AP-The Morning Wire

"Hormuz tensions escalate, Tsunami alert for Japan, Boston Marathon."

Views expressed in this World and US news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 20 April 2026, 1211 UTC.

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By Nadja Lovadinov April 20, 2026

In the news today: The US seizure of an Iranian ship over the weekend casts doubt on fresh ceasefire talks; businesses can claim refunds starting Monday for tariffs the US Supreme Court declared unconstitutional; and a tsunami alert is issued for Japan after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake. Also, how a crowd scientist is helping manage the Boston Marathon. A tanker sits anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati) WORLD NEWS Doubts over talks between Iran and US after violence flares in Strait of Hormuz Over the weekend, the U.S. attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that it said had tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires on Wednesday. Read more.

What to know: Pakistan has intensified diplomatic contacts with both Washington and Tehran over the past 24 hours with the goal of resuming the talks on Tuesday as planned, according to two Pakistani officials.   U.S. President Donald Trump has said American negotiators would head to the Pakistani capital on Monday, but it was not immediately clear whether those plans would now change. Iran has not officially commented on possible talks, but Iranian state media, citing anonymous sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: US seizure of Iranian ship near Strait of Hormuz casts doubt on fresh ceasefire talks  WATCH: Video of US seizing Iranian-flagged ship US and allied forces kick off combat drills with Philippines despite Washington’s focus on Iran   Los Angeles woman arrested on Iranian arms trafficking charge US NEWS Businesses can claim refunds starting Monday for Trump tariffs declared unconstitutional A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch Monday. Read more.

What to know: It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ US military strike on alleged drug boat kills 3 in Caribbean Sea   Carney says Canada’s economic ties with US are a weakness that must be corrected   Despite a diplomatic clash, the US is investing in an experimental South African rare earths project   Some American farmers bet on solar. Then Trump changed the rules Trump wants data on California’s trans and abortion care. Can the state stop him?   Transgender athlete focuses on what may be her last track season as Supreme Court ruling looms States eulogize Charlie Kirk with new laws promoting religion and free speech   A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state’s largest county embroiled in election drama   WATCH: Obama and Mamdani sing Wheels on the Bus to preschoolers WORLD NEWS Tsunami alert issued after powerful earthquake off Japan A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. (02:53 ET), at a depth of about 6 miles below the sea surface. Read more.

What to know: A tsunami of up to 10 feet could hit the area, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. In addition to the tsunami alert in Iwate and Aomori to the north and southeastern Hokkaido, the agency also issued a milder tsunami advisory for the coasts of Miyagi and Fukushima, south of the epicenter.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Japan's leader urges residents to evacuate amid tsunami warning after 7.4 quake ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Louisiana shooting: Man kills 8 children and shoots his wife and another woman Iowa: 3 students, 2 others shot along nightlife district near the University of Iowa, authorities say  Malaysian fire: Blaze destroys 1,000 homes in a coastal village on Borneo Island Bulgaria: The center-left coalition of Pro-Russian former president will win country’s election United Nations: Four candidates for UN secretary-general audition this week Peter Mandelson: British Prime Minister faces questions over Epstein linked U.S. ambassador  Baby food recall: HiPP recalls jars in Austria after samples test positive for rat poison  Today in History: In 1914, militia and Colorado National Guard members committed the “Ludlow Massacre”. WATCH Hong Kong fire: Residents return to damaged homes for first time since massive blaze  BookCon 2026: Convention returns to New York after a six-year hiatus  Full bloom: Seven million tulips at Keukenhof garden in Netherlands A CHANGE OF PACE American women finishers celebrate with the crowd at the Boston Marathon, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners As the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon gets underway Monday, race organisers turned to expert in crowd science Marcel Altenburg (a former German army captain who runs ultramarathons himself) to help them manage. From the placement of water and aid stations, to where runners get their medals, Altenburg has offered expert tips to keep today’s race running smoothly.

Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja   P.S. There’s still time. Join us for our first-ever Press Freedom Week, a series of conversations about access and accountability, starting April 27.

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