Trump Arrives in China for High-Stakes Summit

President Trump landed in Beijing for a two-day summit with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. The war in Iran has complicated the issues they hope to address.

The Lecturer and Philosopher King: Xi Jinping Behind Closed Doors

How China Could Wield Its Control of Rare Earths Against Trump

Iran’s Military Is Stronger Than Trump Claims, Reports Show

Secret U.S. intelligence assessments say Iran has access to 30 of its 33 missile sites and could threaten American warships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

What You Need to Know About the Federal Gas Tax

U.S. Inflation Jumps 3.8%, the Fastest Rate in 3 Years

Consumer prices rose at the fastest rate since May 2023 last month, as sharp increases in energy costs caused by the Iran war made life more expensive for Americans.

Steel Tariffs Are Harming Tin Can Makers and Lifting Food Prices

The cost to put food in cans remains high because manufacturers must still import steel from overseas. U.S. Steel plans to reopen a tin-plate factory.

Xi Is Poised to Press Trump on Arms Sales to Taiwan

Beijing has called Taiwan the “core of China’s core interests.” Xi Jinping is likely to focus on getting President Trump to slow approval of weapons for the island.

China Seeks A.I. Independence, Weakening Trump’s Leverage

Before this week’s U.S.-China summit, Beijing reached a milestone in its quest for technological self-sufficiency.

Truce Hangs in the Balance After Trump Rejects Iran’s Offer

President Trump called an Iranian proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz “garbage.” An Iranian official raised the prospect of escalating nuclear enrichment.

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.

White House Insists Iran War Is Over, Even While Missiles Fly

The White House is turning to rhetorical leaps as President Trump tries to put the biggest political crisis of his presidency behind him

Oil Prices Tumble After Trump Claims Progress in Talks

Oil prices fell sharply after President Trump announced there had been “great progress” toward a deal with Iran. The U.S. paused an operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

5 Trump-Backed Challengers Beat Incumbents Who Defied President in Indiana

President Trump sought revenge against legislators who wouldn’t approve redistricting. Only one of them prevailed, and one race is too close to call.

In Romania, Living With Weapons of War Spilling Into NATO Territory

Four years of battle in Ukraine is taking a toll on neighboring Romanians. Even if the war has not crossed the border, drones have done so.

Deadly Russian Strikes Rip Into Ukrainian Cities

Trump Promised Transparency in Venezuela, but Oil Secrets Linger

U.S. and Venezuelan officials have promised a new era of accountability after Nicolás Maduro’s downfall. But Venezuela’s oil industry remains a black hole.

Hegseth Calls U.S. Military Effort in Strait of Hormuz Defensive and Temporary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. naval efforts to escort ships through the strait were a defensive effort, after an Iranian official warned of escalation.

What to Know About the Growing Saudi Arabia-U.A.E. Rift

Trump Tries to Downplay Economic Effects of the War

Secret Recordings, Hidden Shares and a Family Rift at South Korea’s LG

An inheritance dispute over the former chairman’s estate has prompted a criminal complaint over how the family behind the conglomerate divides its assets.

Tehran Threatens Ships Over Trump Plan to Break Its Blockade

President Trump said the U.S. would help stranded ships leave the Strait of Hormuz. Iran threatened to attack vessels traveling through the waterway without its permission.

Oil Jumps as Iran Resists Trump’s Offer to Help Ships Through Strait of Hormuz

China Seeks an Advantage With Both Trump and Iran as War Evolves

With President Trump’s visit to Beijing looming, China is pushing Iran to negotiate even as its companies export material that could be used by Iran’s military.

The U.S. Army’s ‘Big Experiment’ in the Arctic Cold

How would soldiers from places like Florida, Texas and Georgia fight and persevere in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees?

With World Distracted by War, Extremist Settlers Intensify Attacks in West Bank

Israel has failed to arrest a wave of violence against Palestinians, prompting military officials to urge the government to intervene.