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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.

A senior Ukrainian commander says forces have advanced on a key eastern battlefield, according to Reuters. The claim points to progress in the contested Donbas region, where front lines have shifted slowly amid heavy fighting. Details on the location and scale of the advance were not immediately provided, and Russian forces have often contested such claims.

Germany's foreign minister met with her Russian counterpart in a rare face-to-face encounter, urging Moscow to step back from what she called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The meeting stands out given how few high-level contacts between Berlin and Moscow have taken place since Russia's full-scale invasion, and it signals continued diplomatic channels despite deep tensions.

A senior NATO commander has said Russia's objective in the war is not only to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield but to erode the political will of Ukraine's Western allies, testing their resolve to keep providing military and financial support. The warning comes as Western backing faces strains from domestic politics and prolonged fighting.

Federal Reserve official Michael Barr said further interest rate increases are likely needed to bring inflation back to the central bank's target. The comments signal that policymakers remain cautious about declaring victory over price pressures, and markets and analysts are weighing what a longer tightening path would mean for borrowing costs and the economy.

A senior Russian diplomat has stated that Moscow remains committed to peace talks over Ukraine and rejected suggestions that Russia is avoiding negotiations. The statement comes as international pressure persists for a diplomatic resolution to the war, with questions over whether both sides are genuinely willing to negotiate. It highlights the ongoing dispute over responsibility for the stalled peace process.

A former German vice chancellor has publicly accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, according to Anadolu Agency. The statement is notable given Germany's traditionally strong support for Israel, and adds to a growing list of senior European political figures voicing criticism of Israel's military campaign.

A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran will make no concessions in negotiations over its nuclear programme. The declaration signals a hardening of Tehran's position amid ongoing international pressure over its nuclear activities. The remarks come as diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement over Iran's nuclear activities remain deadlocked, with Western powers calling for limits on enrichment and verification measures.

The US ambassador to NATO says the Russia-Ukraine conflict will not be resolved through fighting alone, arguing the war cannot be settled by military means on the battlefield. The remark fuels ongoing debate in Washington and among allies about how the conflict might ultimately end, and what role diplomacy and negotiations should play.

A senior North Korean diplomat has declared that the country's nuclear status can never be reversed 'in any circumstances', a blunt rejection of denuclearisation talks. The statement underscores Pyongyang's insistence that its nuclear arsenal is permanent and non-negotiable, drawing attention amid ongoing tensions with South Korea, the United States and the wider international community.

The foreign ministers of Germany and Russia have held a rare face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Direct talks between senior European and Russian officials have been scarce since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making the encounter notable. Observers are watching for any signal of diplomacy, though no substantive outcomes have been reported from the discussion so far.

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.

A reported warning from the United Arab Emirates ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel apparently never reached senior Israeli security leadership, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post. The claim raises questions about how intelligence and diplomatic alerts circulated within Israel's security apparatus before the attack, and whether failures in internal communication contributed to the surprise that led to the deadliest day in Israeli history.

Germany's foreign minister says her meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was driven by security concerns linked to Russia, amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine. The talks, held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, mark a rare high-level contact between Berlin and Moscow, and analysts are watching whether it signals any shift in European diplomacy toward Russia.

The Israel Defense Forces say its troops killed a Hamas platoon commander and another militant in an operation in Gaza. The announcement comes as Israeli military activity in the territory continues, with the IDF regularly reporting strikes and targeted operations against Hamas figures. Details about the exact location and circumstances of the killing were not provided.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund, said he does not rule out the resumption of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which were damaged in September 2022 and have not operated since. His comments come amid ongoing discussion about the future of Russian gas deliveries to Europe and possible steps toward normalising energy relations.

A plane carrying a military delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crashed, according to Al Jazeera. Details about casualties, the cause of the crash, and the delegation's destination have not yet been confirmed. The incident is likely to draw scrutiny of the country's military aviation safety at a time when DR Congo's armed forces are heavily engaged in operations against rebel groups in the east.

A senior Hamas leader accused Israel of exploiting bloodshed in Gaza for political gain ahead of Israeli elections. At the same time, he signalled that Hamas is ready to sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, raising the prospect of renewed talks on Palestinian reconciliation and the situation in Gaza.

The UK foreign secretary has admitted that critics of Labour's approach to Gaza 'were right,' and pledged tougher action over the conflict. The statement marks a notable shift in tone from a senior government figure on one of the most contested foreign policy issues in British politics, and is likely to intensify debate within Labour over its handling of the war and humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will tell Labour's conference that critics of the party's position on Gaza 'were right', in an admission that Labour was wrong. In his speech he is expected to say the government is 'not here to accept the status quo but to change it'. The remarks mark a notable shift from a senior cabinet minister on one of the most divisive foreign policy issues within the party.

A former chairman of Chinese state-owned automaker BAIC has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery and money laundering. Under Chinese law, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment if the convicted person does not commit new crimes during the reprieve period. The case highlights Beijing's ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting senior executives at major state-owned enterprises.