President Trump arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, marked by an elaborate استقبال featuring a military band and honor guard. The leaders are expected to discuss tariffs, Taiwan, sanctions, agricultural purchases and competition over artificial intelligence, though expectations for a sweeping agreement are low. Questions also loom over whether Trump will raise China’s reported arms discussions with Iran and its dominance in rare earth minerals critical to United States defense production.

In Washington, the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, replacing Jerome Powell. Most Democrats opposed him, citing concerns about preserving the central bank’s political independence. Warsh takes office amid pressure over interest rates and broader economic uncertainty.

In a stunning legal reversal, South Carolina’s highest court overturned the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh due to jury interference by a court clerk, voiding his life sentence. He will remain in prison on separate financial crime convictions, and prosecutors plan to retry the case. Meanwhile, a major venture capital firm has emerged as the largest disclosed donor of the midterm cycle, and an investigation found suspicious trading activity on prediction markets ahead of major global events.