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.
Here’s the latest:
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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Trump-Xi summit comes with high stakes for Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims as its own
Trump, in his return to the White House, has demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan, an approach that is raising questions ahead of this with about whether the U.S. leader could be open to dialing back support for the that Beijing views as its breakaway province.
Trump in December authorized an 鈥� the largest weapons sale ever to the island 鈥� but has not yet moved forward with delivery and even acknowledged that he鈥檚 . He鈥檚 groused that Taiwan 鈥渟tole鈥� America鈥檚 semiconductor business and the U.S. for protection.
All the while, Trump has, with the threat of hefty tariffs, prodded Taipei to in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and to of U.S. liquefied natural gas and crude oil.
His rhetoric is fueling speculation in Beijing, Taipei and Washington about America鈥檚 commitment to help the island defend itself.
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Iran and the US are at an impasse ahead of Trump鈥檚 China trip
Iran and the United States reached an impasse again Monday 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.
The volatility could tip the Middle East and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict, with Iran鈥檚 chokehold on the and America鈥檚 blockade of Iranian ports still in place. Trump is expected to use a to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions and end the current limbo. Beijing is the biggest buyer of the Islamic Republic鈥檚 sanctioned crude oil, giving it leverage.
Trump said Sunday that Iran鈥檚 response to his latest proposal was 鈥淭OTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!鈥� Ending the blockade before discussing Iran鈥檚 nuclear program would eliminate a major point of leverage for Trump in the talks.
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