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  Xi Jinping's Historic White House Visit: What Happened and Why It Matters Chinese President Xi Jinping just wrapped up his first trip to Washington in more than a decade, and it was a first in another sense too: it marks the first time a Chinese leader has made two separate formal state visits to the United States. Here's a rundown of the visit and what came out of it. The visit, day by day Xi's plane landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on September 23, kicking off a fast-moving three-day stop. Thursday brought the formal pageantry, a full state arrival ceremony at the White House followed by a state dinner that evening. Xi traveled with his wife, Peng Liyuan. The visit closed out Friday with a quieter, more personal note. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Xi and Peng for tea in the White House's Red Room before the group traveled together to the National Archives, where they viewed historical records documenting the long arc of U.S.-China ...

  'Better Deal': Why Trump Just Rejected Iran's Truce Offer Iran put a new proposal on the table to end the ongoing war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said no. Here's what's behind that decision, and why both sides may actually be getting something out of the standoff. What Trump said Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump rejected the Iranian proposal outright, arguing that Iran's willingness to negotiate is itself a sign of weakness, since Tehran is "losing so badly." At the same time, he insisted he's open to making a deal, just not the one Iran put forward. The offer on the table Iran's latest proposal closely resembles the memorandum of understanding the two countries had signed back in June. That earlier agreement fell apart last month over disagreements on the deal's terms, which triggered an escalation in attacks, especially around the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil-shipping chokepoint that remains effectively blo...

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Trump Signs Greenland Security Deal, Expanding U.S. Military Access to the Arctic President Trump signed a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland on Tuesday, September 22, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The deal grants the United States wide-ranging powers to secure and defend the Arctic island, which remains Danish territory. What the deal does The agreement reaffirms Greenland's sovereignty as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but gives the U.S. broad access to the island's airspace and territory. It allows the U.S. to expand the existing Pituffik Space Base, the northernmost American military installation, which serves as an early-warning system for incoming missiles. Beyond expanding Pituffik, the amended deal lets the U.S. establish two new bases and leaves the door open for additional defense areas. The accord calls for wide U.S. military mobility on Greenland's territory, including undersea access, on the basis that...

  Jonathan Taylor Thomas Arrested After Traffic Stop in Westlake Village Former Home Improvement star Jonathan Taylor Thomas was arrested in Southern California this week. It's a rare bit of news from an actor who has mostly stayed out of the spotlight for years. What happened Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Thomas was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over Monday in Westlake Village, California. A law enforcement statement given to People said the driver was being detained for a DUI investigation, and that Thomas got out of the vehicle and was told to sit back down. Sources say he refused, was uncooperative, and appeared drunk in public. The sheriff's department's account is more serious. Authorities said Thomas, whose legal name is Jonathan Taylor Thomas Weiss, kept leaving the vehicle and approaching deputies, which distracted them from their investigation. When deputies tried to detain him, he allegedly kicked one in the stomach. The driver was also arrested f...

  North Carolina Is Not Blue, and the Polls Are Starting to Show It The newest North Carolina Senate poll has Roy Cooper at 48% and Michael Whatley at 43%. Democrats will call a 5-point lead comfortable, but the trend line tells a different story. The gap is closing Earlier surveys from other outlets had Whatley trailing by 10 points or more. Now we're looking at two polls with Cooper up 5. That's a race moving in Whatley's direction, and it's happening while Cooper enjoys near-universal name recognition after years as governor. A challenger who is less known but gaining ground, against a well-known opponent stuck under 50%, is exactly the position you want to be in this far into a campaign. North Carolina's presidential record Donald Trump carried North Carolina in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Three elections, three wins. This is a state that has repeatedly chosen Republicans at the top of the ticket, and Whatley, as a Trump-endorsed candidate, is running in a state...