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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.

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.

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.

Germany's foreign minister visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague, pledging Berlin's full support for the institution despite US sanctions imposed under the Trump administration. The visit signals Germany's continued commitment to international justice, though it comes after Berlin also announced its own sanctions targeting ICC officials, creating a mixed picture of Europe's stance toward the court.

Cuba's deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said on Sunday, speaking on the US channel C-SPAN's Washington Journal programme, that it would be an "atrocious international crime" for the United States to use military force against Cuba. His remarks come amid rising tensions between Havana and Washington, and are drawing attention among observers following US-Cuba relations.

UK Foreign Office lawyers have reportedly concluded that Israel has no legal right to shut the British consulate in Jerusalem, which serves as the UK's diplomatic representative to the Palestinian authorities. The advice underscores longstanding tensions between London and Jerusalem over the consulate's status, as Israel has sought to assert authority over diplomatic missions in the contested city.

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.

A federal court has ruled that Washington, D.C.'s parole and supervised release system discriminates against people with disabilities. Civil rights advocates, including the ACLU of D.C., welcomed the decision, saying it confirms that disabled people on parole or supervised release have been denied fair access to the system's programs and processes. The ruling is expected to push local authorities to change how they supervise people with disabilities.

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.

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.

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.

Pope Leo XIV is on a visit to France that analysts describe as deeply political, despite his reputation as a measured diplomatic figure. Commentators note the trip touches on church-state relations and sensitive political territory in a formally secular republic, drawing attention to how the new pope is positioning himself on the world stage early in his pontificate.

The United States is tightening immigration enforcement, and the H-1B skilled worker visa programme is at the centre of the debate. Analysts, including India's Vivekananda International Foundation, warn that stricter scrutiny, higher costs and uncertainty are complicating pathways for foreign professionals, particularly Indian tech workers, who account for the largest share of H-1B recipients.

Taylor Swift has released a new music video featuring an NFL player, and it is not her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The casting choice has caught fans' attention, prompting speculation about which star appears and how Kelce's absence from the project will be read.

The latest UK migration figures are being tracked across net migration, visa numbers, asylum claims and small boat crossings, offering a running picture of how many people are arriving and by which routes. The data is being followed closely as immigration remains one of the most contested issues in British politics.

Ahead of Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States, the Chinese presidential road convoy was flown across the Pacific aboard an Air China Boeing 747 cargo plane after the leader's own Boeing 747 departed. The cargo reportedly included the Hongqi N701, the heavily armored sedan reserved for China's top leadership, as well as other escort vehicles and equipment.

Michael Burry, best known for predicting the 2008 housing collapse, is serving as an adviser to a newly launched fund focused on short positions targeting risks in the private credit market. The move signals growing investor concern that pockets of the fast-growing private lending sector may be mispriced or vulnerable as interest rates stay elevated.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered remarks on the European Union, with broadcasts airing as the Pope visited the eastern French city of Metz. The remarks touched on France's vision for Europe's future. Viewers followed the double event, pairing the presidential address with the papal trip to the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron described Europe's 'Judeo-Christian foundation' during a visit by Pope Leo, framing the continent's identity in religious-cultural terms. The remarks are drawing attention for their timing alongside the papal visit and for what they signal about Macron's stance on Europe's cultural and religious heritage in current political debates.

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that the government is in violation of a previous court order concerning visits to prisoners. The ruling finds the state failed to comply with arrangements it was required to allow. The decision adds to ongoing legal disputes between Israel’s judiciary and government, and is likely to draw attention from human rights groups and legal observers in the region.

A dispute over US visa restrictions has renewed scrutiny of Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's legitimacy, according to a Sudan expert cited by The National. The exchange adds to ongoing debate over the authority of Sudan's military leadership amid the country's civil war, with analysts weighing whether Washington's measures signal eroding international acceptance of Burhan's rule.

The Wall Street Journal reports that companies are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to help determine employee salaries, often without workers knowing it. The practice raises questions about pay transparency and whether automated systems could embed bias into compensation decisions, a concern that has fuelled debate among HR professionals and regulators.

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.

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.

A European Union regulatory watchdog is set to broaden its supervisory powers in 2027, according to a report from Law360. The planned expansion would extend the authority's oversight reach across the bloc. Details on which sectors or entities will fall under the expanded mandate were not provided in the report.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined his vision of the network evolving into a global cryptographic computer that can securely run applications and settlements for the whole world. The remarks are circulating widely among crypto commentators, with supporters calling it a defining long-term roadmap for Ethereum and skeptics questioning whether scalability can match the ambition.