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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, and a 21-gun salute was fired in his honor. The ceremonial send-off drew attention as a sign of the diplomatic weight both sides placed on the visit and its outcomes.

Forest fires in Indonesia are sending smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Race organisers are drawing up contingency plans in case air quality deteriorates further, with the regional haze posing a threat to one of the country's biggest sporting events, according to Al Jazeera reporting from the region.

The United States and China have reached a trade deal to lower tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods described as non-sensitive, following a meeting between President Trump and President Xi this week. The agreement is expected to reduce prices on consumer products such as small appliances, toys and holiday items, and markets are watching for official confirmation and further details.

New polling on the Texas Senate race is circulating widely, with voters and commentators weighing in on where the contest stands. The discussion centers on candidate standings and whether recent surveys signal a shift in the race's trajectory. The seat is closely watched given its potential impact on the balance of the US Senate.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, roughly 36,000 kilometers above Earth. The program, detailed by IEEE Spectrum, would extend the lives of expensive communications and military satellites that currently cannot be fixed once deployed. Interest is focused on the engineering challenges of robotic repair at such extreme distances and its implications for space operations.

Brighton hosted Arsenal in a Premier League fixture, with extended match highlights released through the club's official channels and drawing a large audience. Fans are discussing the key moments, goals and talking points from the match as Arsenal continue their league campaign and Brighton look to upset one of the division's top sides.

At Vogue World: Milano, robots were sent down the runway alongside models, a choice made by the event's creative director Juan Costa Paz. Washington Post columnist Shane O'Neill examines the spectacle, raising the question of why machines featured in a fashion showcase and what it says about fashion's growing embrace of technology and spectacle.

The European Union has announced 710 million euros in new humanitarian aid for people affected by natural disasters and conflicts worldwide. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a large share of the funding is earmarked for Africa. The package responds to growing humanitarian needs driven by climate-related catastrophes and ongoing wars.

The US Senate has voted down a war powers resolution intended to rebuke President Trump over military action against Iran. The measure would have sought to limit or block further hostilities without congressional approval, but it failed to advance. The rejection keeps Trump's Iran policy intact and underscores the ongoing divide in Congress over presidential war authority and US involvement in the conflict.

A new report says the Charlotte Hornets are trading guard Buddy Hield to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Rob Dillingham. The news, carried by NBA coverage on nba.com, points to a deal swapping a proven veteran shooter for a young guard. Further details on picks, salary matching or a timeline were not included in the initial report.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said that people warning of an AI apocalypse 'have ulterior reasons', pushing back against prominent voices predicting catastrophic outcomes from artificial intelligence. Huang's remarks add to an ongoing debate between AI industry leaders who see the technology as an economic opportunity and critics who argue its risks are being downplayed for commercial gain.

The Supreme Court has allowed the Department of Homeland Security to proceed with an overhaul of its immigration database, ruling over dissents from the Court's liberal justices. The decision lands weeks before the US midterm elections, and immigration advocates and critics are debating its potential impact on data used in enforcement and voter-related checks.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says he is confident that highly sensitive Australian government information is protected by top-level security against breaches involving artificial intelligence. His comments address growing concern over whether AI tools could expose classified material, though no specific incident or further detail about the government's safeguards was provided.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran is facing deepening economic isolation as Washington pressures other countries to reduce or cut their economic ties with Tehran. The comments point to a renewed American push to squeeze Iran's economy through diplomatic and financial pressure, and the remarks are drawing attention as observers weigh how far the US campaign will go and how other governments will respond.

A survey reported by Plant Based News suggests most health professionals believe key plant foods are underrepresented in official dietary guidelines. The finding adds to ongoing debate among nutrition experts about whether national recommendations reflect current evidence on legumes, nuts, whole grains and other plant-based staples. Advocates for plant-forward diets are citing the result to push for updated guidance.

A senior Presidential Envoy has voiced support for strengthening emergency preparedness in South Sudan following Ebola outbreaks in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The backing, highlighted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, signals concern that South Sudan's health system could be tested if the outbreaks spread, and puts focus on readiness measures, surveillance and cross-border coordination in the region.

A sitting US senator from Texas has publicly taken aim at a fellow Republican who is running to succeed him, delivering a pointed jab in the intraparty contest for his seat. The exchange highlights growing friction in the Texas Republican primary, as party figures jockey over the senator's political legacy and the direction of the seat once he steps aside.

Former staffers have leveled allegations of hostile workplace behavior against Mary Peltola, and the claims could shape Alaska's competitive US Senate race. The Anchorage Daily News examined how the accusations might land with voters in a contest where character questions can prove decisive. It remains to be seen whether the allegations alter the race's dynamics or fade as campaigns intensify.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved the university's representatives to serve on the Nebraska Medicine board. The move formalizes university leadership's role in the governance of the state's major academic health system. Details about the individual appointees and terms were not immediately available, but the decision advances coordination between the university and Nebraska Medicine.

An Indiana senator is calling for the U.S. Space Academy to be located at Grissom, advancing the state's bid for the new national space institution. The proposal puts the former air reserve base in the running as debate over the academy's home draws interest from multiple states, with supporters citing Indiana's aerospace ties and existing infrastructure as reasons it should be chosen.

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar has introduced H.R. 10505, the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026, in the US House of Representatives. The bill would reauthorise existing US conservation programmes that fund protection of tropical forests and coral reefs abroad. Further details on the bill's provisions and its prospects in Congress were not immediately available.