* Cambodia will host 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026, vowing to make it an exceptional moment of sharing a celebration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. The International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) groups 88 countries and territories, according to its website.
* Japan's ruling and opposition party lawmakers on Monday agreed to extend the planned debate of party leaders in the Diet, the nation's parliament, from the standard length of 45 minutes to 80 minutes, local media reported.
* The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Monday that it has approved a 42-million-USD loan to protect coastal and riverbanks and increase the resilience of local communities and natural ecosystems in Maharashtra, India.
* China's railway sector experienced a surge in passenger traffic on Monday as travelers returned from the week-long National Day holiday. Over the course of the 10-day holiday travel period, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8, China's railway network is projected to handle 175 million passenger trips.
* The Kremlin said on Monday that a new Russian ambassador to the United States would be appointed, dismissing speculation that relations with Washington were being downgraded at the end of the term of the current envoy Anatoly Antonov.
* U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Berlin on Thursday, the White House said in guidance it issued on Sunday without providing further details.
* Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Monday, with New Delhi promising to strengthen strategic cooperation as the island nation recovers from an economic crisis.
* South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr agreed on Monday to boost defence cooperation as their countries elevated ties to a strategic partnership amid growing security challenges in the region.
* Kazakhstan's plan to build its first nuclear power plant was supported by 71.12% of voters in Sunday's referendum, the central election commission said on Monday.
* Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal began talks on Monday with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico that he said would focus on infrastructure cooperation, energy security and support for Kyiv's peace plan.
* The Netherlands will provide 400 million euros (about 440 million USD) to help Ukraine develop drones, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday.
* Russia's first hydrogen-powered vessel, named Ecobalt, is scheduled to undergo sea trials this month, local media reported on Monday.
* The mayor of the capital of Mexico's violence-plagued state of Guerrero was killed on Sunday less than a week after he took office, the state's governor confirmed.
* The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, called on Sunday for greater international support to stem the humanitarian catastrophe engulfing Lebanon.
* An Israeli infantry force entered the Lebanese border village of Maroun al-Ras on Monday and crossed the Blue Line from different directions, according to Lebanese security sources.
* The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warned on Sunday that Israel's operations near one of its positions in southern Lebanon were dangerous and compromised their safety.
* Hamas said on Monday that its armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, bombarded the Israeli city of Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets "as part of the ongoing battle of attrition."
* Iran and the Netherlands on Sunday exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East and the development of Iran's ties with European countries.
* Iran's foreign ministry has summoned the Australian ambassador in Tehran over what it called his country's biased stance regarding Iran's attack on Israel, Iranian news agency Tasnim said on Sunday.
* Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 41,909 Palestinians and wounded 97,303 since Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Monday.
* Flight restrictions have been lifted in Iran after ensuring safe conditions, state media reported on Monday, shortening the period of flight cancellations announced earlier by the Civil Aviation Organisation.
* More than 900 Australians have left Lebanon on assisted departure flights coordinated by the Australian government, according to official data.
* Indonesia continued its evacuation efforts for its citizens from Lebanon following the escalating Israeli attacks in the Middle Eastern country.
* At least 15 people have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya over the last four days, officials said on Monday.
* Floods caused 144.21 billion taka (about 1.19 billion USD) in damage to agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors in Bangladesh's eastern region in August.
* Tropical storm Milton strengthened into a category 1 hurricane in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, with no landfall expected here but substantial rain all along Mexico's Gulf Coast and southeast, the National Water Commission (Conagua) said Sunday.
* More than 350 people have died from cholera in Nigeria in the first nine months of this year, a 239% jump from the same period last year, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed on Monday.
