Today's Headlines: China’s Xi Warns Trump on Taiwan at Beijing Summit

May 14, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

Live Updates: China’s Xi Warns Trump on Taiwan at Beijing Summit

Xi Jinping, China’s leader, told President Trump that Taiwan, if handled poorly, could lead to a clash with the United States. The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and the Iran war at the two-day summit.

Gen. Caine’s Silence on Iran War Leaves Questions About Military Strategy

The president’s top military adviser is walking a tightrope as he leads the military through a divisive and unpopular war.

Murdaugh Murder Convictions Overturned by South Carolina’s Top Court

The decision, in which judges cited jury interference by a court clerk, upends one of America’s highest-profile homicide cases.

World

Why Xi Doesn’t Need a Deal With Trump

President Xi Jinping of China is buying time for Beijing and may see an opening with a U.S. president weakened by the war in Iran.

The Uncomfortable Parallels Between Starmer and Biden

In Britain, some argue that Prime Minister Keir Starmer, by rejecting calls to step aside, risks repeating the mistakes of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Chaos in Philippines Senate as Duterte Ally Faces Arrest

The sound of gunshots, apparently from inside the chamber, was broadcast on live television as a senator in the Philippines, who was an ally of the former leader Rodrigo Duterte, faced arrest.

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U.S.

Midsize Cities Held Steady as U.S. Population Growth Declined

New census estimates show that the nation’s largest cities saw the sharpest slowdowns in population growth over the past year amid declines in immigration and plunging birthrates.

Duffy’s ‘Great American Road Trip’ Prompts Ethical Concerns

A YouTube series starring Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his family is part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, but it doubled as a family excursion for them.

U.S. Cruise Passenger Moved Out of Isolation

The passenger, who had tested positive once in the Canary Islands, was being monitored in a special biocontainment facility in Omaha, until a new test came back negative.

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Politics

South Carolina Governor Plans Special Session to Redraw House Maps

Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, appears prepared to thrust the state into the nation’s redistricting wars.

Political Organizer Wins Democratic Primary in Key Nebraska House Race

Denise Powell prevailed in a close primary race for an Omaha-based seat, currently held by a retiring Republican, that could help determine control of the House.

Georgia Governor Calls Special Session to Redistrict for 2028 Elections

Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, also asked lawmakers to delay changes to the state’s election system that could cause disarray in the midterms.

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Business

Honda Posts First Ever Annual Loss After Pullback From E.V.s

Honda posted its first loss since 1957 as it took a multibillion-dollar hit from scaling back its electric-vehicle plans.

What the New Head of the Federal Reserve Will Inherit

The incoming chair of the Fed will need to navigate a delicate economic moment, a president who wants to lower rates and an increasingly divisive leadership committee.

Dozens of Polymarket Bets Show Signs of Insider Trading, The Times Finds

Dozens of long-shot bets on Polymarket, from the war with Iran to the cryptocurrency market, have defied the odds, according to a New York Times examination.

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Technology

Silicon Valley’s A.I. Lobbying Reaches a Fever Pitch

OpenAI and Anthropic are opening offices in Washington, hiring lobbyists and spending more than ever to win over federal lawmakers.

Notable Researchers Join $4 Billion Effort to Build Self-Improving A.I.

Recursive Superintelligence, founded by former Google, Meta and OpenAI researchers, is part of a growing effort to automate the creation of artificial intelligence.

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New York

Giuliani Returns to Broadcasting After Illness: ‘I Feel 100 Percent’

Rudolph W. Giuliani, the 81-year-old former New York City mayor, was in critical condition with pneumonia in a Florida hospital earlier this month.

Man Pleads Guilty to Ramming Car Into Chabad Headquarters

The man, Dan Sohail, admitted on Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court to pounding his car repeatedly into the building at the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox complex.

Man Convicted of Running Illegal Police Station Tied to China’s Government

Prosecutors say that Lu Jianwang opened a hub in Manhattan’s Chinatown to monitor outspoken critics of the Chinese Communist Party.

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Arts

Shakira, Madonna and BTS Are First World Cup Final Halftime Show

The previous World Cup final drew more than 500 million live viewers. This year’s matchup is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.

Ye Must Pay Musicians for Using Sample Without Permission

A jury in Los Angeles found the rapper and three of his companies liable for more than $400,000 after he played an unauthorized music sample at an event in 2021.