The United States and Iran held their first direct talks in months this week, an opening for diplomacy that unfolded alongside continued fighting, economic disruption and a sharpening political debate at home.

A planned state visit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to bring together the heads of the world's two largest economies, with artificial intelligence, trade, cybersecurity and Taiwan shaping the agenda.

Hurricane Polo intensified into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, prompting warnings of heavy rain, flooding and landslides across the country's southwest, with forecasters also watching for possible effects on Texas.

The Trump administration is considering restrictions on U.S. diesel exports, including a possible 90-day ban, as prices reach record highs. The plan has divided officials and the oil industry, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright favoring a voluntary cap over a mandatory prohibition.

A cluster of Immigration and Customs Enforcement cases — a shooting in Austin, the detention of a U.S. citizen, a death in custody, and a local dispute in Doral, Florida — has brought fresh attention to how the agency carries out arrests and cares for those it holds.