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Trump's long-awaited meeting with the Chinese president. A 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. And, Hurricane Melissa's death toll rises as it causes more destruction in the Caribbean. Here's what to know today. After a brief meeting with Xi, Trump cuts China fentanyl tariffs President Donald Trump said he had agreed to lower fentanyl tariffs on China to 10% from 20% after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also said that China would put up “no roadblock at all” on its rare-earth minerals, which are critical for producing advanced technologies, and that it would postpone implementing export controls for a year. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. The meeting between the two leaders, which took place at an air force base near South Korea’s Gimhae International Airport, lasted about an hour and 40 minutes, with Trump appearing to say something into Xi’s ear as they departed. There were smiles among members of the U.S. delegation as they followed, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered a thumbs up. The U.S. president said that he would visit China in April and that Xi would visit the United States “some time after that,” in either Florida or Washington. Trump also said Taiwan and Nvidia’s highest-powered AI chip did not come up in their talks. Trump’s meeting with Xi marks the end of a three-country Asia swing, during which he signed agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and South Korea; made new foreign investment announcements; and proclaimed that tariff leverage can drive warring parties to stand down. He is now headed back to Washington. Read the full story. More politics news: Trump said he instructed the Defense Department to "immediately" resume testing nuclear weapons. A grand jury indicted Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois, and others who allegedly blocked vehicles outside a federal immigration facility. After the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate for the second time this year, Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged "strongly differing views" within the policy-setting committee over the Fed’s next moves. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon carried out another "lethal kinetic strike" at Trump's direction on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, leaving four men dead. The Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on administrative leave after they described the Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by the president as a "mob of rioters." 50-years of sex abuse in the world's largest Pentecostal denomination A children's pastor was caught filming girls in a church bathroom in Arkansas. Elders suspended him for a few weeks. In Illinois, a preacher was accused of sexually abusing children. Church leaders sent him to therapy rather than call police. In California, a worship minister went to prison for molesting boys. His congregation threw him a party when he returned. All of these men remained in ministry in the Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. All went on to abuse more children. Since the 1970s, Assemblies of God churches have repeatedly reinstated ministers and volunteer leaders accused of sexual misconduct, returning them to pulpits and youth groups, an NBC News investigation found. While some of the other largest Christian denominations now require safeguards such as background checks and mandatory reporting, national Assemblies of God leaders have resisted, arguing such rules would increase legal risk, undermine its commitment to local church autonomy and defy a core biblical command: to forgive. Read the full story. Sean Grayson guilty of murder in Sonya Massey case Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2024 death of Sonya Massey, a Black mother of two who had called 911 about a possible prowler. Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, but jury instructions included the option to convict him of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Attorneys who represented Massey's family in a $10 million civil settlement said they believe Grayson's actions warranted a first-degree murder conviction but that it was "still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey." Grayson faces four to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder. Under state law, he would most likely be eligible to get day-for-day credit for good behavior in prison, meaning he could end up serving only half his sentence. Read the full story. Melissa's death toll spikes in the Caribbean More than 30 deaths are being attributed to Hurricane Melissa across Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to officials. The storm made landfall in Cuba yesterday morning as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said that, as the hurricane hit, more than 700,000 people had been evacuated from their homes. Hurricane Melissa was downgraded from its original Category, but damaging winds, flooding rains and a dangerous storm surge were expected to persist for the Bahamas as the storm headed east overnight. Melissa is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the Atlantic, tied with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for both wind speed (185 mph) and pressure (892 mb). It is also the strongest hurricane recorded this late in a hurricane season. Read the full story. Read All About It General Motors said it plans to lay off about 1,200 workers at its Detroit-area all-electric factory and cut 550 jobs at its Ultium battery cell facility in Ohio. An exclusive look at the headquarters of Yichang Humanwell Pharmaceutical, the largest producer of fentanyl in China, and indeed Asia. New York City authorities are searching for thieves disguised as construction workers who made off with $3.2 million in a jewelry and safe heist. An actor from the first "Terrifier" movie is suing the filmmakers, accusing them of shortchanging her on promised residuals and using on-screen nudity without written permission. The artificial intelligence giant Nvidia notched yet another historic milestone, becoming the first company to be worth $5 trillion. OpenAI announced it had completed a corporate restructuring effort, simplifying a complex ownership web into a controlling nonprofit entity and a reimagined for-profit subsidiary. Staff Pick: Love was not blind — and fans are fed up The ninth season of "Love is Blind" made history — it was the first without any of the couples getting married. From the season premiere, fans remarked on how different this cast felt, taking to social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok to express their frustrations. Viewers enjoyed the escapism and love stories that undergirded the early seasons of Netflix's hit show. Now, as the attention economy impacts casting, couples are no longer making it to the altar and political conversations are entering the series. Fans are questioning their commitment to watching, so I spoke with several of them about whether they will stick around for better or for worse. — Amina Kilpatrick, platforms editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Holiday prep is officially underway. From the best artificial Christmas trees to cold-weather gear for dogs, the NBC Select team pulled together the essentials for a cozier season. Plus, the best Lego sets for kids and adults who could use a little creative distraction. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
