Donald Trump's visit to China concluded on Friday with no major breakthroughs on Iran or Taiwan, despite warm hospitality and flattering exchanges. The US president was overheard telling Chinese President Xi Jinping that he was giving him roses for the White House rose garden during a walk in Beijing's Zhongnanhai garden, according to a pool report.
No Iran Accord
Trump claimed the US and China "feel very similar" about ending the war in Iran but offered no details on a possible breakthrough. "We did discuss Iran," Trump said on the final day. "We feel very similar about how we want it to end. We don't want them to have a nuclear weapon. We want the straits open." China's foreign ministry later called for a ceasefire in Iran and urged the opening of the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible." Before the summit, there was speculation the US might ask China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, to leverage its influence, but US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed that notion, saying, "We don't need their help."
Taiwan Talks Sidestepped
Taiwan's future was barely mentioned. Xi took a firm stance, declaring that "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait were "incompatible." Trump sidestepped questions on Taiwan, and a White House readout omitted any mention of the island. Trump departed Beijing saying "a lot of good" came from his visit and that "we've settled a lot of different problems." He also touted deals including China buying 200 Boeing jets, US oil, and soybeans, though these have not been confirmed by China or Boeing.
Kyiv Attack Kills 24
In Ukraine, at least 24 people, including three children, were killed in Russian attacks on Kyiv on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "The Russians practically demolished an entire section of the building with their missile," he stated after visiting the site. Ukraine's foreign ministry called it "one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale war." The UN nuclear watchdog warned of "intensified" military activities near nuclear sites, posing significant safety risks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia's bombardment showed Moscow was "banking on escalation rather than negotiation."
US Southern States Redraw Maps
Southern US states are swiftly redrawing congressional maps to eliminate Democratic districts and dilute Black voting power, following a Supreme Court decision gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. "This is a five-alarm fire for Black representation in the south," said Michael Li, a redistricting expert. Tennessee has enacted a new map, Louisiana is on the verge, Alabama has petitioned to eliminate a Black Democrat's district, and South Carolina may call a special session. States like Texas, Missouri, Florida, and North Carolina could redraw maps before 2028.
Other News
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- Brazil's Atlantic forest recorded its lowest deforestation in 40 years, with 8,658 hectares cleared in 2025.
- A former kindergarten teacher in Chile protects the world's only continental king penguin colony, with a record 23 chicks surviving last year.
Renters' rights are emerging as a key issue in the US midterm elections, as housing costs soar and billionaire fortunes grow. Policies once considered extreme are now central to insurgent campaigns.
