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WASHINGTON (AP) — A group ofBuddhist monksis set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, capping a trek from Texas that has captivated the country.

The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka.

They walk toadvocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands have gathered along Southern roadsides to watch the monks' quiet, single-file procession that began in late October.

"My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace," said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group's soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.

The monks plan to mark the last days of their Walk for Peace with outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.

"Their long journey and gentle witness invite us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and the work of peace in our communities," said Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who will help host an interfaith reception for the monks at the cathedral.

The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.

Mark Duykers, a retired mechanical engineer who practices mindfulness, said he and his wife will drive 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Washington to see the monks.

"In these divisive times, we saw entire towns in the Bible Belt coming out for these monks — having no idea of what Buddhism is — but being uplifted and moved by it," he said. "That's inspirational."

Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700 kilometer) journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.

While in the U.S. capital, they plan to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak —Buddha's birthday— a national holiday. But, Pannakara and others have emphasized that is not the walk's goal.

Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on advocacy or legislation.

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"It's a spiritual offering — an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts," he said. "We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society."

The trek has had its perils, and local law enforcement officers have provided security. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck.Two monks were injured; one had his leg amputated.

Some of the monks, including Pannakara, have walked barefoot or in socks for most of the journey to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment. As they have pressed on through snow and cold, they've at times donned winter boots.

Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Pannakara first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means "divine light" in Sanskrit, during a 112-day journey across India in 2022.

The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.

On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It's a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.

The monks' return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at Maryland's Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.

From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.

Bharath reported from Los Angeles.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Washington on Tuesday to encourage President Donald Trump to expand the scope ofhigh-stakes nuclear talkswith Iran. The negotiations resumed last week against the backdrop of an American military buildup.

Israel has long called for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment, dial back its ballistic missile program and cut ties to militant groups across the region. Iran has always rejected those demands, saying it would only accept some limits on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

It's unclear if Iran'sbloody crackdown on mass protestslast month, orthe movement of major U.S. military assetsto the region, has made Iran's leaders more open to compromise, or if Trump is interested in broadening the already difficult negotiations.

Netanyahu, who will be in Washington through Wednesday, has spent his decades-long political career pushing for stronger U.S. action toward Iran. Those efforts succeeded last year when the U.S. joined Israel in12 days of strikeson Iran's military and nuclear sites, and the possibility of additional military action against Iran is likely to come up in this week's discussions.

Decisions are being made

Netanyahu's visit comesjust two weeks afterTrump's special envoySteve Witkoffand Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser, met with the prime minister in Jerusalem. The U.S. envoys held indirect talks in Oman with Iran's foreign minister on Friday.

"The Prime Minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and ending support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu's office said over the weekend, referring to Iran-backed militant groups like the Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Years of nuclear talks have made little progress since Trumpscrapped a 2015 agreement with Iran, with strong encouragement from Israel. Iran has shown little willingness to address the other issues, even after suffering repeated setbacks. But the meeting with Trump gives Netanyahu an opportunity to shape the process and may also bolster his standing back home.

"Clearly these are the days when decisions are being made, America is expected to complete its force buildup, and it's trying to exhaust the prospect of negotiations," said Yohanan Plesner, head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based think tank.

"If you want to have influence on the process, only so much can be done via Zoom."

Israel fears a narrow agreement

Trump threatened a military strike against Iran last month over the killing of protesters and concerns of mass executions, moving a number of military assets into the region. Thousands were killed and tens of thousands detained at Iranian authorities crushed the protests over widespread economic distress.

As the protests largely subsided, Trump shifted his focus to Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S., Israel and others have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing weapons. Iran insists its program is entirely peaceful and says it has the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

Sima Shine, an Iran expert formerly with Israel's Mossad spy agency who is now an analyst at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, said Israel fears that the U.S. might reach a narrow agreement with Iran in which it would temporarily halt uranium enrichment.

A deal in which Iran halts enrichment for several years would allow Trump to claim victory. But Israel believes any such agreement that does not end Iran's nuclear program and reduce its ballistic missile arsenal will eventually require Israel to launch another wave of strikes, she said.

Iran might be unable to enrich uranium after last year's strikes, making the idea of a temporary moratorium more appealing.

In November, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran wasno longer enriching uranium due to the damagefrom last year's war. The U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed nearly 1,000 people in Iran, while Iranian missile barrages killed almost 40 in Israel.

It's unclear how much damage was done to Iran's nuclear program. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been unable to visit the bombed nuclear sites.Satellite imagesshow activity at two of them.

Netanyahu faces election this year

Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, has long touted his close ties to world leaders, particularly Trump, who he has praised as the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House. This week's meeting allows Netanyahu to show Israelis he is a player in the Iran talks.

"The issue of relations between Netanyahu and Trump will be the issue of the campaign, and he is saying, 'Only I can do this, it's only me,'" Shine said.

Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having held the office for a total of over 18 years. His government, the most nationalist and religious in Israel's history, is expected to survive until the election in October, or close to it.

Netanyahu was originally scheduled to visit Washington next week for the Feb. 19 launch of Trump'sBoard of Peace, an initiative that was initially framed as a mechanism for rebuilding Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war but has taken on a larger mandate of resolving global crises.

Netanyahu agreed to join the initiative but is wary of it because it includes Turkey and Qatar, countries he does not want to have a presence in postwar Gaza because of their relations with Hamas.

Moving the visit up could provide an "elegant solution" that allows Netanyahu to skip the launch without offending Trump, Plesner said. Netanyahu's office declined to comment.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh'selectionThursday is the country's most consequential. It followsyouth-led protests 18 months agothat overthrew the government of former prime ministerSheikh Hasinaand ushered Bangladesh into an interim administration led byNobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Bangladesh Election In Their Words

The vote, alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, will end thetransition periodand test the South Asian nation's democracy.

Many voters hope the return to elections will restore law and order, protect civil liberties and bring accountable leadership. But there is also unease. Some fear political instability, the marginalization of women andminorities, and the rise of Islamists in a secular country.

Here's a look at what Bangladeshis have been saying.

Fair elections and the rule of law are key demands

Yunus has promised to deliver a fair vote. That is a major demand among most people, many of whom regard previous elections under Hasina as rigged. Those concerns, includinga clampdown on opposition parties, were a major factor that eventually exploded in a student-led uprising that ended Hasina's 15-year-long rule and sent her toexile in India.

"I don't want any more bad incidents in Bangladesh, or a war like situation," said Arefin Labib, referring to the 2024 uprising which was met with a brutal crackdown by security forces,killing hundreds of people.

Labib hopes that a newly elected government might finally restore stability to Bangladesh and guide the nation toward a better future.

"If the country wants to run smoothly, then a fair election is needed," he said.

Much of this sentiment is shared by many Bangladeshis, especially after Hasina's ouster was followed by rising political violence,attacks on Hindu minorities,and a collapse of law and order on the streets.

"I want the government to prevent riots, killings, and any other trouble in the country," said 62-year-old street vendor Zainul Abedeen.

A call for a return to democracy

There is broader consensus that Yunus' interim government steadied an economy that had been in free fall, but many say it failed to restore security and protect human rights, and neglected the safety of religious minorities,

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Dhaka resident Rajit Hasan said that while the interim government made efforts to stabilize the situation, it ultimately fell short of delivering the deep reforms and accountability many had hoped for.

"The government just tried, but the political situation was so fragmented, so fragile, that it just couldn't sort it out," he said.

Hasan wants the transition to bring stronger access to justice, genuine protection of civil liberties, and the freedom for people to practice their religion and exercise their rights. He also called for accountable leadership, independent institutions, and a political culture where dissent is respected rather than suppressed.

"We want democracy. We want our rights. We want the rule of law. That's what we are looking for," he said.

Concern among women over representation

For years, Bangladesh stood out globally for being governed by women prime ministers —Khaleda Ziafor two full terms and Hasina for four. It gave many women a sense of representation. That legacy, however, is under threat.

Hasina and her party are banned from participating in the election. Meanwhile, there are fewer women contesting than before, despite the pivotal role women protesters played in the uprising that paved the way for the election.

Economics student Wasima Binte Hussain, who took part in the uprising, said she had hoped the political transition would open more space for women. But she has found the reality discouraging. Female leadership remains scarce, and issues affecting women have yet to get the attention she expected, she said.

"One of my primary hope was that there will be more women leaders ... and women issues would be prioritized more. It hasn't been prioritized that much," she said.

Rise of Islamists leads to worries

These worries have grown alongside a surge of support in Bangladesh forJamaat-e-Islami,an Islamist group that was banned under Hasina but has gained influence since her ouster.

The party's rise has alarmed many women, especially after its leaders suggested restricting women's activities and questioned their ability to work because of their childbearing role. The party, however, insists that it would rule moderately if it comes to power.

Sayma Nowshin Suha, 22, said the prospect of Jamaat-e-Islami gaining power is deeply frightening for young women like her because of its conservative politics. She said she dreams of a Bangladesh where people are free to live their lives as they see fit, without fear or restriction.

"In Bangladesh," she said, "conservatism is the scariest thing."

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a 138-116 win against the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

Hawks Timberwolves Basketball

Edwards led seven Minnesota players scoring in double figures, pushing the Timberwolves to a commanding win after a pair of disappointing losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Julius Randle has 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Minnesota, which had lost three of four.

A game without much intensity changed early in the fourth when Atlanta's Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip up Wolves center Naz Reid. The two came together in an altercation that included a crowd of people trying to break up the two players. Both players were ejected.

Newcomer Ayo Dosunmu, playing his second game after being acquired in a trade from Chicago, had 21 points off the bench as Minnesota led by as many as 31.

CJ McCollum had 38 points for the Hawks, who have lost four of five and were playing without Jalen Johnson (left knee inflammation), Dyson Daniels (right ankle inflammation) and newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga (left knee bone bruise).

Johnson was just named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the second time this season. Kuminga hasn't played since the trade from Golden State for Kristaps Porzingis.

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McCollum had 18 of his points in the first quarter, but Minnesota used a 40-18 run from the end of the first to midway through the second for a 79-52 advantage. Atlanta got no closer than 16 the rest of the way.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks against his former team.

Hawks: Play at Charlotte on Wednesday.

Timberwolves: Host Portland on Wednesday.

More AP NBA coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye were ejected Monday night after an altercation early in the fourth quarterof Minnesota's 138-116 win.

Gueye appeared to trip Reid, who got up and immediately got in the face of Gueye, setting off a scuffle. Players, coaches and arena staff tried to separate the two, but the pushing and shoving continued and Atlanta center Jock Landale fell to the floor in the fracas. At one point, Reid threatened a punch, but no punches were thrown.

Gueye was called for a foul on the play and, after a lengthy review, both players were ejected with double technical fouls.

Landale had scratches on his neck from the altercation, but stayed in the game.

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Reid left the game with seven points and six rebounds as Minnesota recovered after a pair of disappointing losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gueye had 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Hawks.

More AP NBA coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA