News for September 25, 2026
Xi is wrapping his visit to Washington with a peek at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is taking Chinese President Xi Jinping to the National Archives to cap off a three-day state visit criticized for being heavy on pomp and light on substance. Trump says he wants to show Xi the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on Friday. Xi is head of the world’s most powerful communist country. The Republican U.S. president has been seeking to demonize Democrats as communists before the November midterm elections, a message muddied by the red-carpet treatment he has given Xi. The two leaders have made a show of working to preserve harmony, though there were no major breakthroughs on issues like trade or artificial intelligence safety.
Trump’s state dinner for Xi features sea bass and a long list of tech titans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has hosted a state dinner for China’s leader Xi Jinping, highlighting the glitzier side of diplomacy with a tech-heavy guest list and lavish details. Trump emphasized strong ties between the U.S. and China, despite political tensions. He also offered a long aside about the White House ballroom he’s building. Thursday’s event included billionaires, powerbrokers, and a menu crafted by Melania Trump. Guests dined on squash velouté and sesame-crusted sea bass. Trump showcased White House updates, including a new helipad and ballroom construction. The evening featured a toast to mutual goals and saw Trump give Xi a gift. The dinner follows Trump’s personal welcome for Xi, aiming to strengthen their relationship.
Iran has suggested a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 7 days
Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon. Iran’s foreign minister detailed the proposal in a private gathering on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to one attendee. The deal strongly resembles the so-called Memorandum of Understanding reached in June, but with an accelerated timetable. The earlier agreement, which had called for a 60-day interim period, collapsed within weeks as Iran resumed attacks on shipping in the strait.
Hurricane Nolo threatening Hawaii with heavy rain as Polo churns near Mexico
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Residents on Hawaii’s Big Island are bracing for potentially life-threatening and catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Nolo, while Mexico is still under the threat of another Pacific hurricane, Polo. The U.S. National Weather Service said Nolo was about 220 miles south of the Big Island on Friday morning and headed to the northeast, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin in the evening. Forecasters are warning the island could see rainfall totals of 15 to 30 inches. Polo is churning off Mexico’s western coast as a Category 5 hurricane and is expected to turn toward the Baja California Peninsula, where storm conditions are expected late Sunday into Monday.
With ethnic and historical considerations, rebranding nations is harder than renaming products
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Turkish Prime Minister President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the world to stop confusing one of history’s great empires with an American bird. Cease using a word associated with defeat and warm stuffing, his government asked the world’s 1.5 billion English speakers five years ago. But national rebrands can be hard. The nation of Siam became Thailand in 1939 to foster ethnic unity and shed a foreign label. The name changed in almost all English-speaking countries. In 1985 Côte d’Ivoire requested that the U.N. stop translating the West African nation’s name into different languages. That has had less momentum. Name changes have stuck when they come from independence movements, armed conflicts and other historical events.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he urged Trump to enlist China’s help in ending Russia’s invasion
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to urge China to influence Russia to ends its invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy met Trump in the United States this week. The Ukrainian leader says he expects feedback on Trump’s talks with China’s President Xi Jinping. NATO countries have called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s actions. Zelenskyy says he also discussed U.S.-brokered talks involving Ukraine and Russia, hefty U.S. sanctions on Russia, and the production of Patriot air defense systems. He highlighted the need for unimpeded Black Sea shipping routes and financial support for Ukraine’s strained budget.
Pope warns a ‘paradise of machines’ could undermine humanity as he opens France trip
PARIS (AP) — Pope Leo XIV warns that a “paradise of machines” could undermine humanity. He has raised existential questions about scientific progress and human rights during his visit to France. On Friday, Leo began a four-day trip, meeting President Emmanuel Macron and addressing diplomats. He later visited UNESCO, the U.N. culture agency. The visit includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. Leo’s visit is the first official one by a pope in 18 years and has drawn significant attention. Macron, nearing the end of his term, sees this as a capstone event. The pope is expected to emphasize Europe’s Christian roots and discuss global challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence.
Yemen’s civil war returns and overwhelms hospitals with ‘a very dangerous situation’
ADEN, Yemen (AP) — Hospitals in Yemen are struggling as civil war returns to the Arab world’s poorest nation. Children are sharing emergency room beds, and some pregnant women are being turned away as health centers focus on treating the wounded. Medical supplies are running low and some health workers have fled. Millions of people are caught in the conflict whose warring sides are backed by regional powers Iran and Saudi Arabia, and health workers are struggling to provide even basic care. A few health centers have been overtaken by the fighting and the consequences for civilians are grim.
US stocks are mixed after oil prices ease and bond yields rise
NEW YORK (AP) — A cooldown in oil prices is clashing on Wall Street with pressure building from the bond market, leaving the U.S. stock market mixed. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged Friday, but only after flipping between gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 155 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Indexes initially rose after trading began, aided by a drop in oil prices. They quickly erased the gains after a report on U.S. consumer sentiment helped the 10-year Treasury yield jump to 5.21%. Higher yields slow the economy and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.
