Iran and the United States over how to end their war while their ceasefire grew increasingly shaky, with the in recent days, ships and Gulf states being targeted, and fighting flaring between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran鈥檚 response to his latest proposal was 鈥淭OTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!鈥�
Also, Trump for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President . But Beijing鈥檚 deep , as well as over stretching back to Trump鈥檚 first term, could crimp the meeting, even though the Republican president has for years effusively praised Xi.
Trump also said Monday that he would indefinitely , though Congress needs to approve the move. The war continues to send fuel prices skyrocketing and rattle world markets. After Trump鈥檚 comment on the weakness of the ceasefire, the 2.9% to $104.18.
Here’s the latest:
Trump taps Lake, Mastriano for ambassadorships
The president is choosing two loyalists and failed statewide political candidates as his nominees for two vacant ambassadorships.
Trump is nominating Kari Lake, who most recently served as the acting head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, as the U.S. envoy to Jamaica. While she ran the agency which oversees Voice of America, Lake had effectively shut down the government-run news outlet. But a federal judge earlier this year ruled that Lake did not have the legal authority to take such actions.
Lake was the GOP鈥檚 gubernatorial nominee in Arizona in 2022 and then the party鈥檚 Senate nominee in 2024. She lost both times.
Trump is nominating Doug Mastriano to be U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic. He ran for Pennsylvania governor in 2022, losing to Democrat Josh Shapiro.
Democrats ask the Supreme Court to halt a Virginia ruling blocking new congressional districts
Democrats on Monday filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt a Virginia ruling invalidating a ballot measure that would have given their party an additional four winnable U.S. House seats.
The move came after the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday a constitutional amendment that just last month. The 4-3 state court decision found that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in the Virginia鈥檚 general election last fall.
Democrats argued unsuccessfully that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that, even if early voting is underway, an election does not happen until Election Day itself.
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Supreme Court temporarily extends women鈥檚 access to a widely used abortion pill
is leaving women鈥檚 access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on to take effect.
Justice Samuel Alito鈥檚 order Monday allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. It prevents restrictions on mifepristone imposed by from taking effect for the time being.
The court is dealing with its latest controversy four years after its conservative majority and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.
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White House says 17 CEOs will travel to China as part of the US delegation
Executives who are scheduled to join Trump in Beijing this week represent American tech, finance and agricultural companies, according to a White House official.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the executives include Apple鈥檚 Tim Cook, Blackrock鈥檚 Larry Fink, Blackstone鈥檚 Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing鈥檚 Kelly Ortberg, Cargill鈥檚 Brian Sikes, Citi鈥檚 Jane Fraser, Cisco鈥檚 Chuck Robbins, Coherent鈥檚 Jim Anderson, GE Aerospace鈥檚 H. Lawrence Culp, Goldman Sachs鈥� David Solomon, Illumina鈥檚 Jacob Thaysen, Mastercard鈥檚 Michael Miebach, Meta鈥檚 Dina Powell McCormick, Micron鈥檚 Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm鈥檚 Cristiano Amon, Tesla/SpaceX鈥檚 Elon Musk and Visa鈥檚 Ryan McInerney.
鈥�- Aamer Madhani
Satellite images appear to show oil slick drifting south of Iran鈥檚 Kharg island
The images from Monday reviewed by The Associated Press appear to show an oil slick drifting in the Persian Gulf southward from the island, Iran鈥檚 primary crude oil terminal.
The slick is believed to be the same one observed last week off the western side of Kharg Island.
The slick was first observed a week ago through Satellite images. It鈥檚 unknown whether the spill was caused by a malfunction, an airstrike or something else.
On Monday, it looked like the slick had spread out, apparently dissipating. It is currently 47 miles (75 km) wide and appeared to be 28 miles (45 km) south of Kharg Island.
US warns banks to watch for suspected Iranian money-laundering networks
The Treasury Department wants U.S. banks and other financial institutions to monitor for suspected Iranian money laundering networks that use their funds to smuggle sanctioned oil through shell companies and crypto networks.
The move, which effectively deputizes the global financial system to help disrupt Iran鈥檚 sanctions-evasion infrastructure, comes as the U.S. and Iran reached another impasse over how to end their war while their ceasefire has grown increasingly shaky.
The Trump administration is calling on banks to flag certain customers who may launder funds for Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard 鈥� including newly formed companies moving unusually large amounts of money, firms that route payments through multiple intermediaries or transactions connected to Iranian crypto firms, among other indicators.
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Trump to sign executive orders on beef supply
The two orders, according to a White House official, are meant to address short-term supply issues in the U.S. beef market.
The official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the orders in advance of their signing, said the plans will expand beef imports and support the renewal of America鈥檚 domestic cattle herd.
The orders were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
鈥�- Seung Min Kim
Officials tout new website for mothers
Trump administration officials shared more details Monday about the website they stood up in time for Mother鈥檚 Day, at the URL .
鈥淚t is one-stop shopping for IVF, for prenatal care, for postnatal care, for nutrition, for baby formula, and of course, for TrumpRx,鈥� Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in the Oval Office.
The website centralizes government-led guidance on nutrition and health surrounding pregnancy and links out to Trump鈥檚 website for discounted drugs, TrumpRx.
The site also prominently displays a link to a pregnancy center resource called Option Line run by the anti-abortion group Heartbeat International. It signaled the administration staking out its side on the abortion debate as the Supreme Court weighs whether to restrict access to abortion pills by mail nationwide.
Trump likens Jimmy Lai to Comey as he plans to discuss case with Xi
The U.S. president said he鈥檒l bring up the plight of Jimmy Lai in China this week but he compared the pro-democracy activist to one of his most detested foes.
鈥淛immy Lai, you know, he caused a lot of bedlam,鈥� Trump told reporters Monday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like saying to me, 鈥榠f Comey ever went to jail, would you let him out?鈥� That might be a hard one for me.鈥�
Trump is referring to former FBI director James Comey, whom he fired in 2017 over his handling of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The Justice Department is now prosecuting Comey on charges of making threats against the president. Its first indictment of Comey was dismissed.
鈥淛immy Lai, he caused lots of turmoil in China. He tried to do the right thing. He wasn鈥檛 successful, went to jail, and people would like him out,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檇 like to see him get out too.鈥�
Asked about hantavirus, Trump says 鈥業 hope it鈥檚 fine鈥�
Trump made the comment Monday in the White House as countries around the world repatriated passengers from a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
鈥淚 hope it鈥檚 fine. All I can do is everything that a president can do, which is something 鈥� which is actually somewhat limited,鈥� Trump said.
Among the cruise ship passengers who tested positive were a French woman and an American. Some experts have said U.S. authorities were slow to respond, but Trump said he thought the response was, 鈥淚 think fine.鈥�
鈥淭he one thing with this one is that it鈥檚 much harder to catch,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been around for a long time, people are very familiar with it.鈥�
What is a gas tax holiday?
A gas tax holiday is a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax, currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel. That does not include state taxes, which often are higher.
The tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.
The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.
Both the House and Senate are controlled by Republicans.
Trump says he鈥檒l suspend federal gas tax
Trump answered yes when asked if he would suspend the federal gas tax amid higher prices stemming from the war with Iran.
He said the price of oil and gas would drop 鈥渓ike a rock鈥� as soon as hostilities are over. Asked how long the suspension would last, he said 鈥渦ntil it鈥檚 appropriate.鈥�
The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.
The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Trump says Iran went back on allowing the US to remove its highly enriched uranium
Trump claims that Iran told his administration that it would allow the U.S. to come in and help extract its highly enriched uranium but went back on that in its latest ceasefire proposal.
鈥淭hey changed their mind because they didn鈥檛 put it in the paper,鈥� he said.
Trump added that besides taking the uranium, the U.S. wants Iran to 鈥済uarantee no nuclear weapons for a very long period of time and a couple of other minor things, but they just can鈥檛 get there. So they agree with us and then they take it back.鈥�
Iran has not publicly agreed to give up its enriched uranium and insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
Trump says Iran ceasefire is on 鈥榣ife support鈥�
President Trump on Monday said the Iran ceasefire is on 鈥渓ife support鈥� after he rejected the country鈥檚 latest proposal for not including a nuclear concession.
Asked if the ceasefire was still in place, Trump said he鈥檇 say it鈥檚 鈥渦nbelievably weak鈥� and on 鈥渓ife support.鈥�
鈥淚 would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us,鈥� Trump said during an unrelated appearance in the Oval Office. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even finish reading it.鈥�
Democrats vow to fight $1 billion Senate security proposal for White House ballroom
Republicans returning to Washington on Monday are facing questions about a that could help pay for President Trump鈥檚 as Democrats say they鈥檒l try to defeat it.
Senate Republicans added the money for White House security to a spending bill that would restore funding for immigration enforcement agencies Democrats have blocked since February. The steep security proposal was put forward after a man was charged with at the White House Correspondents鈥� Association dinner last month.
Republicans are using a to push the spending legislation through Congress without any Democratic votes. But in a letter to colleagues Monday morning, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will fight it in other ways, including by pushing the to strike the ballroom security money from the budget bill and offering amendments forcing Republicans to vote on it.
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Trump administration announces new rule establishing a fertility benefit
Trump held an event in the Oval Office on Monday to announce that the Labor Department was issuing a new regulation to formally create a fertility benefit option for employers that could be offered to workers outside normal health insurance plans.
The Trump administration said in October that it had struck a deal with a drugmaker to reduce the cost of fertility medication.
Trump asked his guests at the event to speak quickly because generals were waiting for him to discuss the war in Iran.
Two regional diplomats say one issue frustrating Trump is Iran鈥檚 demand for war damages
They noted that, traditionally, reparations are paid by the defeated side and Trump is wary of the term 鈥渞eparations鈥� appearing in Iranian proposals, as agreeing to it could be seen as acknowledging defeat.
Both diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren鈥檛 authorized to discuss the ongoing negotiations.
One diplomat added that Pakistan is working to broker a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war and maintaining broader dialogue on unresolved issues.
He said Islamabad has support from other regional countries, and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have been in contact with both sides, as well as regional governments, to help ensure the ceasefire holds, the war ends and the parties agree to in-person talks next week.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
鈥� Munir Ahmed
Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz?
Maritime experts say granting Iran exclusive sovereignty over the strait 鈥� or allowing it to collect tolls on ships passing through 鈥� would violate a basic and enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation. It鈥檚 an ancient idea that was codified by the United Nations鈥� Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.
Before the war, the strait was an international waterway through which ships were meant to pass freely.
Agreeing to Iranian sovereignty would cement the country鈥檚 control over the waterway 鈥� eroding the freedom of navigation on which global trade depends and potentially making other global choke points subject to geopolitical power plays.
Suspect鈥檚 lawyers seek to have Justice Department officials recused from the case
Cole Tomas Allen鈥檚 lawyers are asking U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to disqualify at least two top Justice Department officials from direct involvement in prosecuting him because they could be considered victims or witnesses in the case, creating a potential conflict of interest.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were attending when Allen ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer, authorities said. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm said the defense likely would seek to disqualify Pirro鈥檚 entire office from involvement in the case.
McFadden didn鈥檛 rule from the bench on that question but asked Allen鈥檚 attorneys to elaborate on the possible scope of their recusal request.
Allen is scheduled to return to court on June 29.
Man charged in White House correspondents鈥� dinner attack pleads not guilty
The California man accused of storming the White House Correspondents鈥� Association dinner while armed with guns and knives has pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill President Trump and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer who tried to stop the attack.
Cole Tomas Allen was handcuffed and shackled and wearing an orange jail uniform when he appeared in federal court for his arraignment Monday.
Allen didn鈥檛 speak during the brief hearing. One of his attorneys entered the plea on his behalf.
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Oil prices rise after Trump rejects Iran鈥檚 latest peace proposal, but US stocks hold steady
Oil prices are rising as the war with Iran threatens to drag on for longer, but the U.S. stock market is nevertheless holding near its record heights.
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil rose 1.7% to above $103 Monday after President Trump blasted Iran鈥檚 latest proposal to end their war as totally unacceptable. The rejection keeps the two sides in an uneasy limbo, one that鈥檚 already driven the price of Brent up from roughly $70 per barrel before the war.
But the S&P 500 slipped just 0.1% from its record. The Dow fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.2%.
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Voter confusion and headaches for election officials follow hasty GOP push to redraw US House seats
Thousands of have already cast early ballots for congressional candidates in what soon could be the wrong districts. are a week away, but the state could force a do-over for voting on U.S. House races. upended races that had been underway for months.
Republicans鈥� rush to across after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling is confusing voters and creating logistical headaches for local election officials. The changes are hitting while primary season is in progress.
The chaotic upheaval to an election season that could determine which party controls the U.S. House is the latest fallout from an intensely partisan gerrymandering battle initiated by last year to protect Republicans鈥� slim majority.
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Trump鈥檚 deal making with Xi may determine Hong Kong jailed activist Jimmy Lai鈥檚 fate
Pro-democracy activist once hoped Trump could help stop the imposition of a controversial national security law. The law not only took effect but was also used to in prison.
Ahead of an by Trump to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, Lai鈥檚 son said his family is now hoping that Trump can help secure his father鈥檚 release.
Lai, a prominent critic of Beijing, founded a that was shut down during a crackdown following the city鈥檚 massive anti-government protests in 2019.
Trump is expected to discuss trade, the and Taiwan with Xi. But he said he is also planning to bring up Lai, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a little bitterness, I would say, with him and Jimmy Lai.鈥�
Lai鈥檚 son says his family is hopeful that Trump could help, adding that it鈥檚 easier to resolve than many of the other complex geopolitical issues the leaders will discuss.
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World shares are mixed and oil rises after Trump rejects Iran鈥檚 response to ceasefire proposal
World shares were mixed Monday after Wall Street set more records, and oil rose more than 2% following U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 rejection of Tehran鈥檚 response to the latest U.S. proposal on ending the .
U.S. futures edged less than 0.1% lower.
In early European trading, Britain鈥檚 FTSE 100 gained 0.2% to 10,253.99. Germany鈥檚 DAX fell less than 0.1% to 24,328.17, and France鈥檚 CAC 40 lost 0.8% to 8,049.31.
In Asia, Tokyo鈥檚 Nikkei 225 fell 0.5% to 62,417.88 after briefing reaching another record high in intraday trading at above 63,300. Technology-focused investment holding company SoftBank Group, one of Japan鈥檚 largest stocks, fell more than 6%.
South Korea鈥檚 Kospi gained 4.3% to 7,822.24. It also hit an all-time intraday high, led by gains from tech-related stocks including Samsung Electronics and memory chipmaker SK Hynix.
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Iran war could make Trump鈥檚 trip to China a bit chillier than his first-term visit
Long before this week鈥檚 , Trump was already predicting on social media that would 鈥済ive me a big, fat hug when I get there.鈥�
But Beijing鈥檚 deep , as well as over stretching back to Trump鈥檚 first term, could crimp the good feelings when Trump flies to Beijing this week 鈥� even though the Republican president has for years effusively praised Xi, making it clear he sees China鈥檚 leader as a competitor strong enough to warrant his respect and admiration.
China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that Beijing is willing to work with the U.S., based on equality and mutual respect, to expand cooperation, manage differences, and add stability to a turbulent world. The diplomacy between the leaders 鈥減lays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role鈥� in the bilateral relation, he said.
There will be plenty of ceremonial splendor, but the grandeur is not expected to rival Trump鈥檚 first visit to China in 2017, which Beijing dubbed a 鈥渟tate visit-plus.鈥�
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