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President Donald Trump is in Beijing for a multi-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which he said he'd seek to deepen diplomatic and economic ties between the world's two largest economic powers.

After his arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday evening, Trump's itinerary included a welcome ceremony, a bilateral meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People later in the day and a state banquet that night, according to the White House.

"We have a lot of things to discuss," Trump said on Tuesday as he departed the White House, where he fielded questions about what would be on the table during the high-stakes summit. The summit begins as the effects of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continue to ripple around the globe and the U.S. economy remains a pressing issue at home.

Iran war looms over Trump’s visit to Beijing: ANALYSIS

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The president was asked whether the pair would discuss diplomatic ways to end the war with Iran, which is in its third month. China is a key buyer of Iranian oil, which could give it considerable diplomatic leverage over Tehran, experts toldABC News. Trump said the U.S. had Iran "very much under control," adding that it would be among the topics discussed.

"We're either going to make a deal or they're going to be decimated, one way or the other. We win," Trump said. "We're going to be talking about, we're going to be talking with President Xi."

Trump traveled on Air Force One with a more than a dozen U.S. executives, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Trump said on social media on Tuesday that he planned to ask Xi to "open up" the Chinese economy.

Asked to respond on Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said that the scheduled diplomatic meetings were expected to play "an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations."

"During the visit, the two heads of state will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development," Guo added, according toa transcriptpublished by the ministry. "China stands ready to work with the U.S. to expand cooperation and manage differences in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, and provide more stability and certainty for a transforming and volatile world."

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SEOUL, May 14 (Reuters) - The possibility that an entity other than Iran was responsible for the ‌attack against a South Korean cargo vessel near ‌the Strait of Hormuz is low, a senior official in Seoul ​was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency on Thursday.

South Korea is analysing intelligence shared by the U.S. on the May 4 attack against South Korean shipper ‌HMM's Namu vessel, ⁠which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull, Yonhap quoted a senior foreign ⁠ministry official as telling reporters.

"Once we go through the investigation and present the evidence, I trust that the ​Iranian side ​will respond in an ​appropriate way," the official ‌said.

South Korea's foreign ministry could not immediately confirm the official's comments.

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Seoul has sent teams of experts to Dubai, where the Namu is being inspected ahead of planned repairs, to conduct a forensic investigation of the damage to ‌the vessel.

Iran has previously denied ​responsibility for the attack that ​involved a strong impact ​on the side of the vessel and ‌has since refrained from commenting ​further as ​Seoul continued its probe.

U.S. President Donald Trump said soon after the incident that Iran had fired at ​the South Korean ‌vessel, and urged Seoul to join U.S.-led efforts ​to secure shipping through the strait.

(Reporting by ​Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Polls have closed across Nebraska, where the fate of the state's “blue dot” — a small, but significant factor in presidential politics — took center stage Tuesday as Democrats selected a congressional nominee in thestate's high-profile 2nd District.

Election 2026 Nebraska

State Sen. John Cavanaugh and political activist Denise Powell were seen as the top contenders in the Democraticprimaryas their party looks to the Omaha-area district, where RepublicanU.S. Rep. Don Bacon is retiring, as one of its top targets in the November general election.

The winner will face Republican Brinkner Harding, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary. The Omaha City Council member is endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The district draws national attention because Nebraska is one of just two states that splits its electoral votes in presidential elections. The 2nd District has gone to Democratic presidential candidates three out of five times since 2008 — a “blue dot” in an otherwise sea of red.

Some Democrats contended that the very survival of the “blue dot,” a point of intense local pride, was at stake on Tuesday.

Some argued that a Cavanaugh primary victory would jeopardize the district's special status because he'd be leaving his valuable state legislative seat, making it easier for Republicans in the Nebraska Legislature to change the law that allows the state to split its electoral votes.

The issue has defined the primary contest, where the leading candidates have much in common ideologically, perhaps more than any other.

Outside an Omaha polling place, Beth Pepitone said she voted for Powell because she wanted someone who would stand up to Trump.

“I just think we’re going in the wrong direction and it’s very sad,” said Pepitone. “I want to preserve the ‘blue dot.’”

Opponents say the ‘blue dot’ is in danger

The Democratic argument against Cavanaugh has little to do with his politics or policies.

His opponents and groups backing them have flooded mailboxes, airwaves and social media warning that if he wins the congressional primary, Nebraska's Republican governor would appoint a conservative Republican to replace him in the Legislature.

That move, they say, could give state Republicans enough votes to enact a conservative wish list that includes stricter limitations on abortion and transgender rights.

It could also empower Republicans to enactmidcycle redistrictingor change the state's unusual system of splitting presidential electoral votes, some Democrats argue. Republicans failed in 2024 to pass a bill that would have made Nebraska the 49th state to award its Electoral College votes on awinner-take-allbasis.

“Our Blue Dot. We fought hard for it. But if John Cavanaugh goes to Congress, it could all fall down,” cautions one TV ad by the super PAC New Democrat Majority.

EMILY’s List, a national group that supports women running for office, has put its reach and money behind Powell, calling Cavanaugh’s candidacy “a gift to MAGA Republicans.”

Republican groups also target Cavanaugh

Republican groups have sent out mailers and social media posts claiming Cavanaugh “is in agreement with President Donald Trump” and showing a photo of Cavanaugh overlaid on a photo of the president, making it appear as if the two are standing together.

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“Clearly, the Republicans know that I’m the strongest general election candidate,” Cavanaugh said. “And so they’re trying to hurt me.”

The attacks on Cavanaugh show Democrats and Republicans believe he has the best chance of winning the general election, said Paul Landow, a former Nebraska Democratic Party executive director.

He called the “blue dot” attacks disingenuous, noting Republicans already have a filibuster-proof majority in the Legislature but have still failed to pass key elements of their agenda because it is unpopular even among GOP lawmakers. The argument that a Cavanaugh win could weaken the state’s “blue dot” also assumes Democrats won’t pick up additional legislative seats this year, he said.

“There’s so many things that have to fall into place for this alleged danger to the ‘blue dot,’” Landow said. “It’s just wild speculation.”

The Democratic primary grows contentious

While all the Democratic contenders cite affordability and opposition to Trump administration policies — from immigration and healthcare to military actions — the top contenders began attacking one another more aggressively in the days leading up to the primary.

Powell co-founded Women Who Run Nebraska, a political action committee that supports progressive female candidates, and she has a decade of Democratic political activism. She's never held office but said her deep connections have helped her with independents and third-party voters who make up nearly 30% of the district's electorate.

“My name recognition has increased dramatically,” Powell said, adding that "people are really connecting with my message.”

The winner of Tuesday's primary will head to a highly competitive general election.

Trump won the district in 2016, and the retiring Bacon, who has clashed with Trump, has held the House seat for five terms.

At an Omaha polling place, independent Hayden Kephart said her biggest concern is inflation.

“Obviously the price of everything has really gone up,” she said. “And the price of oil can be a factor in everyday life and travel plans.”

Other Tuesday contests

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts won Tuesday's GOP primary in his bid to seek a full term following his2023 appointmentand 2024 special election victory toreplaceRepublicanBen Sasse.

Ricketts was alreadylooking aheadto an expected general election contest against independent candidateDan Osborn, an industrial mechanic and military veteran whocame within 7 pointsof defeating Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer inher 2024 reelection bid. Cindy Burbank won the Democratic primary.

In the race for governor, incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Pillen won his party’s primary, while former state Sen. Lynne Walz won the Democratic nomination.

Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writer Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.