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Chapter 1: What were the outcomes of the Trump and Xi Jinping meeting?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing today discussing the war in Iran, global trade and energy security. But as NPR's Tamara Keith reports, it doesn't appear that the talks between the two yielded any significant progress.
On Thursday, Trump and Xi held a bilateral meeting that for a time included CEOs from top U.S. corporations. Then in the evening at a formal banquet, the two leaders toasted each other and the relationship between their nations. Trump made clear he wants this visit to be the start of a longer dialogue.
Tonight it is my honor to extend an invitation to you and Madam Peng to visit us at the White House this September 24th.
Before Trump heads to the airport, the leaders are set to take a friendship photo and share a bilateral tea and lunch. No deals have been announced yet, but there's still time.
Chapter 2: How are U.S. Senators responding to government shutdowns?
Tamara Keith, NPR News, Beijing.
Senators passed a resolution today to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns. And as Ava Berger reports, the move brings them in line with most federal employees who receive back pay only when the government reopens.
The resolution was approved by voice without any senators objecting. Senator John Kennedy, the Louisiana Republican, called his measure a, quote, shared sacrifice with other federal employees who miss paychecks. It's got to stop. Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues.
Congress reopened the Department of Homeland Security last month after the agency went unfunded for more than 70 days. Kennedy's measure, which won't apply to House members, will take effect after the midterm elections. Ava Berger, NPR News, the Capitol.
Chapter 3: What sparked the protests in Cuba recently?
Protesters have taken to the streets of Cuba's capital after a more than 24-hour blackout. Emperor Zeta Peralta reports the country says it has no fuel to turn the power back on.
Videos posted on social media show Cubans banging on pots on the streets in Havana. Protesters complained that their homes were hot and that internet service had been disrupted. Vicente de la O. Levy, Cuba's Minister of Energy, said the electrical grid is going through one of its most trying moments. The U.S.
has enacted a de facto oil blockade and the 100,000 tons of Russian crude that arrived in April has now been used up. The energy minister says the system is now operating basically without reserves. Cuba is also relying on its solar panels, but its aging energy grid can't handle the fluctuating voltage. It means that for now, about 70% of the island is without power.
Chapter 4: What is the significance of the Elon Musk and OpenAI trial?
Ada Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.
Wall Street higher by the close. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Oakland, California, closing arguments are now underway in the landmark trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI. The outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence. Musk, the world's richest man, was a co-founder of OpenAI investing $38 million in its first five years.
The company launched as a nonprofit in 2015 and then went on to create ChatGPT. Musk filed suit in 2024, accusing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of shifting into a for-profit mode behind his back. Altman denies betraying Musk, defending his for-profit push during the trial.
Chapter 5: What can we expect from the World Cup halftime show?
The World Cup is taking a page from the Super Bowl. For the first time, this year's final match will include a special halftime performance with major star power. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento has more.
Madonna, Shakira, and the K-pop group BTS will headline the World Cup halftime show. The lineup was curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and features three artists currently in the global spotlight. Shakira just released her fourth official World Cup song, Dai Dai, featuring the Nigerian singer Burna Boy.
BTS is back after a years-long hiatus with a chart-topping new album, Arirang, and a global tour. In July, Madonna will release the new album Confessions 2, a sequel to her 2005 hit Confessions on a Dance Floor. The World Cup final will take place July 19th in New Jersey. The halftime show will support an education fundraising initiative led by FIFA and the non-profit Global Citizen.
Chapter 6: How can listeners support NPR's journalism?
Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News. And I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.
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