In a notable update, the U.S. Department of State has again made changes to the wording on the official page detailing the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship. The portion that said “we do not support Taiwan independence” has now been taken out. It’s important to remember that the overarching U.S. policy on Taiwan and the U.S. acknowledgment of China as the legal government in China while not recognizing their sovereignty over Taiwan has yet to change.

After reports from Lebanese media that Israeli aircraft carried out three airstrikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has confirmed that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out strikes on Hezbollah facilities that contained rocket launchers and other weapons. The Intelligence Branch had viewed activity at the sites that were struck.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump in his armored limousine “The Beast” on the track at Daytona 500.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the prime minister has given the green light to send a negotiation team to Cairo, Egypt tomorrow to begin the next round of talks on the continuation of the first stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, is coordinating these efforts.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today to discuss Iran, the hostage/ceasefire deal with Hamas, and the implementation and continuation of the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump does two laps with “The Beast” as the pace car while addressing the drivers to kick off the Daytona 500.

Areas in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia are now all under flash flood emergencies and warnings after a significant amount of heavy rain has caused numerous flash floods. Kentucky has seen some of the worst effects of this weather. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency prior to the beginning of the storm, and federal funding has since been approved by U.S. President Donald J. Trump after the approval of Governor Beshear’s request for an emergency disaster declaration. So far, 9 deaths have been linked to the flooding in Kentucky with countless other injuries. More to come.

Talks between U.S. and Russian decision-makers on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War set for this week will take place Tuesday, a source with direct knowledge told Barak Ravid of Axios. The talks are reportedly meant to lay the groundwork for future peace negotiations and an eventual leader summit.