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Trump adds another 25% to tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum

(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated a trade war with Canada, imposing a fresh round of tariffs on steel and aluminum products, threatening additional duties, and reiterating a call for Canada to give up its sovereignty and become a part of the United States.

Top Canadian officials responded forcefully, saying the country would keep its countermeasures in place until Trump withdraws U.S. tariffs.

Trump announced the new policies a day after Ontario slapped a 25% surcharge on electricity sent to the U.S., saying that he is adding another 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, bringing the total to 50%.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the increased tariff "will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th."

The U.S. imports more steel and aluminum from Canada than any other country.

In an interview on Tuesday after Trump's announcement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Trump to withdraw the tariffs, threatening to further escalate the standoff by shutting off electricity Canada supplies to the U.S.

"That's the last thing I want to do," Ford told CNBC. "I want to send more electricity down to the U.S., to our closest allies."

"Is it a tool in our toolkit? 100%. And as [Trump] continues to hurt Canadian families, Ontario families, I won't hesitate to do that," Ford continued.

A spokesperson for Canada's incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney described Trump's latest tariffs as an "attack on Canadian workers, families and businesses."

"My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade," the spokesperson added in a statement to ABC News.

Trump also said in his post that he will "shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity" in the area impacted by the tariffs from Canada. He said that the national emergency will "allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done" to respond to the tariff from Canada, without providing any specifics on what actions the U.S. might take.

Earlier Tuesday, Ford urged Trump to reconsider his tariffs, saying that they are "causing chaos."

"Markets are tanking. He needs to drop his tariffs and come to the table to negotiate a fair trade deal. Until he does, we won’t back down," Ford said in a post on X.

The announcement from Trump escalated a trade war between set off last week after the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada. In a near-immediate response, Canada slapped a 25% retaliatory tariff on $30 billion worth of goods. Tariffs on an additional $125 billion worth of products will take effect in 21 days, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said

Trudeau sharply criticized the tariffs, calling them a "dumb" policy that does not "make sense."

The tit-for-tat measures reignited a trade war that had been averted a month earlier, when Trump paused the implementation of tariffs after reaching an agreement with Canada on border enforcement.

In late February, Trump alleged that illicit drugs such as fentanyl had continued to enter the U.S. through Canada, despite the agreements reached weeks earlier to address the issue.

Since September, nearly all fentanyl seized by the U.S. came through the Southern border with Mexico, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agency. Less than 1% of fentanyl was seized at the northern border with Canada, the CBP found.

The reason for the tariffs is based on a false allegation about Canada as a major source of drugs entering the U.S., Trudeau said last week.

As part of his announcement on Tuesday, Trump threatened to impose additional retaliatory tariffs on Canada if duties on U.S. goods remain in place.

"If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada," Trump said in the Truth Social post.

He also called on Canada to drop their tariffs on dairy farmers, and again asserted that Canada should become America's 51st state.

"The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World – And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!," Trump said in the post.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

ABC News' William Gretsky contributed to this report.

Texas measles cases grow to 223, mostly among children and teens

Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images

(AUSTIN, Texas) -- The measles outbreak in western Texas is continuing to grow with 25 cases confirmed over the last five days, bringing the total to 223 cases, according to new data published Tuesday.

Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, with 80 unvaccinated and 138 of unknown status, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). At least 29 people have been hospitalized so far.

Just five cases have occurred in people vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to the data.

The new data in Texas comes as the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reported two "probable" cases of measles in the state on Tuesday

The department said the patients had exposure "associated with the Texas and New Mexico outbreak" and are reporting experiencing symptoms consistent with measles. OSDH said there's currently no public health threat associated with the two cases.

In the Texas outbreak, children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases at 98, followed by children ages 4 and under at 76 cases, according to the data.

"Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak," the department said in a press release.

So far, just one death has been reported in an unvaccinated school-aged child, according to the DSHS. The child did not have any known underlying conditions, according to the department.

The Texas death was the first measles death recorded in the U.S. in a decade, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A possible second measles death was recorded last week after an unvaccinated New Mexico resident tested positive for the virus. The New Mexico Department of Health said the official cause of death is still under investigation.

Gaines County is the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, with 156 cases confirmed among residents, according to the DSHS. State health data shows the number of vaccine exemptions in Gaines County has grown dramatically.

In 2013, roughly 7.5% of kindergartners in the county had parents or guardians who filed for an exemption for at least one vaccine. Ten years later, that number rose to more than 17.5% -- one of the highest in all of Texas, according to state health data.

As of Thursday, the CDC has confirmed a total of 222 cases in 12 states so far this year in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.

The total, however, is likely an undercount due to delays in reporting from states to the federal government.

The majority of nationally confirmed cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Of the cases, 4% are among those who received one dose of the MMR shot and 2% are among those who received two doses, according to the CDC.

Children and teenagers also make up the majority of cases in Texas with 175 infections confirmed among those ages 19 and under, CDC data shows.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. Just one infected patient can spread measles to up to nine out of 10 susceptible close contacts, according to the CDC.

Health officials have been urging anyone who isn't vaccinated to receive the MMR vaccine.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two vaccine doses, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says. Most vaccinated adults don't need a booster.

For those living in the outbreak area, Texas health officials are recommending that parents consider an early dose of the MMR vaccine for children between 6 months and 11 months, and that adults receive a second MMR dose if they only received one in the past.

Last week, the CDC said in a post on X that it was on the ground in Texas, partnering with DSHS officials to respond to the measles outbreak.

Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to the highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years.

ABC News Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.

21 passengers killed on Pakistani train after hundreds taken hostage

(LONDON) -- Twenty-one passengers were killed after a train in Pakistan was attacked and hundreds were taken hostage by the militant Balochistan Liberation Army on Tuesday, according to the Pakistani military.

Four military members conducting a rescue operation and 33 terrorists, members of the BLA, have been killed, according to the military.

The military operation has ended, according to a Pakistani military official.

On Tuesday, a U.S. official told ABC News at least 450 people were taken hostage on the train and said six Pakistani military personnel were killed.

The separatist militant group claimed it had taken 182 military and security personnel hostage on the train, according to a post on Telegram, but said they had released the majority of the civilians on board. The group claimed a higher number of casualties in the attack, saying they killed 20 Pakistani military personnel and shot down a drone.

The BLA had threatened to kill all the hostages if Pakistan's military tries to rescue them, the official said.

The BLA blew up part of the track, forcing the train to stop, before they boarded and took control, according to the official.

The attack happened in mountainous area right before a tunnel, making a rescue very difficult, they said.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and said the government would not make any concessions to "beasts who fire on innocent passengers."

The train was trapped in a tunnel after the tracks were blown up and militants opened fire on it, reportedly injuring the driver, local authorities and police have told media.

The BLA believes the Balochistan region of Pakistan, in the country's far west bordering Iran and Afghanistan, should be allowed to break off from Pakistan. They are well-known for committing terror attacks in Pakistan. The BLA also attacked Jaffar Express trains in August 2013 and October 2016.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Texarkana Police need help finding hit and run driver

TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department is currently searching for a driver who was involved in a hit and run that left a woman critically injured on Friday, according to our news partners at KETK. Texarkana PD said a woman pedestrian was critically injured after she was hit by a white SUV in the 2300 block of New Boston Road at around 10:20 p.m. on Friday night. Officials are searching for the driver and are asking anyone who lives near the hit and run scene to check their security cameras for a white SUV in the area near that time. “We’ve been working non-stop all weekend to track down the driver, but we still haven’t been able to identify the vehicle. If you live or work in the area, please check your security cameras! If you see anything that might help—no matter how small—please reach out to us. It could well be the break that we need.” Anyone information can contact Texarkana PD by phone at 903-798-3876 and any video can be submitted to the Texarkana Police Department online through their new online evidence portal.

Suspects arrested in major credit card skimming operation

TYLER – The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in Tyler, in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, has successfully dismantled a sophisticated credit card skimming operation, leading to the arrest of two Romanian citizens. The operation is estimated to have prevented more than $5.2 million in potential losses to victims in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. During the execution of a search warrant at the suspects’ residence, law enforcement officers uncovered a fully operational credit card skimmer factory, where the suspects were actively constructing and assembling skimming devices designed to attach to ATMs. Authorities seized hundreds of altered credit cards containing stolen victim information, approximately $16,000 in cash and tools and equipment used to manufacture skimming devices. Continue reading Suspects arrested in major credit card skimming operation

US stocks drop amid fresh tariffs on Canada, recession fears

(NEW YORK) -- U.S. stocks dropped on Tuesday, extending losses suffered a day earlier amid a fresh round of tariffs on Canada and concern about a possible recession.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down about 475 points, or 1.15%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.75%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq ticked down 0.15%.

The selloff on Tuesday extended a days-long market decline touched off by U.S. tariffs imposed last week on Canada, Mexico and China, some of which were delayed.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced retaliatory measures on Canada after they slapped a 25% tariff on electricity sent to the U.S., saying that he is imposing an additional 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, bringing those tariffs to 50%.

Hours later, Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a joint statement with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on X announcing the suspension of the 25% surcharge on electricity sent to the U.S.

The withdrawal of the surcharge came alongside an agreement to hold a meeting at the White House on Thursday to discuss a renewal of the trade agreement between the U.S. and Canada, the statement said.

The increased tariffs on steel and aluminum are still expected to go into effect on Wednesday as planned, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told ABC News Tuesday afternoon.

The tit for tat marked the latest in a global trade war that intensified a day earlier, when China slapped retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., deepening trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

On Monday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted 4%, recording its worst day of trading since 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 each dropped more than 2% on Monday.

The market drawdown on Monday extended losses last week. The S&P 500 recorded its worst week since September.

When asked about a potential recession in an interview broadcast on Sunday, Trump said tariffs imposed in recent days could bring about a "period of transition."

"I hate to predict things like that," Trump told Fox News in an interview recorded on Thursday. "It takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us.”

In response to a question later on Sunday about his reluctance to rule out a recession, Trump said: "I tell you what, of course you hesitate. Who knows?"

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected Tuesday morning to release a report on how many jobs are open in the economy, which could provide another clue about the strength of economy amid the new recession concerns. An inflation report is expected Wednesday.

Trump says he’s going to buy a Tesla as more Americans say they won’t

AUSTIN (AP) -After one of the worst single day sell-offs in Tesla’s history, President Donald Trump threw his support behind his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, vowing to buy one of his cars on Tuesday.

Tesla has been pummeled this year under competition from rival electric vehicles, particularly out of China, as well as his close association with Trump and with far right causes globally.

Shares have plummeted 45% in 2025 and on Monday tumbled more than 15% to $222.15, the lowest since late October, reflecting newfound pessimism as sales crater around the globe.

In an overnight post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Musk is “putting it on the line” to help the country. Trump claimed in the post that “Radical Left Lunatics” were attempting to “illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby.”

The stock climbed more than 3% before the market open on Tuesday.

Numerous auto industry analysts have attributed Tesla’s recent sagging stock — and auto sales — to Musk’s support of Trump and other far right candidates around the world. In recent days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters, its vehicles vandalized on the street. Tesla owners, perhaps in a bid to avoid being targeted, have placed bumper stickers on their cars with messages like, “I bought it before Elon went nuts.”

Federal prosecutors charged a woman in connection with a string of vandalism against a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray painted on the building.

Musk pumped $270 million into Trump’s campaign heading into the 2024 election, appeared on stage with him and cheered Trump’s victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in November. Tesla stock soared to $479 per share by mid-December, but have since lost 45% of their value.

Musk has become the face of the Trump administration’s slash-and-burn government downsizing efforts, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The department has promised massive federal worker layoffs and aims to drastically reduce government spending.

Analysts have said Musk’s shift to right-wing politics doesn’t appear to sit well with potential Tesla buyers, generally perceived to be wealthy and progressive consumers.

Tesla sales are falling precipitously in California, the company’s biggest U.S. market, and the company recorded its first annual global sales decline last year. Similarly, Tesla sales plunged 45% in Europe in January, according to research firm Jato Dynamics, even as overall electric vehicle sales rose. The sales numbers were particularly bad in Germany and France.

The latest auto sales figure from China show that Tesla sales there have been nearly halved from February a year ago, although the decline is largely due increased competition from domestic EV companies.

But sales in the U.S. have fallen due to competition, and a country sharply divided about Trump.

U.S. Analysts at UBS Global Research expect deliveries to fall 5% in the first quarter and full year compared to the same periods for 2024.

“Our UBS Evidence Lab data shows low delivery times for the Model 3 and Model Y (generally within two weeks) in key markets which we believe is indicative of softer demand,” they wrote.

In addition to backing Trump, Musk has also shown support for the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in German y, called the British p rime minister an “evil tyrant” and called Canada — a major Tesla market —”not a real country.”

Tesla is not the only Musk-led company to run into trouble recently. His X social media platform crashed several times on Monday, which Musk claimed was a “massive” cyberattack. But like the clear-cutting he’s done with federal jobs, Musk slashed the number of employees at X and technology experts warned of increased vulnerability.

Last week, a rocket launched by Musk’s SpaceX exploded and broke apart over Florida, about two months after another of the company’s rockets failed.

Southwest Airlines revamps free baggage policy amid customer and loyalty shifts

(DALLAS) -- A shift is on the horizon at Southwest Airlines. The carrier known for its customer-friendly policies and affordable airfare announced changes to its baggage and fare structure in an effort to cater to a broader range of travelers.

While the low-cost airline has long stood out for offering two free checked bags for all passengers, starting May 28, some customers will see charges for checked baggage.

Southwest Airlines changes free checked bags policy

The most notable change from the Dallas-based carrier that was announced Tuesday impacts those not holding certain status levels with Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program.

Southwest Airlines will continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members as well as its Business Select travelers.

A-List Members and other select customers will still receive one free checked bag, the airline said. However, those without qualifying status will now face a charge for their first and second checked bags, subject to weight and size limitations.

"We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect," President and CEO Bob Jordan said.

Why Southwest is changing baggage fees?

For passengers traveling on lower-priced fares, such as Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus, the changes outlined reflect a move toward more targeted options for a range of travelers from budget conscious to frequent flyers, which the airline hinted at in December.

Southwest Rapid Rewards program points changes, assigned seats and more

In addition to the new baggage fees, Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program will also have some changes for earning points.

Customers who fly Business Select will earn more points, while those on lower-tier options -- like Wanna Get Away fares -- will earn fewer.

The airline is also introducing a new Basic fare category for the lowest-priced tickets starting May 28 ahead of rolling out assigned seating and extra legroom options.

"We’re evolving our business to create more choice for our current and future customers," Jordan said.

Southwest is working to expand its reach with flights now available to book through Expedia, and an industry-standard partnership with Icelandair.

Flight credits issued for tickets purchased on or after May 28 will expire one year or earlier from the date of ticketing, depending on the fare type purchased.

Man arrested in connection with tanker-container ship collision in North Sea: Police

(LONDON) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a cargo ship collided with an anchored oil tanker Monday in the North Sea, police said.

The Portuguese container ship Solong struck the U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate while the tanker was anchored on the U.K.'s eastern coast near Hull, England, with both vessels catching on fire, officials said Monday.

Thirty-six people between the two ships were safely brought to shore, the U.K. coast guard said.

One of the Solong's crew members remains missing in the wake of the collision, according to Ernst Russ, the manager of the container vessel.

The search for the missing crew member was unsuccessful and has ended, the U.K. coast guard said in an update Monday night. The missing person is believed to be dead, U.K. Transport Minister Mike Kane told the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Humberside police said they began a criminal investigation into the collision and have arrested a 59-year-old man following the "conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong."

"The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident," Humberside Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said in a statement.

Police did not release any additional details on the suspect, including his name or connection to the incident.

The suspect is not a member of the Stena Immaculate crew nor a mariner with Crowley, the manager of the ship, a Crowley spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.

Fires burning on board the two vessels appeared in aerial footage to have been largely put out a day after the collision, although a shipping official said it would be "premature" to say the fire on the tanker had been extinguished.

"There will be an investigation," Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby, said Tuesday. "With all the technology that these vessels have, there's no way it should have happened."

The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel at the time, with at least one cargo tank rupturing in the collision and resulting in multiple explosions onboard, according to Crowley.

Both ships sustained significant damage and were abandoned by their crews.

The British coast guard said in a statement on Tuesday that the two ships had been separated and that an "exclusion zone" had been put in place within a kilometer of the ships.

"Safety vessels and other vessels with firefighting capabilities are still on scene with more arriving today," the coast guard said.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the cause of the collision.

Kane told the House Commons on Tuesday that officials with the agency are on-site to survey the two vessels and will report back to him with official findings.

No pollution had been reported yet, Kane said.

"As it currently stands, no sign of pollution from vessels is observed at this time," he said. "But monitoring is in place and should that change, assets in place will be provided as needed."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

US stock futures inch higher after selloff amid recession concerns

(NEW YORK) -- U.S. stock futures traded slightly higher on Tuesday, following Monday's major selloff as markets digested President Donald Trump's comments that there would be a "period of transition" as the economy adjusted to a global trade war.

Dow futures traded up 156 points, or about 0.36%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down about 2% on Monday, while the S&P 500 declined 2.7%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted 4%, which amounted to more than $1 trillion in losses, according to Bloomberg.

Asian stocks, which opened sharply lower on Tuesday, following the U.S. selloff, recovered some ground. And European stocks were trading mixed.

The main driver of the recent declines appears to be America's trade war, with investors watching the administration's latest plans on trade and tariffs. The selloff coincided with retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. following levies last week on Canada, Mexico and China, some of which were delayed.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

ABC News' Max Zahn contributed to this report.

Ukraine bombards Russia with largest drone barrage of war, Moscow says

(LONDON) -- Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 343 Ukrainian drones overnight, in what appeared to be Kyiv's largest cross-border aerial attack on Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The ministry reported downing UAVs over 10 Russian regions. Moscow air defenses were firing through the night while facing multiple waves of attack drones, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The Defense Ministry said it shot down 91 drones over the capital.

Six drones were shot down near the Kursk nuclear power plant, the ministry said, close to fierce fighting as Moscow's forces seek to eject Ukrainian troops from the western Russian region.

The attack on Moscow was "massive," Sobyanin wrote on Telegram. Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said at least two people were killed. Alexei Kuznetsov, an aide to the head of the Russian Health Ministry, confirmed the fatalities and said that 20 more people were injured, among them three children.

Several high-rise residential buildings, houses and businesses were damaged by drones or falling debris, Vorobyov said.

Russia's federal air agency said flights were suspended at all four of Moscow's airports, with flights at airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions to the east of Moscow also grounded.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the barrage as "a terrorist attack" in a statement posted on Telegram.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said details of the attack were "naturally" reported to President Vladimir Putin and suggested Ukraine had targeted civilian facilities, in comments reported by the state-run Tass news agency.

Asked if the Ukrainian strikes were intended to disrupt nascent ceasefire talks, Peskov responded, "There are no negotiations yet. So far the Americans, in their own words, are trying to understand how ready Ukraine is for peace talks. There are no negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here yet."

"But the fact that it is possible to spoil the emerging trend, yes,” Peskov added.

The Ukrainian military did not immediately comment on the strikes.

The drone barrage came as U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators prepared to open ceasefire talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday after weeks of tensions and public disagreements.

President Donald Trump's administration is pushing Kyiv to make concessions in pursuit of a peace deal to end Russia's three-year-old invasion of the country. The White House also wants Ukraine to sign off on a controversial minerals sharing agreement Trump has framed as a way to recoup tens of billions of U.S. aid sent to Ukraine since 2022.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it will not accept any deal that does not include concrete security guarantees to prevent repeat Russian aggression in the future.

Trump has framed Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main impediment to peace, falsely blaming Ukraine for starting the war, seeking to undermine Zelenskyy's legitimacy and publicly aligning with Moscow's false narratives around the conflict. The U.S. has sought to push Ukraine to the negotiating table by putting a freeze on military aid and some intelligence sharing.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will take part in Tuesday's talks -- said on Monday.

Rubio said the Russians "are going to have to do difficult things" too, though Trump and his top officials have not said what concessions Moscow may be asked to make. U.S. and Russian negotiators first met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month.

Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman. Zelenskyy will not take part in Tuesday's talks with the American delegation.

Zelenskyy said he had a "detailed discussion" with Salman on "the steps and conditions needed to end the war and secure a reliable and lasting peace," in a social media post after the two leaders met.

"I specifically emphasized the issue of the release of prisoners and the return of our children, which could become a key step in building trust in diplomatic efforts. A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian delegation will "remain" in the country to "work with the U.S. team" on Tuesday. Zelenskyy said he hopes for "practical outcomes," from the U.S.-Ukraine meeting.

"Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive," he added.

A source close to Zelenskyy confirmed to ABC News that Ukraine will propose a partial ceasefire in its talks with the U.S. The partial ceasefire would apply to long-range air strikes and attacks at sea, the source said.

The timeframe for the truce remains unclear.

"We want to propose a partial ceasefire that can be monitored and then see how the Russians respond to determine the next steps," the source added.

Rubio told reporters on Monday he saw some promise in Ukraine's partial ceasefire proposal.

"I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end this conflict," he said.

Rubio said finalizing the mineral deal with Ukraine was "an important topic, but it's not the main topic on the agenda."

"It's certainly a deal the president wants to see done but it doesn't necessarily have to happen tomorrow," he said. "There's still more details to work out."

In the meantime, nightly exchanges of drones and missiles appear set to continue.

Ukraine's air force said its forces tracked one Iskander ballistic missile and 126 drones fired into the country overnight. The missile and 79 drones were shot down, the air force said, with another 35 UAVs lost in flight without effect.

Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv were impacted, the statement said.

Nataliia Popova, Ellie Kaufman, Oleskiy Pshemyskiy, Joe Simonetti and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

5 years ago, the WHO declared COVID a pandemic. Here’s a look at the disease by the numbers

(WASHINGTON) -- Tuesday marks five years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic.

Since then, millions of Americans have been hospitalized, and more than 1.2 million people have died.

Additionally, millions of adults and children are still feeling the effects of their illness and have been diagnosed with long COVID.

Here's a look at the disease in the U.S. by the numbers.

Hospitalizations

In the last 28 days, ending about Feb. 16, 2025, about 3,800 Americans were hospitalized due to COVID-19, according to data from the WHO.

Deaths

Since the pandemic began, more than 1.22 million Americans have died from COVID-19 as of March 6, 2025, according to the latest CDC data. The U.S. crossed the 1 million mark on May 12, 2022.

During the week ending March 1, there were 274 deaths recorded from COVID, according to CDC provisional data. This is the lowest number recorded since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, the age-adjusted death rate currently sits at 0.1 per 100,000 people, which has remained relatively consistent since spring 2024 and is among the lowest rates recorded since the pandemic.

By comparison, during the height of the omicron wave in winter 2021-22, the death rate was 53 times higher at 5.3 per 100,000. The highest-ever death rate was recorded the week ending Jan. 9, 2021, at 6.5 per 100,000.

Studies have suggested COVID-19 vaccines, combined with mitigation measures, helped save hundreds of thousands of lives in the U.S.

Long COVID

Long COVID is a condition that occurs when someone infected with COVID-19 is within three months of the initial diagnosis and lasts at least two months.

As of August 2024, a federal survey found that 17.9% of adults have experienced long COVID -- equivalent to about 47.6 million Americans, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Meanwhile, 5.3% of adults -- equivalent to about 14.1 million Americans -- reported they were currently experiencing long COVID symptoms at the time of the survey. Of those currently experiencing long COVID, nearly a quarter said they had significant activity limitations.

Another recent federal study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics in February, showed approximately 1.01 million children, or 1.4%, are believed to have ever experienced long COVID as of 2023 and about 293,000, or 0.4%, were experiencing the condition when the survey was being conducted.

Vaccines

In June 2024, the CDC recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death.

The updated vaccines target the JN.1 lineage of the virus, an offshoot of the omicron variant. There are formulations from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna available for those 6 months old and older and from Novavax available for those aged 12 and older.

The CDC, however, has previously stated vaccination coverage remains low, meaning "many children and adults lack protection from respiratory virus infections provided by vaccines."

As of Feb. 22, 2025, only 23.2% of adults and 11.9% of children were vaccinated with the updated vaccine, CDC data shows.

Additionally, despite evidence showing the vaccine is safe for pregnant women, the CDC estimates that just 13.8% of pregnant women have received the updated vaccine.

What we still don’t know about COVID 5 years after the WHO declared a pandemic

(WASHINGTON) -- Five years ago, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a pandemic, leading to stay at-home orders and shutdowns across the U.S. and world.

The nation looks much different since then, and scientists and researchers have learned a lot about the virus, including how it infects people, the best forms of treatment and what puts someone at risk for long COVID.

There are still many questions, however. Health care professionals are working to find answers, such as how many people have truly died, how long the virus spread undetected in the U.S. and its origins.

"We know this emerged in China, around the city Wuhan. That's very clear," Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious diseases specialist and a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, told ABC News. "We know when [the] medical community identified it, but we don't know quite how long it was circulating before then. I think it's caused some of the consternation."

How many people have died of COVID-19?

As of March 6, at least 1,222,603 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. currently has the highest number of deaths of any country in the world, according to the WHO.

Experts, however, believe the true death toll is higher.

"More than a million people is a tragedy into itself, let's start with that obvious fact," Wolfe said. "I think the numbers are really hard to pin down for one key reason."

Determining the exact cause of death can be complicated, Wolfe explained. Someone could die of COVID pneumonia -- a lung infection caused by the virus -- or die from a heart attack after contracting COVID.

Another example is an older adult who contracts COVID-19. They may become dehydrated, break a bone -- because dehydration negatively impacts bone health -- and suffer fatal complications, Wolfe said.

"How you count those outcomes is really important because, to me, that person wouldn't have had their heart attack or that person wouldn't have become dehydrated and fallen over and landed in the hospital if not for COVID triggering that event in the first place," he said. "So, I actually think it's really important to count those as COVID-associated mortalities, but they're hard to count. They're hard to track."

Globally, more than 7 million people have died due to COVID-19, WHO data shows, although the agency says the pandemic caused an estimated 14.83 million excess deaths around the world in 2020 and 2021.

Excess deaths are the difference between the recorded number of deaths and the expected number of deaths over a certain period.

What is the mechanism behind long COVID

Scientists are not sure what causes long COVID but have identified certain risk factors such as an underlying health condition. Long-COVID symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years and can include -- but are not limited to -- fever, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, headaches, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, stomach pain and joint or muscle pain, according to the CDC.

Research has found that patients with long COVID tend to have lower cortisol levels and lower testosterone levels.

"There are several questions that we still do not have answers for. What is the mechanism of the disease? Why do some people get more sick than others?" Dr. Fernando Carnavali, an internal medicine physician and a member of the team at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care, told ABC News.

Carnavali said scientists are using machine learning to study groups of long COVID patients in an attempt to determine the mechanisms that cause the condition.

"Do we have a single answer? Not as of yet, and most likely, perhaps we'll have more than one answer," he said.

Carnavali said the mechanism may not be the same for every long COVID patient. Additionally, people may have different symptoms due to different genetic predispositions.

"Some of the deficits that we have five years ago still remain, but I think that we should all understand and be hopeful that ... researchers using machine learning will [provide] us some of the answers that we need as clinicians," he said.

When did COVID enter the United States?

It's still not exactly clear when the virus first entered the U.S. The first confirmed case in the country was Jan. 20, 2020, in a man in his 30s in Washington state, who developed symptoms after a trip to Wuhan.

However, studies have suggested the virus may have been circulating undetected for months beforehand.

Although the WHO was first notified on Dec. 31, 2019, about the mysterious pneumonia-like illness that originated in Wuhan, experts say it is likely that in an age of global travel, the virus was in the U.S. before then.

"It's more likely circulated before Jan. 1 [2020]. It doesn't seem unreasonable, November, December," Dr. Lisa Olson-Gugerty, an associate teaching professor for Syracuse University and practicing family nurse practitioner in emergency medicine, told ABC News. "COVID masquerades itself as a flu-like illness, upper respiratory-like illness, like many other viral illnesses. It's not easy to say, 'Hey, I think this must be a new thing, and I'm going to tell everyone.'"

She went on, "I think it takes a bit of collective time to recognize a new viral strain, and it doesn't seem unreasonable [there were] cases that could have been recognized as COVID before the date of release of information."

Where did the virus come from?

There are two theories about where the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, originated.

At least four U.S. agencies believe the virus was a result of natural transmission and that the virus jumped from animals to humans at a wet market.

The FBI, the CIA and the Department of Energy – the latter with "low confidence" -- believe the COVID-19 pandemic "most likely" was the result of a laboratory leak in China.

Additionally, an April 2023 report from Senate Republicans conceded that "both hypotheses are plausible" but that the evidence points to the virus emerging from an accidental lab leak in Wuhan -- and there may even have been multiple leaks.

If the virus did come from an animal, there are questions about which species may have spilled the virus over from animals to humans.

"I've seen a lot of conflicting information," Olson-Gugerty said. "Did it come from a bat? Did it get into raccoon dogs or civet cats? Or was it a lab-created virus in Wuhan, China? There does seem to be a jury that's out."

Wolfe said we may never know the true origins of SARS-CoV-2, but trying to answer the question helps scientists and public health professionals learn how to mitigate the spread so a pandemic -- or even widespread illness -- doesn't happen again.

"This was the same question that happened during the Ebola pandemic, when we had to say, 'Where did this come from? How can we educate people to minimize this future risk?'" he said. "It was important to examine where COVID-19 came from to try and put things in place that would stop that happening."

He added, "We certainly, I would say, have better safety mechanisms now in place ... so there are some good things that have come out of this."

As Tesla stock falls, some pension fund managers worry and critics rage

(NEW YORK) -- Since Elon Musk went to Washington, D.C., to slash the government alongside President Donald Trump, the stock of his electric car company Tesla has taken a significant hit, tumbling nearly 48% this year. During an interview this week, Musk addressed the difficulties.

"You're giving up your other stuff," Fox Business' Larry Kudlow asked Musk during an interview. "How are you running your other businesses?"

"With great difficulty," Musk replied with a sigh.

On Monday, Tesla stock closed down 15% after its worst trading day in five years. Stock in the company has dropped every week since Musk went to Washington, wiping out more than $700 billion in market value. And Musk's personal net worth has dropped $148 billion since Inauguration Day, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.

But it's not just Musk who is taking a hit. The stock plunge has caused outrage among some shareholders, who have publicly questioned Musk's commitment to his electric vehicle company or called on the Tesla board to replace him.

Another group that's now sounding the alarm: pension fund managers.

"This is a real cost to real people," Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs told ABC News. "We're talking about firefighters, police officers, nurses who work in public. Their retirement dollars are at stake."

Frerichs, a Democrat, said he believes the drop in stock is due to Musk's work leading the governmental cost-cutting efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It's deeply political work, Frerichs says, that's driving half the country away from buying his cars.

"Michael Jordan was famous here for not being involved in Democrat politics, because, as he said, even Republicans buy sneakers, and he knew he didn't want to lose those customers," Frerichs said.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who oversees approximately $1.2 billion in Tesla stock through the city's pension funds, echoed that sentiment.

"There's no real leadership. It is at the bottom of his list. And so we have not had at Tesla a CEO focused on selling EVs, on growing the company, on making money and returns for shareholders," Lander told ABC News.

Lander, a Democrat who is running for mayor in New York City, said he still has faith in the Tesla stock -- but that it won't be endless.

"But look, if they can't count on this stock, you know, and we have to look elsewhere in the marketplace, that's how this works," Lander said.

Tesla representatives did not reply to a request for comment from ABC News

Its not just Democrats who have called for answers from Musk. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy -- who supported Trump in the 2024 election -- said he had to "raise his eyebrows" as a stockholder himself.

"I like DOGE, I like what they're doing," Portnoy said in an interview on Fox Business last month. "But let me tell you this. If you are going to send out -- and you got to call it both ways -- if you are going to send emails to federal workers and say, 'What have you done for the last five days,' I think Tesla shareholders are entitled to ask their CEO, Elon Musk, 'What have you done for Tesla the last five days?'"

"Seemingly all he cares about right now is DOGE," Portnoy said. "Now, could it be coincidence the stock is down 25% since he really started this? I guess. But I think it's fair as a shareholder of Tesla to say, 'What are you doing for shareholders?'"

Some who are critical of Musk's role in cutting the federal workforce have targeted Tesla, vandalizing vehicles and protesting at dealerships around the country.

"We're here today rallying against Elon and what he's done," one Florida protester, Jeff Finkelstein, told a local news outlet. "Ever since Trump's been in, it's been more about Musk than Trump and we're just showing our frustration."

In Massachusetts, police asked the public for help after a suspect allegedly vandalized Teslas with images of Musk. The suspect, when confronted, said he had a right to do so because it's his "free speech," according to a social media post.

Musk himself replied to the post, writing, "Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!"

Homeland Security overhauls its asylum phone app

AUSTIN (AP) – The Trump administration has unveiled an overhauled cellphone app once used to let migrants apply for asylum, turning it into a system that allows people living illegally in the U.S. to say they want to leave the country voluntarily.

The renamed app, announced Monday and now called CBP Home, is part of the administration’s campaign to encourage “self-deportations, ” touted as an easy and cost-effective way to nudge along President Donald Trump’s push to deport millions of immigrants without legal status.

“The app provides illegal aliens in the United States with a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, offering them the chance to leave before facing harsher consequences,” Pete Flores, the acting commissioner for U.S Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement.

Moments after Trump took office, the earlier version of the app, CBP One, stopped allowing migrants to apply for asylum, and tens of thousands of border appointments were canceled.

More than 900,000 people were allowed in the country on immigration parole under CBP One, generally for two years, starting in January 2023.

The Trump administration has repeatedly urged migrants in the country illegally to leave.

“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on the social platform X. “If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”

Experts wondered how many people without legal status would register for what has long been known as “voluntary departure,” or what the government hopes to gain from the new app.

“I’m not sure what their intentions are,” said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute. “But they’re creating a bit of a culture of fear around immigration right now,” from highly publicized ICE arrests to sending immigrants to a detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. The new app, she said, could be part of that “targeted public relations campaign” to urge more people to leave the U.S.

Some people living in the U.S. illegally chose to leave even before Trump’s inauguration, though it’s unclear how many.

But earlier mass crackdowns on illegal immigration — most famously a quasi-military operation in the mid-1950s that Trump has repeatedly praised — also drove many immigrants who were in the U.S. legally to leave.