Bump Version to v21.11 (#4694 )

Stabilize Linkcheck Test (#4693 )
Full Support for Bot API 8.3 (#4676 )
2026-06-19 15:45:13 +00:00 · 2025-03-01 12:03:34 +01:00 · 2025-03-01 11:31:41 +01:00 · 2025-03-01 11:13:46 +01:00 · 2025-03-01 11:12:59 +01:00 · 2025-02-27 20:18:15 +01:00
458 changed files with 8668 additions and 4937 deletions
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ updates:
    schedule:
      interval: "weekly"
      day: "friday"
+    labels:
+      - "⚙️ dependencies"
+      - "🔗 python"

  # Updates the dependencies of the GitHub Actions workflows
  - package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
@@ -12,3 +15,6 @@ updates:
    schedule:
      interval: "monthly"
      day: "friday"
+    labels:
+      - "⚙️ dependencies"
+      - "🔗 github-actions"
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ on:
  pull_request:
    types: [opened, reopened]

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  process-dependabot-prs:
    permissions:
@@ -16,14 +18,15 @@ jobs:

    - name: Fetch Dependabot metadata
      id: dependabot-metadata
-      uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@v2.2.0
+      uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@d7267f607e9d3fb96fc2fbe83e0af444713e90b7 # v2.3.0

-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
      with:
        ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
+        persist-credentials: false

    - name: Update Version Number in Other Files
-      uses: jacobtomlinson/gha-find-replace@v3
+      uses: jacobtomlinson/gha-find-replace@f1069b438f125e5395d84d1c6fd3b559a7880cb5 # v3
      with:
        find: ${{ steps.dependabot-metadata.outputs.previous-version }}
        replace: ${{ steps.dependabot-metadata.outputs.new-version }}
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
        exclude: CHANGES.rst

    - name: Commit & Push Changes to PR
-      uses: EndBug/add-and-commit@v9.1.4
+      uses: EndBug/add-and-commit@a94899bca583c204427a224a7af87c02f9b325d5 # v9.1.4
      with:
        message: 'Update version number in other files'
        committer_name: GitHub Actions
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ on:
    paths:
      - .github/workflows/docs-linkcheck.yml

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  test-sphinx-build:
    name: test-sphinx-linkcheck
@@ -17,9 +19,11 @@ jobs:
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
      fail-fast: False
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
      - name: Install dependencies
@@ -28,3 +32,10 @@ jobs:
          python -W ignore -m pip install -r requirements-dev-all.txt
      - name: Check Links
        run: sphinx-build docs/source docs/build/html -W --keep-going -j auto -b linkcheck
+      - name: Upload linkcheck output
+        # Run also if the previous steps failed
+        if: always()
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
+        with:
+          name: linkcheck-output
+          path: docs/build/html/output.*
@@ -8,19 +8,26 @@ on:
    branches:
      - master

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  test-sphinx-build:
    name: test-sphinx-build
    runs-on: ${{matrix.os}}
+    permissions:
+      # for uploading artifacts
+      actions: write
    strategy:
      matrix:
        python-version: ['3.10']
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
      fail-fast: False
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
          cache: 'pip'
@@ -34,7 +41,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build docs
        run: sphinx-build docs/source docs/build/html -W --keep-going -j auto
      - name: Upload docs
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
        with:
          name: HTML Docs
          retention-days: 7
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+name: GitHub Actions Security Analysis
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+  pull_request:
+
+permissions: {}
+
+jobs:
+  zizmor:
+    name: Security Analysis with zizmor
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      security-events: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - name: Install the latest version of uv
+        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@4db96194c378173c656ce18a155ffc14a9fc4355 # v5.2.2
+      - name: Run zizmor
+        run: uvx zizmor --persona=pedantic --format sarif . > results.sarif
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Upload SARIF file
+        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@dd746615b3b9d728a6a37ca2045b68ca76d4841a # v3.28.8
+        with:
+          sarif_file: results.sarif
+          category: zizmor
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ on:
  pull_request:
    types: [opened]

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  pre-commit-ci:
    permissions:
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
      pull-requests: write # for srvaroa/labeler to add labels in PR
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
-    - uses: srvaroa/labeler@v1.11.1
+    - uses: srvaroa/labeler@fe4b1c73bb8abf2f14a44a6912a8b4fee835d631 # v1.12.0
      # Config file at .github/labeler.yml
      env:
        GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
@@ -4,11 +4,17 @@ on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '8 4 * * *'

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  lock:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      # For locking the threads
+      issues: write
+      pull-requests: write
    steps:
-      - uses: dessant/lock-threads@v5.0.1
+      - uses: dessant/lock-threads@1bf7ec25051fe7c00bdd17e6a7cf3d7bfb7dc771 # v5.0.1
        with:
          github-token: ${{ github.token }}
          issue-inactive-days: '7'
@@ -4,17 +4,24 @@ on:
  # manually trigger the workflow
  workflow_dispatch:

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  build:
    name: Build Distribution
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    outputs:
      TAG: ${{ steps.get_tag.outputs.TAG }}
+    permissions:
+      # for uploading artifacts
+      actions: write

    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: "3.x"
      - name: Install pypa/build
@@ -23,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build a binary wheel and a source tarball
        run: python3 -m build
      - name: Store the distribution packages
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
@@ -44,15 +51,16 @@ jobs:
      url: https://pypi.org/p/python-telegram-bot
    permissions:
      id-token: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for trusted publishing
+      actions: read  # for downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
      - name: Publish to PyPI
-        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@release/v1
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@67339c736fd9354cd4f8cb0b744f2b82a74b5c70 # v1.12.3

  compute-signatures:
    name: Compute SHA1 Sums and Sign with Sigstore
@@ -62,10 +70,11 @@ jobs:

    permissions:
      id-token: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for sigstore
+      actions: write  # for up/downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
@@ -77,13 +86,13 @@ jobs:
              sha1sum $file > $file.sha1
          done
      - name: Sign the dists with Sigstore
-        uses: sigstore/gh-action-sigstore-python@v3.0.0
+        uses: sigstore/gh-action-sigstore-python@f514d46b907ebcd5bedc05145c03b69c1edd8b46 # v3.0.0
        with:
          inputs: >-
            ./dist/*.tar.gz
            ./dist/*.whl
      - name: Store the distribution packages and signatures
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions-and-signatures
          path: dist/
@@ -98,10 +107,11 @@ jobs:

    permissions:
      contents: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for making GitHub Releases
+      actions: read  # for downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions-and-signatures
          path: dist/
@@ -113,7 +123,7 @@ jobs:
        # we don't define it through this workflow.
        run: >-
          gh release create
-          '${{ env.TAG }}'
+          "$TAG"
          --repo '${{ github.repository }}'
          --generate-notes
      - name: Upload artifact signatures to GitHub Release
@@ -125,5 +135,5 @@ jobs:
        # sigstore-produced signatures and certificates.
        run: >-
          gh release upload
-          '${{ env.TAG }}' dist/**
+          "$TAG" dist/**
          --repo '${{ github.repository }}'
@@ -4,17 +4,24 @@ on:
  # manually trigger the workflow
  workflow_dispatch:

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  build:
    name: Build Distribution
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    outputs:
      TAG: ${{ steps.get_tag.outputs.TAG }}
+    permissions:
+      # for uploading artifacts
+      actions: write

    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: "3.x"
      - name: Install pypa/build
@@ -23,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build a binary wheel and a source tarball
        run: python3 -m build
      - name: Store the distribution packages
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
@@ -44,15 +51,16 @@ jobs:
      url: https://test.pypi.org/p/python-telegram-bot
    permissions:
      id-token: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for trusted publishing
+      actions: read  # for downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
      - name: Publish to Test PyPI
-        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@release/v1
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@67339c736fd9354cd4f8cb0b744f2b82a74b5c70 # v1.12.3
        with:
          repository-url: https://test.pypi.org/legacy/

@@ -64,10 +72,11 @@ jobs:

    permissions:
      id-token: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for sigstore
+      actions: write  # for up/downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions
          path: dist/
@@ -79,13 +88,13 @@ jobs:
              sha1sum $file > $file.sha1
          done
      - name: Sign the dists with Sigstore
-        uses: sigstore/gh-action-sigstore-python@v3.0.0
+        uses: sigstore/gh-action-sigstore-python@f514d46b907ebcd5bedc05145c03b69c1edd8b46 # v3.0.0
        with:
          inputs: >-
            ./dist/*.tar.gz
            ./dist/*.whl
      - name: Store the distribution packages and signatures
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@6f51ac03b9356f520e9adb1b1b7802705f340c2b # v4.5.0
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions-and-signatures
          path: dist/
@@ -100,10 +109,11 @@ jobs:

    permissions:
      contents: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for making GitHub Releases
+      actions: read  # for downloading artifacts

    steps:
      - name: Download all the dists
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
        with:
          name: python-package-distributions-and-signatures
          path: dist/
@@ -115,7 +125,7 @@ jobs:
        # we don't define it through this workflow.
        run: >-
          gh release create
-          '${{ env.TAG }}'
+          "$TAG"
          --repo '${{ github.repository }}'
          --generate-notes
          --draft
@@ -128,5 +138,5 @@ jobs:
        # sigstore-produced signatures and certificates.
        run: >-
          gh release upload
-          '${{ env.TAG }}' dist/**
+          "$TAG" dist/**
          --repo '${{ github.repository }}'
@@ -3,11 +3,16 @@ on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '42 2 * * *'

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  stale:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      # For adding labels and closing
+      issues: write
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/stale@v9
+      - uses: actions/stale@5bef64f19d7facfb25b37b414482c7164d639639 # v9.1.0
        with:
          # PRs never get stale
          days-before-stale: 3
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ on:
    # Run monday and friday morning at 03:07 - odd time to spread load on GitHub Actions
    - cron: '7 3 * * 1,5'

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  check-conformity:
    name: check-conformity
@@ -21,9 +23,11 @@ jobs:
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
      fail-fast: False
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
      - name: Install dependencies
@@ -41,7 +45,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Test Summary
        id: test_summary
-        uses: test-summary/action@v2.4
+        uses: test-summary/action@31493c76ec9e7aa675f1585d3ed6f1da69269a86 # v2.4
        if: always()  # always run, even if tests fail
        with:
          paths: .test_report_official.xml
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ on:
    branches:
      - master

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  test-type-completeness:
    name:   test-type-completeness
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
-      - uses: Bibo-Joshi/pyright-type-completeness@1.0.1
+      - uses: Bibo-Joshi/pyright-type-completeness@c85a67ff3c66f51dcbb2d06bfcf4fe83a57d69cc # v1.0.1
        with:
          package-name: telegram
          python-version: 3.12
@@ -4,19 +4,21 @@ on:
    # Run first friday of the month at 03:17 - odd time to spread load on GitHub Actions
    - cron: '17 3 1-7 * 5'

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  test-type-completeness:
    name:   test-type-completeness
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
-      - uses: Bibo-Joshi/pyright-type-completeness@1.0.1
+      - uses: Bibo-Joshi/pyright-type-completeness@c85a67ff3c66f51dcbb2d06bfcf4fe83a57d69cc # v1.0.1
        id: pyright-type-completeness
        with:
          package-name: telegram
          python-version: 3.12
          pyright-version: ~=1.1.367
      - name: Check Output
-        uses: jannekem/run-python-script-action@v1
+        uses: jannekem/run-python-script-action@bbfca66c612a28f3eeca0ae40e1f810265e2ea68 # v1.7
        env:
          TYPE_COMPLETENESS: ${{ steps.pyright-type-completeness.outputs.base-completeness-score }}
        with:
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ on:
    # Run monday and friday morning at 03:07 - odd time to spread load on GitHub Actions
    - cron: '7 3 * * 1,5'

+permissions: {}
+
 jobs:
  pytest:
    name: pytest
@@ -24,9 +26,11 @@ jobs:
        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
      fail-fast: False
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@42375524e23c412d93fb67b49958b491fce71c38 # v5.4.0
        with:
          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
          cache: 'pip'
@@ -62,7 +66,8 @@ jobs:

          # Test the rest
          export TEST_WITH_OPT_DEPS='true'
-          pip install .[all]
+          # need to manually install pytz here, because it's no longer in the optional reqs
+          pip install .[all] pytz
          # `-n auto --dist worksteal` uses pytest-xdist to run tests on multiple CPU
          # workers. Increasing number of workers has little effect on test duration, but it seems
          # to increase flakyness.
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Test Summary
        id: test_summary
-        uses: test-summary/action@v2.4
+        uses: test-summary/action@31493c76ec9e7aa675f1585d3ed6f1da69269a86 # v2.4
        if: always()  # always run, even if tests fail
        with:
          paths: |
@@ -87,14 +92,14 @@ jobs:
            .test_report_optionals_junit.xml

      - name: Submit coverage
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@1e68e06f1dbfde0e4cefc87efeba9e4643565303  # v5.1.2
        with:
          env_vars: OS,PYTHON
          name: ${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.python-version }}
          fail_ci_if_error: true
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
      - name: Upload test results to Codecov
-        uses: codecov/test-results-action@v1
+        uses: codecov/test-results-action@4e79e65778be1cecd5df25e14af1eafb6df80ea9 # v1.0.2
        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
        with:
          files: .test_report_no_optionals_junit.xml,.test_report_optionals_junit.xml
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ docs/_build/
 # PyBuilder
 target/
 .idea/
+.run/

 # Sublime Text 2
 *.sublime*
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ci:

 repos:
 -   repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
-    rev: 'v0.5.6'
+    rev: 'v0.8.6'
    hooks:
    -   id: ruff
        name: ruff
@@ -16,20 +16,20 @@ repos:
          - tornado~=6.4
          - APScheduler~=3.10.4
          - cachetools>=5.3.3,<5.5.0
-          - aiolimiter~=1.1.0
+          - aiolimiter~=1.1,<1.3
 -   repo: https://github.com/psf/black-pre-commit-mirror
-    rev: 24.4.2
+    rev: 24.10.0
    hooks:
    -   id: black
        args:
        - --diff
        - --check
 -   repo: https://github.com/PyCQA/flake8
-    rev: 7.1.0
+    rev: 7.1.1
    hooks:
    -   id: flake8
 -   repo: https://github.com/PyCQA/pylint
-    rev: v3.2.4
+    rev: v3.3.3
    hooks:
    -   id: pylint
        files: ^(?!(tests|docs)).*\.py$
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ repos:
          - tornado~=6.4
          - APScheduler~=3.10.4
          - cachetools>=5.3.3,<5.5.0
-          - aiolimiter~=1.1.0
+          - aiolimiter~=1.1,<1.3
          - . # this basically does `pip install -e .`
 -   repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/mirrors-mypy
-    rev: v1.10.1
+    rev: v1.14.1
    hooks:
    -   id: mypy
        name: mypy-ptb
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ repos:
          - tornado~=6.4
          - APScheduler~=3.10.4
          - cachetools>=5.3.3,<5.5.0
-          - aiolimiter~=1.1.0
+          - aiolimiter~=1.1,<1.3
          - . # this basically does `pip install -e .`
    - id: mypy
      name: mypy-examples
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ repos:
        - cachetools>=5.3.3,<5.5.0
        - . # this basically does `pip install -e .`
 -   repo: https://github.com/asottile/pyupgrade
-    rev: v3.16.0
+    rev: v3.19.1
    hooks:
    -   id: pyupgrade
        args:
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ The following wonderful people contributed directly or indirectly to this projec
 - `Ambro17 <https://github.com/Ambro17>`_
 - `Andrej Zhilenkov <https://github.com/Andrej730>`_
 - `Anton Tagunov <https://github.com/anton-tagunov>`_
+- `Anya Marcano <https://github.com/AnyaMarcanito>`
 - `Avanatiker <https://github.com/Avanatiker>`_
 - `Balduro <https://github.com/Balduro>`_
 - `Bibo-Joshi <https://github.com/Bibo-Joshi>`_
@@ -58,12 +59,14 @@ The following wonderful people contributed directly or indirectly to this projec
 - `gamgi <https://github.com/gamgi>`_
 - `Gauthamram Ravichandran <https://github.com/GauthamramRavichandran>`_
 - `Harshil <https://github.com/harshil21>`_
+- `Henry Galue <https://github.com/henryg311>`
 - `Hugo Damer <https://github.com/HakimusGIT>`_
 - `ihoru <https://github.com/ihoru>`_
 - `Iulian Onofrei <https://github.com/revolter>`_
 - `Jainam Oswal <https://github.com/jainamoswal>`_
 - `Jasmin Bom <https://github.com/jsmnbom>`_
 - `JASON0916 <https://github.com/JASON0916>`_
+- `Jeamhowards Montiel <https://github.com/Jeam-zx>`
 - `jeffffc <https://github.com/jeffffc>`_
 - `Jelle Besseling <https://github.com/pingiun>`_
 - `jh0ker <https://github.com/jh0ker>`_
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@ The following wonderful people contributed directly or indirectly to this projec
 - `Joscha Götzer <https://github.com/Rostgnom>`_
 - `jossalgon <https://github.com/jossalgon>`_
 - `JRoot3D <https://github.com/JRoot3D>`_
+- `Juan Cuevas <https://github.com/cuevasrja>`
 - `kenjitagawa <https://github.com/kenjitagawa>`_
 - `kennethcheo <https://github.com/kennethcheo>`_
 - `Kirill Vasin <https://github.com/vasinkd>`_
@@ -81,11 +85,13 @@ The following wonderful people contributed directly or indirectly to this projec
 - `LRezende <https://github.com/lrezende>`_
 - `Luca Bellanti <https://github.com/Trifase>`_
 - `Lucas Molinari <https://github.com/lucasmolinari>`_
+- `Luis Pérez <https://github.com/nemacysts>`_
 - `macrojames <https://github.com/macrojames>`_
 - `Matheus Lemos <https://github.com/mlemosf>`_
 - `Michael Dix <https://github.com/Eisberge>`_
 - `Michael Elovskikh <https://github.com/wronglink>`_
 - `Miguel C. R. <https://github.com/MiguelX413>`_
+- `Miguel Salomon <https://github.com/Migueldsc12>`
 - `miles <https://github.com/miles170>`_
 - `Mischa Krüger <https://github.com/Makman2>`_
 - `Mohd Yusuf <https://github.com/mohdyusuf2312>`_
@@ -111,7 +117,7 @@ The following wonderful people contributed directly or indirectly to this projec
 - `Rahiel Kasim <https://github.com/rahiel>`_
 - `Riko Naka <https://github.com/rikonaka>`_
 - `Rizlas <https://github.com/rizlas>`_
- `Snehashish Biswas <https://github.com/Snehashish06>`_
+- Snehashish Biswas
 - `Sahil Sharma <https://github.com/sahilsharma811>`_
 - `Sam Mosleh <https://github.com/sam-mosleh>`_
 - `Sascha <https://github.com/saschalalala>`_
@@ -4,6 +4,122 @@
 Changelog
 =========

+Version 21.11
+=============
+
+*Released 2025-03-01*
+
+This is the technical changelog for version 21.11. More elaborate release notes can be found in the news channel `@pythontelegrambotchannel <https://t.me/pythontelegrambotchannel>`_.
+
+Major Changes and New Features
+------------------------------
+
+- Full Support for Bot API 8.3 (:pr:`4676` closes :issue:`4677`, :pr:`4682` by `aelkheir <https://github.com/aelkheir>`_, :pr:`4690` by `aelkheir <https://github.com/aelkheir>`_, :pr:`4691` by `aelkheir <https://github.com/aelkheir>`_)
+- Make ``provider_token`` Argument Optional (:pr:`4689`)
+- Remove Deprecated ``InlineQueryResultArticle.hide_url`` (:pr:`4640` closes :issue:`4638`)
+- Accept ``datetime.timedelta`` Input in ``Bot`` Method Parameters (:pr:`4651`)
+- Extend Customization Support for ``Bot.base_(file_)url`` (:pr:`4632` closes :issue:`3355`)
+- Support ``allow_paid_broadcast`` in ``AIORateLimiter`` (:pr:`4627` closes :issue:`4578`)
+- Add ``BaseUpdateProcessor.current_concurrent_updates`` (:pr:`4626` closes :issue:`3984`)
+
+Minor Changes and Bug Fixes
+---------------------------
+
+- Add Bootstrapping Logic to ``Application.run_*`` (:pr:`4673` closes :issue:`4657`)
+- Fix a Bug in ``edit_user_star_subscription`` (:pr:`4681` by `vavasik800 <https://github.com/vavasik800>`_)
+- Simplify Handling of Empty Data in ``TelegramObject.de_json`` and Friends (:pr:`4617` closes :issue:`4614`)
+
+Documentation Improvements
+--------------------------
+
+- Documentation Improvements (:pr:`4641`)
+- Overhaul Admonition Insertion in Documentation (:pr:`4462` closes :issue:`4414`)
+
+Internal Changes
+----------------
+
+- Stabilize Linkcheck Test (:pr:`4693`)
+- Bump ``pre-commit`` Hooks to Latest Versions (:pr:`4643`)
+- Refactor Tests for ``TelegramObject`` Classes with Subclasses (:pr:`4654` closes :issue:`4652`)
+- Use Fine Grained Permissions for GitHub Actions Workflows (:pr:`4668`)
+
+Dependency Updates
+------------------
+
+- Bump ``actions/setup-python`` from 5.3.0 to 5.4.0 (:pr:`4665`)
+- Bump ``dependabot/fetch-metadata`` from 2.2.0 to 2.3.0 (:pr:`4666`)
+- Bump ``actions/stale`` from 9.0.0 to 9.1.0 (:pr:`4667`)
+- Bump ``astral-sh/setup-uv`` from 5.1.0 to 5.2.2 (:pr:`4664`)
+- Bump ``codecov/test-results-action`` from 1.0.1 to 1.0.2 (:pr:`4663`)
+
+Version 21.10
+=============
+
+*Released 2025-01-03*
+
+This is the technical changelog for version 21.10. More elaborate release notes can be found in the news channel `@pythontelegrambotchannel <https://t.me/pythontelegrambotchannel>`_.
+
+Major Changes
+-------------
+
+- Full Support for Bot API 8.2 (:pr:`4633`)
+- Bump ``apscheduler`` & Deprecate ``pytz`` Support (:pr:`4582`)
+
+New Features
+------------
+- Add Parameter ``pattern`` to ``JobQueue.jobs()`` (:pr:`4613` closes :issue:`4544`)
+- Allow Input of Type ``Sticker`` for Several Methods (:pr:`4616` closes :issue:`4580`)
+
+Bug Fixes
+---------
+- Ensure Forward Compatibility of ``Gift`` and ``Gifts`` (:pr:`4634` closes :issue:`4637`)
+
+
+Documentation Improvements & Internal Changes
+---------------------------------------------
+
+- Use Custom Labels for ``dependabot`` PRs (:pr:`4621`)
+- Remove Redundant ``pylint`` Suppressions (:pr:`4628`)
+- Update Copyright to 2025 (:pr:`4631`)
+- Refactor Module Structure and Tests for Star Payments Classes (:pr:`4615` closes :issue:`4593`)
+- Unify ``datetime`` Imports (:pr:`4605` by `cuevasrja <https://github.com/cuevasrja>`_ closes :issue:`4577`)
+- Add Static Security Analysis of GitHub Actions Workflows (:pr:`4606`)
+
+Dependency Updates
+------------------
+
+- Bump ``astral-sh/setup-uv`` from 4.2.0 to 5.1.0 (:pr:`4625`)
+- Bump ``codecov/codecov-action`` from 5.1.1 to 5.1.2 (:pr:`4622`)
+- Bump ``actions/upload-artifact`` from 4.4.3 to 4.5.0 (:pr:`4623`)
+- Bump ``github/codeql-action`` from 3.27.9 to 3.28.0 (:pr:`4624`)
+
+Version 21.9
+============
+
+*Released 2024-12-07*
+
+This is the technical changelog for version 21.9. More elaborate release notes can be found in the news channel `@pythontelegrambotchannel <https://t.me/pythontelegrambotchannel>`_.
+
+Major Changes
+-------------
+
+- Full Support for Bot API 8.1 (:pr:`4594` closes :issue:`4592`)
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- Use ``MessageLimit.DEEP_LINK_LENGTH`` in ``helpers.create_deep_linked_url`` (:pr:`4597` by `nemacysts <https://github.com/nemacysts>`_)
+- Allow ``Sequence`` Input for ``allowed_updates`` in ``Application`` and ``Updater`` Methods (:pr:`4589` by `nemacysts <https://github.com/nemacysts>`_)
+
+Dependency Updates
+------------------
+
+- Update ``aiolimiter`` requirement from ~=1.1.0 to >=1.1,<1.3 (:pr:`4595`)
+- Bump ``pytest`` from 8.3.3 to 8.3.4 (:pr:`4596`)
+- Bump ``codecov/codecov-action`` from 4 to 5 (:pr:`4585`)
+- Bump ``pylint`` to v3.3.2 to Improve Python 3.13 Support (:pr:`4590` by `nemacysts <https://github.com/nemacysts>`_)
+- Bump ``srvaroa/labeler`` from 1.11.1 to 1.12.0 (:pr:`4586`)
+
 Version 21.8
 ============
 *Released 2024-12-01*
@@ -18,7 +134,7 @@ Major Changes
 Documentation Improvements
 --------------------------

- Documentation Improvements (:pr:`4565` by `Snehashish06 <https://github.com/Snehashish06>`_, :pr:`4573`)
+- Documentation Improvements (:pr:`4565` by Snehashish06, :pr:`4573`)

 Version 21.7
 ============
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
   :target: https://pypi.org/project/python-telegram-bot/
   :alt: Supported Python versions

-.. image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/Bot%20API-8.0-blue?logo=telegram
+.. image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/Bot%20API-8.3-blue?logo=telegram
   :target: https://core.telegram.org/bots/api-changelog
   :alt: Supported Bot API version

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ After installing_ the library, be sure to check out the section on `working with
 Telegram API support
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-All types and methods of the Telegram Bot API **8.0** are natively supported by this library.
+All types and methods of the Telegram Bot API **8.3** are natively supported by this library.
 In addition, Bot API functionality not yet natively included can still be used as described `in our wiki <https://github.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/wiki/Bot-API-Forward-Compatibility>`_.

 Notable Features
@@ -155,10 +155,10 @@ PTB can be installed with optional dependencies:
 * ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[passport]"`` installs the `cryptography>=39.0.1 <https://cryptography.io/en/stable>`_ library. Use this, if you want to use Telegram Passport related functionality.
 * ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[socks]"`` installs `httpx[socks] <https://www.python-httpx.org/#dependencies>`_. Use this, if you want to work behind a Socks5 server.
 * ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[http2]"`` installs `httpx[http2] <https://www.python-httpx.org/#dependencies>`_. Use this, if you want to use HTTP/2.
-* ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[rate-limiter]"`` installs `aiolimiter~=1.1.0 <https://aiolimiter.readthedocs.io/en/stable/>`_. Use this, if you want to use ``telegram.ext.AIORateLimiter``.
+* ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[rate-limiter]"`` installs `aiolimiter~=1.1,<1.3 <https://aiolimiter.readthedocs.io/en/stable/>`_. Use this, if you want to use ``telegram.ext.AIORateLimiter``.
 * ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[webhooks]"`` installs the `tornado~=6.4 <https://www.tornadoweb.org/en/stable/>`_ library. Use this, if you want to use ``telegram.ext.Updater.start_webhook``/``telegram.ext.Application.run_webhook``.
 * ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[callback-data]"`` installs the `cachetools>=5.3.3,<5.6.0 <https://cachetools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`_ library. Use this, if you want to use `arbitrary callback_data <https://github.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/wiki/Arbitrary-callback_data>`_.
-* ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[job-queue]"`` installs the `APScheduler~=3.10.4 <https://apscheduler.readthedocs.io/en/3.x/>`_ library and enforces `pytz>=2018.6 <https://pypi.org/project/pytz/>`_, where ``pytz`` is a dependency of ``APScheduler``. Use this, if you want to use the ``telegram.ext.JobQueue``.
+* ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[job-queue]"`` installs the `APScheduler>=3.10.4,<3.12.0 <https://apscheduler.readthedocs.io/en/3.x/>`_ library. Use this, if you want to use the ``telegram.ext.JobQueue``.

 To install multiple optional dependencies, separate them by commas, e.g. ``pip install "python-telegram-bot[socks,webhooks]"``.

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #  A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-#  Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+#  Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 #  Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 #  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -16,18 +16,55 @@
 #  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 #  along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 import collections.abc
+import contextlib
 import inspect
 import re
 import typing
 from collections import defaultdict
 from collections.abc import Iterator
-from typing import Any, Union
+from socket import socket
+from types import FunctionType
+from typing import Union
+
+from apscheduler.job import Job as APSJob

 import telegram
+import telegram._utils.defaultvalue
+import telegram._utils.types
 import telegram.ext
+import telegram.ext._utils.types
+from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
+
+# Define the namespace for type resolution. This helps dealing with the internal imports that
+# we do in many places
+# The .copy() is important to avoid modifying the original namespace
+TG_NAMESPACE = vars(telegram).copy()
+TG_NAMESPACE.update(vars(telegram._utils.types))
+TG_NAMESPACE.update(vars(telegram._utils.defaultvalue))
+TG_NAMESPACE.update(vars(telegram.ext))
+TG_NAMESPACE.update(vars(telegram.ext._utils.types))
+TG_NAMESPACE.update(vars(telegram.ext._applicationbuilder))
+TG_NAMESPACE.update({"socket": socket, "APSJob": APSJob})


-def _iter_own_public_methods(cls: type) -> Iterator[tuple[str, type]]:
+class PublicMethod(typing.NamedTuple):
+    name: str
+    method: FunctionType
+
+
+def _is_inherited_method(cls: type, method_name: str) -> bool:
+    """Checks if a method is inherited from a parent class.
+    Inheritance is not considered if the parent class is private.
+    Recurses through all direcot or indirect parent classes.
+    """
+    # The [1:] slice is used to exclude the class itself from the MRO.
+    for base in cls.__mro__[1:]:
+        if method_name in base.__dict__ and not base.__name__.startswith("_"):
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
+def _iter_own_public_methods(cls: type) -> Iterator[PublicMethod]:
    """Iterates over methods of a class that are not protected/private,
    not camelCase and not inherited from the parent class.

@@ -35,13 +72,15 @@ def _iter_own_public_methods(cls: type) -> Iterator[tuple[str, type]]:

    This function is defined outside the class because it is used to create class constants.
    """
-    return (
-        m
-        for m in inspect.getmembers(cls, predicate=inspect.isfunction)  # not .ismethod
-        if not m[0].startswith("_")
-        and m[0].islower()  # to avoid camelCase methods
-        and m[0] in cls.__dict__  # method is not inherited from parent class
-    )
+
+    # Use .isfunction() instead of .ismethod() because we want to include static methods.
+    for m in inspect.getmembers(cls, predicate=inspect.isfunction):
+        if (
+            not m[0].startswith("_")
+            and m[0].islower()  # to avoid camelCase methods
+            and not _is_inherited_method(cls, m[0])
+        ):
+            yield PublicMethod(m[0], m[1])


 class AdmonitionInserter:
@@ -58,18 +97,12 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
    start and end markers.
    """

-    FORWARD_REF_SKIP_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^ForwardRef\('DefaultValue\[\w+]'\)$")
-    """A pattern that will be used to skip known ForwardRef's that need not be resolved
-    to a Telegram class, e.g.:
-    ForwardRef('DefaultValue[None]')
-    ForwardRef('DefaultValue[DVValueType]')
-    """
-
-    METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_AND_APPBUILDER: typing.ClassVar[dict[type, str]] = {
-        cls: tuple(m[0] for m in _iter_own_public_methods(cls))  # m[0] means we take only names
-        for cls in (telegram.Bot, telegram.ext.ApplicationBuilder)
+    METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_APP_APPBUILDER: typing.ClassVar[dict[type, str]] = {
+        cls: tuple(m.name for m in _iter_own_public_methods(cls))
+        for cls in (telegram.Bot, telegram.ext.ApplicationBuilder, telegram.ext.Application)
    }
-    """A dictionary mapping Bot and ApplicationBuilder classes to their relevant methods that will
+    """A dictionary mapping Bot, Application & ApplicationBuilder classes to their relevant methods
+    that will
    be mentioned in 'Returned in' and 'Use in' admonitions in other classes' docstrings.
    Methods must be public, not aliases, not inherited from TelegramObject.
    """
@@ -83,13 +116,20 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        """Dictionary with admonitions. Contains sub-dictionaries, one per admonition type.
        Each sub-dictionary matches bot methods (for "Shortcuts") or telegram classes (for other
        admonition types) to texts of admonitions, e.g.:
+
        ```
        {
-        "use_in": {<class 'telegram._chatinvitelink.ChatInviteLink'>:
-        <"Use in" admonition for ChatInviteLink>, ...},
-        "available_in": {<class 'telegram._chatinvitelink.ChatInviteLink'>:
-        <"Available in" admonition">, ...},
-        "returned_in": {...}
+            "use_in": {
+                <class 'telegram._chatinvitelink.ChatInviteLink'>:
+                    <"Use in" admonition for ChatInviteLink>,
+                ...
+            },
+            "available_in": {
+                <class 'telegram._chatinvitelink.ChatInviteLink'>:
+                    <"Available in" admonition">,
+                ...
+            },
+            "returned_in": {...}
        }
        ```
        """
@@ -128,34 +168,6 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        # i.e. {telegram._files.sticker.Sticker: {":attr:`telegram.Message.sticker`", ...}}
        attrs_for_class = defaultdict(set)

-        # The following regex is supposed to capture a class name in a line like this:
-        # media (:obj:`str` | :class:`telegram.InputFile`): Audio file to send.
-        #
-        # Note that even if such typing description spans over multiple lines but each line ends
-        # with a backslash (otherwise Sphinx will throw an error)
-        # (e.g. EncryptedPassportElement.data), then Sphinx will combine these lines into a single
-        # line automatically, and it will contain no backslash (only some extra many whitespaces
-        # from the indentation).
-
-        attr_docstr_pattern = re.compile(
-            r"^\s*(?P<attr_name>[a-z_]+)"  # Any number of spaces, named group for attribute
-            r"\s?\("  # Optional whitespace, opening parenthesis
-            r".*"  # Any number of characters (that could denote a built-in type)
-            r":(class|obj):`.+`"  # Marker of a classref, class name in backticks
-            r".*\):"  # Any number of characters, closing parenthesis, colon.
-            # The ^ colon above along with parenthesis is important because it makes sure that
-            # the class is mentioned in the attribute description, not in free text.
-            r".*$",  # Any number of characters, end of string (end of line)
-            re.VERBOSE,
-        )
-
-        # for properties: there is no attr name in docstring.  Just check if there's a class name.
-        prop_docstring_pattern = re.compile(r":(class|obj):`.+`.*:")
-
-        # pattern for iterating over potentially many class names in docstring for one attribute.
-        # Tilde is optional (sometimes it is in the docstring, sometimes not).
-        single_class_name_pattern = re.compile(r":(class|obj):`~?(?P<class_name>[\w.]*)`")
-
        classes_to_inspect = inspect.getmembers(telegram, inspect.isclass) + inspect.getmembers(
            telegram.ext, inspect.isclass
        )
@@ -166,40 +178,31 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
            # docstrings.
            name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr = self._generate_class_name_for_link(inspected_class)

-            # Parsing part of the docstring with attributes (parsing of properties follows later)
-            docstring_lines = inspect.getdoc(inspected_class).splitlines()
-            lines_with_attrs = []
-            for idx, line in enumerate(docstring_lines):
-                if line.strip() == "Attributes:":
-                    lines_with_attrs = docstring_lines[idx + 1 :]
-                    break
+            # Writing to dictionary: matching the class found in the type hint
+            # and its subclasses to the attribute of the class being inspected.
+            # The class in the attribute typehint (or its subclass) is the key,
+            # ReST link to attribute of the class currently being inspected is the value.

-            for line in lines_with_attrs:
-                if not (line_match := attr_docstr_pattern.match(line)):
-                    continue
-
-                target_attr = line_match.group("attr_name")
-                # a typing description of one attribute can contain multiple classes
-                for match in single_class_name_pattern.finditer(line):
-                    name_of_class_in_attr = match.group("class_name")
-
-                    # Writing to dictionary: matching the class found in the docstring
-                    # and its subclasses to the attribute of the class being inspected.
-                    # The class in the attribute docstring (or its subclass) is the key,
-                    # ReST link to attribute of the class currently being inspected is the value.
-                    try:
-                        self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
-                            arg=name_of_class_in_attr,
-                            dict_of_methods_for_class=attrs_for_class,
-                            link=f":attr:`{name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}.{target_attr}`",
-                        )
-                    except NotImplementedError as e:
-                        raise NotImplementedError(
-                            "Error generating Sphinx 'Available in' admonition "
-                            f"(admonition_inserter.py). Class {name_of_class_in_attr} present in "
-                            f"attribute {target_attr} of class {name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}"
-                            f" could not be resolved. {e!s}"
-                        ) from e
+            # best effort - args of __init__ means not all attributes are covered, but there is no
+            # other way to get type hints of all attributes, other than doing ast parsing maybe.
+            # (Docstring parsing was discontinued with the closing of #4414)
+            type_hints = typing.get_type_hints(inspected_class.__init__, localns=TG_NAMESPACE)
+            class_attrs = [slot for slot in mro_slots(inspected_class) if not slot.startswith("_")]
+            for target_attr in class_attrs:
+                try:
+                    self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
+                        dict_of_methods_for_class=attrs_for_class,
+                        link=f":attr:`{name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}.{target_attr}`",
+                        type_hints={target_attr: type_hints.get(target_attr)},
+                        resolve_nested_type_vars=False,
+                    )
+                except NotImplementedError as e:
+                    raise NotImplementedError(
+                        "Error generating Sphinx 'Available in' admonition "
+                        f"(admonition_inserter.py). Class {inspected_class} present in "
+                        f"attribute {target_attr} of class {name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}"
+                        f" could not be resolved. {e!s}"
+                    ) from e

            # Properties need to be parsed separately because they act like attributes but not
            # listed as attributes.
@@ -210,39 +213,29 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
                if prop_name not in inspected_class.__dict__:
                    continue

-                # 1. Can't use typing.get_type_hints because double-quoted type hints
-                #    (like "Application") will throw a NameError
-                # 2. Can't use inspect.signature because return annotations of properties can be
-                #    hard to parse (like "(self) -> BD").
-                # 3. fget is used to access the actual function under the property wrapper
-                docstring = inspect.getdoc(getattr(inspected_class, prop_name).fget)
-                if docstring is None:
-                    continue
+                # fget is used to access the actual function under the property wrapper
+                type_hints = typing.get_type_hints(
+                    getattr(inspected_class, prop_name).fget, localns=TG_NAMESPACE
+                )

-                first_line = docstring.splitlines()[0]
-                if not prop_docstring_pattern.match(first_line):
-                    continue
-
-                for match in single_class_name_pattern.finditer(first_line):
-                    name_of_class_in_prop = match.group("class_name")
-
-                    # Writing to dictionary: matching the class found in the docstring and its
-                    # subclasses to the property of the class being inspected.
-                    # The class in the property docstring (or its subclass) is the key,
-                    # ReST link to property of the class currently being inspected is the value.
-                    try:
-                        self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
-                            arg=name_of_class_in_prop,
-                            dict_of_methods_for_class=attrs_for_class,
-                            link=f":attr:`{name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}.{prop_name}`",
-                        )
-                    except NotImplementedError as e:
-                        raise NotImplementedError(
-                            "Error generating Sphinx 'Available in' admonition "
-                            f"(admonition_inserter.py). Class {name_of_class_in_prop} present in "
-                            f"property {prop_name} of class {name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}"
-                            f" could not be resolved. {e!s}"
-                        ) from e
+                # Writing to dictionary: matching the class found in the docstring and its
+                # subclasses to the property of the class being inspected.
+                # The class in the property docstring (or its subclass) is the key,
+                # ReST link to property of the class currently being inspected is the value.
+                try:
+                    self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
+                        dict_of_methods_for_class=attrs_for_class,
+                        link=f":attr:`{name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}.{prop_name}`",
+                        type_hints={prop_name: type_hints.get("return")},
+                        resolve_nested_type_vars=False,
+                    )
+                except NotImplementedError as e:
+                    raise NotImplementedError(
+                        "Error generating Sphinx 'Available in' admonition "
+                        f"(admonition_inserter.py). Class {inspected_class} present in "
+                        f"property {prop_name} of class {name_of_inspected_class_in_docstr}"
+                        f" could not be resolved. {e!s}"
+                    ) from e

        return self._generate_admonitions(attrs_for_class, admonition_type="available_in")

@@ -250,29 +243,28 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        """Creates a dictionary with 'Returned in' admonitions for classes that are returned
        in Bot's and ApplicationBuilder's methods.
        """
-
        # Generate a mapping of classes to ReST links to Bot methods which return it,
        # i.e. {<class 'telegram._message.Message'>: {:meth:`telegram.Bot.send_message`, ...}}
        methods_for_class = defaultdict(set)

-        for cls, method_names in self.METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_AND_APPBUILDER.items():
+        for cls, method_names in self.METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_APP_APPBUILDER.items():
            for method_name in method_names:
-                sig = inspect.signature(getattr(cls, method_name))
-                ret_annot = sig.return_annotation
-
                method_link = self._generate_link_to_method(method_name, cls)
+                arg = getattr(cls, method_name)
+                ret_type_hint = typing.get_type_hints(arg, localns=TG_NAMESPACE)

                try:
                    self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
-                        arg=ret_annot,
                        dict_of_methods_for_class=methods_for_class,
                        link=method_link,
+                        type_hints={"return": ret_type_hint.get("return")},
+                        resolve_nested_type_vars=False,
                    )
                except NotImplementedError as e:
                    raise NotImplementedError(
                        "Error generating Sphinx 'Returned in' admonition "
                        f"(admonition_inserter.py). {cls}, method {method_name}. "
-                        f"Couldn't resolve type hint in return annotation {ret_annot}. {e!s}"
+                        f"Couldn't resolve type hint in return annotation {ret_type_hint}. {e!s}"
                    ) from e

        return self._generate_admonitions(methods_for_class, admonition_type="returned_in")
@@ -299,8 +291,13 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        # inspect methods of all telegram classes for return statements that indicate
        # that this given method is a shortcut for a Bot method
        for _class_name, cls in inspect.getmembers(telegram, predicate=inspect.isclass):
-            # no need to inspect Bot's own methods, as Bot can't have shortcuts in Bot
+            if not cls.__module__.startswith("telegram"):
+                # For some reason inspect.getmembers() also yields some classes that are
+                # imported in the namespace but not part of the telegram module.
+                continue
+
            if cls is telegram.Bot:
+                # no need to inspect Bot's own methods, as Bot can't have shortcuts in Bot
                continue

            for method_name, method in _iter_own_public_methods(cls):
@@ -310,9 +307,7 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
                        continue

                    bot_method = getattr(telegram.Bot, bot_method_match.group())
-
                    link_to_shortcut_method = self._generate_link_to_method(method_name, cls)
-
                    shortcuts_for_bot_method[bot_method].add(link_to_shortcut_method)

        return self._generate_admonitions(shortcuts_for_bot_method, admonition_type="shortcuts")
@@ -327,26 +322,24 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        # {:meth:`telegram.Bot.answer_inline_query`, ...}}
        methods_for_class = defaultdict(set)

-        for cls, method_names in self.METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_AND_APPBUILDER.items():
+        for cls, method_names in self.METHOD_NAMES_FOR_BOT_APP_APPBUILDER.items():
            for method_name in method_names:
                method_link = self._generate_link_to_method(method_name, cls)

-                sig = inspect.signature(getattr(cls, method_name))
-                parameters = sig.parameters
-
-                for param in parameters.values():
-                    try:
-                        self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
-                            arg=param.annotation,
-                            dict_of_methods_for_class=methods_for_class,
-                            link=method_link,
-                        )
-                    except NotImplementedError as e:
-                        raise NotImplementedError(
-                            "Error generating Sphinx 'Use in' admonition "
-                            f"(admonition_inserter.py). {cls}, method {method_name}, parameter "
-                            f"{param}: Couldn't resolve type hint {param.annotation}. {e!s}"
-                        ) from e
+                arg = getattr(cls, method_name)
+                param_type_hints = typing.get_type_hints(arg, localns=TG_NAMESPACE)
+                param_type_hints.pop("return", None)
+                try:
+                    self._resolve_arg_and_add_link(
+                        dict_of_methods_for_class=methods_for_class,
+                        link=method_link,
+                        type_hints=param_type_hints,
+                    )
+                except NotImplementedError as e:
+                    raise NotImplementedError(
+                        "Error generating Sphinx 'Use in' admonition "
+                        f"(admonition_inserter.py). {cls}, method {method_name}, parameter "
+                    ) from e

        return self._generate_admonitions(methods_for_class, admonition_type="use_in")

@@ -362,7 +355,7 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        for idx, value in list(enumerate(lines)):
            if value.startswith(
                (
-                    ".. seealso:",
+                    # ".. seealso:",
                    # The docstring contains heading "Examples:", but Sphinx will have it converted
                    # to ".. admonition: Examples":
                    ".. admonition:: Examples",
@@ -435,12 +428,12 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        return admonition_for_class

    @staticmethod
-    def _generate_class_name_for_link(cls: type) -> str:
+    def _generate_class_name_for_link(cls_: type) -> str:
        """Generates class name that can be used in a ReST link."""

        # Check for potential presence of ".ext.", we will need to keep it.
-        ext = ".ext" if ".ext." in str(cls) else ""
-        return f"telegram{ext}.{cls.__name__}"
+        ext = ".ext" if ".ext." in str(cls_) else ""
+        return f"telegram{ext}.{cls_.__name__}"

    def _generate_link_to_method(self, method_name: str, cls: type) -> str:
        """Generates a ReST link to a method of a telegram class."""
@@ -448,19 +441,22 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
        return f":meth:`{self._generate_class_name_for_link(cls)}.{method_name}`"

    @staticmethod
-    def _iter_subclasses(cls: type) -> Iterator:
+    def _iter_subclasses(cls_: type) -> Iterator:
+        if not hasattr(cls_, "__subclasses__") or cls_ is telegram.TelegramObject:
+            return iter([])
        return (
            # exclude private classes
            c
-            for c in cls.__subclasses__()
+            for c in cls_.__subclasses__()
            if not str(c).split(".")[-1].startswith("_")
        )

    def _resolve_arg_and_add_link(
        self,
-        arg: Any,
        dict_of_methods_for_class: defaultdict,
        link: str,
+        type_hints: dict[str, type],
+        resolve_nested_type_vars: bool = True,
    ) -> None:
        """A helper method. Tries to resolve the arg into a valid class. In case of success,
        adds the link (to a method, attribute, or property) for that class' and its subclasses'
@@ -468,7 +464,9 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:

        **Modifies dictionary in place.**
        """
-        for cls in self._resolve_arg(arg):
+        type_hints.pop("self", None)
+
+        for cls in self._resolve_arg(type_hints, resolve_nested_type_vars):
            # When trying to resolve an argument from args or return annotation,
            # the method _resolve_arg returns None if nothing could be resolved.
            # Also, if class was resolved correctly, "telegram" will definitely be in its str().
@@ -480,88 +478,67 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
            for subclass in self._iter_subclasses(cls):
                dict_of_methods_for_class[subclass].add(link)

-    def _resolve_arg(self, arg: Any) -> Iterator[Union[type, None]]:
+    def _resolve_arg(
+        self,
+        type_hints: dict[str, type],
+        resolve_nested_type_vars: bool,
+    ) -> list[type]:
        """Analyzes an argument of a method and recursively yields classes that the argument
        or its sub-arguments (in cases like Union[...]) belong to, if they can be resolved to
        telegram or telegram.ext classes.

+        Args:
+            type_hints: A dictionary of argument names and their types.
+            resolve_nested_type_vars: If True, nested type variables (like Application[BT, …])
+                will be resolved to their actual classes. If False, only the outermost type
+                variable will be resolved. *Only* affects ptb classes, not built-in types.
+                Useful for checking the return type of methods, where nested type variables
+                are not really useful.
+
        Raises `NotImplementedError`.
        """

-        origin = typing.get_origin(arg)
+        def _is_ptb_class(cls: type) -> bool:
+            if not hasattr(cls, "__module__"):
+                return False
+            return cls.__module__.startswith("telegram")

-        if (
-            origin in (collections.abc.Callable, typing.IO)
-            or arg is None
-            # no other check available (by type or origin) for these:
-            or str(type(arg)) in ("<class 'typing._SpecialForm'>", "<class 'ellipsis'>")
-        ):
-            pass
+        # will be edited in place
+        telegram_classes = set()

-        # RECURSIVE CALLS
-        # for cases like Union[Sequence....
-        elif origin in (
-            Union,
-            collections.abc.Coroutine,
-            collections.abc.Sequence,
-        ):
-            for sub_arg in typing.get_args(arg):
-                yield from self._resolve_arg(sub_arg)
+        def recurse_type(type_, is_recursed_from_ptb_class: bool):
+            next_is_recursed_from_ptb_class = is_recursed_from_ptb_class or _is_ptb_class(type_)

-        elif isinstance(arg, typing.TypeVar):
-            # gets access to the "bound=..." parameter
-            yield from self._resolve_arg(arg.__bound__)
-        # END RECURSIVE CALLS
+            if hasattr(type_, "__origin__"):  # For generic types like Union, List, etc.
+                # Make sure it's not a telegram.ext generic type (e.g. ContextTypes[...])
+                org = typing.get_origin(type_)
+                if "telegram.ext" in str(org):
+                    telegram_classes.add(org)

-        elif isinstance(arg, typing.ForwardRef):
-            m = self.FORWARD_REF_PATTERN.match(str(arg))
-            # We're sure it's a ForwardRef, so, unless it belongs to known exceptions,
-            # the class must be resolved.
-            # If it isn't resolved, we'll have the program throw an exception to be sure.
-            try:
-                cls = self._resolve_class(m.group("class_name"))
-            except AttributeError as exc:
-                # skip known ForwardRef's that need not be resolved to a Telegram class
-                if self.FORWARD_REF_SKIP_PATTERN.match(str(arg)):
-                    pass
-                else:
-                    raise NotImplementedError(f"Could not process ForwardRef: {arg}") from exc
-            else:
-                yield cls
+                args = typing.get_args(type_)
+                for arg in args:
+                    recurse_type(arg, next_is_recursed_from_ptb_class)
+            elif isinstance(type_, typing.TypeVar) and (
+                resolve_nested_type_vars or not is_recursed_from_ptb_class
+            ):
+                # gets access to the "bound=..." parameter
+                recurse_type(type_.__bound__, next_is_recursed_from_ptb_class)
+            elif inspect.isclass(type_) and "telegram" in inspect.getmodule(type_).__name__:
+                telegram_classes.add(type_)
+            elif isinstance(type_, typing.ForwardRef):
+                # Resolving ForwardRef is not easy. https://peps.python.org/pep-0749/ will
+                # hopefully make it better by introducing typing.resolve_forward_ref() in py3.14
+                # but that's not there yet
+                # So for now we fall back to a best effort approach of guessing if the class is
+                # available in tg or tg.ext
+                with contextlib.suppress(AttributeError):
+                    telegram_classes.add(self._resolve_class(type_.__forward_arg__))

-        # For custom generics like telegram.ext._application.Application[~BT, ~CCT, ~UD...].
-        # This must come before the check for isinstance(type) because GenericAlias can also be
-        # recognized as type if it belongs to <class 'types.GenericAlias'>.
-        elif str(type(arg)) in (
-            "<class 'typing._GenericAlias'>",
-            "<class 'types.GenericAlias'>",
-            "<class 'typing._LiteralGenericAlias'>",
-        ):
-            if "telegram" in str(arg):
-                # get_origin() of telegram.ext._application.Application[~BT, ~CCT, ~UD...]
-                # will produce <class 'telegram.ext._application.Application'>
-                yield origin
+        for type_hint in type_hints.values():
+            if type_hint is not None:
+                recurse_type(type_hint, False)

-        elif isinstance(arg, type):
-            if "telegram" in str(arg):
-                yield arg
-
-        # For some reason "InlineQueryResult", "InputMedia" & some others are currently not
-        # recognized as ForwardRefs and are identified as plain strings.
-        elif isinstance(arg, str):
-            # args like "ApplicationBuilder[BT, CCT, UD, CD, BD, JQ]" can be recognized as strings.
-            # Remove whatever is in the square brackets because it doesn't need to be parsed.
-            arg = re.sub(r"\[.+]", "", arg)
-
-            cls = self._resolve_class(arg)
-            # Here we don't want an exception to be thrown since we're not sure it's ForwardRef
-            if cls is not None:
-                yield cls
-
-        else:
-            raise NotImplementedError(
-                f"Cannot process argument {arg} of type {type(arg)} (origin {origin})"
-            )
+        return list(telegram_classes)

    @staticmethod
    def _resolve_class(name: str) -> Union[type, None]:
@@ -581,16 +558,14 @@ class AdmonitionInserter:
            f"telegram.ext.{name}",
            f"telegram.ext.filters.{name}",
        ):
-            try:
-                return eval(option)
            # NameError will be raised if trying to eval just name and it doesn't work, e.g.
            # "Name 'ApplicationBuilder' is not defined".
            # AttributeError will be raised if trying to e.g. eval f"telegram.{name}" when the
            # class denoted by `name` actually belongs to `telegram.ext`:
            # "module 'telegram' has no attribute 'ApplicationBuilder'".
            # If neither option works, this is not a PTB class.
-            except (NameError, AttributeError):
-                continue
+            with contextlib.suppress(NameError, AttributeError):
+                return eval(option)
        return None


@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #  A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-#  Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+#  Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 #  Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 #  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #  A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-#  Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+#  Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 #  Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 #  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #  A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-#  Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+#  Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 #  Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 #  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -187,6 +187,11 @@ def autodoc_process_bases(app, name, obj, option, bases: list) -> None:
            bases[idx] = ":class:`enum.IntEnum`"
            continue

+        if "FloatEnum" in base:
+            bases[idx] = ":class:`enum.Enum`"
+            bases.insert(0, ":class:`float`")
+            continue
+
        # Drop generics (at least for now)
        if base.endswith("]"):
            base = base.split("[", maxsplit=1)[0]
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #  A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-#  Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+#  Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 #  Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 #  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #
 #  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 #  along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from enum import Enum

 from docutils.nodes import Element
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class TGConstXRefRole(PyXRefRole):
            ):
                return str(value), target
            if (
-                isinstance(value, datetime.datetime)
+                isinstance(value, dtm.datetime)
                and value == telegram.constants.ZERO_DATE
                and target in ("telegram.constants.ZERO_DATE",)
            ):
@@ -61,5 +61,5 @@
 }
 .admonition.returned-in > ul, .admonition.available-in > ul, .admonition.use-in > ul, .admonition.shortcuts > ul {
  max-height: 200px;
-  overflow-y: scroll;
+  overflow-y: auto;
 }
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, str(Path("../..").resolve().absolute()))
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
 # General information about the project.
 project = "python-telegram-bot"
-copyright = "2015-2024, Leandro Toledo"
+copyright = "2015-2025, Leandro Toledo"
 author = "Leandro Toledo"

 # The version info for the project you're documenting, acts as replacement for
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ linkcheck_ignore = [
    # Anchors are apparently inserted by GitHub dynamically, so let's skip checking them
    "https://github.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/tree/master/examples#",
    r"https://github\.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/wiki/[\w\-_,]+\#",
+    # The LGPL license link regularly causes network errors for some reason
+    re.escape("https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html"),
+    # The doc-fixes branch may not always exist - doesn't matter, we only link to it from the
+    # contributing guide
+    re.escape("https://docs.python-telegram-bot.org/en/doc-fixes"),
 ]
 linkcheck_allowed_redirects = {
    # Redirects to the default version are okay
@@ -183,6 +183,29 @@
   </details>
   <br>

+.. raw:: html
+
+   <details>
+   <summary>Verification on behalf of an organization</summary>
+
+.. list-table::
+    :align: left
+    :widths: 1 4
+
+    * - :meth:`~telegram.Bot.verify_chat`
+      - Used for verifying a chat
+    * - :meth:`~telegram.Bot.verify_user`
+      - Used for verifying a user
+    * - :meth:`~telegram.Bot.remove_chat_verification`
+      - Used for removing the verification from a chat
+    * - :meth:`~telegram.Bot.remove_user_verification`
+      - Used for removing the verification from a user
+
+.. raw:: html
+
+   </details>
+   <br>
+
 .. raw:: html

   <details>
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+AffiliateInfo
+=============
+
+.. autoclass:: telegram.AffiliateInfo
+    :members:
+    :show-inheritance:
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ telegram.constants Module
    :members:
    :show-inheritance:
    :no-undoc-members:
-    :inherited-members: Enum, EnumMeta, str, int
+    :inherited-members: Enum, EnumMeta, str, int, float
    :exclude-members: __format__, __new__, __repr__, __str__
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Your bot can accept payments from Telegram users. Please see the `introduction t
 .. toctree::
    :titlesonly:

+    telegram.affiliateinfo
    telegram.invoice
    telegram.labeledprice
    telegram.orderinfo
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ Your bot can accept payments from Telegram users. Please see the `introduction t
    telegram.startransactions
    telegram.successfulpayment
    telegram.transactionpartner
+    telegram.transactionpartneraffiliateprogram
+    telegram.transactionpartnerchat
    telegram.transactionpartnerfragment
    telegram.transactionpartnerother
    telegram.transactionpartnertelegramads
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+TransactionPartnerAffiliateProgram
+===================================
+
+.. autoclass:: telegram.TransactionPartnerAffiliateProgram
+    :members:
+    :show-inheritance:
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+TransactionPartnerChat
+======================
+
+.. autoclass:: telegram.TransactionPartnerChat
+    :members:
+    :show-inheritance:
+    :inherited-members: TransactionPartner
@@ -96,4 +96,8 @@

 .. |allow_paid_broadcast| replace:: Pass True to allow up to :tg-const:`telegram.constants.FloodLimit.PAID_MESSAGES_PER_SECOND` messages per second, ignoring `broadcasting limits <https://core.telegram.org/bots/faq#how-can-i-message-all-of-my-bot-39s-subscribers-at-once>`__ for a fee of 0.1 Telegram Stars per message. The relevant Stars will be withdrawn from the bot's balance.

-.. |tz-naive-dtms| replace:: For timezone naive :obj:`datetime.datetime` objects, the default timezone of the bot will be used, which is UTC unless :attr:`telegram.ext.Defaults.tzinfo` is used.
+.. |tz-naive-dtms| replace:: For timezone naive :obj:`datetime.datetime` objects, the default timezone of the bot will be used, which is UTC unless :attr:`telegram.ext.Defaults.tzinfo` is used.
+
+.. |org-verify| replace:: `on behalf of the organization <https://telegram.org/verify#third-party-verification>`__
+
+.. |time-period-input| replace:: :class:`datetime.timedelta` objects are accepted in addition to plain :obj:`int` values.
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ async def start_with_shipping_callback(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEF
        title,
        description,
        payload,
-        PAYMENT_PROVIDER_TOKEN,
        currency,
        prices,
+        provider_token=PAYMENT_PROVIDER_TOKEN,
        need_name=True,
        need_phone_number=True,
        need_email=True,
@@ -90,7 +90,13 @@ async def start_without_shipping_callback(
    # optionally pass need_name=True, need_phone_number=True,
    # need_email=True, need_shipping_address=True, is_flexible=True
    await context.bot.send_invoice(
-        chat_id, title, description, payload, PAYMENT_PROVIDER_TOKEN, currency, prices
+        chat_id,
+        title,
+        description,
+        payload,
+        currency,
+        prices,
+        provider_token=PAYMENT_PROVIDER_TOKEN,
    )


@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ description = "We have made you a wrapper you can't refuse"
 readme = "README.rst"
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
 license = "LGPL-3.0-only"
-license-files = { paths = ["LICENSE", "LICENSE.dual", "LICENSE.lesser"] }
+license-files = ["LICENSE", "LICENSE.dual", "LICENSE.lesser"]
 authors = [
    { name = "Leandro Toledo", email = "devs@python-telegram-bot.org" }
 ]
@@ -76,9 +76,7 @@ http2 = [
 ]
 job-queue = [
    # APS doesn't have a strict stability policy. Let's be cautious for now.
-    "APScheduler~=3.10.4",
-    # pytz is required by APS and just needs the lower bound due to #2120
-    "pytz>=2018.6",
+    "APScheduler>=3.10.4,<3.12.0",
 ]
 passport = [
    "cryptography!=3.4,!=3.4.1,!=3.4.2,!=3.4.3,>=39.0.1",
@@ -86,7 +84,7 @@ passport = [
    "cffi >= 1.17.0rc1; python_version > '3.12'"
 ]
 rate-limiter = [
-    "aiolimiter~=1.1.0",
+    "aiolimiter>=1.1,<1.3",
 ]
 socks = [
    "httpx[socks]",
@@ -149,7 +147,8 @@ enable = ["useless-suppression"]
 disable = ["duplicate-code", "too-many-arguments", "too-many-public-methods",
        "too-few-public-methods", "broad-exception-caught", "too-many-instance-attributes",
        "fixme", "missing-function-docstring", "missing-class-docstring", "too-many-locals",
-        "too-many-lines", "too-many-branches", "too-many-statements", "cyclic-import"
+        "too-many-lines", "too-many-branches", "too-many-statements", "cyclic-import",
+        "too-many-positional-arguments",
 ]

 [tool.pylint.main]
@@ -180,8 +179,8 @@ markers = [
    "req",
 ]
 asyncio_mode = "auto"
-log_format = "%(funcName)s - Line %(lineno)d - %(message)s"
-# log_level = "DEBUG"  # uncomment to see DEBUG logs
+log_cli_format = "%(funcName)s - Line %(lineno)d - %(message)s"
+# log_cli_level = "DEBUG"  # uncomment to see DEBUG logs

 # MYPY:
 [tool.mypy]
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 build

 # For the test suite
-pytest==8.3.3
+pytest==8.3.4

 # needed because pytest doesn't come with native support for coroutines as tests
 pytest-asyncio==0.21.2
@@ -16,4 +16,8 @@ pytest-xdist==3.6.1
 flaky>=3.8.1

 # used in test_official for parsing tg docs
-beautifulsoup4
+beautifulsoup4
+
+# For testing with timezones. Might not be needed on all systems, but to ensure that unit tests
+# run correctly on all systems, we include it here.
+tzdata
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@

 __author__ = "devs@python-telegram-bot.org"
 __all__ = (
+    "AffiliateInfo",
    "Animation",
    "Audio",
    "BackgroundFill",
@@ -236,6 +237,8 @@ __all__ = (
    "TelegramObject",
    "TextQuote",
    "TransactionPartner",
+    "TransactionPartnerAffiliateProgram",
+    "TransactionPartnerChat",
    "TransactionPartnerFragment",
    "TransactionPartnerOther",
    "TransactionPartnerTelegramAds",
@@ -269,6 +272,18 @@ __all__ = (
    "warnings",
 )

+from telegram._payment.stars.startransactions import StarTransaction, StarTransactions
+from telegram._payment.stars.transactionpartner import (
+    TransactionPartner,
+    TransactionPartnerAffiliateProgram,
+    TransactionPartnerChat,
+    TransactionPartnerFragment,
+    TransactionPartnerOther,
+    TransactionPartnerTelegramAds,
+    TransactionPartnerTelegramApi,
+    TransactionPartnerUser,
+)
+
 from . import _version, constants, error, helpers, request, warnings
 from ._birthdate import Birthdate
 from ._bot import Bot
@@ -468,19 +483,12 @@ from ._payment.refundedpayment import RefundedPayment
 from ._payment.shippingaddress import ShippingAddress
 from ._payment.shippingoption import ShippingOption
 from ._payment.shippingquery import ShippingQuery
-from ._payment.stars import (
+from ._payment.stars.affiliateinfo import AffiliateInfo
+from ._payment.stars.revenuewithdrawalstate import (
    RevenueWithdrawalState,
    RevenueWithdrawalStateFailed,
    RevenueWithdrawalStatePending,
    RevenueWithdrawalStateSucceeded,
-    StarTransaction,
-    StarTransactions,
-    TransactionPartner,
-    TransactionPartnerFragment,
-    TransactionPartnerOther,
-    TransactionPartnerTelegramAds,
-    TransactionPartnerTelegramApi,
-    TransactionPartnerUser,
 )
 from ._payment.successfulpayment import SuccessfulPayment
 from ._poll import InputPollOption, Poll, PollAnswer, PollOption
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # !/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Birthday."""
-from datetime import date
+import datetime as dtm
 from typing import Optional

 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Birthdate(TelegramObject):

        self._freeze()

-    def to_date(self, year: Optional[int] = None) -> date:
+    def to_date(self, year: Optional[int] = None) -> dtm.date:
        """Return the birthdate as a date object.

        .. versionchanged:: 21.2
@@ -89,4 +89,4 @@ class Birthdate(TelegramObject):
                "The `year` argument is required if the `year` attribute was not present."
            )

-        return date(year or self.year, self.month, self.day)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+        return dtm.date(year or self.year, self.month, self.day)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -84,9 +84,7 @@ class BotCommandScope(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BotCommandScope"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BotCommandScope":
        """Converts JSON data to the appropriate :class:`BotCommandScope` object, i.e. takes
        care of selecting the correct subclass.

@@ -104,9 +102,6 @@ class BotCommandScope(TelegramObject):
        """
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        _class_mapping: dict[str, type[BotCommandScope]] = {
            cls.DEFAULT: BotCommandScopeDefault,
            cls.ALL_PRIVATE_CHATS: BotCommandScopeAllPrivateChats,
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -18,9 +18,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/]
 """This module contains the Telegram Business related classes."""
-
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from datetime import datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._chat import Chat
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._files.sticker import Sticker
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ class BusinessConnection(TelegramObject):
        id: str,
        user: "User",
        user_chat_id: int,
-        date: datetime,
+        date: dtm.datetime,
        can_reply: bool,
        is_enabled: bool,
        *,
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ class BusinessConnection(TelegramObject):
        self.id: str = id
        self.user: User = user
        self.user_chat_id: int = user_chat_id
-        self.date: datetime = date
+        self.date: dtm.datetime = date
        self.can_reply: bool = can_reply
        self.is_enabled: bool = is_enabled

@@ -107,20 +106,15 @@ class BusinessConnection(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BusinessConnection"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BusinessConnection":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

        data["date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
-        data["user"] = User.de_json(data.get("user"), bot)
+        data["user"] = de_json_optional(data.get("user"), User, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -178,16 +172,11 @@ class BusinessMessagesDeleted(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BusinessMessagesDeleted"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BusinessMessagesDeleted":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -237,16 +226,11 @@ class BusinessIntro(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BusinessIntro"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BusinessIntro":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["sticker"] = Sticker.de_json(data.get("sticker"), bot)
+        data["sticker"] = de_json_optional(data.get("sticker"), Sticker, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -291,16 +275,11 @@ class BusinessLocation(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BusinessLocation"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BusinessLocation":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["location"] = Location.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), Location, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -440,17 +419,12 @@ class BusinessOpeningHours(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BusinessOpeningHours"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BusinessOpeningHours":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["opening_hours"] = BusinessOpeningHoursInterval.de_list(
-            data.get("opening_hours"), bot
+        data["opening_hours"] = de_list_optional(
+            data.get("opening_hours"), BusinessOpeningHoursInterval, bot
        )

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._message import MaybeInaccessibleMessage, Message
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, ReplyMarkup
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, ReplyMarkup, TimePeriod

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from telegram import (
@@ -149,17 +150,12 @@ class CallbackQuery(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["CallbackQuery"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "CallbackQuery":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["from_user"] = User.de_json(data.pop("from", None), bot)
-        data["message"] = Message.de_json(data.get("message"), bot)
+        data["from_user"] = de_json_optional(data.pop("from", None), User, bot)
+        data["message"] = de_json_optional(data.get("message"), Message, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -168,7 +164,7 @@ class CallbackQuery(TelegramObject):
        text: Optional[str] = None,
        show_alert: Optional[bool] = None,
        url: Optional[str] = None,
-        cache_time: Optional[int] = None,
+        cache_time: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -475,7 +471,7 @@ class CallbackQuery(TelegramObject):
        horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = None,
        heading: Optional[int] = None,
        proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = None,
-        live_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        live_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        *,
        location: Optional[Location] = None,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -835,6 +831,7 @@ class CallbackQuery(TelegramObject):
        reply_parameters: Optional["ReplyParameters"] = None,
        show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = None,
        allow_paid_broadcast: Optional[bool] = None,
+        video_start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        allow_sending_without_reply: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        reply_to_message_id: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -868,6 +865,7 @@ class CallbackQuery(TelegramObject):
            chat_id=chat_id,
            caption=caption,
            parse_mode=parse_mode,
+            video_start_timestamp=video_start_timestamp,
            caption_entities=caption_entities,
            disable_notification=disable_notification,
            reply_to_message_id=reply_to_message_id,
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Chat."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from datetime import datetime
 from html import escape
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional, Union

@@ -31,7 +31,14 @@ from telegram._reaction import ReactionType
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import CorrectOptionID, FileInput, JSONDict, ODVInput, ReplyMarkup
+from telegram._utils.types import (
+    CorrectOptionID,
+    FileInput,
+    JSONDict,
+    ODVInput,
+    ReplyMarkup,
+    TimePeriod,
+)
 from telegram.helpers import escape_markdown
 from telegram.helpers import mention_html as helpers_mention_html
 from telegram.helpers import mention_markdown as helpers_mention_markdown
@@ -384,7 +391,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        self,
        user_id: int,
        revoke_messages: Optional[bool] = None,
-        until_date: Optional[Union[int, datetime]] = None,
+        until_date: Optional[Union[int, dtm.datetime]] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -656,7 +663,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        self,
        user_id: int,
        permissions: ChatPermissions,
-        until_date: Optional[Union[int, datetime]] = None,
+        until_date: Optional[Union[int, dtm.datetime]] = None,
        use_independent_chat_permissions: Optional[bool] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -1339,7 +1346,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def send_audio(
        self,
        audio: Union[FileInput, "Audio"],
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        performer: Optional[str] = None,
        title: Optional[str] = None,
        caption: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -1569,9 +1576,9 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        title: str,
        description: str,
        payload: str,
-        provider_token: Optional[str],
        currency: str,
        prices: Sequence["LabeledPrice"],
+        provider_token: Optional[str] = None,
        start_parameter: Optional[str] = None,
        photo_url: Optional[str] = None,
        photo_size: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -1668,7 +1675,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        longitude: Optional[float] = None,
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        reply_markup: Optional[ReplyMarkup] = None,
-        live_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        live_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = None,
        heading: Optional[int] = None,
        proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -1727,7 +1734,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def send_animation(
        self,
        animation: Union[FileInput, "Animation"],
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        width: Optional[int] = None,
        height: Optional[int] = None,
        caption: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -1915,7 +1922,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def send_video(
        self,
        video: Union[FileInput, "Video"],
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        caption: Optional[str] = None,
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        reply_markup: Optional[ReplyMarkup] = None,
@@ -1933,6 +1940,8 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        message_effect_id: Optional[str] = None,
        allow_paid_broadcast: Optional[bool] = None,
        show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = None,
+        cover: Optional[FileInput] = None,
+        start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        reply_to_message_id: Optional[int] = None,
        allow_sending_without_reply: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -1971,6 +1980,8 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
            parse_mode=parse_mode,
            supports_streaming=supports_streaming,
            thumbnail=thumbnail,
+            cover=cover,
+            start_timestamp=start_timestamp,
            api_kwargs=api_kwargs,
            allow_sending_without_reply=allow_sending_without_reply,
            caption_entities=caption_entities,
@@ -1987,7 +1998,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def send_video_note(
        self,
        video_note: Union[FileInput, "VideoNote"],
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        length: Optional[int] = None,
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        reply_markup: Optional[ReplyMarkup] = None,
@@ -2045,7 +2056,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def send_voice(
        self,
        voice: Union[FileInput, "Voice"],
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        caption: Optional[str] = None,
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        reply_markup: Optional[ReplyMarkup] = None,
@@ -2115,8 +2126,8 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        reply_markup: Optional[ReplyMarkup] = None,
        explanation: Optional[str] = None,
        explanation_parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
-        open_period: Optional[int] = None,
-        close_date: Optional[Union[int, datetime]] = None,
+        open_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
+        close_date: Optional[Union[int, dtm.datetime]] = None,
        explanation_entities: Optional[Sequence["MessageEntity"]] = None,
        protect_content: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        message_thread_id: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -2192,6 +2203,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        reply_parameters: Optional["ReplyParameters"] = None,
        show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = None,
        allow_paid_broadcast: Optional[bool] = None,
+        video_start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        reply_to_message_id: Optional[int] = None,
        allow_sending_without_reply: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -2218,6 +2230,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
            from_chat_id=from_chat_id,
            message_id=message_id,
            caption=caption,
+            video_start_timestamp=video_start_timestamp,
            parse_mode=parse_mode,
            caption_entities=caption_entities,
            disable_notification=disable_notification,
@@ -2250,6 +2263,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        reply_parameters: Optional["ReplyParameters"] = None,
        show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = None,
        allow_paid_broadcast: Optional[bool] = None,
+        video_start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        reply_to_message_id: Optional[int] = None,
        allow_sending_without_reply: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -2276,6 +2290,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
            chat_id=chat_id,
            message_id=message_id,
            caption=caption,
+            video_start_timestamp=video_start_timestamp,
            parse_mode=parse_mode,
            caption_entities=caption_entities,
            disable_notification=disable_notification,
@@ -2391,6 +2406,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        protect_content: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        message_thread_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        video_start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -2416,6 +2432,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
            chat_id=self.id,
            from_chat_id=from_chat_id,
            message_id=message_id,
+            video_start_timestamp=video_start_timestamp,
            disable_notification=disable_notification,
            read_timeout=read_timeout,
            write_timeout=write_timeout,
@@ -2433,6 +2450,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        disable_notification: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        protect_content: ODVInput[bool] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        message_thread_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        video_start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -2459,6 +2477,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
            from_chat_id=self.id,
            chat_id=chat_id,
            message_id=message_id,
+            video_start_timestamp=video_start_timestamp,
            disable_notification=disable_notification,
            read_timeout=read_timeout,
            write_timeout=write_timeout,
@@ -2588,7 +2607,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):

    async def create_invite_link(
        self,
-        expire_date: Optional[Union[int, datetime]] = None,
+        expire_date: Optional[Union[int, dtm.datetime]] = None,
        member_limit: Optional[int] = None,
        name: Optional[str] = None,
        creates_join_request: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -2632,7 +2651,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
    async def edit_invite_link(
        self,
        invite_link: Union[str, "ChatInviteLink"],
-        expire_date: Optional[Union[int, datetime]] = None,
+        expire_date: Optional[Union[int, dtm.datetime]] = None,
        member_limit: Optional[int] = None,
        name: Optional[str] = None,
        creates_join_request: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -2708,7 +2727,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):

    async def create_subscription_invite_link(
        self,
-        subscription_period: int,
+        subscription_period: TimePeriod,
        subscription_price: int,
        name: Optional[str] = None,
        *,
@@ -3443,6 +3462,7 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):
        text: Optional[str] = None,
        text_parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        text_entities: Optional[Sequence["MessageEntity"]] = None,
+        pay_for_upgrade: Optional[bool] = None,
        *,
        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -3454,22 +3474,93 @@ class _ChatBase(TelegramObject):

             await bot.send_gift(user_id=update.effective_chat.id, *args, **kwargs )

+        or::
+
+            await bot.send_gift(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, *args, **kwargs )
+
        For the documentation of the arguments, please see :meth:`telegram.Bot.send_gift`.

        Caution:
-            Can only work, if the chat is a private chat, see :attr:`type`.
+            Will only work if the chat is a private or channel chat, see :attr:`type`.

        .. versionadded:: 21.8

+        .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+
+            Added support for channel chats.
+
        Returns:
            :obj:`bool`: On success, :obj:`True` is returned.
        """
        return await self.get_bot().send_gift(
-            user_id=self.id,
            gift_id=gift_id,
            text=text,
            text_parse_mode=text_parse_mode,
            text_entities=text_entities,
+            pay_for_upgrade=pay_for_upgrade,
+            read_timeout=read_timeout,
+            write_timeout=write_timeout,
+            connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
+            pool_timeout=pool_timeout,
+            api_kwargs=api_kwargs,
+            **{"chat_id" if self.type == Chat.CHANNEL else "user_id": self.id},
+        )
+
+    async def verify(
+        self,
+        custom_description: Optional[str] = None,
+        *,
+        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        connect_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        pool_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Shortcut for::
+
+             await bot.verify_chat(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        For the documentation of the arguments, please see
+        :meth:`telegram.Bot.verify_chat`.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 21.10
+
+        Returns:
+            :obj:`bool`: On success, :obj:`True` is returned.
+        """
+        return await self.get_bot().verify_chat(
+            chat_id=self.id,
+            custom_description=custom_description,
+            read_timeout=read_timeout,
+            write_timeout=write_timeout,
+            connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
+            pool_timeout=pool_timeout,
+            api_kwargs=api_kwargs,
+        )
+
+    async def remove_verification(
+        self,
+        *,
+        read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        write_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        connect_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        pool_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
+        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Shortcut for::
+
+             await bot.remove_chat_verification(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        For the documentation of the arguments, please see
+        :meth:`telegram.Bot.remove_chat_verification`.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 21.10
+
+        Returns:
+            :obj:`bool`: On success, :obj:`True` is returned.
+        """
+        return await self.get_bot().remove_chat_verification(
+            chat_id=self.id,
            read_timeout=read_timeout,
            write_timeout=write_timeout,
            connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from telegram import constants
 from telegram._files.document import Document
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -79,15 +79,10 @@ class BackgroundFill(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BackgroundFill"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BackgroundFill":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        _class_mapping: dict[str, type[BackgroundFill]] = {
            cls.SOLID: BackgroundFillSolid,
            cls.GRADIENT: BackgroundFillGradient,
@@ -270,15 +265,10 @@ class BackgroundType(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["BackgroundType"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "BackgroundType":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        _class_mapping: dict[str, type[BackgroundType]] = {
            cls.FILL: BackgroundTypeFill,
            cls.WALLPAPER: BackgroundTypeWallpaper,
@@ -290,10 +280,10 @@ class BackgroundType(TelegramObject):
            return _class_mapping[data.pop("type")].de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

        if "fill" in data:
-            data["fill"] = BackgroundFill.de_json(data.get("fill"), bot)
+            data["fill"] = de_json_optional(data.get("fill"), BackgroundFill, bot)

        if "document" in data:
-            data["document"] = Document.de_json(data.get("document"), bot)
+            data["document"] = de_json_optional(data.get("document"), Document, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -398,8 +388,8 @@ class BackgroundTypeWallpaper(BackgroundType):

 class BackgroundTypePattern(BackgroundType):
    """
-    The background is a `PNG` or `TGV` (gzipped subset of `SVG` with `MIME` type
-    `"application/x-tgwallpattern"`) pattern to be combined with the background fill
+    The background is a ``.PNG`` or ``.TGV`` (gzipped subset of ``SVG`` with ``MIME`` type
+    ``"application/x-tgwallpattern"``) pattern to be combined with the background fill
    chosen by the user.

    Objects of this class are comparable in terms of equality. Two objects of this class are
@@ -533,15 +523,10 @@ class ChatBackground(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatBackground"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatBackground":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["type"] = BackgroundType.de_json(data.get("type"), bot)
+        data["type"] = de_json_optional(data.get("type"), BackgroundType, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,9 +17,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram ChatBoosts."""
-
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from datetime import datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional

 from telegram import constants
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ from telegram._chat import Chat
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -111,15 +110,10 @@ class ChatBoostSource(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatBoostSource"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatBoostSource":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        _class_mapping: dict[str, type[ChatBoostSource]] = {
            cls.PREMIUM: ChatBoostSourcePremium,
            cls.GIFT_CODE: ChatBoostSourceGiftCode,
@@ -130,7 +124,7 @@ class ChatBoostSource(TelegramObject):
            return _class_mapping[data.pop("source")].de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

        if "user" in data:
-            data["user"] = User.de_json(data.get("user"), bot)
+            data["user"] = de_json_optional(data.get("user"), User, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -274,8 +268,8 @@ class ChatBoost(TelegramObject):
    def __init__(
        self,
        boost_id: str,
-        add_date: datetime,
-        expiration_date: datetime,
+        add_date: dtm.datetime,
+        expiration_date: dtm.datetime,
        source: ChatBoostSource,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
@@ -283,27 +277,22 @@ class ChatBoost(TelegramObject):
        super().__init__(api_kwargs=api_kwargs)

        self.boost_id: str = boost_id
-        self.add_date: datetime = add_date
-        self.expiration_date: datetime = expiration_date
+        self.add_date: dtm.datetime = add_date
+        self.expiration_date: dtm.datetime = expiration_date
        self.source: ChatBoostSource = source

        self._id_attrs = (self.boost_id, self.add_date, self.expiration_date, self.source)
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatBoost"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatBoost":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["source"] = ChatBoostSource.de_json(data.get("source"), bot)
+        data["source"] = de_json_optional(data.get("source"), ChatBoostSource, bot)
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)
-        data["add_date"] = from_timestamp(data["add_date"], tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
-        data["expiration_date"] = from_timestamp(data["expiration_date"], tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
+        data["add_date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("add_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
+        data["expiration_date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("expiration_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -343,17 +332,12 @@ class ChatBoostUpdated(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatBoostUpdated"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatBoostUpdated":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
-        data["boost"] = ChatBoost.de_json(data.get("boost"), bot)
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["boost"] = de_json_optional(data.get("boost"), ChatBoost, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -386,7 +370,7 @@ class ChatBoostRemoved(TelegramObject):
        self,
        chat: Chat,
        boost_id: str,
-        remove_date: datetime,
+        remove_date: dtm.datetime,
        source: ChatBoostSource,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
@@ -395,26 +379,21 @@ class ChatBoostRemoved(TelegramObject):

        self.chat: Chat = chat
        self.boost_id: str = boost_id
-        self.remove_date: datetime = remove_date
+        self.remove_date: dtm.datetime = remove_date
        self.source: ChatBoostSource = source

        self._id_attrs = (self.chat, self.boost_id, self.remove_date, self.source)
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatBoostRemoved"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatBoostRemoved":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
-        data["source"] = ChatBoostSource.de_json(data.get("source"), bot)
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["source"] = de_json_optional(data.get("source"), ChatBoostSource, bot)
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)
-        data["remove_date"] = from_timestamp(data["remove_date"], tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
+        data["remove_date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("remove_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -451,15 +430,10 @@ class UserChatBoosts(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["UserChatBoosts"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "UserChatBoosts":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["boosts"] = ChatBoost.de_list(data.get("boosts"), bot)
+        data["boosts"] = de_list_optional(data.get("boosts"), ChatBoost, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram ChatFullInfo."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from datetime import datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._birthdate import Birthdate
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from telegram._chatlocation import ChatLocation
 from telegram._chatpermissions import ChatPermissions
 from telegram._files.chatphoto import ChatPhoto
 from telegram._reaction import ReactionType
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            sent or forwarded to the channel chat. The field is available only for channel chats.

            .. versionadded:: 21.4
+        can_send_gift (:obj:`bool`, optional): :obj:`True`, if gifts can be sent to the chat.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11

    Attributes:
        id (:obj:`int`): Unique identifier for this chat.
@@ -354,6 +357,9 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            sent or forwarded to the channel chat. The field is available only for channel chats.

            .. versionadded:: 21.4
+        can_send_gift (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if gifts can be sent to the chat.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11

    .. _accent colors: https://core.telegram.org/bots/api#accent-colors
    .. _topics: https://telegram.org/blog/topics-in-groups-collectible-usernames#topics-in-groups
@@ -369,6 +375,7 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
        "business_intro",
        "business_location",
        "business_opening_hours",
+        "can_send_gift",
        "can_send_paid_media",
        "can_set_sticker_set",
        "custom_emoji_sticker_set_name",
@@ -422,7 +429,7 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
        profile_accent_color_id: Optional[int] = None,
        profile_background_custom_emoji_id: Optional[str] = None,
        emoji_status_custom_emoji_id: Optional[str] = None,
-        emoji_status_expiration_date: Optional[datetime] = None,
+        emoji_status_expiration_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = None,
        bio: Optional[str] = None,
        has_private_forwards: Optional[bool] = None,
        has_restricted_voice_and_video_messages: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -445,6 +452,7 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
        linked_chat_id: Optional[int] = None,
        location: Optional[ChatLocation] = None,
        can_send_paid_media: Optional[bool] = None,
+        can_send_gift: Optional[bool] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
@@ -486,7 +494,9 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            )
            self.active_usernames: tuple[str, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(active_usernames)
            self.emoji_status_custom_emoji_id: Optional[str] = emoji_status_custom_emoji_id
-            self.emoji_status_expiration_date: Optional[datetime] = emoji_status_expiration_date
+            self.emoji_status_expiration_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = (
+                emoji_status_expiration_date
+            )
            self.has_aggressive_anti_spam_enabled: Optional[bool] = (
                has_aggressive_anti_spam_enabled
            )
@@ -508,17 +518,13 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            self.business_location: Optional[BusinessLocation] = business_location
            self.business_opening_hours: Optional[BusinessOpeningHours] = business_opening_hours
            self.can_send_paid_media: Optional[bool] = can_send_paid_media
+            self.can_send_gift: Optional[bool] = can_send_gift

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatFullInfo"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatFullInfo":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

@@ -526,7 +532,7 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            data.get("emoji_status_expiration_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo
        )

-        data["photo"] = ChatPhoto.de_json(data.get("photo"), bot)
+        data["photo"] = de_json_optional(data.get("photo"), ChatPhoto, bot)

        from telegram import (  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
            BusinessIntro,
@@ -535,16 +541,20 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
            Message,
        )

-        data["pinned_message"] = Message.de_json(data.get("pinned_message"), bot)
-        data["permissions"] = ChatPermissions.de_json(data.get("permissions"), bot)
-        data["location"] = ChatLocation.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
-        data["available_reactions"] = ReactionType.de_list(data.get("available_reactions"), bot)
-        data["birthdate"] = Birthdate.de_json(data.get("birthdate"), bot)
-        data["personal_chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("personal_chat"), bot)
-        data["business_intro"] = BusinessIntro.de_json(data.get("business_intro"), bot)
-        data["business_location"] = BusinessLocation.de_json(data.get("business_location"), bot)
-        data["business_opening_hours"] = BusinessOpeningHours.de_json(
-            data.get("business_opening_hours"), bot
+        data["pinned_message"] = de_json_optional(data.get("pinned_message"), Message, bot)
+        data["permissions"] = de_json_optional(data.get("permissions"), ChatPermissions, bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), ChatLocation, bot)
+        data["available_reactions"] = de_list_optional(
+            data.get("available_reactions"), ReactionType, bot
+        )
+        data["birthdate"] = de_json_optional(data.get("birthdate"), Birthdate, bot)
+        data["personal_chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("personal_chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["business_intro"] = de_json_optional(data.get("business_intro"), BusinessIntro, bot)
+        data["business_location"] = de_json_optional(
+            data.get("business_location"), BusinessLocation, bot
+        )
+        data["business_opening_hours"] = de_json_optional(
+            data.get("business_opening_hours"), BusinessOpeningHours, bot
        )

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents an invite link for a chat."""
-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
        creates_join_request: bool,
        is_primary: bool,
        is_revoked: bool,
-        expire_date: Optional[datetime.datetime] = None,
+        expire_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = None,
        member_limit: Optional[int] = None,
        name: Optional[str] = None,
        pending_join_request_count: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
        self.is_revoked: bool = is_revoked

        # Optionals
-        self.expire_date: Optional[datetime.datetime] = expire_date
+        self.expire_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = expire_date
        self.member_limit: Optional[int] = member_limit
        self.name: Optional[str] = name
        self.pending_join_request_count: Optional[int] = (
@@ -177,19 +178,14 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatInviteLink"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatInviteLink":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-        data["creator"] = User.de_json(data.get("creator"), bot)
+        data["creator"] = de_json_optional(data.get("creator"), User, bot)
        data["expire_date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("expire_date", None), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,13 +17,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram ChatJoinRequest."""
-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._chat import Chat
 from telegram._chatinvitelink import ChatInviteLink
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ class ChatJoinRequest(TelegramObject):
        self,
        chat: Chat,
        from_user: User,
-        date: datetime.datetime,
+        date: dtm.datetime,
        user_chat_id: int,
        bio: Optional[str] = None,
        invite_link: Optional[ChatInviteLink] = None,
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ class ChatJoinRequest(TelegramObject):
        # Required
        self.chat: Chat = chat
        self.from_user: User = from_user
-        self.date: datetime.datetime = date
+        self.date: dtm.datetime = date
        self.user_chat_id: int = user_chat_id

        # Optionals
@@ -129,22 +130,17 @@ class ChatJoinRequest(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatJoinRequest"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatJoinRequest":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
-        data["from_user"] = User.de_json(data.pop("from", None), bot)
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["from_user"] = de_json_optional(data.pop("from", None), User, bot)
        data["date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("date", None), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
-        data["invite_link"] = ChatInviteLink.de_json(data.get("invite_link"), bot)
+        data["invite_link"] = de_json_optional(data.get("invite_link"), ChatInviteLink, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -68,16 +69,11 @@ class ChatLocation(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatLocation"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatLocation":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["location"] = Location.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), Location, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram ChatMember."""

-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional

 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils import enum
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -98,22 +100,17 @@ class ChatMember(TelegramObject):
        super().__init__(api_kwargs=api_kwargs)
        # Required by all subclasses
        self.user: User = user
-        self.status: str = status
+        self.status: str = enum.get_member(constants.ChatMemberStatus, status, status)

        self._id_attrs = (self.user, self.status)

        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatMember"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatMember":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        _class_mapping: dict[str, type[ChatMember]] = {
            cls.OWNER: ChatMemberOwner,
            cls.ADMINISTRATOR: ChatMemberAdministrator,
@@ -126,12 +123,12 @@ class ChatMember(TelegramObject):
        if cls is ChatMember and data.get("status") in _class_mapping:
            return _class_mapping[data.pop("status")].de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

-        data["user"] = User.de_json(data.get("user"), bot)
+        data["user"] = de_json_optional(data.get("user"), User, bot)
        if "until_date" in data:
            # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
            loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-            data["until_date"] = from_timestamp(data["until_date"], tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
+            data["until_date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("until_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)

        # This is a deprecated field that TG still returns for backwards compatibility
        # Let's filter it out to speed up the de-json process
@@ -413,13 +410,13 @@ class ChatMemberMember(ChatMember):
    def __init__(
        self,
        user: User,
-        until_date: Optional[datetime.datetime] = None,
+        until_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
        super().__init__(status=ChatMember.MEMBER, user=user, api_kwargs=api_kwargs)
        with self._unfrozen():
-            self.until_date: Optional[datetime.datetime] = until_date
+            self.until_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = until_date


 class ChatMemberRestricted(ChatMember):
@@ -566,7 +563,7 @@ class ChatMemberRestricted(ChatMember):
        can_send_other_messages: bool,
        can_add_web_page_previews: bool,
        can_manage_topics: bool,
-        until_date: datetime.datetime,
+        until_date: dtm.datetime,
        can_send_audios: bool,
        can_send_documents: bool,
        can_send_photos: bool,
@@ -587,7 +584,7 @@ class ChatMemberRestricted(ChatMember):
            self.can_send_other_messages: bool = can_send_other_messages
            self.can_add_web_page_previews: bool = can_add_web_page_previews
            self.can_manage_topics: bool = can_manage_topics
-            self.until_date: datetime.datetime = until_date
+            self.until_date: dtm.datetime = until_date
            self.can_send_audios: bool = can_send_audios
            self.can_send_documents: bool = can_send_documents
            self.can_send_photos: bool = can_send_photos
@@ -656,10 +653,10 @@ class ChatMemberBanned(ChatMember):
    def __init__(
        self,
        user: User,
-        until_date: datetime.datetime,
+        until_date: dtm.datetime,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
        super().__init__(status=ChatMember.BANNED, user=user, api_kwargs=api_kwargs)
        with self._unfrozen():
-            self.until_date: datetime.datetime = until_date
+            self.until_date: dtm.datetime = until_date
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram ChatMemberUpdated."""
-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union

 from telegram._chat import Chat
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from telegram._chatinvitelink import ChatInviteLink
 from telegram._chatmember import ChatMember
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ class ChatMemberUpdated(TelegramObject):
        self,
        chat: Chat,
        from_user: User,
-        date: datetime.datetime,
+        date: dtm.datetime,
        old_chat_member: ChatMember,
        new_chat_member: ChatMember,
        invite_link: Optional[ChatInviteLink] = None,
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ class ChatMemberUpdated(TelegramObject):
        # Required
        self.chat: Chat = chat
        self.from_user: User = from_user
-        self.date: datetime.datetime = date
+        self.date: dtm.datetime = date
        self.old_chat_member: ChatMember = old_chat_member
        self.new_chat_member: ChatMember = new_chat_member
        self.via_chat_folder_invite_link: Optional[bool] = via_chat_folder_invite_link
@@ -141,24 +142,19 @@ class ChatMemberUpdated(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatMemberUpdated"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatMemberUpdated":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
-        data["from_user"] = User.de_json(data.pop("from", None), bot)
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["from_user"] = de_json_optional(data.pop("from", None), User, bot)
        data["date"] = from_timestamp(data.get("date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo)
-        data["old_chat_member"] = ChatMember.de_json(data.get("old_chat_member"), bot)
-        data["new_chat_member"] = ChatMember.de_json(data.get("new_chat_member"), bot)
-        data["invite_link"] = ChatInviteLink.de_json(data.get("invite_link"), bot)
+        data["old_chat_member"] = de_json_optional(data.get("old_chat_member"), ChatMember, bot)
+        data["new_chat_member"] = de_json_optional(data.get("new_chat_member"), ChatMember, bot)
+        data["invite_link"] = de_json_optional(data.get("invite_link"), ChatInviteLink, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -179,9 +175,7 @@ class ChatMemberUpdated(TelegramObject):
        self,
    ) -> dict[
        str,
-        tuple[
-            Union[str, bool, datetime.datetime, User], Union[str, bool, datetime.datetime, User]
-        ],
+        tuple[Union[str, bool, dtm.datetime, User], Union[str, bool, dtm.datetime, User]],
    ]:
        """Computes the difference between :attr:`old_chat_member` and :attr:`new_chat_member`.

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -231,15 +231,10 @@ class ChatPermissions(TelegramObject):
        return cls(*(14 * (False,)))

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChatPermissions"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatPermissions":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        api_kwargs = {}
        # This is a deprecated field that TG still returns for backwards compatibility
        # Let's filter it out to speed up the de-json process
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
 from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -92,18 +93,13 @@ class ChosenInlineResult(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["ChosenInlineResult"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChosenInlineResult":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # Required
-        data["from_user"] = User.de_json(data.pop("from", None), bot)
+        data["from_user"] = de_json_optional(data.pop("from", None), User, bot)
        # Optionals
-        data["location"] = Location.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), Location, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, TypeVar

 from telegram._files._basemedium import _BaseMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -82,17 +83,14 @@ class _BaseThumbedMedium(_BaseMedium):

    @classmethod
    def de_json(
-        cls: type[ThumbedMT_co], data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional[ThumbedMT_co]:
+        cls: type[ThumbedMT_co], data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
+    ) -> ThumbedMT_co:
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
        # In case this wasn't already done by the subclass
        if not isinstance(data.get("thumbnail"), PhotoSize):
-            data["thumbnail"] = PhotoSize.de_json(data.get("thumbnail"), bot)
+            data["thumbnail"] = de_json_optional(data.get("thumbnail"), PhotoSize, bot)

        api_kwargs = {}
        # This is a deprecated field that TG still returns for backwards compatibility
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -214,6 +214,13 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
            Lastly you can pass an existing :class:`telegram.Video` object to send.
        thumbnail (:term:`file object` | :obj:`bytes` | :class:`pathlib.Path` | :obj:`str`, \
                optional): |thumbdocstringnopath|
+        cover (:term:`file object` | :obj:`bytes` | :class:`pathlib.Path` | :obj:`str`, \
+                optional): Cover for the video in the message. |fileinputnopath|
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`, optional): Start timestamp for the video in the message
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
        width (:obj:`int`, optional): Video width.
        height (:obj:`int`, optional): Video height.
        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
@@ -225,6 +232,13 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
            :tg-const:`telegram.constants.InputPaidMediaType.VIDEO`.
        media (:obj:`str` | :class:`telegram.InputFile`): Video to send.
        thumbnail (:class:`telegram.InputFile`): Optional. |thumbdocstringbase|
+        cover (:class:`telegram.InputFile`): Optional. Cover for the video in the message.
+            |fileinputnopath|
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`): Optional. Start timestamp for the video in the message
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
        width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video width.
        height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video height.
        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
@@ -232,7 +246,15 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
            suitable for streaming.
    """

-    __slots__ = ("duration", "height", "supports_streaming", "thumbnail", "width")
+    __slots__ = (
+        "cover",
+        "duration",
+        "height",
+        "start_timestamp",
+        "supports_streaming",
+        "thumbnail",
+        "width",
+    )

    def __init__(
        self,
@@ -242,6 +264,8 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
        height: Optional[int] = None,
        duration: Optional[int] = None,
        supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = None,
+        cover: Optional[FileInput] = None,
+        start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
@@ -264,6 +288,10 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
            self.height: Optional[int] = height
            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
            self.supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = supports_streaming
+            self.cover: Optional[Union[InputFile, str]] = (
+                parse_file_input(cover, attach=True, local_mode=True) if cover else None
+            )
+            self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp


 class InputMediaAnimation(InputMedia):
@@ -536,6 +564,13 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
                optional): |thumbdocstringnopath|

            .. versionadded:: 20.2
+        cover (:term:`file object` | :obj:`bytes` | :class:`pathlib.Path` | :obj:`str`, \
+                optional): Cover for the video in the message. |fileinputnopath|
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`, optional): Start timestamp for the video in the message
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
        show_caption_above_media (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass |show_cap_above_med|

            .. versionadded:: 21.3
@@ -568,13 +603,22 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
        show_caption_above_media (:obj:`bool`): Optional. |show_cap_above_med|

            .. versionadded:: 21.3
+        cover (:class:`telegram.InputFile`): Optional. Cover for the video in the message.
+            |fileinputnopath|
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`): Optional. Start timestamp for the video in the message
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 21.11
    """

    __slots__ = (
+        "cover",
        "duration",
        "has_spoiler",
        "height",
        "show_caption_above_media",
+        "start_timestamp",
        "supports_streaming",
        "thumbnail",
        "width",
@@ -594,6 +638,8 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
        has_spoiler: Optional[bool] = None,
        thumbnail: Optional[FileInput] = None,
        show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = None,
+        cover: Optional[FileInput] = None,
+        start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
@@ -625,6 +671,10 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
            self.supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = supports_streaming
            self.has_spoiler: Optional[bool] = has_spoiler
            self.show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = show_caption_above_media
+            self.cover: Optional[Union[InputFile, str]] = (
+                parse_file_input(cover, attach=True, local_mode=True) if cover else None
+            )
+            self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp


 class InputMediaAudio(InputMedia):
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ class InputSticker(TelegramObject):
        format (:obj:`str`): Format of the added sticker, must be one of
            :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.STATIC` for a
            ``.WEBP`` or ``.PNG`` image, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.ANIMATED`
-            for a ``.TGS`` animation, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.VIDEO` for a WEBM
-            video.
+            for a ``.TGS`` animation, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.VIDEO` for a
+            ``.WEBM`` video.

            .. versionadded:: 21.1

@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ class InputSticker(TelegramObject):
        format (:obj:`str`): Format of the added sticker, must be one of
            :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.STATIC` for a
            ``.WEBP`` or ``.PNG`` image, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.ANIMATED`
-            for a ``.TGS`` animation, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.VIDEO` for a WEBM
-            video.
+            for a ``.TGS`` animation, :tg-const:`telegram.constants.StickerFormat.VIDEO` for a
+            ``.WEBM`` video.

            .. versionadded:: 21.1
    """
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from telegram._files.file import File
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -194,16 +194,13 @@ class Sticker(_BaseThumbedMedium):
    """:const:`telegram.constants.StickerType.CUSTOM_EMOJI`"""

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> Optional["Sticker"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Sticker":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["thumbnail"] = PhotoSize.de_json(data.get("thumbnail"), bot)
-        data["mask_position"] = MaskPosition.de_json(data.get("mask_position"), bot)
-        data["premium_animation"] = File.de_json(data.get("premium_animation"), bot)
+        data["thumbnail"] = de_json_optional(data.get("thumbnail"), PhotoSize, bot)
+        data["mask_position"] = de_json_optional(data.get("mask_position"), MaskPosition, bot)
+        data["premium_animation"] = de_json_optional(data.get("premium_animation"), File, bot)

        api_kwargs = {}
        # This is a deprecated field that TG still returns for backwards compatibility
@@ -306,15 +303,12 @@ class StickerSet(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["StickerSet"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "StickerSet":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
-        if not data:
-            return None
+        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        data["thumbnail"] = PhotoSize.de_json(data.get("thumbnail"), bot)
-        data["stickers"] = Sticker.de_list(data.get("stickers"), bot)
+        data["thumbnail"] = de_json_optional(data.get("thumbnail"), PhotoSize, bot)
+        data["stickers"] = de_list_optional(data.get("stickers"), Sticker, bot)

        api_kwargs = {}
        # These are deprecated fields that TG still returns for backwards compatibility
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -103,13 +104,10 @@ class Venue(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> Optional["Venue"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Venue":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["location"] = Location.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), Location, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,12 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Video."""
-from typing import Optional
+from collections.abc import Sequence
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._files._basethumbedmedium import _BaseThumbedMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from telegram import Bot
+

 class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
    """This object represents a video file.
@@ -48,6 +53,13 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
        thumbnail (:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`, optional): Video thumbnail.

            .. versionadded:: 20.2
+        cover (Sequence[:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`], optional): Available sizes of the cover of
+            the video in the message.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`, optional): Timestamp in seconds from which the video
+            will play in the message
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11

    Attributes:
        file_id (:obj:`str`): Identifier for this file, which can be used to download
@@ -64,9 +76,24 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
        thumbnail (:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`): Optional. Video thumbnail.

            .. versionadded:: 20.2
+        cover (tuple[:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`]): Optional, Available sizes of the cover of
+            the video in the message.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`): Optional, Timestamp in seconds from which the video
+            will play in the message
+            .. versionadded:: 21.11
    """

-    __slots__ = ("duration", "file_name", "height", "mime_type", "width")
+    __slots__ = (
+        "cover",
+        "duration",
+        "file_name",
+        "height",
+        "mime_type",
+        "start_timestamp",
+        "width",
+    )

    def __init__(
        self,
@@ -79,6 +106,8 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
        file_size: Optional[int] = None,
        file_name: Optional[str] = None,
        thumbnail: Optional[PhotoSize] = None,
+        cover: Optional[Sequence[PhotoSize]] = None,
+        start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
@@ -97,3 +126,14 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
            # Optional
            self.mime_type: Optional[str] = mime_type
            self.file_name: Optional[str] = file_name
+            self.cover: Optional[Sequence[PhotoSize]] = parse_sequence_arg(cover)
+            self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp
+
+    @classmethod
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Video":
+        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
+        data = cls._parse_data(data)
+
+        data["cover"] = de_list_optional(data.get("cover"), PhotoSize, bot)
+
+        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from telegram._files.animation import Animation
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.strings import TextEncoding
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -124,16 +124,13 @@ class Game(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> Optional["Game"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Game":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["photo"] = PhotoSize.de_list(data.get("photo"), bot)
-        data["text_entities"] = MessageEntity.de_list(data.get("text_entities"), bot)
-        data["animation"] = Animation.de_json(data.get("animation"), bot)
+        data["photo"] = de_list_optional(data.get("photo"), PhotoSize, bot)
+        data["text_entities"] = de_list_optional(data.get("text_entities"), MessageEntity, bot)
+        data["animation"] = de_json_optional(data.get("animation"), Animation, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -61,15 +62,10 @@ class GameHighScore(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["GameHighScore"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "GameHighScore":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["user"] = User.de_json(data.get("user"), bot)
+        data["user"] = de_json_optional(data.get("user"), User, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._files.sticker import Sticker
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ class Gift(TelegramObject):
            sent; for limited gifts only
        remaining_count (:obj:`int`, optional): The number of remaining gifts of this type that can
            be sent; for limited gifts only
+        upgrade_star_count (:obj:`int`, optional): The number of Telegram Stars that must be paid
+            to upgrade the gift to a unique one
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.10

    Attributes:
        id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier of the gift
@@ -55,10 +59,21 @@ class Gift(TelegramObject):
            sent; for limited gifts only
        remaining_count (:obj:`int`): Optional. The number of remaining gifts of this type that can
            be sent; for limited gifts only
+        upgrade_star_count (:obj:`int`): Optional. The number of Telegram Stars that must be paid
+            to upgrade the gift to a unique one
+
+            .. versionadded:: 21.10

    """

-    __slots__ = ("id", "remaining_count", "star_count", "sticker", "total_count")
+    __slots__ = (
+        "id",
+        "remaining_count",
+        "star_count",
+        "sticker",
+        "total_count",
+        "upgrade_star_count",
+    )

    def __init__(
        self,
@@ -67,6 +82,7 @@ class Gift(TelegramObject):
        star_count: int,
        total_count: Optional[int] = None,
        remaining_count: Optional[int] = None,
+        upgrade_star_count: Optional[int] = None,
        *,
        api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
    ):
@@ -76,21 +92,19 @@ class Gift(TelegramObject):
        self.star_count: int = star_count
        self.total_count: Optional[int] = total_count
        self.remaining_count: Optional[int] = remaining_count
+        self.upgrade_star_count: Optional[int] = upgrade_star_count

        self._id_attrs = (self.id,)

        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> Optional["Gift"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Gift":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["sticker"] = Sticker.de_json(data.get("sticker"), bot)
-        return cls(**data)
+        data["sticker"] = de_json_optional(data.get("sticker"), Sticker, bot)
+        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)


 class Gifts(TelegramObject):
@@ -125,12 +139,9 @@ class Gifts(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> Optional["Gifts"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Gifts":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["gifts"] = Gift.de_list(data.get("gifts"), bot)
-        return cls(**data)
+        data["gifts"] = de_list_optional(data.get("gifts"), Gift, bot)
+        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an objects that are related to Telegram giveaways."""
-import datetime
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional

 from telegram._chat import Chat
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
 from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict

@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class Giveaway(TelegramObject):
    def __init__(
        self,
        chats: Sequence[Chat],
-        winners_selection_date: datetime.datetime,
+        winners_selection_date: dtm.datetime,
        winner_count: int,
        only_new_members: Optional[bool] = None,
        has_public_winners: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class Giveaway(TelegramObject):
        super().__init__(api_kwargs=api_kwargs)

        self.chats: tuple[Chat, ...] = tuple(chats)
-        self.winners_selection_date: datetime.datetime = winners_selection_date
+        self.winners_selection_date: dtm.datetime = winners_selection_date
        self.winner_count: int = winner_count
        self.only_new_members: Optional[bool] = only_new_members
        self.has_public_winners: Optional[bool] = has_public_winners
@@ -137,19 +137,14 @@ class Giveaway(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["Giveaway"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Giveaway":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if data is None:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-        data["chats"] = tuple(Chat.de_list(data.get("chats"), bot))
+        data["chats"] = de_list_optional(data.get("chats"), Chat, bot)
        data["winners_selection_date"] = from_timestamp(
            data.get("winners_selection_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo
        )
@@ -260,7 +255,7 @@ class GiveawayWinners(TelegramObject):
        self,
        chat: Chat,
        giveaway_message_id: int,
-        winners_selection_date: datetime.datetime,
+        winners_selection_date: dtm.datetime,
        winner_count: int,
        winners: Sequence[User],
        additional_chat_count: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -277,7 +272,7 @@ class GiveawayWinners(TelegramObject):

        self.chat: Chat = chat
        self.giveaway_message_id: int = giveaway_message_id
-        self.winners_selection_date: datetime.datetime = winners_selection_date
+        self.winners_selection_date: dtm.datetime = winners_selection_date
        self.winner_count: int = winner_count
        self.winners: tuple[User, ...] = tuple(winners)
        self.additional_chat_count: Optional[int] = additional_chat_count
@@ -299,20 +294,15 @@ class GiveawayWinners(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["GiveawayWinners"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "GiveawayWinners":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if data is None:
-            return None
-
        # Get the local timezone from the bot if it has defaults
        loc_tzinfo = extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot)

-        data["chat"] = Chat.de_json(data.get("chat"), bot)
-        data["winners"] = tuple(User.de_list(data.get("winners"), bot))
+        data["chat"] = de_json_optional(data.get("chat"), Chat, bot)
+        data["winners"] = de_list_optional(data.get("winners"), User, bot)
        data["winners_selection_date"] = from_timestamp(
            data.get("winners_selection_date"), tzinfo=loc_tzinfo
        )
@@ -376,18 +366,13 @@ class GiveawayCompleted(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["GiveawayCompleted"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "GiveawayCompleted":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if data is None:
-            return None
-
        # Unfortunately, this needs to be here due to cyclic imports
        from telegram._message import Message  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel

-        data["giveaway_message"] = Message.de_json(data.get("giveaway_message"), bot)
+        data["giveaway_message"] = de_json_optional(data.get("giveaway_message"), Message, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from telegram._games.callbackgame import CallbackGame
 from telegram._loginurl import LoginUrl
 from telegram._switchinlinequerychosenchat import SwitchInlineQueryChosenChat
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
 from telegram._webappinfo import WebAppInfo

@@ -296,22 +297,17 @@ class InlineKeyboardButton(TelegramObject):
        )

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["InlineKeyboardButton"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "InlineKeyboardButton":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["login_url"] = LoginUrl.de_json(data.get("login_url"), bot)
-        data["web_app"] = WebAppInfo.de_json(data.get("web_app"), bot)
-        data["callback_game"] = CallbackGame.de_json(data.get("callback_game"), bot)
-        data["switch_inline_query_chosen_chat"] = SwitchInlineQueryChosenChat.de_json(
-            data.get("switch_inline_query_chosen_chat"), bot
+        data["login_url"] = de_json_optional(data.get("login_url"), LoginUrl, bot)
+        data["web_app"] = de_json_optional(data.get("web_app"), WebAppInfo, bot)
+        data["callback_game"] = de_json_optional(data.get("callback_game"), CallbackGame, bot)
+        data["switch_inline_query_chosen_chat"] = de_json_optional(
+            data.get("switch_inline_query_chosen_chat"), SwitchInlineQueryChosenChat, bot
        )
-        data["copy_text"] = CopyTextButton.de_json(data.get("copy_text"), bot)
+        data["copy_text"] = de_json_optional(data.get("copy_text"), CopyTextButton, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -91,12 +91,8 @@ class InlineKeyboardMarkup(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["InlineKeyboardMarkup"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "InlineKeyboardMarkup":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
-        if not data:
-            return None

        keyboard = []
        for row in data["inline_keyboard"]:
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ from telegram._files.location import Location
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresultsbutton import InlineQueryResultsButton
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from telegram import Bot, InlineQueryResult
@@ -126,17 +127,12 @@ class InlineQuery(TelegramObject):
        self._freeze()

    @classmethod
-    def de_json(
-        cls, data: Optional[JSONDict], bot: Optional["Bot"] = None
-    ) -> Optional["InlineQuery"]:
+    def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "InlineQuery":
        """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
        data = cls._parse_data(data)

-        if not data:
-            return None
-
-        data["from_user"] = User.de_json(data.pop("from", None), bot)
-        data["location"] = Location.de_json(data.get("location"), bot)
+        data["from_user"] = de_json_optional(data.pop("from", None), User, bot)
+        data["location"] = de_json_optional(data.get("location"), Location, bot)

        return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)

@@ -145,7 +141,7 @@ class InlineQuery(TelegramObject):
        results: Union[
            Sequence["InlineQueryResult"], Callable[[int], Optional[Sequence["InlineQueryResult"]]]
        ],
-        cache_time: Optional[int] = None,
+        cache_time: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
        is_personal: Optional[bool] = None,
        next_offset: Optional[str] = None,
        button: Optional[InlineQueryResultsButton] = None,
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):
    .. versionchanged:: 20.5
      Removed the deprecated arguments and attributes ``thumb_*``.

+    .. versionchanged:: 21.11
+        Removed the deprecated argument and attribute ``hide_url``.
+
    Args:
        id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier for this result,
            :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResult.MIN_ID_LENGTH`-
@@ -48,8 +51,9 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):
        reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`, optional): Inline keyboard attached
            to the message.
        url (:obj:`str`, optional): URL of the result.
-        hide_url (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass :obj:`True`, if you don't want the URL to be shown
-            in the message.
+
+            Tip:
+                Pass an empty string as URL if you don't want the URL to be shown in the message.
        description (:obj:`str`, optional): Short description of the result.
        thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`, optional): Url of the thumbnail for the result.

@@ -72,8 +76,6 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):
        reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`): Optional. Inline keyboard attached
            to the message.
        url (:obj:`str`): Optional. URL of the result.
-        hide_url (:obj:`bool`): Optional. Pass :obj:`True`, if you don't want the URL to be shown
-            in the message.
        description (:obj:`str`): Optional. Short description of the result.
        thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`): Optional. Url of the thumbnail for the result.

@@ -89,7 +91,6 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):

    __slots__ = (
        "description",
-        "hide_url",
        "input_message_content",
        "reply_markup",
        "thumbnail_height",
@@ -106,7 +107,6 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):
        input_message_content: "InputMessageContent",
        reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
        url: Optional[str] = None,
-        hide_url: Optional[bool] = None,
        description: Optional[str] = None,
        thumbnail_url: Optional[str] = None,
        thumbnail_width: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ class InlineQueryResultArticle(InlineQueryResult):
            # Optional
            self.reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = reply_markup
            self.url: Optional[str] = url
-            self.hide_url: Optional[bool] = hide_url
            self.description: Optional[str] = description
            self.thumbnail_url: Optional[str] = thumbnail_url
            self.thumbnail_width: Optional[int] = thumbnail_width
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
-# Copyright (C) 2015-2024
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2025
 # Leandro Toledo de Souza <devs@python-telegram-bot.org>
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
--- a/Show More
+++ b/Show More
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Bibo-Joshi	9323caf2b8	Bump Version to v21.11 (#4694 )	2025-03-01 12:03:34 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	77c25931a9	Stabilize Linkcheck Test (#4693 )	2025-03-01 11:31:41 +01:00
Poolitzer	b75948ede4	Full Support for Bot API 8.3 (#4676 ) Co-authored-by: Bibo-Joshi <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Abdelrahman Elkheir <90580077+aelkheir@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-03-01 11:13:46 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	b0d22acedb	Add Bootstrapping Logic to `Application.run_*` (#4673 )	2025-03-01 11:12:59 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	35a48f82f4	Documentation Improvements (#4641 ) Co-authored-by: Poolitzer <github@poolitzer.eu>	2025-02-27 20:18:15 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	5d73132838	Make `provider_token` Argument Optional (#4689 )	2025-02-26 20:57:57 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	7c23087d08	Remove Deprecated `InlineQueryResultArticle.hide_url` (#4640 )	2025-02-17 17:49:31 +01:00
vavasik800	2d5f4a68bb	Fix a Bug in `edit_user_star_subscription` (#4681 )	2025-02-15 16:21:33 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	f9f1533c40	Refactor Tests for `TelegramObject` Classes with Subclasses (#4654 )	2025-02-06 12:46:33 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	dfb0ae3747	Use Fine Grained Permissions for GitHub Actions Workflows (#4668 )	2025-02-02 10:24:46 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	64006aa7ae	Bump `actions/setup-python` from 5.3.0 to 5.4.0 (#4665 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Hinrich Mahler <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-02-02 09:52:35 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	69ddc47a6e	Bump `dependabot/fetch-metadata` from 2.2.0 to 2.3.0 (#4666 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-02-02 09:34:10 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	a2150b3751	Accept `datetime.timedelta` Input in `Bot` Method Parameters (#4651 )	2025-02-02 09:31:18 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	79acc1ae53	Bump `actions/stale` from 9.0.0 to 9.1.0 (#4667 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-02-02 09:22:47 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	4cdb1a0cf7	Bump `astral-sh/setup-uv` from 5.1.0 to 5.2.2 (#4664 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-02-02 09:09:55 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	6319f4bae1	Bump `codecov/test-results-action` from 1.0.1 to 1.0.2 (#4663 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-02-02 09:09:13 +01:00
Harshil	d7e063dbad	Overhaul Admonition Insertion in Documentation (#4462 ) Co-authored-by: Hinrich Mahler <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-01-31 19:23:09 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	5dd7b8f1e2	Extend Customization Support for `Bot.base_(file_)url` (#4632 )	2025-01-23 06:01:27 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	61b87ba318	Support `allow_paid_broadcast` in `AIORateLimiter` (#4627 )	2025-01-23 05:59:39 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	dd592cdd7c	Simplify Handling of Empty Data in `TelegramObject.de_json` and Friends (#4617 )	2025-01-14 17:12:55 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	f57dd52100	Add `BaseUpdateProcessor.current_concurrent_updates` (#4626 )	2025-01-14 17:00:20 +01:00
pre-commit-ci[bot]	16605c54d7	Bump `pre-commit` Hooks to Latest Versions (#4643 ) Co-authored-by: pre-commit-ci[bot] <66853113+pre-commit-ci[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Hinrich Mahler <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-01-07 18:11:35 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	e4b0f8cb64	Bump Version to v21.10 (#4639 )	2025-01-03 12:11:53 +01:00
Poolitzer	f2dc0175cd	Full Support for Bot API 8.2 (#4633 ) Co-authored-by: Harshil <37377066+harshil21@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Bibo-Joshi <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-01-03 11:39:35 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	a781a4fddb	Add Parameter `pattern` to `JobQueue.jobs()` (#4613 )	2025-01-02 10:03:39 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	679d038979	Ensure Forward Compatibility of `Gift` and `Gifts` (#4634 )	2025-01-02 09:17:01 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	d0a6e5141c	Bump APS & Deprecate `pytz` Support (#4582 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Hinrich Mahler <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2025-01-01 19:43:52 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	5f35304e63	Update Copyright to 2025 (#4631 )	2025-01-01 14:51:12 +01:00
Poolitzer	3fc50c78eb	Remove Redundant `pylint` Suppressions (#4628 )	2024-12-31 15:13:31 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	3c9bba63eb	Bump `astral-sh/setup-uv` from 4.2.0 to 5.1.0 (#4625 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-31 11:47:39 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	a9a7b07b10	Bump `codecov/codecov-action` from 5.1.1 to 5.1.2 (#4622 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-31 11:41:56 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	e1e7b621f1	Bump `actions/upload-artifact` from 4.4.3 to 4.5.0 (#4623 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-30 23:03:03 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	dfb3c13d1d	Bump `github/codeql-action` from 3.27.9 to 3.28.0 (#4624 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-30 23:02:43 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	f7a3f67a9f	Use Custom Labels for `dependabot` PRs (#4621 )	2024-12-30 22:50:23 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	a6cd9c5292	Allow Input of Type `Sticker` for Several Methods (#4616 )	2024-12-29 20:16:46 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	df20e49db1	Refactor Module Structure and Tests for Star Payments Classes (#4615 )	2024-12-29 17:58:37 +01:00
Juan Andrés Cuevas	4f255b6e21	Unify `datetime` Imports (#4605 ) Co-authored-by: Miguel Salomon <128310363+Migueldsc12@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Jeamhowards Montiel <106713677+Jeam-zx@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Snehashish Biswas <coderrx06@gmail.com> Co-authored-by: Luis Pérez <luis.i.perez.0@gmail.com> Co-authored-by: henryg311 <55552582+henryg311@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: AnyaMarcanito <129221958+AnyaMarcanito@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Jeam Montiel <19-10234@usb.ve>	2024-12-15 10:26:37 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	4afe174b5c	Add Static Security Analysis of GitHub Actions Workflows (#4606 )	2024-12-13 22:16:31 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	2ac52018c2	Bump Version to v21.9 (#4601 )	2024-12-07 13:39:41 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	ca7a30963d	Update `aiolimiter` requirement from ~=1.1.0 to >=1.1,<1.3 (#4595 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Bibo-Joshi <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-07 11:31:52 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	c42a230b96	Bump `pytest` from 8.3.3 to 8.3.4 (#4596 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Bibo-Joshi <22366557+Bibo-Joshi@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-07 11:15:53 +01:00
Luis Pérez	ce9742a602	Use `MessageLimit.DEEP_LINK_LENGTH` in `helpers.create_deep_linked_url` (#4597 )	2024-12-07 10:25:13 +01:00
Bibo-Joshi	43279543a3	Full Support for Bot API 8.1 (#4594 )	2024-12-07 10:20:08 +01:00
Luis Pérez	eda2172617	Allow `Sequence` Input for `allowed_updates` in `Application` and `Updater` Methods (#4589 )	2024-12-04 21:20:12 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	89dfa37dbf	Bump `codecov/codecov-action` from 4 to 5 (#4585 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-04 21:04:47 +01:00
Luis Pérez	3709c2fa93	Bump `pylint` to v3.3.2 to Improve Python 3.13 Support (#4590 )	2024-12-04 20:54:03 +01:00
dependabot[bot]	da93fe94ae	Bump `srvaroa/labeler` from 1.11.1 to 1.12.0 (#4586 ) Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>	2024-12-02 06:17:52 +01:00