1 China And US Agree Strait Of Hormuz Shouldn't Be "Militarized"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the U.S. and China found common ground at the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, with both sides agreeing the Strait of Hormuz should not be militarized and that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Rubio said Trump and Xi held more than two hours of talks and that China's position on the strait "is our position." President Trump told Fox News that President Xi offered to help mediate an end to the war with Iran and reopen the strait, saying the Chinese leader told him, "I would love to be a help." Trump said Xi also committed that China would not supply military equipment to Iran. The White House readout said Xi "expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future." China's own official account of the meeting made no specific mention of Iran.
2 The Number Of People Being Monitored For Hantavirus In The US Is Now Over 40
The CDC said yesterday that there are now 41 people across the U.S. under monitoring for potential hantavirus exposure linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak. That includes 16 American passengers quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, two more being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, seven former passengers who left the ship before the outbreak was declared, and 16 people exposed during travel, including flights. No Americans have tested positive for hantavirus at this time. The total confirmed and probable case count from the ship stands at 10, including two confirmed deaths and one suspected death. At least 11 state health departments are tracking 23 additional people with possible exposure, while France confirmed that 26 people with close contact to ship passengers all tested negative but remain in hospital isolation as a precaution.
3 Border Patrol Chief Stepping Down
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks is stepping down, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott confirmed Tyesterday. Banks was appointed to lead the agency by Trump in January 2025 and oversaw the administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. Scott praised his tenure, saying "the border was transformed from chaos to the most secure border ever recorded." His departure continues a wave of immigration leadership shakeups, including the recent retirement of CBP immigration enforcement commander Gregory Bovino and the upcoming departure of acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who is being replaced by David Venturella. No successor for Banks has been announced.