Trump touches down in Beijing — and gets a warning from Xi

President Trump's arrival in Beijing for a high-profile summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was marked by ceremonial pomp and a stark diplomatic warning over Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province. While Trump praised the bilateral relationship, Xi underscored the fragility of U.S.-China ties, explicitly warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict. The episode highlights growing tensions over Taiwan’s strategic importance, especially its dominance in chip manufacturing, and Trump’s ambiguous stance—having approved a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan while also signaling openness to discuss it with Beijing. Meanwhile, the White House’s push for a temporary federal gas tax suspension faces resistance from Republicans concerned about the Highway Trust Fund and midterm political fallout. On the climate front, meteorologists warn of a looming Super El Niño, with a 61% chance of emergence by 2026, which could trigger extreme weather, droughts, floods, and economic disruption globally—drawing parallels to the catastrophic 1877 event. The Senate confirmed Kevin Walsh as the new Federal Reserve chair by a razor-thin margin, raising concerns about political influence on monetary policy. Other stories include the overturning of a double murder conviction in South Carolina due to juror misconduct, and FIFA’s announcement of a star-studded World Cup halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.