The First Out

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan for a reciprocal State Visit at the White House. The administration framed the visit as a chance to advance the U.S.-China relationship through trade and investment, with Trump saying his approach puts America first while engaging Beijing at the highest level.

SpaceX's Starship megarocket is set to launch to orbit for the first time ever today, September 28, with live coverage available. The flight marks a major milestone for the company's next-generation launch system, and space watchers around the world are following the attempt closely.

Google Maps imagery of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, has been updated, and satellite views now show the scale of destruction across the city following months of Israeli military operations. Observers are sharing the imagery widely, saying the maps offer a stark visual record of how much of Rafah's buildings and neighbourhoods have been flattened.

SpaceX has launched its Starship rocket on its first integrated orbital flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The test marks the debut flight of the most powerful rocket ever built, developed by Elon Musk's company for deep-space missions including NASA's planned lunar landings. The launch drew massive attention worldwide, with news outlets and space fans closely following every stage of the flight test.

A new report takes viewers on a seven-day embed with Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk region, covering the fortified defensive belt often described as a kill zone. Released by the UNITED24 fundraising platform together with the Rubizh Brigade, the footage has drawn well over a million reactions as the war grinds on. Readers are reacting to rare front-line access and the conditions soldiers face holding the fortress belt.

SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship rocket to orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's next-generation heavy-lift vehicle. The flight would mark a major step in Elon Musk's plans for deep-space travel, and the anticipation of the debut orbital test is drawing wide attention across the space and technology communities.

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, lifted off from the company's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on its first orbital-class test flight. The launch marks a major milestone for the program, which NASA has chosen to carry astronauts to the Moon, and drew wide attention as the most powerful rocket to date attempted its first integrated flight.

Ukraine says it sent grenade-launcher-equipped ground robots to attack Russian shelters while its infantry stayed out of direct contact, with operators controlling the machines from positions tens of kilometers away. Ukraine's Third Army Corps says no one has used similar tactics in this war before, and the claim is being circulated via United24. Observers are weighing what the tactic means for manned assault operations.

A federal court fight over the Trump administration's exclusion of certain media outlets from the White House is drawing intense attention, with legal analysts arguing that the President's position has shifted dramatically as the case unfolds. The dispute centers on whether the administration can control which news organizations get access to the press pool, raising First Amendment concerns.

SpaceX has launched its Starship spacecraft aboard the company's giant Super Heavy rocket on the vehicle's first flight intended to reach orbit. The test flight marks a major milestone for the most powerful rocket ever built, which SpaceX hopes will eventually carry crews to the Moon and Mars. Coverage is focused on the launch itself and what it means for future deep-space missions.

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.

SpaceX has launched its Starship into orbit for the first time, a milestone in the development of the giant rocket designed for deep space missions. The flight was cut short before completion, but the company and observers are treating the launch itself as a major step forward in getting the vehicle off the ground and into space.

Germany has for the first time formally committed to phasing out fossil fuels, setting a target date of 2045. The pledge, reported by the Guardian, marks a significant step in the country's climate policy and has drawn attention internationally as one of Europe's largest economies commits to ending reliance on coal, oil and gas.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, the first increase in years. The move will push up borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, while savers may see better yields on high-interest accounts. Markets and households will be watching for what the decision signals about the direction of monetary policy.

Russia's and Germany's top diplomats have met at the United Nations in their first talks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The meeting marks a rare high-level diplomatic contact between Moscow and a leading European power since February 2022, and comes as attention focuses on whether dialogue over the war in Ukraine might be resuming.

SpaceX has launched its Starship rocket on its first orbital test mission, a major milestone for the company's next-generation launch system. The flight marks the most ambitious test yet of the vehicle SpaceX plans to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Observers are watching closely to see how the rocket performs through launch and orbital flight stages.

NPR's Up First newsletter reports on a suspected terror plot in the United Kingdom, detailing what investigators know so far. The same briefing covers why the Gulf region remains in limbo, pointing to tensions involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, a US air base, and former president Donald Trump. The two stories are being bundled as major geopolitical developments.

Germany and Russia are holding their first direct talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to DW. The reported meeting has prompted questions about why the two governments are re-establishing contact now, with observers weighing what it could mean for diplomacy over the war, sanctions policy, and Europe's broader posture toward Moscow as the conflict continues.

Updated Google Earth satellite imagery showing widespread destruction across Gaza has drawn widespread shock. The images reveal the extent of damage to buildings and infrastructure following months of conflict, offering the public a rare broad view of conditions on the ground that has prompted strong reactions online.

SpaceX has launched its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time, successfully delivering the newest and most advanced Starlink satellites yet. However, flight controllers brought the spacecraft back to Earth early on Monday rather than completing six full laps around the planet as planned. The milestone flight is being closely watched as a major step for the rocket programme.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted its cash rate to 4.60%, up from 4.35% and in line with expectations. It is the first hike of this cycle, and markets and economists are watching for what the move signals about the bank's fight against persistent inflation and whether further tightening will follow.

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, is preparing for its first orbital test flight. The mission marks a major milestone for Elon Musk's company and for NASA's plans to return astronauts to the Moon. A successful launch would demonstrate capabilities no current rocket possesses, though the trial carries significant risk of failure.