NATIONAL NEWS

Trump delays China trip until next month to focus on the war in Iran

Mar 17, 2026, 9:21 AM

President Donald Trump points to a bust of Winston Churchill as he speaks during a meeting with Iri...

President Donald Trump points to a bust of Winston Churchill as he speaks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House, on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is delaying a diplomatic trip to China that had been planned for months but began to unravel as he pressured Beijing and other world powers to use military might to protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said Tuesday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office that he would be going to China in five or six weeks’ time instead of at the end of the month. He said he would be “resetting” his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, without elaborating.

National News

Associated Press

Bomb found near ethanol plant in central Illinois forces evacuations as authorities investigate

A bomb was found near an ethanol plant in central Illinois, sparking evacuations of those who live near the industrial site as law enforcement officials investigate, authorities said Saturday. The bomb was found Friday afternoon at the BioUrja Renewables facility in Peoria. While officials say the device has since been “rendered safe,” as of Saturday […]

1 hour ago

Ashley Sarracino, center, helps her nieces get dressed before participating in traditional dances i...

Associated Press

Deb Haaland breaks political barriers as Native women in her home community face hurdles

PARAJE, N.M. (AP) — On the morning of a Laguna Pueblo village’s annual Feast Day, Ashley Sarracino knelt in her family home holding clothespins between her teeth. She straightened her niece’s black cotton manta, a traditional one-shouldered dress, and tied a sash around her waist. On these days, Sarracino is a caretaker, dressing relatives for […]

2 hours ago

An injured child is treated at the Al-Aqsa Hospital, following an Israeli military strike in easter...

Associated Press

Israeli drone strike kills 2 Palestinians in Gaza, and other Mideast news

An Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, hospital officials said. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV reported that three oil tankers struck Iranian naval mines and caught fire around the Strait of Hormuz in the latest attack on shipping moving through the Persian Gulf. Here are the latest developments from the […]

2 hours ago

A display board shows canceled flights to the U.S., in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026....

Associated Press

What to know about flights after the US nationwide ground stop

A nationwide ground stop ended around 8:15 p.m. ET, and some domestic flights have now departed from U.S. airports. However, normalizing air traffic after the longest flight stoppage in 25 years will be slow, authorities warned. Officials say the system is likely to be operating normally in time to handle the Thanksgiving travel rush. Here’s […]

4 hours ago

The Emanuel Nine Memorial fountain is seen during a media preview at Mother Emanuel AME Church in C...

Associated Press

Memorial opens honoring victims of the 2015 Charleston church massacre

It took Alana Grant years to find the strength to set foot in the basement of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, where her grandfather, the Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons, attended his final Bible study. Her fears have been replaced by gratitude and hope now that there is a completed memorial in a courtyard by […]

8 hours ago

Associated Press

Thousands of flights canceled as airlines work to dig out from nationwide ground stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 2,000 flights were canceled Saturday as airlines across the U.S. worked to dig out from the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years, which stranded passengers and forced professional and college sports teams to scramble for alternate transportation. Trump administration officials said new technology being added to the nation’s air […]

9 hours ago

Trump delays China trip until next month to focus on the war in Iran