海角大神

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on a two-day trip to Beijing next week, the Kremlin said. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump finished his own state visit to China, where he met Mr. Xi to discuss trade and the war in Iran. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since the start of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Beyond the pomp and pageantry, Xi Jinping sent a message to Donald Trump

Keep America Beautiful has found 鈥渆ncouraging evidence that litter is a solvable issue and that meaningful progress is underway.鈥� In 2020, its researchers examined 700 randomly selected sites, from roadsides to watersides, for litter. They revisited those same nationwide locations in 2025, cataloguing each discarded item. Litter had declined by 34%. Of the approximately 35 billion pieces of litter last year, there was a notable rise in cardboard and tire detritus but declines in other categories, including a 62% drop in cigarette butts. In a companion survey The Harris Poll, 90% of respondents said it was 鈥渢heir personal responsibility to help reduce litter.鈥�

The potential indictment of the Communist leader is likely tied to the downing of an aircraft in the late 1990s, according to multiple wire reports (Associated Press, Reuters). The move has to be approved by a grand jury, but comes at a moment when the U.S. is upping pressure for political change on the island. Protests have broken out over the past three days due to energy shortages. 鈥淲e have absolutely no fuel,鈥� Cuba鈥檚 energy minister said in a press conference on May 13.

For the Trump administration, 鈥榯aking Cuba鈥� would not be easy.

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee is ending his bid for reelection. He's just the latest lawmaker to have his career upended by the redistricting battles that are sweeping the country. Republicans in Tennessee this month enacted a new U.S. House map that carves up a Cohen鈥檚 majority-Black district, reshaping it to the GOP鈥檚 advantage. It's part of President Donald Trump鈥檚 strategy to hold on to a slim Republican majority in the November midterm elections. Cohen has represented his Memphis-based district for nearly two decades. He lamented that Tennessee would likely shift to an entirely Republican delegation after the next election.

The Texas Supreme Court has refused to declare that Democratic state lawmakers who briefly left the state last year in a quorum break to stop a vote on new congressional voting maps pushed by President Donald Trump vacated their offices. The all-Republican court dealt a blow to Gov. Greg Abbott and state Republicans in their efforts to severely punish the more than 50 Democrats who bolted for New York, Illinois and Massachusetts in a bid to stop a vote on the maps during a special session. State Republicans had sought their arrest and threatened fines to bring them back to the state Capitol.

U.S. President Donald Trump departed Beijing following a final day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The leaders say they made progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations, but deep differences remain after two days of meetings and meals. On Friday they walked the grounds of Zhongnanhai and had a working tea and lunch. During meetings and events Thursday the two discussed divisive issues such as the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan. China has shown little public interest in getting more involved in solving the war in Iran. Xi also suggested differences over Taiwan could put his country and the U.S. on the path toward conflict. Threats of each side imposing steep tariffs also still loom.

On Thursday, U.S. Chief Admiral Brad Cooper also told聽the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran's聽Navy has been wrecked for a 鈥済eneration.鈥� It was the first congressional hearing by the head of U.S. Central Command聽since the war began. Admiral Cooper drew skepticism from some senators when he said the U.S has only one active civilian casualty investigation, a strike on a girl's school. He said that there is 鈥渘o way that we can corroborate鈥� charges from human rights groups of accidental strikes on other Iranian schools and hospitals.

A two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi has ended without a joint statement due to differing views on the Middle East. According to host India, members expressed national positions on issues like sovereignty and maritime security. A footnote mentioned a member鈥檚 reservations about sections on Gaza and security in the Red Sea. Divisions have become more visible during the Iran war, especially between Iran and the UAE. On Thursday, Iran urged BRICS to condemn the U.S. and Israel for 鈥渦nlawful aggression.鈥� BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia.

The judge in Austin intervened Thursday, a day before the law's rollout. In 2023, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law, which turns illegal entry and reentry into Texas from Mexico into state crimes. But U.S. District Judge David Ezra in the Western District of Texas said that aspects of the law were unconstitutional and granted a request for a preliminary injunction. 鈥淚f allowed to proceed, SB 4 could open the door to each state passing its own version of immigration laws,鈥� Judge Ezra wrote in his decision. 鈥淪B4 threatens the fundamental notion that the United States must regulate immigration with one voice.鈥�

The high court's order allows the drug Mifepristone,聽used in what has become the most common method of abortion, to remain available via U.S.聽mail and in pharmacies. The Thursday order, in line with Food and Drug Administration policy, halts a ruling that would have required women to have in-person specialist visits and prevented mail delivery of the medication. The FDA, which first approved Mifepristone for use in abortion in 2000, stopped requiring in-person visits five years ago. The legal challenge continues, but broad access will remain uninterrupted while the case proceeds.

Ms. Swift鈥檚 鈥�1989鈥� album and Beyonc茅's song 鈥淪ingle Ladies (Put a Ring on It)鈥� were among this year鈥檚 25 selections for preservation by the Library of Congress. The recordings are chosen for cultural and historical importance to the national heritage. Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen also recognized the soundtrack of the video game 鈥淒oom鈥� as well as the cast recording of the stage musical 鈥淐hicago.鈥� The 700 recordings chosen to date now include newcomers 鈥淭urn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)鈥� by The Byrds, P茅rez Prado鈥檚 鈥淢ambo No. 5,鈥� Chaka Khan鈥檚 鈥淚 Feel for You,鈥� and Vince Gill鈥檚 鈥淕o Rest High That Mountain.鈥�

Mutual accusations from Israelis and the Palestinians of wartime sexual abuse came to a head this week. On Monday, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof detailed accusations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees in Israel prisons. The following day, an Israeli non-profit organization published a comprehensive report of rape and sexual assaults committed by Palestinian militants during and after the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel and Hamas deny the respective allegations. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would file a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. He called the article a 鈥渂lood libel about rape鈥� that tries to create a false symmetry between Israel and Hamas.

Under the unanimous resolution, the secretary of the Senate would suspend the salary payments for the chamber鈥檚 elected officials if there is a shutdown of one or more government agencies. A recent partial shutdown over funding the Department of Homeland Security lasted a record 76 days. The resolution, introduced by Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, is intended to spur senators to find solutions to impasses during shutdowns. The Senate resolution only comes into effect after November鈥檚 midterm elections and the agreement doesn鈥檛 include the House of Representatives.

Chief Michael Banks suddenly stepped down, the Border Patrol union confirmed Thursday on X, wishing him well. The reason behind his departure is unclear. But the leadership change is the latest of several at the Department of Homeland Security, whose former secretary was fired two months ago amid conflict of interest concerns. A longtime Border Patrol official, Mr. Banks also served as the first-ever border czar of Texas, hired by the state during the Biden administration.

Yemen鈥檚 government and Houthi rebels have reached a deal to free over 1,600 detainees in the largest swap during Yemen鈥檚 11-year civil war. The agreement was signed Thursday in Amman, Jordan, after 14 weeks of negotiations. The U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross observed the talks. Abdelkader al-Murtada, a Houthi official, said 1,100 of the detainees are Houthi affiliated. The swap includes seven Saudis and 20 Sudanese. U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg said it鈥檚 the largest release of conflict-related detainees. Yemen鈥檚 civil war began in 2014, causing severe economic and food insecurity issues.

As Russia ramped up its barrage of aerial strikes on Ukraine for the third consecutive day - including one on a Kyiv apartment building that killed seven people - drone warfare is having spillover effects on neighboring nations. Hungary summoned the Russian ambassador when Russian drones skirted close to its border and attacked a Ukrainian area that is home to a Hungarian minority. The diplomatic meeting portends a shift toward less amicable relations with Moscow under new Hungarian prime minister P茅ter Magyar. Meanwhile, in Latvia, Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned after several incidents in which Ukraine鈥檚 drones entered Latvia after straying off route during attacks on Russia. Ms. Silina鈥檚 government was accused of being ill-prepared to defend Latvian airspace.

A Philippine senator wanted by the International Criminal Court has fled from the Senate, where he sought refuge to evade arrest. Officials said Thursday that Sen. Ronald dela Rosa slipped out after gunshots were fired during an argument with a government agent. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged calm in a late-night TV statement. A police investigation is underway, with suspicions that the incident was staged to help dela Rosa escape. Senate President Alan Cayetano said there was no obstruction of justice. Critics argue Cayetano and the Senate鈥檚 security chief should be held responsible for the escape.

Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have started their high-profile summit in Beijing that is expected to focus on trade but also include the Iran war, technology and Taiwan. Trump hopes to focus the talks Thursday and Friday on mechanisms to address their differences and increase China鈥檚 import of American agricultural products and passenger planes. However, few breakthroughs are expected during a summit that is hoped to add stability to the often rocky relationship between the superpowers. Trump arrived in Beijing late on Wednesday and is expected to leave after midday Friday after a final private meeting with Xi.

Trump has been to China before. Why this visit is different.