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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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has departed Beijing for Washington, in what is described as his first state visit to the US capital since 2015. President Trump is expected to greet him personally on the tarmac rather than at the White House, a gesture some observers read as a sign of warmth ahead of high-stakes US-China trade and diplomatic discussions.

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.

Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner, an event marked by elaborate formalities and heavy media coverage. The meeting between the two leaders is drawing attention as a symbolic moment in US-China relations, with commentators weighing the significance of the lavish reception and what it signals for trade and diplomatic tensions.

Chinese state announcements say Beijing and Washington agreed to a $30 billion tariff reduction and to open a dialogue on artificial intelligence during Xi Jinping's visit. The news, reported by Reuters, suggests a tentative easing of tensions between the two economic rivals on trade and technology. Details are sparse so far, and readers should note the figures come from the Chinese side; US confirmation and the fine print of the deal are not yet clear.

Venezuela's president has returned from a visit to the United States without securing any agreements and without announcing a firm date for the country's elections, according to Reuters. The outcome leaves open questions about Venezuela's political timeline and its relations with Washington, and is drawing attention as observers watch for movement on both diplomatic and electoral fronts.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking a final presidential term in Brazil's closely watched election, with reporting highlighting his lifelong focus on social issues as the core of his appeal. The vote is seen as a defining moment for the country, with Lula's track record on poverty reduction and social programmes central to his campaign message.

General strikes have hit Sudan while the country's army chief remains defiant after the United States denied him a visa. The move by Washington has escalated tensions with Khartoum's military leadership amid the ongoing conflict in the country. Commenters are debating the impact of American sanctions on Sudan's warring factions and the worsening humanitarian situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, according to an Israeli official. The visit, if confirmed, would mark a significant moment in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which normalised ties under the Abraham Accords in 2020. Details of the trip and any meetings have not yet been made public.

An Israeli court has found that the government is violating its ruling requiring Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners. The judges' finding puts Israel's authorities in direct conflict with the judiciary over detained Palestinians' conditions and access to humanitarian monitoring. The case has drawn attention amid ongoing concern over treatment of Palestinian detainees and the International Committee of the Red Cross's role in visiting them.

Sudan says it will not yield to 'pressure or blackmail' after the United States declined to grant a visa to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Khartoum's authorities denounced the move as political coercion, while the US decision has drawn attention to Washington's strained relations with Sudan's military leadership amid the country's ongoing war.

An activist addressing the United Nations dismissed an interjection from Pakistan's representative while detailing human rights violations. The exchange was caught on video and is drawing wide attention, with viewers highlighting the activist's rebuff of the interruption as she continued her statement on abuses. The moment is fueling debate over Pakistan's record and its standing to object on human rights grounds at international forums.

Venezuela's president has returned from a visit to the United States without securing any agreements or announcing a firm date for the country's next elections. The lack of concrete outcomes leaves unresolved questions over the election timetable and bilateral tensions between Caracas and Washington, with observers watching closely for any follow-up diplomatic steps.

The Pope has celebrated a large open-air Mass in Paris during a landmark visit to France, drawing crowds in the French capital. The trip is being closely watched as a significant moment for the Catholic Church's relationship with France, though further details of the visit and reactions to it remain limited in available reports.

President Trump said the United States will not restrain artificial intelligence development, speaking after a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. His comments came despite calls from some governments and experts for international safeguards on advanced AI. The statement signals the US intends to keep pushing AI innovation at full speed, even as other countries push for coordinated global oversight.

Climate activists are directing protests at AI data centers and Amazon's plan to build what would be the largest gas power plant in the United States. Campaigners argue that the surge in energy demand from artificial intelligence is driving new fossil fuel infrastructure, tying the tech industry's expansion directly to increased carbon emissions. The story highlights growing tensions between AI growth and climate commitments.

Global diplomacy dominated the past week, with the UN General Assembly in session in New York and Chinese President Xi Jinping travelling to the United States for high-stakes talks with American leaders. The meetings put relations between Washington and Beijing, along with multilateral cooperation at the UN, at the centre of international attention and commentary.

Pope Leo said during a visit to the French shrine town of Lourdes that the 'scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, addressing the clerical abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church. The remarks came as part of his pilgrimage to one of the world's most important Marian pilgrimage sites, and were reported widely by international media.

Pope Leo XIV said on Sunday that assisted dying was not "normal", speaking during his landmark visit to France. His comments come as the French parliament has legalised the practice for certain patients, placing the pontiff in direct tension with French law. The remarks drew attention as the visit highlighted the clash between Catholic teaching and France's secular legislation on end-of-life care.

A joint statement issued after Donald Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping includes wording on the Strait of Hormuz, drawing attention because Beijing agreed to language on a waterway far from its usual sphere of focus. Commentators highlighted the passage as a notable concession or signal in US-China relations, with the full statement published by China's foreign ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the United Arab Emirates on a secret visit on Sunday, according to a source cited by news outlets. Details of the trip, including who he met and what was discussed, have not been officially confirmed, and neither government has publicly commented on the reported visit.

Sudan's Sovereign Council chief said the country will not yield to 'pressure or blackmail' in an escalating dispute with the United States over visa restrictions. His remarks signal defiance as tensions grow between Khartoum and Washington over the visa measures, adding a new diplomatic flashpoint to Sudan's already turbulent situation.

Indian applicants for US visitor visas are facing long interview waits, with Hyderabad at around 12 months, Mumbai 11.5 months, New Delhi 10 months, Chennai 7.5 months and Kolkata 6.5 months. The figures are drawing attention as families planning travel for tourism, business or family visits face delays stretching close to a year before they can secure an interview appointment.