The United States struck Iran this week after a surprise ballistic missile launch, escalating a conflict now in its fifth month and widening across the region.

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Senate hearing on the origins of COVID-19 and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, declining to answer questions. The proceedings drew sharply divided reactions along political lines.

President Trump said a broad agreement had been reached for Hamas to give up its weapons in Gaza as part of a plan to end the fighting and rebuild the territory, but Hamas attached conditions and Israel had not confirmed its support.

About 49,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta over a single day, prompting Spain to deploy its military, as fatalities were reported during the surge and tensions between Madrid and Rabat came into sharper view.

An open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan has become a contest over the Democratic Party's direction, with a democratic socialist leading the primary but polling behind in a general-election matchup.