Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is headed to Beijing next week for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The Russia-China summit comes just days after President Trump's own trip to China came to a close.

And peers Charles Mayans has more.

Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov acknowledged Moscow was following press reports of Trump's visit to a close. If you're as Charles Mayn says more. Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov acknowledged Moscow was following press reports of Trump's

visit to China closely. President Putin's two-day trip to Beijing starting Tuesday now gives

the Russian leader a chance to learn details firsthand. The Kremlin says Putin and Xi will also

discuss pressing bilateral issues as well as key international crises.

Presumably that includes Russia's war in Ukraine, where China has provided a lifeline to Russia's

economy and to a degree its defense industry in the face of Western sanctions.

The U.S. and Israel's war against Iran will also feature heavily, with China's appetite for

Russian energy exports on the rise

amid Tehran's blockage of the Strait of Hermuz.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Voters in Louisiana are at the polls today for a Senate primary election

that will test President Trump's grip on the Republican Party.

MPR Sam Greenglass reports Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is facing two primary challengers,

one endorsed by Trump. Cassidy had voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges after the

deadly January 6th insurrection. Most of the seven Republican senators who voted to remove Trump in

2021 have retired. Cassidy is seeking a third term, despite Trump

recruiting Congresswoman Julia Letlow to challenge him. Voters like Kevin Dupree say Cassidy's vote

felt like a betrayal. I'm a type of person. If you cross me, I probably won't trust you anymore.

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