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Americans are commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of U.S. might and prosperity. Friday's milestone anniversary will bring memorial rituals — wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims' names — and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of U.S. adults remember as the most historic event of their lifetime, according to a new poll. For others it's an occasion for private reflection — or, in many schools, education — about the attack that unfolded in a single morning but left nearly 3,000 dead and a decades-long trail of aftermath, from personal grief to far-flung wars. Police Officer Casey Kloepfer plans to spend time Friday at the Brooklyn station house where his father, Officer Ronald Kloepfer, reported to work that day before being called to the World Trade Center. He didn't make it home. Casey Kloepfer was only 4, but he grew up hearing about his father's affinity for helping people and for a job that enabled him to do so. He became an officer this past June. “It’s big footsteps to fill, but it’s definitely something that I take very seriously and want to continue to honor him and be the best police officer I can," he said by phone this week. The 29-year-old wears his father’s badge number and even has joined the New York Police Department lacrosse team, which his dad founded. Trump to attend Pentagon observance On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida extremists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The impacts brought down the World Trade Center's twin towers — icons of U.S. economic power, and among the tallest buildings on Earth — and blew a hole in the Pentagon, the U.S. military's fortresslike headquarters near Washington. The fourth plane also was headed for the nation's capital, officials concluded, but the aircraft went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members stormed the cockpit and fought the hijackers. “In the course of history, there are a few moments that divide time into, really, what came before” and after, President Donald Trumpsaid at a 9/11 remembrance in Washington this week. The Republican, who was in his native New York on Sept. 11 and has often recounted his memories, plans to attend the Pentagon's anniversary ceremony Friday. Vice President JD Vance is expected at the observance at the National Sept. 11 Memorial in New York, while other administration officials are headed to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. Planned remembrances extend far beyond the attack sites, from beams of light projecting from New Hampshire's Mount Washington to a stair climb at Mississippi State University's football stadium to a ceremony at Honolulu's 9/11 memorial. At ground zero, a new tribute to those who fell ill Traditionally, there are no political speeches at the New York commemoration, where relatives read all the victims' names, punctuated with moments of silence at key points in the attack timeline. For the first time, this year's ceremony will add a silent moment to honor people who were exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released by the twin towers’ fiery collapse and have since died of cancer and other illnesses. Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust. It's a reminder of how the attacks' long shadow has reached into many corners of life in the U.S. and beyond. The U.S.-led global war on terrorism included invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan — the latter Washington's longest war — and detentions and harsh interrogation of terror suspects in an international network of secret CIA prisons. The U.S. military found and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, but accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed still awaits a trial 23 years after his capture. The attacks changed U.S. air travel, prompted new federal surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers and banking regulations, and generated ongoing debate over the balance between security and freedom. The Department of Homeland Security, many state anti-terrorism laws and billions of dollars in state and local counterterrorism funding all are post-9/11 creations. So, too, is the culture of individual vigilance summed up by the slogan “ if you see something, say something.” Unity, mistrust and scrutiny of New York's mayor Sept. 11 generated a wave of patriotism that propelled some Americans to join the military, fire departments, police forces or other public agencies. But amid the national unity that many remember, the attacks also fanned mistrust, prejudice and hate crimes directed at Muslims. In the quarter-century since, Muslim Americans have played a growing role in public life from statehouses to Congress to New York City Hall, where Zohran Mamdani is the city's first Muslim mayor. Yet he is facing some criticism for planning to attend the anniversary ceremony at ground zero, something his predecessors have done for years. Some complaints came from Republican ex-Gov. George Pataki and 9/11 victims’ relatives, who cited among other things past remarks that some of Mamdani's political associates have made about the attacks. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, also inveighed against Mamdani attending. Mamdani, a Democrat, responded this week that he loves the city and country and wants the anniversary to focus on victims' families, first responders and New Yorkers who helped one another after the attacks, which he called a “horrific act of terror.” The 34-year-old mayor was an elementary school student in New York on 9/11. Sept. 11 isn't a federal holiday, but Congress has designated it both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. “One appropriate way to remember is by serving,” says Jay Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn Winuk and then co-founded the volunteer organization 9/11 Day with friend David Paine. The group helps people find meal-packing and other volunteer opportunities and this year arranged for dozens of Times Square billboards to pause their advertising at 9:11 a.m. Friday. Instead, they will simply display the time.    

President Donald Trump is set to observe Friday’s 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by attending a ceremony at the Pentagon commemorating the lives lost when al-Qaida militants hijacked planes and killed nearly 3,000 people in three locations, upending American foreign policy and national security. It's the second year in a row for Trump to mark the day at the Pentagon. The president, who is originally from New York, last attended the ground zero ceremony there in 2024. Vice President JD Vance is set to attend the New York observance alongside former presidents, while other administration officials will go to the ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Vance had planned to be in New York for the anniversary last year but instead flew to Salt Lake City to be with the family of Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was assassinated. During last year’s commemoration at the Pentagon, Trump delivered remarks recounting moments from the day of the attacks, including snippets of conversations from passengers who were aboard the hijacked airplanes. At a Tuesday event at the Ellipse just outside the White House, Trump vowed to “never forget” victims, noting that the Sept. 11 attacks were one of few moments in history that "divide time into really what came before" and after. That event, spearheaded by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, showcased a massive, 21-foot, nearly 17,000-pound steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Traveling for months across the country as part of the Steel Across America tour, the beam was to be in New York for a procession Friday retracing the steps of fallen New York City firefighter Stephen Siller. On Wednesday, Trump issued a proclamation that marked Friday as “Patriot Day 2026,” recounting the chronology of the 2001 day on which “the peace of our Nation was shattered” and calling his administration “unwavering in its commitment to ensure that our Nation is defended by the strongest and most lethal military the world has ever known.” The Republican midterms convention on Thursday night marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks with families onstage in Dallas and firefighters in uniform as the song “Ave Maria” was played. The names of the victims appeared on a screen and a bell was rung to commemorate the loss of firefighters.  

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States was winning its war with Iran and claimed that US forces controlled the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Trump blamed previous administrations’ green energy policies for rising living costs and claimed his administration had rapidly reduced the prices of food and other goods. “Oil prices will be going down as soon as we win the war with Iran,” Trump said. “We’ll win it. We’re winning it. We control the Hormuz Strait,” he added. Trump also suggested renaming the waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman the “Trump Strait,” joking that Iran’s leadership would be pleased with the idea. He described Iran as the “bully of the Middle East” for 51 years but said, “they’re not the bully anymore.” Meanwhile, several US military aircraft were reportedly damaged in Iranian strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan early Wednesday, according to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the incident. About eight F-15 fighter jets suffered minor damage and were returned to service, while an A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the Warthog, was hit and lost a wing, the report said. The attack was part of a wave of Iranian retaliation following US statements Tuesday that American forces had targeted five Iranian oil tankers after Tehran attempted to attack a US Navy vessel. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck eight tankers, two warships and the US base in Jordan. US forces stationed in Jordan fired more than 30 Patriot missiles in an effort to intercept the incoming Iranian projectiles, according to the report. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump placed his administration’s record at the heart of the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention Wednesday, urging voters to support GOP candidates as the party prepares for November’s congressional elections. The two-day gathering in Dallas is designed partly as a rally and fundraiser, with Trump delivering the keynote address Wednesday and Vice President JD Vance scheduled to speak Thursday before Trump gives closing remarks. Members of Trump’s Cabinet are also addressing the convention. Trump has argued that Republicans’ best chance of retaining or expanding their congressional majorities is to campaign on his record, despite his declining approval ratings. He highlighted his administration’s policies on the economy, immigration and investment while also defending his decision to join Israel in striking Iran, which has pushed up energy prices and weighed on financial markets. Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had caused oil prices to rise but said the conflict was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He asked the crowd whether Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, drawing a loud “no” in response. Trump also claimed that prescription drug prices had fallen by as much as 600%, a mathematically impossible assertion because a price cannot be reduced by more than 100%. He said Americans could receive $5,000 each if Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress, describing the proposed payments as “Trump dividends,” though details about how such payments would work remain unclear. Trump also claimed that more than $20 trillion had been invested in the United States during his administration, potentially rising to $25 trillion. The White House website cites a much lower figure of $11.2 trillion, which also appears to include some commitments made under President Joe Biden. On immigration, Trump repeated his claim that 25 million undocumented immigrants entered the United States under the previous administration. US Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 10.8 million arrests for illegal crossings from Mexico between January 2021 and December 2024, though the number of arrests does not represent the number of individual people. Trump also falsely claimed that he had won the presidency three times, including in 2020. Biden won that election with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. He urged Republicans to vote in November and said he wanted to reverse the historical trend in which the president’s party loses congressional seats during midterm elections. “We’re going to change that,” Trump said. The president also said he planned to return to Texas to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, promising to visit the state as many as three times if necessary. Paxton, speaking at the convention, asked supporters for prayers, votes and financial support in his race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. The convention also featured Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and other senior Republicans, who praised Trump’s policies and warned that Democrats would reverse his administration’s achievements. Bessent highlighted the Trump Accounts programme, while Blanche praised the administration’s approach to crime and public safety. Blanche’s appearance drew attention because Justice Department leaders traditionally avoid partisan political events. Trump’s supporters also filled the American Airlines Center, with attendees waving US flags and holding signs promoting the Republican agenda. The event has drawn unusual participation from outside the party. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a video supporting Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, saying he would work with Trump to defend the US steel industry. Meanwhile, the convention also featured attacks on Democrats over immigration and a tribute to Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student whose death became a central issue in Republican immigration messaging. The gathering comes as Republicans seek to overcome the traditional midterm disadvantage faced by the president’s party and use Trump’s political influence to boost candidates across the country.

At least five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday and crashed into vehicles before catching fire, authorities said. The plane, which had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, went off the runway at around 2pm and crossed a road used by warehouse workers and businesses surrounding the airport. Miami-Dade County officials said three of the injured were in critical condition, while two others suffered less serious injuries. It was not immediately known whether the pilots survived or whether all those killed were in vehicles when the aircraft struck. Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said the crash trapped the pilot and copilot inside the cockpit and also trapped people in vehicles. Firefighters had to rescue one person who was pinned beneath a vehicle. The crash sent thick black smoke into the sky and disrupted operations at the busy airport for much of the afternoon. Around 200 emergency personnel responded to the scene, where they found the aircraft engulfed in flames and smoke from a fire in the engine area. Firefighters used specialised airport equipment to put out the blaze, but a fuel leak from the aircraft remained a concern several hours later. Images showed the Prime Air aircraft resting on its belly beside a roadway near two semitrucks. The plane appeared largely intact despite the fire. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and authorities had yet to determine whether weather conditions contributed to the accident. The National Weather Service reported thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 30 mph (48 kph) in the area at the time. The flight was operated by North Carolina-based cargo carrier 21 Air. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built as a passenger aircraft and flew for several airlines before being converted into a freighter in 2015, according to Flightradar24. The accident caused widespread flight disruptions, with more than 160 flights cancelled and nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday, according to FlightAware. Some flights were diverted to Orlando International Airport, more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) north of Miami. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending an investigative team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to Miami. Amazon said it would cooperate with the investigation and expressed condolences to the victims' families. Aviation safety experts said investigators would likely examine whether the aircraft touched down within the designated landing zone and why the crew did not abort the landing if it landed too far down the runway. Retired United Airlines pilot and aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said a Boeing 767 typically has a pilot and copilot on domestic flights, while additional pilots are required for longer international flights. Former Transportation Department inspector general Mary Schiavo said video of the landing appeared to show the aircraft remaining airborne over the runway for an extended period before touching down. She also noted that Miami International Airport does not have an engineered arresting system designed to stop aircraft that overrun runways. The Federal Aviation Administration says such systems have been installed at more than 120 US airports and have helped save hundreds of lives.

The US military has denied an Iranian state media report that Iran struck an uncrewed American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claim a “total lie.” The denial came as a senior Iranian official on Sunday said Tehran plans to establish an “exclusion zone” outside the strategic waterway for vessels it believes are trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, rejected the Iranian report, saying there was no truth to the claim that an American vessel was hit while attempting to enter an area Tehran considers restricted. Iranian state media had reported that the US vessel was trying to enter the alleged restricted area. The development came a day after the US said it had struck three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Iran's launch of ballistic missiles at US Navy warships. The attacks resumed last week following roughly a month of relative calm. The conflict began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Fighting has continued intermittently after negotiations broke down despite a ceasefire agreement announced in June, with both sides seeking to inflict military and economic damage. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the country would no longer limit itself to “proportionate responses,” warning that future retaliation would be “faster, heavier and more painful.” Iran plans exclusion zone near Strait of Hormuz Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would announce an “exclusion zone” outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days or weeks. Speaking to Iran's state broadcaster, Rezaei provided few details but said the zone would begin near the line of the US naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz and continue into the Persian Gulf. His comments came a day after the US struck three Iranian oil tankers following Iran's missile attacks on American warships. Experts have described Iran's missile launches as a dangerous escalation, particularly because previous Iranian attacks at sea had targeted commercial shipping.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt to strikes against Kiev, a move linked to preparations for contacts with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday. "The meeting with President Putin will indeed take place, and there will be talks. As a rule, such meetings have been quite lengthy in the past. Let us wait and see. We will certainly keep you informed," Peskov told journalists. Peskov also urged against making predictions about settlement proposals and called for waiting for the outcome of Putin's meeting with the U.S. negotiators. Witkoff and Kushner landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport at 12:52 p.m. local time (0952 GMT) on Saturday. They were welcomed at the airport by Russia's special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Peskov's statement came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in the day that Russia had struck airports in Kiev and its southeastern suburb of Boryspil overnight. "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kiev Airport or Boryspil Airport," Zelensky said in a post on X. Zelensky said that Ukraine had taken note of the Russian move and would adjust its operations next week accordingly with regard to Russian airspace. Zelensky also said on Thursday that he expected to meet Trump's envoys in the Ukrainian capital in the coming days.   

US President Donald Trump on Friday described the six-month-old US conflict with Iran as “small potatoes” and defended Vice President JD Vance’s decision not to call the fighting a war. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said US strikes on Iran have become “intermittent” and that many people do not consider the conflict a war. “I can understand what he’s saying,” Trump said of Vance, adding that he preferred to describe it as a “military conflict.” The conflict has cost US taxpayers more than $37.5 billion and killed 18 US service members. The US and Israel have conducted airstrikes against Iran but have not sent ground troops into the country. Vance, during a White House briefing Thursday, said he would not describe the fighting as a war and declined to predict whether it would end before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when Republicans are seeking to retain their narrow congressional majorities. “Right now, there is no active shooting,” Vance said. His remarks came despite Iran launching an attack against US ally Kuwait on Thursday in retaliation for US strikes on Iran earlier in the week. Trump said the US military death toll in the Iran conflict remained relatively low compared with previous US wars. He cited the 18 US deaths against much higher losses in Vietnam and other conflicts. According to the US National Archives, 58,220 US service members died during the Vietnam War. When asked how he could call the conflict “small potatoes” despite the deaths of 18 US troops, Trump repeated his claim that the US campaign has severely weakened Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon because if they did you probably wouldn’t be standing here,” Trump said. Trump also compared the Iran conflict with the US military operation in Venezuela in January, which resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. The president had initially said the Iran conflict would last only a matter of weeks, but the fighting has now continued for about six months.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to completely halt trade with countries running trade surpluses with the United States unless the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. Trump made the threat on social media in response to a stronger-than-expected monthly jobs report. The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that the economy added 162,000 jobs in August, significantly higher than the projected 53,000, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. "LOWER THE RATE OR I'LL STOP TRADING WITH COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE HAVE A DEFICIT," Trump wrote, adding that high interest rates put the nation at a very unfair disadvantage. The remarks could intensify tensions between the administration and the central bank, potentially threatening its independence. According to U.S. media reports, several voting Fed members, including Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, have recently signaled openness to interest rate hikes if inflation remains high.

US President Donald Trump is combining economic sanctions and military force to pressure Iran, as Tehran continues to resist Washington’s campaign. The administration launched “Operation Economic Outcast” last week to cut Iran off from remaining international trade and financial partners, while US strikes have resumed in recent days, prompting Iranian retaliation and raising fears of a wider regional war. Despite months of sanctions and military attacks, Iran’s leadership has shown little sign of backing down. The conflict has also pushed up energy prices and raised concerns about its political impact ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump said Wednesday that he did not expect the conflict to last “much longer” and dismissed concerns that the war or higher gasoline prices could hurt Republicans. The US campaign to isolate Iran economically has so far had limited results, with only one branch of an Egyptian bank in the UAE targeted. Experts say sanctions would have greater impact if they reached Iran’s major trading partners, particularly China, India and Russia. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key pressure point, with shipping traffic falling sharply from pre-war levels because of the risk of attacks and Iranian restrictions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would continue to face economic pressure, while Washington reserved the right to use military force when necessary. Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership appears divided between moderates seeking negotiations and hardliners favoring confrontation. Analysts say neither side is satisfied with the current situation, leaving the conflict increasingly a battle of endurance.