US midterm elections 2026: all you need to know

🔮 How the vote works, what is at stake and why the final result may take days to emerge in a vote that could stun the Trump administration

🔮 Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio was asked what Washington could offer as Beijing expanded its presence in the region.

🔮 Trump says he’s open to meeting Xi and Putin in China for nuclear talks US president says he would welcome three-way discussion on nuclear weapons, but no date or format has been agreed for the proposed meeting

🔮 Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio was asked what Washington could offer as Beijing expanded its presence in the region.

🔮 US proposes US$70,000 fee for foreign students to work after graduation Schools would have to pay for graduates’ initial OPT participation, with a further US$30,000 charge, affecting thousands of Chinese students The United States has proposed requiring universities and other certified schools to pay US$70,000 for each foreign student entering a post-graduation work programme, a measure that could sharply raise the cost for thousands of Chinese graduates seeking employment experience in the country.

🔮 Beijing says US, China to pursue military crisis-communication pact Chinese account says militaries will conclude a memorandum ‘as soon as possible’, but Washington has not publicly confirmed it China and the United States have agreed to pursue a new military crisis-communication pact following the summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, according to Beijing, potentially giving commanders another mechanism for managing dangerous encounters across the Indo-Pacific.

🔮 Marco Rubio defends Xi Jinping’s US visit as essential despite deep disagreements US secretary of state says Taiwan arms sales must be weighed against America’s military needs and voices hope Vladimir Putin will attend G20 3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the welcome planned for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, saying it would be “irresponsible” for the world’s two largest economies to avoid talks at the highest level despite their disagreements. Speaking to reporters at the United Nations hours before Xi’s expected arrival in Washington, Rubio was asked about criticism from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who had argued against inviting the Chinese leader for a lavish visit.

🔮 The president said the White House had room for “about 125 or so people”, although thousands would like to attend.

🔮 US president says Washington will expand its military presence on the island; sources report the restrictions include China US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States had reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland giving Washington permanent authority over security on the Arctic island and requiring American approval for military activity or sensitive investment by US adversaries.