New York Times

1. Xi Is Poised to Press Trump on Arms Sales to Taiwan

   Beijing has called Taiwan the “core of China’s core interests.” Xi Jinping is likely to focus on getting President Trump to slow approval of more weapons for the self-governing island.

2. China Seeks A.I. Independence, Weakening Trump’s Leverage

   Before this week’s U.S.-Chinese summit, Beijing reached a milestone in its quest for technological self-sufficiency.

3. China Increasingly Views Trump’s America as an Empire in Decline

   For decades, many Chinese viewed the United States with a mix of admiration, envy and resentment. President Trump’s volatile second term shattered that image.

4. RFK Jr. Is Driving a Vast Inquiry Into Vaccines, Despite His Public Silence

   Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has toned down his public criticism of vaccines, under orders from the White House. But inside his department, a sprawling research effort is a top priority.

5. Supreme Court Clears Path for Alabama to Use New Voting Map

   A majority of the justices sided with Alabama in a move that could speed up efforts to put in place a congressional district map that would eliminate a majority-Black district.