Top News: Putin and Xi Jinping, Cuba vs. the US, Migrants in Sierra Leone
— Havana residents and Cuban officials strongly rejected US accusations against former leader Raúl Castro of involvement in the 1996 downing of two planes.
— Sergey Lavrov called China Russia's main business partner and a stabilizing force in global affairs. He also noted that sanctions reflect the West's fear of competition and declining global influence.
— Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin promised to take their countries' cooperation to new heights. Putin emphasized that their partnership is a stabilizing force in global affairs.
— China extended visa-free travel for Russian citizens until the end of 2027. Moscow confirmed it will reciprocate.
— Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen this November.
— A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck eastern Turkey. There were no casualties or significant damage.
— Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, during talks with Kazakh Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev, stated that relations between Russia and Kazakhstan have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
— Sierra Leone became the last African country to accept migrants deported from the United States. The country's authorities agreed to accept up to 300 deportees annually.