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Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to the United States on Friday. As he departed Washington, senior U.S. government officials saw him off at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was fired in a formal farewell gesture. The visit and its ceremonial send-off are drawing wide attention, with observers weighing what the trip signals for the state of U.S.-China relations.

Russian forces are urgently redeploying thousands of troops toward the Lyman frontline in eastern Ukraine, according to war monitoring reports. The move comes as Ukraine's 3rd Corps continues to make large advances in the area, with reports suggesting a degree of panic among the Russian command over the deteriorating situation there.

Ukraine's defence ministry says its forces hit six strategic oil refineries deep inside Russia over a single week, some up to 1,600 km from the front line. Kyiv describes the facilities as key fuel suppliers for Russia's defence industry and occupation forces, framing the campaign as retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

American intelligence, according to the report, informed several European governments that Russia may be preparing a drone attack on Spain, France, or Italy. The CIA allegedly shared the warning after gathering information on Russian plans targeting one of the Mediterranean countries. The claim is circulating widely across France, Italy, Spain, and Russia, driving debate about Russian hybrid actions against NATO members and how European governments will respond to the reported threat.

President Trump says he expects talks with Iran to begin this week, telling Axios this shortly after his administration turned down an Iranian proposal. The comments point to renewed diplomatic activity between Washington and Tehran despite the rejected offer. Officials and observers will be watching whether the talks materialise and what terms the US is now seeking.

Health authorities are tracking a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with officials and media outlets detailing what is known so far about how the virus is spreading. The report outlines the affected areas, response efforts, and the challenges of containing transmission. The outbreak has drawn international attention as health agencies monitor the risk of wider spread.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for de-escalation in Ethiopia as fighting between parties to the conflict intensifies, raising concerns about the safety of civilians and the humanitarian situation. The appeal comes amid reports of escalating hostilities, and observers warn that continued violence could worsen an already severe human rights and displacement crisis in the country.

New data indicates the current El Niño is the strongest ever recorded, driving a major shift in global weather patterns. The warming of the eastern Pacific is expected to bring droughts, floods and altered rainfall across multiple continents, with scientists warning communities to prepare for extreme conditions. The findings have prompted widespread discussion among climate experts and the public about what the record-strength event means for weather forecasts, agriculture and disaster planning worldwide.

Ukraine has fired hundreds of drones at Moscow in what is described as the largest attack on the Russian capital of the war. The scale of the strike has drawn global attention, with news coverage highlighting it as a major escalation in long-range strikes deep into Russian territory. It comes as the conflict continues to intensify and international focus remains on Ukraine's ability to hit targets far beyond the front line.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to resume raising its key interest rate as policymakers lose patience with stubbornly slow progress on inflation. Economists are weighing the timing and size of the next move, with households and markets bracing for the return of monetary tightening after a pause.

Al Jazeera reports that UNRWA has been given no role in Gaza under the Board of Peace framework, raising questions about whether the body is aligning with Israeli positions. Critics argue sidelining the UN agency, long the main provider of aid and services to Palestinians, sets a troubling precedent, while backers say Gaza's reconstruction needs new structures.

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly challenged statements made by Donald Trump regarding Gaza. The disagreement between the two leaders adds to ongoing international debate over the situation in Gaza and the positions of Western governments. With high attention across global media, the exchange highlights continued friction between European and American approaches to the Middle East conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is 'fully prepared' if war breaks out again, but stresses that diplomacy has not yet been exhausted. His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, signalling that Tehran wants to project readiness while keeping the door open to negotiations over its nuclear programme and wider disputes.

Gaza health authorities report that the Palestinian death toll in the war between Israel and Hamas has risen above 74,000 since fighting began in October 2023. The figure comes from the Gaza Health Ministry, whose count the United Nations and many observers have previously described as broadly reliable. News outlets across the United States and internationally are carrying the update alongside other Middle East developments, keeping the scale of the conflict's human cost in focus.

Ukraine has carried out what is being described as its largest attack to date on Moscow, prompting reaction from military experts assessing the scale and implications of the strike. The attack marks a significant escalation in Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities against the Russian capital, with analysts weighing what it means for the course of the war.

The Ukrainian Air Force says its MiG-29 jets carried out a strike on a Russian command post in the northern sector of the front. According to the unit, Russian forces had been concentrating personnel in the building for some time and had been moving equipment and ammunition into the site. The claim is being widely shared, with supporters framing it as a sign of Ukraine's continued ability to hit high-value Russian targets behind the lines.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran will never seek to build a nuclear bomb, ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The pledge, made shortly before his address in New York, is being read as an attempt to ease tensions with Western powers over Iran's nuclear programme and to signal Tehran's position on the international stage.

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council next week on artificial intelligence, according to Reuters. The session would place the head of one of the world's leading AI companies directly before the body charged with international peace and security, as governments weigh how to regulate advanced AI. Details of the briefing's agenda and who requested it were not immediately available.

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russia, sending more than 1,000 drones across the border on September 20, according to DW News. The strike is being reported as one of the biggest drone operations of the war so far, drawing widespread international attention and reaction.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 80th UN General Assembly, laying out Iran's positions on nuclear weapons, Israel and regional security. His speech drew wide attention, with many debating where Tehran drew its red lines amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear programme and confrontation with Israel.

Iran's foreign minister says the country is 'ready for diplomacy' and 'war at the same time', in a full interview with NBC News. The statement signals Tehran's dual posture amid heightened tensions, insisting it remains open to negotiation while warning it is prepared for confrontation if pressured.

Germany's foreign minister met Russian counterparts in a rare direct encounter, urging Moscow to abandon what Berlin called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The meeting stands out amid the near-total breakdown of high-level contacts between Berlin and Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion, and is being watched for signs of any diplomatic opening.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has given an exclusive interview to Fox News addressing the protests in Iran and the future of possible military actions. In the conversation, the president faced questions about domestic unrest and Tehran's stance on further military escalation, remarks that are drawing wide attention as tensions around Iran remain high.