* The European Commission on Friday presented its 19th package of sanctions against Russia for approval by the European Union (EU) member states, following a one-week delay prompted by pressure from the United States for tougher measures.
* Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early Saturday to safeguard Poland's airspace during Russia's strikes on Ukrainian targets near the Polish border, said the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command.
* Russia said that a flight by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region adhered to international aviation rules and did not cross into the airspace of other countries.
* Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Friday to protest what it said was an "airspace violation" by three Russian fighter jets, an allegation Moscow flatly denied.
* The United States is edging closer to a partial government shutdown after the Senate on Friday rejected a short-term funding measure passed earlier in the day by the House of Representatives.
* In the strongest multilateral stand for women and girls in 30 years, 106 governments from all regions have stepped forward with 191 commitments to accelerate progress for all women and girls by 2030, UN Women said Friday.
* The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday adopted a draft resolution on the participation by the State of Palestine during its 80th session, due to the non-issuance of visas by the United States to some Palestinian representatives.
* The Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would continue to provide sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
* China and Russia have pledged to strengthen cooperation between their legislative bodies during a Chinese delegation's visit to Russia, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday.
* Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said that Ukraine and Russia are currently engaged only in humanitarian negotiations, the RBC-Ukraine media outlet reported Friday.
* Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Friday that 25 foreign companies, including global defense production giants, are currently localizing their production in Ukraine.
* Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed regret that the United Nations Security Council remains unable to end the violence and humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip due to repeated vetoes by the United States.
* Italy's largest labor union on Friday launched a nationwide strike to protest Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and express support for the Palestinian people.
* U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation raising the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to 100,000 dollars, saying the move is intended to ensure that the United States brings in highly skilled talent whom American workers cannot replace.
* Mexican authorities said Friday that the proceeds from a special National Lottery draw held on Sept. 15 will be used to expand protection programs for vulnerable Mexican migrants, particularly those living in the United States.
* A Czech diplomat has been declared persona non grata and is required to leave Belarus within 72 hours, Ruslan Varankov, spokesperson for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, said Friday.
* Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran would not accept "political action and unfair pressure" over its nuclear program, warning such moves could escalate tensions. He insisted Iran has consistently pursued diplomacy and technical cooperation.
* The Israeli military on Friday announced the closure of an evacuation corridor from Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip that had been opened earlier this week. According to the army, the route along Salah al-Din road would remain available for civilians until noon Friday.
* The Iraqi National Intelligence Service said on Friday that 47 French nationals wanted for prosecution due to their links with the Islamic State (IS) extremist group had been transferred from northeastern Syria to Iraq.
* Sudan's government on Friday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of bombing a mosque in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, killing more than 70 civilians during dawn prayers.
* A total of 42,435 foreign-invested enterprises were established on the Chinese mainland from January to August, increasing 14.8 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.
* The Philippines' balance of payments (BOP), which accounts for the transactions of the country with the rest of the world, registered a surplus of 359 million USD in August 2025, higher than the 88 million dollars recorded in August 2024, the Philippine central bank said.
* Demand for rice in Japan is estimated to rise slightly to 7.11 million tons in the year through June 2026, according to the agriculture ministry.
* The Philippines is considering extending its rice import suspension by 15 to 30 days as farmgate prices of palay, or unhusked rice, improve, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said Friday.
* Sri Lanka will launch a government-backed startup fund in January 2026 to spur innovation, attract investment, and help local firms scale globally, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said here on Friday.
* Committed foreign direct investments (FDI) into Nepal nearly tripled during the first two months of the current 2025-26 fiscal year, the Department of Industry said on Friday. Nepal received FDI commitments worth 33.09 billion rupees between mid-July and mid-September.
* Cambodia attracted a total of 784,965 Chinese tourists in the first eight months of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 45.7 percent, a tourism official said on Friday.
* The number of mpox cases reported in Africa since the start of 2024 has exceeded 190,000, with deaths nearing 2,000, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Thursday evening.
