AP News Summary at 11:31 p.m. EDT

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Israel has launched airstrikes on several locations in Lebanon in retaliation for a rocket attack. Israel's strikes Saturday killed six people, in the heaviest exchange of fire since its ceasefire with the militant group Hezbollah began nearly four months ago. Hezbollah denied being responsible for Saturday's rocket attack and said it is committed to the truce. The Israeli army said in a statement that it "cannot confirm the identity of the organization that fired the rockets.” Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza on Saturday. And tens of thousands of Israelis protested the government’s failure to negotiate a hostage deal and its move to fire the head of the country’s internal security service.

Father of the last living American hostage in Gaza hopes Trump can bring his son home

TEL AVIV (AP) — The father of the last living American hostage being held by Hamas in Gaza is hoping that the Trump administration's negotiators can help bring his son home safely. Adi Alexander told The Associated Press on Friday that given the renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas, he wonders whether the Israeli government can secure the freedom of his son and is more hopeful about the U.S.'s chances. Twenty-one-year-old Edan Alexander, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, before enlisting in the Israeli military, is one of 59 hostages still in Gaza, more than half of whom are believed to be dead. Last week, Hamas said it would release Edan if Israel recommits to the stalled ceasefire agreement.

Prosecutors request formal arrest of Istanbul mayor and top challenger to Turkey's Erdogan

ISTANBUL (AP) — Prosecutors have requested that detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the top challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, be formally arrested over allegations of corruption and terror links. A court is now set to decide whether the popular opposition figure will be charged and jailed pending a trial. The arrest this week of Imamoglu, a popular opposition figure, has intensified political tensions and sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with demonstrators rallying in multiple cities to voice their opposition. Many view his arrest as a politically driven attempt to remove Imamoglu from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028. Government officials reject the accusation and say Turkey’s courts are independent.

The Pentagon's DEI purge: Officials describe a scramble to remove and then restore online content

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has faced questions from lawmakers, local leaders and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages. Complaints have come in after the department purged online content that promoted women or minorities. In response, the department has scrambled to restore a handful of those posts as their removals have come to light. But due to the enormous size of the military and the wide range of commands, units and bases, there's been an array of interpretations of what to remove and how, as part of the Pentagon directive to delete online content that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trump makes NCAA men's wrestling championships his latest sports-focused trip

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump attended the NCAA wrestling championships for the second time in three years. Saturday night's trip was the latest example of how he has mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events. Trump arrived at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to a standing ovation and chants of USA! USA! In the two-plus months since returning to the White House, Trump has attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Florida. While president-elect, he went to a UFC fight in New York.

Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants after deal with US, official says

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan official says Venezuela will once again accept repatriation flights from the United States carrying its deported nationals, after reaching an agreement. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro suspended flights on March 8, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced the withdrawal of Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil. In a statement, Jorge Rodríguez referred to the deportation by Donald Trump’s government of some 250 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador. “Migrating is not a crime and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it and until we rescue our brothers kidnapped in El Salvador,” Rodríguez said.

Pope Francis to be released from hospital Sunday after 5 weeks fighting life-threatening pneumonia

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday, his doctors have said, after 38 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs. Gemelli medical director Dr. Sergio Alfieri said Saturday that Francis will require at least two months of rest and rehabilitation as he continues recovering back at the Vatican. The Vatican announced that before returning to the Vatican, Francis would appear on Sunday morning to bless faithful from his 10th floor suite at Rome's Gemelli hospital. Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. He later developed a life-threatening case of pneumonia.

Sudan's army says it seized key buildings in Khartoum after retaking the Republican Palace

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s military has consolidated its grip on Khartoum, retaking more key government buildings a day after it gained control of the capital's Republican Palace from a notorious paramilitary group. Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, a spokesperson for the Sudanese military, said troops on Saturday expelled the Rapid Support Forces from the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service and Corinthia Hotel in central Khartoum. He says the military also retook the headquarters of the Central Bank of Sudan and other government and educational buildings in the area. There was no immediate comment from the RSF.

3 killed and 15 hurt in a shooting at a park in New Mexico’s Las Cruces

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Police in New Mexico say three people have been fatally shot and 15 others were injured during an altercation at a park in the desert city of Las Cruces. Police are asking for witnesses to share videos and other tips as they work to identify suspects in the Friday night shooting. It took place around 10 p.m. during an unsanctioned car show at the city’s Young Park. The ages of those shot range from 16 to 36. Las Cruces sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico. It is about 40 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Number of perfect brackets dwindles closer to zero midway through Saturday's March Madness games

It’s the end of the line for perfect brackets on Yahoo Sports. With Michigan’s 91-79 win over Texas A&M on Saturday, the final perfect Yahoo Sports bracket was shredded. One prognosticator had been correct on every pick until the fifth-seeded Wolverines sent the fourth-seeded Aggies home. Texas Tech followed up with a 77-64 win over No. 11 seed Drake, leaving 11 brackets out of 34 million filled out on the NCAA's platform still perfect. ESPN’s tracker was down to 11 perfect brackets out of 24.3 million following the wins by Michigan and Texas Tech.