Trump-Xi summit: Here's what's on the agenda, and why it matters Share Trump-Xi summit: Here's what's on the agenda, and why it matters on social media China's leader Xi Jinping is expected to hold highly anticipated talks with United States President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, as both sides seek to ease trade tensions and discuss increasingly capable artificial intelligence (AI) systems. On Wednesday evening, Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, with a rare red carpet welcome. No US president had previously welcomed a visiting guest personally at the base in six decades. Earlier in the day, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi and Peng were being accompanied by the president's closest aide and adviser, Cai Qi, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The White House said the talks scheduled for Thursday would mark "a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries".

Carney's new love-in with EU has everything to do with Trump Wouldn't it be lovely if Canada was the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States? The question was rather tongue-in-cheek. US President Donald Trump, who is currently locked in an escalating tariff tussle with Ottawa, has, on a number of occasions, declared his ambition to make Canada the 51st American state - causing deep offence amongst many Canadians. Finland is one of the EU's 27 member states and a close ally of Canada as a fellow Arctic nation. Teasing tones aside, President Stubb put his finger squarely on the pulse of deepening EU-Canadian relations. Canada is more Europe-minded than most Europeans! is a smiling retort you often hear in Brussels at the moment.

Is the war entering a new phase? NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has pledged additional support for Ukraine after Russian drone strikes hit close to the border with Poland. Rutte insisted on Monday that the 32-nation military alliance will not be deterred from backing Kyiv in the Russia-Ukraine war, and that it will beef up its own defences along the eastern border with Russia. On Sunday, Russian drones hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border and a second strike hit close to another crossing point. The strike that hit the train came minutes after a diplomatic delegation that included former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt had passed through the station, according to Ukraine's state rail operator.

Cobalt Park in North Tyneside was designated as an'AI growth zone' during the US president's visit. Cobalt Park in North Tyneside was designated as an'AI growth zone' during the US president's visit. OpenAI's apparent failure to visit key site raises questions over UK investment Exclusive: £20bn of'potential' £30bn AI investment touted by UK ministers appears to have been hypothetical It was to be the biggest undertaking in Britain for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT . But the plans were paused in April, with an OpenAI spokesperson citing concerns over regulation and high energy costs . Now the Guardian can reveal that OpenAI does not appear to have visited one of Stargate UK's key sites - and that £20bn of the "potential" £30bn in investment touted by the UK government appears to have been totally hypothetical.

The US military has carried out new strikes on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city. US Central Command (Centcom) said its forces also shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz. The site in Bandar Abbas was struck as it was about to launch a fifth drone, Centcom said. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard to the east of the city. The strikes come amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, and protracted negotiations to end the three-month war that has choked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and shot up global energy prices.

Trump postpones executive order on AI, citing need to keep'lead' over China The move comes shortly after Trump became the first US president to visit China in nearly a decade.

When China's leader Xi Jinping hosts his American counterpart in Beijing this week, Donald Trump will be reminded of his last visit in 2017 - he was wooed hard, complete with dinner inside the Forbidden City, an honour no US president before him had received. This week's reception promises to be just as grand, including a stop inside Zhongnanhai, the rarefied compound where China's top leadership lives and works. The agenda too will be just as thorny, with Iran being a new source of tension, alongside trade, technology and Taiwan. But a lot has changed as Trump returns to a stronger and far more assertive China. Now well into an unprecedented third term, an ambitious Xi has been pushing forward with plans for new productive forces with heavy investments in renewable energy, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Ros Atkins on... Trump's mixed messages on the war For every day of this war, President Trump has been sharing his perspective and his thinking - whether in press conferences, in video statements or in posts on social media. In the last week, that's continued - as strikes have been exchanged - and pressure has built on the supply of oil and gas from the region. The BBC's Analysis Editor Ros Atkins has looked at what the President's been saying. Watch: Sean Penn receives'Oscar' in Ukraine after skipping US ceremony The Academy Award winning US actor won his third Oscar on Sunday, but skipped the ceremony to visit Ukraine. Voiced by Domhnall Gleeson and directed by John Kelly, Retirement Plan is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump was asked why he didn't inform allies about his plan to attack Iran. Trump responded by raising Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, saying, Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Watch: Sean Penn receives'Oscar' in Ukraine after skipping US ceremony The Academy Award winning US actor won his third Oscar on Sunday, but skipped the ceremony to visit Ukraine. Voiced by Domhnall Gleeson and directed by John Kelly, Retirement Plan is nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. 'I don't know why we're doing it' - Americans divided on Iran war Ten days since President Trump first announced the attack, people from across the US tell the BBC what they think the best outcome of the conflict could be.

Kharg Island is a small rocky outcrop just 15 miles (24km) off the coast of Iran - but despite its size, it is one of the most critical pieces of Iran's energy infrastructure. US President Donald Trump recently posted on Truth Social that the US military had conducted what he called one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, obliterating every military target on the island. BBC Security Brief's Mikey Kay breaks down why Kharg Island is a lifeline for Iran, and why it is so strategically important for the US. As turmoil continues in the Middle East, the price of crude oil rose to more than $100 a barrel on Monday. Watch: Ukrainian anti-drone'bullet' that could help defend Gulf The BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent, James Landale, is in Ukraine to see the latest anti-drone technology the country has to offer.