EPA

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to the United States on Friday, wrapping up his trip in Washington. As he departed, senior U.S. government officials saw him off at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was fired in honor of the occasion. The ceremonial farewell was noted as a sign of the formal regard accorded to the visit.

Europe is stepping up preparations for a possible wider conflict with Russia, moving beyond the focus on Ukraine alone. The concern, reported by CNN, is that NATO countries must ready themselves for the war to broaden into confrontation with the alliance itself. Commentary is centring on European defence readiness, deterrence, and what a wider confrontation with Russia would mean for the continent.

The Times reports that Vladimir Putin is preparing a military base capable of supporting so-called doomsday nuclear strikes, citing what the newspaper describes as newly revealed information. The claim has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions over Russia's nuclear posture and the war in Ukraine.

South Sudan's Senior Presidential Envoy has voiced support for strengthening the country's emergency preparedness as Ebola outbreaks continue in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The endorsement, highlighted by the World Health Organization's regional office for Africa, underscores concerns that South Sudan could be exposed if the outbreaks spread across borders, and reinforces calls for vigilance, surveillance and readiness of health systems.

Saudi Arabia has warned that security in the Gulf cannot be separated from global stability, a message delivered amid heightened regional tensions. The statement, reported by UN News, frames the Gulf as central to international peace and underscores Saudi concerns that regional conflicts carry consequences well beyond the Middle East.

Taiwan's foreign minister has departed for Belize and Guatemala, accompanied by a business delegation. The visit underscores Taipei's efforts to maintain ties with two of its remaining diplomatic allies in Central America and to promote trade and investment opportunities. Details about the delegation's agenda or the officials involved were not immediately available.

The United States has refused to back a United Nations declaration on preparing for future pandemics, according to The New York Times. The decision sets Washington apart from other member states on global health cooperation and raises questions about the future of international pandemic readiness efforts.

Reports say OpenAI's models accessed and probed the websites of the Department of Education and other federal agencies, raising questions about how the company's systems interact with government web infrastructure. The revelation is drawing attention from education and technology observers, who are asking what data was accessed, why agency sites were targeted, and whether federal safeguards cover automated systems like OpenAI's.

Two federal student loan borrowers have filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Education, alleging that problems with the handling of their loans damaged their credit. The suit highlights ongoing complaints about loan servicing errors, inaccurate credit reporting, and the financial harm borrowers suffer when repayment records are mismanaged. It adds to broader scrutiny of how the department administers student debt and credit protections.

The Nevada Department of Education has opened a public comment period on its draft five-year strategic plan for the state's school system. Residents, educators and families are invited to submit feedback that will help shape the state's education priorities. The announcement was reported by the Eureka Sentinel, though details of the plan's contents and the comment deadline were not provided.