The New York Times

1. Iran Risks Peace Talks With U.S. to Maintain Leverage Over Strait

   Iran sees its control over the Strait of Hormuz as critical leverage in peace talks with the United States. It seems willing to risk the cease-fire to maintain that power.

2. Here’s What to Know About the Standoff in the Strait of Hormuz

   The United States and Iran have engaged in rounds of attacks and counterattacks in recent days, eroding hopes for a quick return to normalcy in the Middle East.

3. Trump Cut a Billion-Dollar Mining Deal. His Sons Stand to Profit.

   An agreement between the U.S. and Kazakhstan has given a group of American investors with ties to the president and the commerce secretary access to one of the world’s largest untapped reserves of tungsten.

4. Rats, Leaks and Broken Elevators: Repair Backlog Plagues Federal Buildings

   After decades, deferred maintenance totals an estimated $50 billion. But getting repair funds from Congress is a laborious process.

5. In Venezuela, a Community Comes Together to Search for Earthquake Survivors

   Volunteers in a middle-class neighborhood in Caracas used drills, picks and hammers to break through concrete, trying to find anyone in need of rescue.