Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD Plus

News

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Gov. DeSantis’ Plan to Reduce, Eliminate Some Property Tax ‘A Game-Changer’: Analysis

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

ICE Protesters in New Jersey ‘Trained, Funded, and Organized’, Says Security Expert

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Rights Advocates Warn of Beijing's Reach Into Canada

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Lawmakers Return to DC Amid ICE, CBP Funding Delay

Hurricane Season Begins With Below-Normal Forecast

Iris Tao is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. Prior to her work at the White House, Iris reported on U.S. politics and U.S.–China relations from NTD’s New York headquarters. She holds degrees in journalism and economics from Boston University.

Iris Tao

World News

Middle East

US and Iran Trade Strikes, Kuwait Is Hit by Drone and Missile Fire

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Americas

Colombian Right-Wing Candidate de La Espriella, Leftist Cepeda Head to Presidential Runoff

Jacki Thrapp is an Emmy® Award-winning journalist based in Nashville. She previously worked at The New York Post, Fox News Channel and has written a series of Off-Broadway musicals in NYC. Contact her at jacki.thrapp@epochtimes.us

Jacki Thrapp

US News

Immigration &amp; Border Security

Newark Mayor Imposes Curfew After Fiery Clashes Outside ICE Detention Center

Israel

Netanyahu Orders Deeper Israeli Incursion Into Lebanon to Hit Hezbollah

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Sports News

Wembanyama, Spurs Win the West, Topple Thunder 111–103 in Game 7 to Head to NBA Finals

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 1)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 29)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 28)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 27)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 26)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 25)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 22)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 21)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 20)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 19)

State News

California

More Than 17,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Southern California Wildfire Threatens Homes

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

40,000 Ordered to Evacuate as Chemical Tank Leaks, Threatens Explosion in California

Video of US Fighter Jet Shooting Down UFO Over Lake Huron Emerges in New Pentagon Files

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Champion, Dies at 41

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

California Mayor Resigns, Will Plead Guilty to Acting as Chinese Agent

The United States military Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on Monday evening announced that the United States has carried out a 29th strike targeting drug runners in the waters off South and Central America.

“On Dec. 22, at the direction of [Secretary of War] Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” SOUTHCOM wrote in a <a href="https://x.com/Southcom/status/2003303616963133694" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">post</a> on X.

The ship was operating in the Eastern Pacific. Along with the Caribbean, ships operating in the Eastern Pacific have been the top targets for U.S. strikes on narcotics traffickers.

According to SOUTHCOM, intelligence confirmed that the vessel “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations."

A lone male aboard the vessel was killed in the strike, the military said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has designated several cartels and similar criminal organizations as domestic terror groups during his second term in office, increasing U.S. authority against them. Trump has said the attacks are part of his administration's effort to stop the influx of illicit drugs, especially fentanyl, into the country.

Meanwhile, critics said that such strikes are legally controversial and that anti-drug enforcement activities have historically been handled by law enforcement rather than the military.

So far, more than 100 people have died in the strikes, coming amid a broader U.S. pressure campaign against Venezuela.

Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government of running an international drug trafficking operation.

While announcing upgrades to the U.S. Navy, Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_53yJh2uuIc">told</a> reporters gathered at Mar-a-Lago on Monday night that it would be smart for Maduro to leave power.

Trump's pressure campaign on Maduro has ramped up in recent weeks, with the U.S. military starting to board U.S.-sanctioned Venezuelan vessels as of Dec. 11.

When asked whether the goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_53yJh2uuIc">told</a> reporters: “That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're going to find out."

"If he wants to ⁠do something, if ‍he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough," he added.

Trump told reporters the United States may keep or ‍sell the oil and the ships now seized. He said the oil could also be used to replenish the U.S. strategic reserves.

The Chinese foreign ministry accused the United States on Dec. 22 of a serious violation of international ‍law over the China-bound oil tanker seized off the Venezuelan coast on Dec. 20.

Venezuela has the ‌right to develop relations with other countries, China's ⁠foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily press briefing, adding that China opposes all "unilateral and illegal" sanctions.

The tanker, “Centuries,” loaded ‌in Venezuela under the false name "Crag," was ⁠carrying some 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil. Documents showed the oil was bound for China, which has been a key ally of Maduro.

A ‌White House spokesperson said the "falsely flagged vessel" had sanctioned oil and ​was part of Venezuela's shadow fleet. The Venezuelan government called the seizure a "serious act of international piracy."

Communist China is Venezuela’s biggest buyer of crude, ⁠accounting for roughly 4 percent of China’s imports.

Communist Cuba also relies on Venezuela for roughly 40 percent of its oil import needs, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Dec. 20 <a href="https://x.com/DiazCanelB/status/2002557534390136944?s=20">calling</a> the U.S. seizures an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism” and “a serious violation of International Law.” Earlier, he expressed full support for Maduro’s Venezuela.

Russia on Monday also criticized the United States and expressed its "full support" for Venezuela amid the U.S. <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-orders-blockade-of-sanctioned-oil-tankers-off-venezuela-5959198">blockade</a> of its oil tankers. In the lead-up to the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, Russia and China <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/china-russia-aligning-in-joint-struggle-against-the-us-expert-5152110">declared</a> a “no limits” partnership as they prepared for war.

Meanwhile, Trump on Dec. 19 <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-nominates-marine-general-to-be-new-head-of-southern-command-5960669">nominated</a> Silver Star recipient Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan to be the new leader of SOUTHCOM. If confirmed, Donovan would head the ongoing military campaign against the alleged drug-carrying vessels belonging to designated terrorist groups in the SOUTHCOM area of operations.

<em>Melanie Sun, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/us-announces-29th-strike-on-drug-boat-5961870">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Paywall Related

Videos

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Free for Subscribers

Management

03_Featured

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

US Announces 29th Strike on Drug Boat

Mexican Military Plane Crashes in Galveston Bay, at Least 5 Killed

Democrats Prepare for Midterms and 2028

Alice Tang

Navigating Family Conversations This Christmas

Waymo Robotaxi Fleet Stalls During San Francisco Power Outage

Bringing you the latest videos, livestreams, and premieres.


NTD Video

Michigan Hospital’s Pediatric Wing Glows With Light and Joy

Record-Setting Holiday Travel Exodus Underway

Influenza Cases Surging as Holidays Approach, Doctors Warn

Guy Birchall is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of national stories with a particular interest in freedom of expression and social issues.