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Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to the United States on Friday, departing Washington after talks with American officials. Senior US government officials saw him off at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was fired in a ceremonial farewell. The formal send-off is being highlighted as a sign of the diplomatic weight both sides placed on the visit and its outcomes.

North Korea has told the United Nations that its status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible and rejected outside pressure to abandon its weapons programme. The declaration signals Pyongyang's refusal to negotiate denuclearization, drawing renewed attention to diplomatic deadlocks and regional security concerns involving the US, South Korea, and other parties.

A North Korean vice minister has declared the country's nuclear weapons status to be 'irreversible', according to the headline. The remark signals Pyongyang's continued rejection of denuclearisation talks. No further details were provided in the available information, and it is not clear what prompted the statement or how other governments have responded.

Google has released updated satellite imagery on Google Earth showing the scale of destruction in Gaza, with news outlets including The Independent highlighting how the new images expose devastated neighbourhoods. The refreshed views allow the public to see, street by street, the extent of damage from more than two years of conflict in the territory.

North Korea has stated that its status as a nuclear weapons state is irreversible, reinforcing its long-standing position that it will not give up its arsenal. The declaration draws attention amid ongoing tensions with the United States and South Korea over Pyongyang's weapons programme and stalled denuclearisation talks.

The Dutch government is preparing for possible US sanctions against the International Criminal Court, which is headquartered in The Hague. The measures, threatened under the Trump administration over the court's actions involving Israel, could hit the ICC's finances and operations hard. The prospect has prompted concern in the Netherlands and the wider European Union about protecting the court's independence.

The Muslim World League has issued a call for the establishment of a Palestinian state and urgent international action to end the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. The announcement, reported by Arab News, adds a prominent religious body's voice to ongoing diplomatic appeals over the conflict, urging an immediate resolution to the crisis.

Sudan remains governed by two rival authorities, with Washington recognising neither as legitimate. The army-backed administration controls much of the formal state machinery, while the Rapid Support Forces exercise power across territory they hold. US officials say neither side represents constitutional governance, leaving Sudan effectively run by competing authorities without international recognition. Observers warn the standoff complicates diplomacy and aid delivery in a country already devastated by war.

Reporting by The Atlantic examines how Russia is quietly constructing administrative, political and institutional structures in territories of Ukraine it occupies, effectively building a parallel state within the country. The piece highlights how these systems of control operate beneath the surface of the ongoing war, and readers are discussing what this means for Ukraine's sovereignty and any future peace settlement.

The UAE president held a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu covering relations between the two countries, according to the Emirati state news agency. The talks were reported by major international outlets including Reuters. Details of the conversation have not been made public, and no specific agreements or outcomes were announced in the initial reports.

A North Korean vice foreign minister declared that the country's status as a nuclear weapon state 'cannot be reversed by anything', reaffirming Pyongyang's refusal to abandon its nuclear arsenal. The statement signals North Korea's continued rejection of denuclearisation talks and is drawing attention amid ongoing tensions over its weapons programme.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has questioned Russia's status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, arguing that Moscow took over the Soviet Union's seat in 1991 without a vote. He contrasted this with China, where the UN formally decided that the People's Republic of China would represent the country. His comments fuel ongoing debate about whether Russia's seat is legitimate.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has summoned Spain's ambassador in response to remarks by Spain's Minister of Youth backing the establishment of a Palestinian state stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. The diplomatic protest highlights growing friction between Israel and Spain, whose government has taken an increasingly critical stance toward Israel's conduct in Gaza and voiced support for Palestinian statehood.

Moscow was struck by a wave of drone attacks that reports describe as the largest ever Ukrainian onslaught on the Russian capital. Details on casualties and damage remain limited, but the scale of the strike has drawn wide attention, with observers calling it a significant escalation in Ukraine's long-range campaign against targets inside Russia.

A senior NATO commander has urged member states to publicly condemn acts of sabotage attributed to Russia. The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions linked to the war in Ukraine, with alliance officials increasingly warning about hybrid threats, including attacks on infrastructure across member countries.

Newly released satellite imagery shows the widespread destruction across Gaza, offering an independent view of the devastation from above. The images underline the scale of damage to buildings and infrastructure in the territory, and are drawing attention to the humanitarian situation as international focus remains on the war's consequences for civilians.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said eurozone inflation is expected to rise because of the energy crisis, but there is little evidence so far that higher energy costs are feeding into broader price pressures. She emphasised that the expected increase does not signal entrenched inflation, seeking to reassure markets and households about the medium-term price outlook.

British authorities are investigating whether a foreign state was involved in an alleged plot targeting a UK airbase. The suspects detained in the case have been released without charge, though the inquiry into possible foreign state involvement continues. Officials have not publicly named any country, and details about the suspects or the specific base remain limited as the investigation proceeds.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of people registering to vote. The decision allows states conducting voter roll checks to access the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements records. Supporters frame it as a tool for election integrity, while voting rights groups warn it could discourage eligible voters from registering and raise privacy concerns.

Pope Leo is taking on an increasingly prominent statesman role, using his platform to call for peace amid a period of renewed armed conflict around the world. According to The Washington Post, the pontiff has framed his appeals for diplomacy and reconciliation as a central theme of his leadership, drawing attention to the Vatican's moral voice at a time of escalating wars.

The United States and China have announced tariff reductions covering roughly $60 billion in bilateral trade, with thousands of products identified as eligible for lower duties. Trade experts, however, expect only a limited economic impact despite the scale of the announcement, and observers are watching whether the move signals a broader easing of tensions between the two economies.

UK officials say it is too early to attribute a plot involving an airbase to a foreign state, despite speculation about possible foreign involvement. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have not named any country or confirmed details about those behind the alleged plot.