As Trump Heads to Beijing, China Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ for a Fight

As President Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet this week, Beijing is signaling that it is ready for a showdown over trade.

What Middle Powers Fear About the Trump-Xi Summit

Asian nations worry that President Trump might trade security commitments for better economic terms with China.

Iran Lists Demands That Trump Deemed ‘Unacceptable’

Tehran demanded U.S. war reparations, recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and an end to American sanctions, Iranian state media reported.

Oil Prices Rise as Prospects for U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Fizzle

What Middle Powers Fear About the Trump-Xi Summit

Asian nations worry that the president might trade security commitments for better economic terms with China during his planned meeting with Xi Jinping this week.

Mass Layoffs Hit Iran as Businesses Buckle Under Wartime Pressures

Iran was already struggling economically before 2026 brought widespread instability. A government-imposed internet shutdown has crippled an entire sector.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Effectively Blocked After Naval Skirmishes

Putin’s Forces Are Barely Inching Along on the Battlefield

The Russian military has yet to solve a fundamental problem: how to make big advances in eastern Ukraine when drones are everywhere.

‘No Seat for Me’: Virginia Democrats Are Forced to Play Musical Chairs

A court ruling that struck down an election map swiftly ended some Democratic House candidacies and pushed others into much tougher races.

Vance or Rubio? Trump Muses on Successor as the ‘Kids’ Fill Bigger Roles.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are boosting their profiles, generating speculation about the 2028 presidential nomination.

Trump Celebrated Victory in Venezuela. Will That Bring Its People Back?

Dire conditions prompted an exodus from the country. After its leader’s ousting, the question is whether things have changed enough to make a return appealing.

How China’s Leader Lost Faith in His Generals

Xi Jinping spent 13 years building a military to rival that of the United States. But the stronger the Chinese forces grew, the less he trusted the generals he had handpicked to run them.

A Less Muscular Victory Day Parade Shows Putin’s Growing Vulnerability

The event, shrunken because of security fears, adds to a sense that Moscow and other Russian cities can no longer be insulated from the war.

Long Overlooked, Caspian Sea Provides Strategic Trade Route for Iran

The landlocked body of water has taken on new significance, with Russia shipping military and commercial goods to bolster Tehran’s ability to withstand the U.S. assault.

10 Days That Shook the House Map and Democratic Confidence

Republicans are charging ahead in the nation’s redistricting race, and showing new bullishness after months of growing midterm fears.

How Minority Districts Fueled the G.O.P.’s Southern Ascendancy in Congress

U.S. Job Market Remained Solid in April, Even as Energy Costs Rose

Data showed that employers added 115,000 jobs and unemployment was steady at 4.3 percent.

When You’re ‘Fired From Retirement’

People return to work for many reasons, but the biggest is financial need. As costs remain high, more retirees could be looking to re-enter the job market.

Tehran Accuses U.S. of ‘Reckless’ Attacks After Exchange of Fire in Strait

Iran’s foreign minister accused the U.S. of undermining diplomacy as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Tehran’s response to a peace proposal was expected today.

China Sees a ‘Giant With a Limp’ as U.S. Drains Weapons on War in Iran

America’s ability to deter China in a war over Taiwan is weakened, Chinese analysts say, giving Beijing leverage in an upcoming summit with President Trump.

U.A.E. Expels Pakistani Workers, as Pakistan’s Peacemaking Creates a Rift

As Pakistan mediates between the U.S. and Iran, its ties to the Emirates have deteriorated. Pakistani workers say they are now being sent home en masse.

War and Energy Shortages Boost China’s Influence

The war in Iran has left China’s neighbors appealing for help, handing Beijing the kind of sway it has long sought.

The Long Journey From the Strait of Hormuz to the Gas Tank

Even if the waterway reopened today, oil would take more than a month to reach consumers. The economic shock from the war in Iran could take far longer to ease.

World in Waiting Game Over Iran’s Response to U.S. Peace Proposal

Trump to Host Brazil’s Leader After Months of Ups and Downs

President Trump and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who have had a rocky relationship, will meet for talks on security, trade and critical minerals.

German Leaders Clash With Spy Chiefs Over Domestic Threat From Iran

Intelligence agents have privately warned of the potential of hybrid attacks from Iran-linked groups. But political leaders, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have publicly played down the risk.