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President Donald Trump said on Friday that Taiwan was a major topic of discussion during his summit with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and added that he had not yet decided whether to proceed with a major U.S. arms package for the island.Trump also said he thinks Xi is seriously considering releasing detained pastor Ezra Jin in China, but that the case of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai "is a tough one." Lai was sentenced to 20 years in jail in what Amnesty International calls a "travesty of justice" and an attack on press freedom.

The Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded its first day on May 14 with a notable flashpoint: Taiwan and U.S. arms sales to the island.According to a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi warned Trump that the two countries risked “clashes and even conflicts” if the Taiwan issue was not handled carefully.The White House released a brief readout of the meeting between Trump and Xi. It made no mention of Taiwan, instead focusing extensively on the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz, and economic cooperation between the two countries.Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, testified on Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.Cooper said that "Iranian-supported terror groups attacked U.S. troops and diplomats more than 350 times" in the 30 months prior to Operation Epic Fury.

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a two-day visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. China rolled out the red carpet for the U.S. president, with tech giants and business chiefs eyeing deals under Xi's communist regime.The South Carolina Supreme Court on May 13 overturned lawyer Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions and life sentence over the fatal shootings of his wife and younger son. The justices unanimously ruled the conduct by the court clerk “egregiously attacked Murdaugh's credibility.”Murdaugh will remain in prison. He pleaded guilty to 22 counts of federal financial crimes for stealing about $12 million from his clients and is serving 40 years.

The U.S. annual inflation rate rose to 3.8 percent in April, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Economists had forecast a reading of 3.7 percent. Core inflation, which strips out the volatile energy and food prices, edged up to 2.8 percent, above the consensus estimate of 2.7 percent.President Donald Trump is set to depart for Beijing on Tuesday for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Talks will focus on trade, technology, and security. Trump also plans to raise other issues, including Taiwan, Iran, and Russia. He also said he'll bring up the cases of imprisoned Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai and Chinese pastor Ezra Jin during discussions with Xi.

The White House is expecting a response proposal on Friday from the Iranian regime about ending the war. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that a ceasefire was still holding despite a flare-up in the conflict after three U.S. Navy destroyers were attacked as they moved through the Strait of Hormuz.The Virginia Supreme Court has struck down a new congressional redistricting map, approved by voters in a referendum last month, that favors Democrats. The court ruled that the Democratic-controlled Legislature failed to follow constitutional procedures when advancing the ballot measure.The Department of War released its first batch of UFO-related documents that had been slated for public release. The records include high-profile incident accounts, photographic evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and public reports dating back 80 years.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is heading to the White House on Thursday for talks with President Donald Trump. Brazil's finance minister says tariffs and organized crime will be key topics. The visit follows tensions last year after the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian imports, which Trump linked to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro—a case Trump called a "witch hunt." The talks are also expected to touch on Brazil's rare earth mineral reserves.Dutch officials say that dozens of passengers left the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship on April 24. That was nearly two weeks after the first passenger died on board. Oceanwide Expeditions said 29 passengers disembarked, while Dutch officials put the number closer to 40. The passengers, from at least 12 countries, returned home before authorities began tracing potential contacts.

President Donald Trump issued a new warning to Iran on Wednesday, saying that if the regime doesn't come to an agreement, the “bombing starts,” and it will be "at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.” Trump also said that if Iran honors what has been agreed to, Operation Epic Fury could end and the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.The World Health Organization said three individuals, two of them seriously ill, were evacuated on Wednesday from a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde. Ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said the MV Hondius, which has nearly 150 people on board, is expected to head next to Spain's Canary Islands, but the regional government says it's opposed to the idea. Three people have so far died in the outbreak.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said Project Freedom, the U.S. effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury, and is "defensive in nature."Hegseth said hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit the strait, and that U.S. Central Command is in active communication with ships, shipping companies, and insurers. Hegseth also said the blockade of Iranian ports is in full effect.Voters are heading to the polls in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan on Tuesday, with key primary races and one closely watched special election underway.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of Project Freedom. CENTCOM also confirmed that after the launch of Project Freedom, two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz.Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized and in critical condition, Ted Goodman, Giuliani's spokesman, posted on X on May 3.Goodman provided no other information about the nature of Giuliani's condition or the reason for his hospitalization. President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social after learning of Giuliani's hospitalization, praising the former mayor for his work.

President Donald Trump said on April 30 that gasoline prices would plummet once the war with Iran ends.Speaking during a press event in the Oval Office, Trump linked elevated fuel costs directly to the ongoing Iran conflict and the continued closure of key shipping routes, while expressing the conviction that ample global supply would quickly push prices lower once unrestricted crude transit resumes in a post-war environment.Authorities have released a new video that shows the moment an alleged gunman attempted to breach security at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner. Trump said the suspect shot a Secret Service officer.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States is reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. troops stationed in Germany, with a decision expected “over the next short period of time.”German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made news recently when he said on April 27 that Iran was “humiliating” the United States.The United States had more than 36,000 active-duty troops stationed in Germany as of December 2025. Only Japan had more U.S. troops, with more than 54,000.The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, Cole Allen, is making his initial court appearance today. A petition to keep the suspect in custody reveals he is accused of planning the attack for weeks. Allen faces life in prison if convicted on just the attempted assassination of the president charge.

The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Cisco Systems Inc. v. Doe I to determine whether U.S. corporations can be held liable for “aiding and abetting” human rights abuses committed by foreign governments.This landmark lawsuit was brought by practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual group persecuted in China.The plaintiffs allege that Cisco Systems and its executives designed and customized the “Golden Shield”—a sophisticated surveillance and internal security system—specifically to help the Chinese Communist Party identify, track, and arrest them for their faith. Many plaintiffs reported being detained, tortured, or having family members killed as a result of this surveillance.

The man accused of shooting a U.S. Secret Service agent as he tried to breach security at a Washington dinner where President Donald Trump was present is expected in court on Monday to face criminal charges. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is scheduled to make his first appearance in Washington federal court, two days after authorities said they foiled an attack at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.Tech giants Elon Musk and Sam Altman are facing each other in court on Monday. Musk is suing the maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, and its leaders, including CEO Sam Altman. Musk says he was deceived by the executives when OpenAI became a for-profit operation, after originally billing itself as a nonprofit mission. OpenAI's lawyers counter that Musk is motivated by a compulsion to control OpenAI and prop up his own AI lab xAI, which he founded in 2023 shortly after OpenAI launched ChatGPT and sparked the AI boom.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on April 24 that a U.S. blockade on Iran is going global, adding that Tehran had a chance to make a "good deal" with Washington. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. Central Command continues to maintain a strict blockade on all ports in Iran. Caine said 34 ships had been turned around as of Friday morning. He added that the U.S. military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans.President Donald Trump has extended a waiver of the century-old Jones Act for 90 days, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport fuel and other goods between U.S. ports to ease price increases triggered by the Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The waiver applies to a range of goods, including crude oil, natural gas, coal, fertilizer, and refined petroleum products.

The U.S. Senate voted early on April 23 to advance a $70 billion funding blueprint for immigration enforcement agencies, moving Republicans a step closer to unlocking a party-line bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the remainder of President Donald Trump's term. Lawmakers voted 50–48 in predawn hours to adopt the nonbinding budget resolution and send it to the House of Representatives, overcoming demands from Democrats for new restrictions on enforcement operations.Trump said on April 23 that he has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines to restrict traffic transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The president's post on Truth Social came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil. The president said he would order U.S. minesweeping ships to continue to clear any mines that may have been set in the strait.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 22 about the department's fiscal year 2027 budget request. It's the sixth of seven hearings on that budget plan.Virginia voters on April 21 approved a new congressional map that could boost the chances of the Democratic Party winning four additional U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections.Democrats are looking to offset GOP gains in Texas after its new map was drawn to favor the Republicans in Congress.

Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve, appears before the Senate Banking Committee for his nomination hearing on Tuesday. President Trump selected the former Fed board member in January as the next head of the U.S. central bank. Several issues will likely be on the agenda, including central bank independence and the potential path of monetary policy.President Trump told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday that he did not want to extend a ceasefire with Iran, adding the U.S. was in a strong negotiating position and would end up with what he called a great deal. Washington has expressed confidence that talks with Iran will go ahead in Pakistan, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining.

President Donald Trump said U.S. representatives will arrive in Pakistan on Monday evening in preparation for negotiations with Iran. And the United States said it had seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to run its blockade on Sunday.A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday, prompting authorities to urge residents to stay away from coastal areas where tsunami waves of up to 10 feet were expected.

Oil prices dropped by more than 10 percent on Friday, after Iran's foreign minister said that the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period. President Donald Trump announced on Friday, however, that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports remains in effect until a deal with Iran is negotiated.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies for the second day before the House Education and Workforce Committee about the department's priorities for fiscal year 2027.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Israeli and Lebanese leaders had agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire. "These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," he wrote, adding that he has directed U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine to work with the two countries to achieve lasting peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in an April 15 post on Truth Social that China has "agreed not to send weapons to Iran.” He said the two countries are "working together smartly," but also warned that the United States is "very good at fighting."House lawmakers late Tuesday night advanced a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a power that has long drawn bipartisan criticism since its inception in 2008. The measure under consideration would extend Section 702 powers for 18 months.

U.S. Central Command has announced a U.S. blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian Ports beginning April 13. Oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel on the news. President Donald Trump said the price of oil and gasoline could remain high through November's midterm elections.Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat on April 12 in the national election, ending his 16 years in office. His election loss marks a dramatic shift in Hungary's political direction after four terms in office.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a two-week cease-fire with Iran. On April 8, he said the United States will work closely with Iran, which he said has "gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change." He also said there would be no uranium enrichment and that many of the 15 points in the U.S. proposal to Iran had been agreed to.U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military, along with Israel, achieved every single objective as laid out from day one of the conflict. Hegseth added that Iran's command system is decimated. The Pentagon said it welcomes the cease-fire agreement with Iran, but remains ready to "resume combat operations" if needed.

President Donald Trump warned on April 7 that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his 8 p.m. ET deadline to reach a deal. In a post on Truth Social, the president said he did not want such an outcome but suggested it was increasingly likely without a breakthrough, calling the moment “one of the most important” in world history.Vice President JD Vance said he is “confident” Iran will respond to U.S. demands by Trump's deadline. He said the United States had already defeated the Iranian militarily and that Iran is now “trying to exact as much economic pain on the world as possible” by keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.

President Donald Trump will hold a press conference on Monday, as his deadline for Iran to reach a cease-fire deal approaches. Trump on Sunday posted on Truth Social, "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!"—signaling the new deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on energy facilities and bridges.The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission entered the moon's gravitational sphere of influence early Monday morning as they cruised along a path that will soon take them around the moon's far side, setting a new record as the farthest-flying humans in history.

U.S. employers added 178,000 new jobs in March, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on April 3. Prior to the non-farm payrolls report, economists had forecast a more modest reading of 60,000. The unemployment rate also dipped to 4.3 percent last month, from the 4.4 percent registered in February. Markets had projected the jobless rate holding steady at 4.4 percent.President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday that the U.S. can open the Strait of Hormuz "with a little more time." Reopening the strait has become a priority for governments around the world as energy prices soar.

Oil prices climbed to around $110 a barrel on April 2 after President Donald Trump said the United States would continue attacks on Iran. And the United Kingdom is hosting a virtual meeting of around 40 countries to discuss options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is not due to attend.An end to the longest Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown in history is on the horizon. Trump and congressional GOP leaders have rallied behind a two-pronged approach to bypass Senate Democrats on immigration funding. Lawmakers will fund the DHS through regular order, but remove funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Those will be handled in a second party-line bill using a budget process that will allow passage without support from Democrats.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29, said talks with Iran are ongoing and making “very good” progress. He urged Tehran to take the deal or face destruction of its critical infrastructure. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry denies negotiations are taking place.Transportation Security Administration agents are expected to be paid again soon after Trump signed a presidential memorandum last week that would allow them to get paid despite the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is now officially the longest in history, with no end in sight.

The U.S. Senate voted on Friday (March) to end a partial government shutdown that has snarled airports across the country, though it did not resolve a dispute over immigration enforcement that prompted the six-week standoff in the first place. The House of Representatives must also pass the bill before Trump can sign it into law. A vote was expected later on Friday.President Donald Trump announced actions to help U.S. farmers on Friday, as the White House host hundreds of farmers, ranchers and executives for an event highlighting the agricultural sector.

President ​Donald Trump on March 25 warned Iran to "get serious" about a deal to end nearly four weeks of fighting, after its foreign minister said Tehran was reviewing the U.S. proposal, but there were no direct talks on winding down the war.Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday that Iran had been "militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback", and was "begging" for a deal.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 25 that the Israeli military had killed an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy commander responsible for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Wednesday as prospects of a de-escalation in the Middle East conflict allayed some investor fears around prolonged energy supply disruptions.A source at the Pentagon has told media that elements of the elite 82nd Airborne Division are being deployed to the region. A key element of the 82nd Airborne is the Immediate Response Force—highly-trained soldiers who can parachute into enemy territory. The deployment comes after U.S. airstrikes on Iran's Kharg Island, targeting military facilities but leaving oil infrastructure untouched. President Donald Trump also warning that the United States could target oil facilities if Iran interferes with the Strait of Hormuz.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) will be sworn in as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Oval Office of the White House on March 24. Mullin was confirmed by the Senate on March 23 and replaces fired DHS Secretary Kristi NoemIran and Israel have continued strikes in the Middle East after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed the bombing of the Iranian regime's ​power plants and other energy infrastructure because of what he described as productive talks with Iranian officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel on March 24, striking the coastal city of Tel Aviv.

Israel has confirmed that it killed the spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ali Mohammad Naini. He's the fourth high-profile Iranian official killed this week.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said he held multiple roles in propaganda and media operations. The military says over the past two years, he served as the IRGC's main propagandist and spread the regime's messaging across the Middle East. His work targeted proxy groups to influence and advance terror attacks against Israel, according to the IDF.An additional force of U.S. warships and an attached Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is set to deploy to the Middle East amid ongoing combat operations against Iran, The Epoch Times has learned.The USS Boxer amphibious ready group and the 11th MEU, currently based out of San Diego, are set to sail across the Indo-Pacific region to reach the waters of the Middle East, according to a U.S. military source familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House for a bilateral meeting. It's the Japanese prime minister's first trip to the United States since taking office last October.Takaichi told reporters that she hopes to discuss restoring peace in the Middle East, saying global peace and stability are under threat. Japanese officials say the two sides will work to deepen cooperation in regional security, critical minerals, energy, and China-related issues.Top Trump administration intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel, testify before the House Intelligence Committee at their annual hearing, focusing largely on the security implications of the Iran war.

Top Trump administration intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel, testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee at their annual hearings. Hearings are expected to focus largely on the security implications of the Iran war.The Israeli military said it killed Iran's minister of intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, in an overnight strike. It's the third death of a top Iranian official in 24 hours. Israel says Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, including arresting and killing protestors and leading terrorist activities against Israelis and Americans around the world.

President Donald Trump said the Iran War could be wrapped up soon, when asked on Monday whether he thinks the war could end this week. Trump said the operation stopped Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, adding that it prevented a nuclear war that could have escalated into World War III. Trump also says some countries have agreed to help patrol the Strait of Hormuz. He says an announcement on the patrol effort will be made soon.Trump will meet with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the White House on St. Patrick's Day. NTD will have live coverage of the bilateral meeting.

President Donald Trump said he may delay a planned meeting with Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping. The president did not indicate how long the meeting might be delayed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified at a press conference after talks with a Chinese delegation that if Trump's trip is delayed, it's because the president wants to remain in Washington to oversee the Iran war.Oil prices are climbing again as the Iran war threatens global oil supply. Brent crude hit $106 per barrel on Sunday. The biggest concern remains the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the conflict could end soon, which would help bring prices back down.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is wounded and likely disfigured, questioning Khamenei's ability to lead. Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians since his selection by a clerical assembly on Sunday, and his first comments came in a statement read out by a television presenter on Thursday.All six crew members aboard a U.S. military refuelling aircraft have been confirmed dead after it crashed in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command said on Friday. CENTCOM ruled out the cause of the crash as either hostile fire or friendly fire. The identities of the deceased service members are being withheld until next of kin have been notified.

Oil prices jumped back toward the $100-per-barrel mark on March 12 despite a coordinated release of strategic reserves by the United States and its allies, as Iranian attacks on oil and transport infrastructure across the Middle East intensified fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and a prolonged regional conflict.The Trump administration has launched new trade investigations under the Trade Act. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the probes will examine excess industrial capacity in 16 major trading partners.The countries include China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. The investigations will determine whether foreign policies and practices are unfairly displacing U.S. manufacturing and restricting commerce.A second investigation will focus on imports produced with forced labor, targeting roughly 60 countries. These inquiries could lead to new tariffs or import restrictions.

Members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed on March 11 to release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves. This is the largest withdrawal on record as governments attempt to mitigate the spike in global energy prices.Major storms whipped up tornadoes that killed at least two people in northwest Indiana and leveled buildings in Kankakee, Illinois, authorities said Wednesday, as another round of rain, hail and strong winds made its way through the region.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on March 10 that U.S. airstrikes against Iran will reach their most intense level on Tuesday. He said the operation is focused on three main objectives: destroying Iran's missile stockpiles and launch systems, eliminating its naval capabilities, and preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. Hegseth also said President Donald Trump will make the decision on when to end the war.U.S. stocks are rising after President Trump indicated that the war against Iran could be short-lived. Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022, but later fell on the news that the war may not last much longer.

President Donald Trump says in a March 8 post on Truth Social that higher oil prices are “a very small price to pay” for safety and peace, as the Iran war continues.The New York Police Department (NYPD) said improvised explosive devices were ignited and thrown outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence over the weekend. The devices did not explode.NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Monday that the department is investigating the incident as an "ISIS-inspired" terrorist act.

President Donald Trump called on Iran to surrender unconditionally and said there will be no deal with Iran, according to a post on Truth Social on March 6. He said the United States and its allies would “bring Iran back from the brink of destruction” after Iran surrenders.The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February. This comes after January's better-than-expected performance of 126,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.4 percent from 4.3 percent. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett is projecting optimism, saying the U.S. economy remains strong, and that job creation is on net positive.

The U.S. State Department is asking Americans in Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to register online to receive assistance from authorities to leave the region amid the conflict with Iran. U.S. citizens can contact the State Department directly at +1-202-501-4444 for assistance.Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry says it's preparing a response after two suspected Iranian drones injured four people. Iranian officials have denied responsibility. The UAE says its air defenses detected seven ballistic missiles on March 5. Six were intercepted and destroyed. Qatar also reported a missile attack earlier on March 5. Authorities urge residents to remain indoors as tensions remain high.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday confirmed that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, noting it was the first time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II. Hegseth vowed continued and intensifying military pressure on Iran, declaring that the campaign was “not a fair fight” and promising sustained operations in the days ahead.Turkey said that NATO air defenses destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile headed into Turkish airspace on Wednesday, marking the first time the alliance member has been drawn into the Middle East conflict and raising the possibility of a major expansion involving bloc allies.

The United Stated closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Tuesday. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh is also warning of immediate missile and UAV threats over Dhahran, a city in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, directing residents to shelter indoors. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf states hosting U.S. air bases. A drone also struck the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait yesterday. The embassy said today it would close until further notice, citing regional tensions.President Donald Trump will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday. In an X post on Saturday, Merz said the two will discuss "the latest developments in the Middle East."

A fourth US service member was killed on the third day of the Iran conflict. Israel responded to Hezbollah strikes in Lebanon as Iran widened its targets, including an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia.

Former President Bill Clinton is testifying Friday behind closed doors to a congressional panel about his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton flew on Epstein's plane several times in the early 2000s after he left office, and a tranche of millions of documents released by the Justice Department includes photos of him with women whose faces are redacted. He has denied wrongdoing and expressed regret for his association with Epstein.President Trump is traveling to southern Texas Friday to promote his economic and fossil fuel agenda. The president is set to speak in Corpus Christi, the nation's top exporter of liquefied natural gas. Trump's visit comes as Republicans battle over key House and Senate races ahead of November's midterms.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to testify on Thursday in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee. The panel is investigating the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton says she has limited information to provide. Former President Bill Clinton is expected to testify tomorrow.The United States and Iran are holding another round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday to try to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program, as the United States gathers a massive fleet of warships in the Middle East. President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear program.

President Donald Trump highlighted his economic agenda in a record-long State of the Union address, declaring the United States is “bigger, richer, and stronger than ever before.” We have guests joining for analysis of the president's speech.Dr. Casey Means testifies before a Senate committee on Wednesday on her nomination as U.S. surgeon general. Means is expected to face questions about the agenda of her key ally, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Donald Trump will deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term tonight before a joint session of Congress. He's expected to highlight his administration's actions over the past year and outline his agenda for the future. NTD will have live coverage of the speech starting at 7 p.m. ET.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and world leaders marked the fourth year of the war in Ukraine on Tuesday as the fighting on the battlefield continues. In a video posted on X, Zelenskyy invited Trump to visit Ukraine. Trump has vowed to bring an end to the conflict, with U.S.-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine still ongoing.