nations and human rights organizations. The February meeting allowed Netanyahu to highlight the Trump administration's backing of Israel, defend the country's actions in the war, and divert attention from domestic political challenges. These internal pressures have increased as Israelis continue to protest the absence of a hostage release agreement and Netanyahu's decisions to dismiss the heads of the domestic security agency and the attorney general. He is also facing demands to acknowledge his responsibility for the failures that preceded the Oct. 7 attack. In a statement released on Saturday, families of hostages in Gaza urged Trump to “please use all your power to pressure Netanyahu to end this war and bring our hostages back now.” Ifat Calderon, the aunt of hostage Ofer Calderon, stated in Tel Aviv, “We are addressing President Trump: Netanyahu is lying when he says that military pressure will bring back the abductees. The only way to quickly return all the abductees is to end the war and return them all in one fell swoop.” Hamas has stated it will only release the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are presumed alive, in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians. Around 251 hostages were taken, with the majority later released through ceasefire agreements and other negotiated deals. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza as a result of Israel’s offensive. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel claims to have killed about 20,000 militants, though it has not provided supporting evidence. Meanwhile, two close associates of Netanyahu were arrested this week on suspicion of accepting funds from Qatar to enhance the country's image in Israel. Qatar is a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, but it denies supporting the militant group. Netanyahu maintains that the case is without merit. The prime minister is also currently involved in a long-standing corruption trial and frequently criticizes a "deep state" that he claims is targeting him. Trump has announced that his first foreign trip during his second term will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and potentially the United Arab Emirates, along with "other places," possibly as early as May. Trump has expressed a desire to reward Saudi Arabia for its investments in the U.S. and anticipates that all three Gulf countries will commit to creating jobs in the U.S. during his visit. —Associated Press writers Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem, Darlene Superville in Washington and Cara Anna contributed to this report.

The U.S., once a proponent of South Sudan's independence, has now revoked the visas of all South Sudanese citizens. The Trump administration stated that the South Sudanese government has not been promptly accepting the return of its citizens. This decision could result in South Sudanese individuals being sent back to a country nearing civil war or being unable to seek refuge in the U.S. The South Sudanese government has not yet responded. Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, it has struggled to provide basic services. Years of conflict have made the nation of over 11 million heavily dependent on aid, which has been affected by the Trump administration's cuts to foreign assistance. Here's a look at South Sudan, whose people had been granted temporary protected status by the U.S. due to insecurity, which is set to expire on May 3. A deadly divide The initial joy of independence devolved into civil war two years later. In 2013, rival factions supporting President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar engaged in conflict in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The tensions between Kiir and Machar have been central to the country's instability. Pope Francis once knelt and kissed their feet, pleading for lasting peace. The five-year civil war resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. A peace agreement in 2018 remains fragile and not fully implemented, frustrating the U.S. and other international supporters. South Sudan has not yet held its long-awaited presidential election, and Kiir remains in power. Kiir's rivalry with Machar, along with ethnic divisions, has persisted despite multiple attempts to reinstate Machar as vice president. Machar believes he is destined to be president, citing a prophecy from his ethnic group. Late last month, the threat of war resurfaced. Machar was arrested, and his allies in the government and military were detained after a militia from his ethnic group seized an army garrison. The government responded with airstrikes, resulting in dozens of deaths. A United Nations helicopter was also attacked. Following the arrest, Machar's opposition party declared that the peace deal is effectively over. "Let’s not mince words: What we are seeing is darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 civil wars, which killed 400,000 people,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned recently. Some Western countries have closed their embassies, while others, including the U.S., have reduced embassy staff. A country in disarray South Sudan's government relies heavily on oil production, but little of the revenue reaches the people, partly due to corruption. Civil servants are often unpaid for months. The conflict in neighboring Sudan has disrupted South Sudan's oil exports. Refugees from Sudan have added to the instability. Climate-related disasters like flooding have caused displacement and school closures. South Sudan's health and education systems were already weak. Aid organizations have been providing support, but this network has been affected by U.S. aid cuts. The Trump administration's announcement on Saturday evening revoking visas for all South Sudanese contrasts sharply with Washington's past support for rebel leaders, including Kiir and Machar, who fought for independence. South Sudanese citizens have had educational and other opportunities in the U.S. for years. On Saturday, hours after the State Department's announcement, a South Sudanese freshman played in Duke's starting lineup at the men’s NCAA basketball tournament Final Four. Duke spokesman Frank Tramble stated that the university is aware of the announcement and is working to understand any implications for Duke students. It is unclear how many South Sudanese hold U.S. visas or how American authorities will proceed. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated on social media that the dispute concerns one person, certified by South Sudan’s embassy in Washington, whom Juba has refused to accept. The person was not identified. The U.S. stated that no new visas will be issued and that it will review these actions when South Sudan fully cooperates. —Associated Press sports writer Jim Vertuno in San Antonio, Texas, contributed.

A second child of school age in West Texas has succumbed to complications from measles, a hospital representative confirmed on Sunday, amid a growing outbreak. Aaron Davis, speaking for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, stated that the child was "receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized" and had not been vaccinated. The hospital refrained from specifying the date of the child's death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Texas State Department of State Health Services, had not included the death in their measles reports issued on Friday. Representatives from the state health department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Sunday. An unvaccinated school-aged child in Lubbock died from measles in February, marking the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade. In early March, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico who did not seek medical attention became the second measles-related fatality. The West Texas outbreak, now in its third month, is suspected of having spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, infecting nearly 570 individuals. The World Health Organization has also reported cases in Mexico linked to the Texas outbreak. The number of cases in Texas increased by 81 between March 28 and April 4, resulting in 16 additional hospitalizations. A team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently in Texas assisting with the outbreak response. Nationwide, the U.S. has already seen more than double the number of measles cases compared to the entire year of 2024. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-standing opponent of vaccines, has expressed a lukewarm endorsement of measles vaccination, advocating for it while also raising doubts about the vaccine's safety. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has a 60-year safety record and boasts a 97% effectiveness rate against measles after two doses. Experts and local health officials anticipate the outbreak will persist for several more months, possibly up to a year. In West Texas, the overwhelming majority of cases involve unvaccinated individuals, particularly children under the age of 17. The spread of this vaccine-preventable disease has led to concerns that the U.S. might lose its status of having eliminated measles. Measles, a respiratory virus, can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours. Exposure to the virus will result in infection for approximately 90% of susceptible individuals. The first vaccination is advised for children between 12 and 15 months of age, while the second is recommended between 4 and 6 years of age. ```

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The South and Midwest are grappling with the aftermath of severe storms, tornadoes, and floods that have tragically resulted in over a dozen fatalities. Forecasters are warning of potential additional flooding and tornadoes in the coming days. A 2.3 million-populated area spanning from northeast Texas, through Arkansas, and into southeast Missouri has been impacted by intense thunderstorms. What has happened? In Kentucky, floodwaters and mudslides led to the closure of over 500 roads by Sunday. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives, including a 9-year-old boy who was swept away while walking to his school bus stop. The downtown area of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a city with a population of 31,000 located 72 miles (116 kilometers) northwest of Nashville, Tennessee, was inundated. The initial wave of storms, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, resulted in at least five deaths in Tennessee, and one each in Missouri and Indiana. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee described the devastation in his state as "enormous" and noted that due to ongoing search efforts, it was too early to ascertain whether further fatalities had occurred. Lake City in eastern Arkansas experienced significant destruction, with homes leveled and vehicles overturned and thrown into trees. Since the start of the tornado outbreak early Wednesday, the National Weather Service has issued more than 300 tornado warnings. Overnight, new warnings were issued in Alabama and Mississippi, alongside flash flood warnings in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The number of tornado warnings has surpassed those issued during the deadly outbreak last month in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and other states. It's important to note that not all tornado warnings result in an actual tornado, and at this stage, it remains uncertain how many tornadoes were produced by the current outbreak. The severe weather has also disrupted travel. FlightAware.com reports that hundreds of flights have been canceled and more than 6,400 flights have been delayed. Early Sunday, there were 74 cancellations and 478 delays of U.S. flights. Road closures attributed to flooding were also reported in Kentucky and southern Illinois, among other locations. These severe weather events coincide with a period when nearly half of the National Weather Service's forecast offices are experiencing 20% vacancy rates, which is double the rate of a decade ago, according to data obtained by The Associated Press. What’s causing this wave of storms? Forecasters have attributed the severe weather to a combination of factors, including warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear, and an abundance of moisture originating from the Gulf. The National Weather Service characterized the prolonged period of heavy rainfall, which could result in over a foot (30 centimeters) of rain over a four-day span, as "an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime." What’s next? AccuWeather, a private forecasting company, has indicated that northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and northwestern Tennessee should prepare for a catastrophic risk of flash flooding. AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter stated that "This is a rare and dangerous atmospheric setup." Forecasters have also cautioned about significant disruptions to shipping and supply chains. For instance, shipping giant FedEx has a major facility located in the affected area, specifically in Memphis, Tennessee. Furthermore, barge transportation on the lower Mississippi River could also be impacted. Water rescue teams and sandbags are being deployed across the region in preparation for flooding, and authorities are urging the public to take the threat of rising water seriously and to avoid driving through flooded areas. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported that flooding has reached record levels in numerous communities. He stated on social media platform X on Sunday that “Kentuckians and communities have been affected across the state, and teams are working around the clock to support them." —Associated Press writers George Walker IV in Selmer, Tennessee; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, Seth Borenstein in Washington; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; and Sophia Tareen in Chicago, contributed.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department argued in an appeals court on Saturday that a judge lacked the authority to order the Trump administration to arrange the return of a Maryland resident who was wrongly deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador. Additionally, a government lawyer who admitted the error in court has been suspended. The department requested that the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals halt the order issued by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, which mandated the administration to "facilitate and effectuate" Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. by Monday night. The Justice Department lawyers argued that "A court order compelling the Executive Branch to interact with a foreign government in a specific manner, especially one dictating action by a foreign power, is constitutionally unacceptable." The appeals court has requested a response from Abrego Garcia’s legal team by Sunday afternoon. Abrego Garcia, 29, originally from El Salvador, was apprehended in Maryland and deported last month. This occurred despite a 2019 ruling by an immigration judge that protected him from deportation to El Salvador, where he faced potential persecution from local gangs. The mistaken deportation, which the White House has called an "administrative error," has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the deportation of non-citizens who had been granted permission to remain in the U.S. During a court hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Friday, Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni admitted to Judge Xinis that Abrego Garcia should not have been removed from the U.S. or sent to El Salvador. Reuveni was unable to explain the grounds for Abrego Garcia's arrest in Maryland. He stated, "I am also frustrated that I cannot answer many of these questions for you." However, by Saturday, Reuveni had been placed on leave by the Justice Department, according to a department spokesperson. His name was absent from Saturday’s filing to the appeals court. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “I require every Department of Justice attorney to advocate strongly for the United States. Any attorney who does not follow this directive will face consequences.” Judge Xinis, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ruled on Friday that there was no legal basis for Abrego Garcia’s detention or his removal to El Salvador, where he is being held in a prison reportedly plagued by human rights abuses. Abrego Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, stated that the government has taken no action to bring his client back, despite admitting its errors. He told the judge on Friday, "There have been many tweets and White House press conferences, but no actual steps taken with the government of El Salvador to rectify the situation." The White House has described Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 gang member and has reiterated this claim since Friday’s hearing. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys maintain that there is no evidence to support his involvement with MS-13. Abrego Garcia’s attorney stated that he had a permit from DHS allowing him to work legally in the U.S. He was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing his journeyman license, and his wife is a U.S. citizen. Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador around 2011 due to threats from local gangs against him and his family. In 2019, a U.S. immigration judge granted him protection from deportation to El Salvador. Government lawyers contend that they lack control over Abrego Garcia and the authority to arrange his return, stating that it is "no different than if they were ordered to ‘effectuate’ the end of the war in Ukraine or secure the return of hostages from Gaza." They further stated, "It is an injunction compelling a foreign sovereign to return a foreign terrorist within three days. This is not a sound way to govern, and it has no basis in American law." —Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

On Saturday, April 5th, demonstrations took place across the United States as protesters united against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Trump Administration and Musk have been working to "reduce waste" through widespread government layoffs and contract terminations throughout Trump's presidency. There has even been an attempt to . Various grassroots advocacy groups mobilized for Hands Off! protests, highlighting issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, and climate action. A demonstrator at the Washington D.C. rally on the National Mall was photographed holding a sign that stated, "Stop Destroying America." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated regarding the April 5th protests: "Anyone who believes that protests, lawsuits, and legal challenges will deter President Trump has clearly not been paying attention. President Trump remains committed to making our federal government more efficient and accountable to the American taxpayers who overwhelmingly re-elected him." TIME has contacted the White House for their comments. According to a toolkit created for those wishing to organize their own marches, the protest aimed to present a "massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis." These demonstrations occurred at a critical time, following President Trump's declaration of "Liberation Day" on April 2nd. "Whether you are concerned about attacks on our democracy, job cuts, privacy violations, or assaults on our services, this moment is for you," the toolkit stated. "Our goal is to demonstrate that the majority of people are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab." Protest demands included ending the "billionaire takeover" of the Trump Administration, halting funding cuts to Medicaid, , and other programs, and ending attacks on immigrants, transgender individuals, and other communities. Additionally, protesters highlighted Trump's efforts to dismantle and the for select health initiatives. International demonstrations took place in cities such as London, Paris, and Stockholm. In Berlin, protesters gathered outside the U.S. embassy. One demonstrator held a sign reading: "Hands off our Social Security," reflecting concerns about the future of . In London, one sign read "Hands off Europe," while another stated "Greenland is not for sale," referencing Trump's previous interest in . ```

New York state officials have informed the Trump administration that they will not adhere to its requirements to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in public schools, despite potential cuts to federal education funding. In a letter to the federal Education Department dated Friday, Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner of the state Department of Education, stated that state officials believe the federal agency lacks the authority to impose such demands. He wrote, “We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” adding, “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.” Morton-Bentley also stated that state officials were “unaware” of any authority held by the federal Department of Education to mandate that states agree with its interpretation of court decisions or to terminate funding without a formal administrative process. The U.S. Department of Education has not yet responded to requests for comment via email. On Thursday, the Trump administration directed K-12 schools nationwide to certify within 10 days that they are complying with federal civil rights laws and ending any discriminatory DEI practices as a condition for receiving federal funds. Federal funding accounts for approximately 6% of the total funding for New York K-12 schools. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, stated that “Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” when the demand was issued. He alleged that many schools have disregarded their legal obligations, “including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.” The certification demand requires state and school leaders to sign a “reminder of legal obligations,” acknowledging that their federal funding is contingent upon compliance with federal civil rights laws. It also mandates compliance with several pages of legal analysis prepared by the administration. The demand specifically threatens Title I funding, which allocates billions of dollars annually to schools across America, particularly targeting low-income areas. Morton-Bentley noted that the state Education Department has already certified its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the federal government on multiple occasions, most recently in January. He argued that the federal department’s demands to end DEI programs are based on a flawed legal interpretation. “Given the fact that you are already in possession of guarantees by NYSED that it has and will comply with Title VI, no further certification will be forthcoming,” he stated. He also described the administration’s stance as an “abrupt shift” from the position taken by the first Trump administration, referencing comments made in 2020 by then-U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who stated that diversity and inclusion were “cornerstones of high organizational performance.” He noted that the administration has not provided any explanation for this change in position. Critics of the certification demand argued that it contradicts Trump’s pledge to return education control to schools and states. The threat of financial sanctions is similar to those the Trump administration has been using against colleges in its efforts to suppress protests against Israel that it considers antisemitic. New York state has also refused to comply with a Trump administration demand to halt a program funding mass transit in New York City through high tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan. ```