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Trump Says Will 'Soon' Declare Hormuz Strait US Territory

Police officers applaud as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Police officers applaud as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Trump Says Will 'Soon' Declare Hormuz Strait US Territory

Police officers applaud as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Police officers applaud as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump said Friday he would "finish defeating" Iran and "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory.

Trump has repeatedly said that the key energy waterway, which Tehran effectively closed at the start of the Middle East war, is under US control -- an assertion Tehran denies.

"After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated -- pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state.

"It's true," he added, according to AFP.

An unnamed White House official later clarified that Trump was joking, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi fired back Saturday in a post on X, stressing that the "Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian."

"This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command," he added.

Trump, together with Israel, launched a war against Iran on February 28.

The United States remains locked in a stalemate with Iran over the strait, with Iran denying access to much of the civilian shipping and the US Navy mounting a blockade of Iranian ports in an attempt to cripple its economy.

"We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to," Trump said to a cheering crowd of supporters and police.

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World

Man Arrested After Crashing Car into Park Across from White House

A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
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Man Arrested After Crashing Car into Park Across from White House

A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)

The White House was briefly placed on lockdown on Monday after a man crashed his car into the sidewalk of a park across from the presidential mansion.

The driver of the vehicle was "quickly placed under arrest" after he "became combative with law enforcement," a US Secret Service spokesperson said.

Video taken by witnesses showed the man struggling with police after being pulled from his car, which crashed into a sign on the sidewalk of Lafayette Park across from the White House.

An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to "sweep the vehicle as a precaution," the Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

Around the same time as the vehicle incident, "a second individual jumped a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park," the spokesperson said.

"That individual was also quickly placed under arrest," the spokesperson said. "Both incidents are under investigation."

The White House was locked down for around half an hour during the incidents, correspondents said.

World

Hegseth Plays Down Impeachment Risks, Says Ready to Defend His Record

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
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Hegseth Plays Down Impeachment Risks, Says Ready to Defend His Record

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday played down the risks of an impeachment push against ‌him ‌and said ‌he ⁠was ready to defend ⁠his record at the Pentagon.

"We're not worried about that," ⁠Hegseth said, ‌when ‌asked if he ‌had enough ‌Republican support to defeat articles of impeachment.

Hegseth's remarks ‌came as Republican Representative Thomas Massie is ⁠attempting ⁠to force a vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth in the House of Representatives.

World

Paraguay’s New President Asks All Ministers to Resign Amid Bank Crisis

Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Paraguay’s New President Asks All Ministers to Resign Amid Bank Crisis

Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)

Newly appointed Paraguayan President Pedro Alliana on Monday asked all ministers to resign as the country endures a major banking crisis that has locked millions of people out of their accounts.

Former vice president Alliana took office on Friday when senators impeached Santiago Pena over the collapse of Ueno Bank, to which Pena is linked.

Alliana said he had instructed his new chief of staff Rolando de Barros to "ask ministers, secretaries and the highest state authorities who hold positions of trust to submit their resignations."

"My goal is to strengthen coordination within the Government and ensure more efficient management," he wrote on X, adding that "all institutions will continue to operate with complete normality."

Almost three million people lost access to their money when Paraguay's Central Bank seized Ueno on November 3, a move that triggered massive protests.

The Central Bank began restoring deposits Thursday through a guarantee fund, and by Saturday had returned about $160 million to nearly 1.2 million people.

Pena, who came to power in 2023, owned shares in the bank's holding company until he sold them last year.

He is accused of using his influence as president to steer millions in government deposits to Ueno and of hiding or downplaying its financial woes despite warnings about questionable loans and solvency issues.

Authorities placed the ex-leader under house arrest immediately after his impeachment and raided his home over the weekend as part of the probe into the bank collapse.