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Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the White House on Thursday to talk with President Donald Trump about major U.S.-China issues. This summit followed Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly. Many analysts said these events showed the limits of his power as he faces problems at home and abroad today.
Pope Leo leaves on Friday for a weekend visit to France to address clergy abuse and global AI rules. Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger said, "Pope Leo's visit to France has sparked a real tidal wave" of interest. The trip includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz for large public events.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign accused Donald Trump of wanting to “colonise” Brazil to capture its natural resources by meddling in the 4 October election. A televised advert broadcast on Thursday claimed Trump wants to sway the vote. The US state department denied these claims, calling them a baseless lie.
Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to nine on Thursday, compared with 14 the previous day. Shiptracking data showed that eight ships exited the waterway while only one entered. Before the Iran war started on February 28, the strait typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels per day.
Pakistani forces killed several Afghan Taliban fighters during an exchange of fire in the Gulistan border area on Friday. This escalation followed Pakistani air strikes on Thursday, which targeted locations in Afghanistan. While Pakistan said it hit terrorist hideouts, the Afghan government denied launching drones and promised an appropriate response.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected claims he delayed revealing an OpenAI Medicare hack. “It’s just nonsense … I was informed while I’ve been in New York,” he said on Friday. The government now considers changing Australian laws if current rules cannot address the breach, which affected four systems in June.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday criticized the Supreme Court’s use of its emergency docket. She said the court’s handling of these cases is "having an enormously disruptive and potentially corrosive effect" on the system. Jackson argued that fast-tracking high-profile cases without full hearings threatens public faith in the judiciary.
More than 100 people got arrested as New Yorkers protested Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations on Thursday. Demonstrators demanded an end to United States military support for Israel’s war on Gaza. Protester Jose said, "I'm born and raised in New York City, and it's a total disrespect for Benjamin Netanyahu."
The Justice Department said on Thursday it ended its watchdog role in over 50 school desegregation cases. Most cases were in the South. Officials said these orders were outdated and caused financial burdens. However, civil rights groups warned that the move could hurt equal funding and access for many students.
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping with grand fanfare during an extraordinary state visit on Thursday. Trump showered Xi with praise, even meeting him at Joint Base Andrews. While the leaders talked of trade, Xi said, "hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation" between nations.
The United Arab Emirates halted all flights operated by Iranian airlines on Thursday. This move follows new United States sanctions targeting Tehran’s aviation sector. The General Civil Aviation Authority said the decision prevents Iranian carriers from using airports. Iran’s spokesman Majid Akhavan said, “Diplomatic and aviation talks are under way.”
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan will hold an urgent meeting under a joint defence pact to support the kingdom against Houthi attacks. The Houthis fired missiles at Saudi targets on Thursday, including Mecca and Jeddah. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said, "The Houthis are responsible for their own actions" on Thursday.