Dan Schwartzman

will hold direct talks with Iran and Islamabad Pakistan starting on Saturday, with Vice President J.D.

Vance expected to lead the American delegation.

Both sides so far have appeared to have paused strikes across the region after President Trump's announcement of a truce after nearly six weeks of fighting.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is little changed, even as a handful of Chinese vessels lined up to exit the Gulf.

Iran said earlier that any ships wanting to pass through will need army approval.

Iran's ports and maritime organization published two safe routes for shipping, but ship owners continue to wait for clarification on the status of the crucial waterway.

Right now, more than 800 freighters are stuck, with just three ships observed leaving the region on Wednesday.

Ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows, in normal times, about 135 vessels cross daily.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke in Washington today after meeting privately with President Trump Wednesday evening.

Rutte says Europe will have to take more responsibility in the alliance.

Rutte also admitted that some NATO allies may have dragged their feet when the U.S.

asked for some assistance.

That's NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

First Lady Melania Trump, speaking at the White House, addressed rumors that she knew Jeffrey Epstein and had knowledge of his crimes.

Melania Trump called on Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein's crimes with a chance to testify before lawmakers.

The first lady's press conference seemed strangely timed after the president had appeared to have shifted the conversation about his own ties to Epstein to the background.

Elevated oil prices from the Iran war are raising fears of stagflation in the market, but White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett says he still sees the economy growing by four to five percent this year thanks to deregulation and tax cuts.

White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett making the comments on Fox Business.

Oil recovering, gaining about 5% after its biggest one-day drop since April 2020, with West Texas Intermediate trading at just over $98 a barrel.

We check markets all day long here at Bloomberg.