Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right and refused to answer questions at a Senate hearing on Covid-19 origins and the pandemic response. Fauci said he feared his testimony could be used to pursue perjury charges, while Sen. Rand Paul said the public deserved answers.
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Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East and struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. and Saudi forces responded with strikes on Iran-aligned targets in Iraq.
U.S. and Saudi forces struck Iran-backed militia sites in Iraq after alleged drone attacks, while Jordan said it intercepted five Iranian missiles. Iran-linked media also reported tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, though NPR said there was no immediate independent confirmation.
U.S. and Saudi forces struck Iran-aligned targets in eastern Iraq after Washington said Iranian-directed drones and missiles targeted American forces and Saudi energy sites. The exchanges disrupted a brief lull as Trump claimed progress in talks, while Tehran denied direct negotiations were underway.
The Senate voted 51-47 along party lines to confirm Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence. He takes over after major staffing cuts at the ODNI and amid Democratic concerns about political pressure on intelligence agencies.
Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president after winning a narrow runoff by fewer than 50,000 votes. She promised a hard-line crime crackdown while opponents warned about her family legacy and demanded investigations into protest deaths.
President Donald Trump met separately with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Zelenskyy said the talks covered Patriot interceptor production, while Netanyahu’s visit came amid reported tensions with Trump over Iran and Lebanon.
Funeral ceremonies for late Sen. Lindsey Graham begin Tuesday in Washington, with Netanyahu, Zelenskyy and Trump expected to attend. Newly released documentary footage shows Graham celebrating U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and discussing efforts to influence Trump.