* China and East Timor have upgraded bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The agreement to enhance relations came after China's President Xi Jinping met with East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou ahead of the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
* Iran and the Maldives announced Saturday the resumption of diplomatic relations after a seven-year hiatus. The decision was made "in line with the two nations' interests and aspirations," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday scorned U.S. double standards over the Golan Heights and the Donbass region in Ukraine.
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he met leading American entrepreneurs and financiers during a visit this week to the United States, where investment opportunities in Ukraine were discussed.
* Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani will visit Moscow in the next few weeks, an Iraqi foreign ministry statement quoted Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein as saying during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
* The Iranian foreign minister said he had discussed with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, as well as the United Nations (UN) envoy, the latest situation in Syria in New York, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported Saturday.
* A just solution to the Palestinian issue is essential for regional stability, stated Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud during his address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly's general debate on Saturday.
* The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Swiss charge d'affaires, whose country represents U.S. interests in Iran, to protest against U.S. "baseless anti-Tehran" claims, said the ministry on Friday.
* Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said on Saturday an air strike by the east African country's military had killed members of an Islamic State (IS)-allied rebel group including a key person responsible for bomb attacks in Uganda's capital.
* The Israeli military struck a military post belonging to the Hamas organization which rules the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to a statement released by the Israeli army.
* Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves will visit Panama's Darien Gap in early October in an effort to contain a migrant crisis, both countries said on Saturday.
* The Myanmar Corn Industrial Association (MCIA) is seeking ways to boost corn exports to China in 2023, the MCIA has confirmed to Xinhua.
* Egypt is in talks with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADBC) for a loan facility that would finance wheat purchases from Kazakhstan, according to Egypt's Supply Minister on Sunday.
* Sudan's army chief said on Friday he had not sought military support on a recent regional tour and that his preference was for a peaceful solution to the conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions of civilians.
* The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said Friday that conflict, displacement, climate-related shocks and persistent disease outbreaks continue to be the major drivers of need in Ethiopia.
* Authorities in Iran have neutralised 30 bombs meant to go off simultaneously in Tehran and detained 28 terrorists linked to Islamic State, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, citing the intelligence ministry.
* Lebanon's army said it fired tear gas at Israeli forces over the border on Saturday in response to smoke bombs fired at its troops, though Israel said Lebanon started the confrontation.
* Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of collective cooperation with OPEC+ for the stability of global oil markets, the kingdom's foreign minister said on Saturday in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
* Nigeria expects to lift oil production to 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of next year after oil companies operating in the country committed investments of $13.5 billion in the short term, the presidency said on Saturday.
* Cambodia on Sunday confirmed its first case of the Zika virus since 2016, the country's Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a press statement.
* A tropical storm off the mid-Atlantic coast began dumping rain on parts of North Carolina on Friday and will likely bring more precipitation along with high winds and storm surges to parts of Virginia and Delaware, the National Weather Service said.
* At least 35 people were killed and more than ten seriously injured in a fire at a petrol warehouse on Saturday in Benin's southeastern department of Oueme, the Beninese Ministry of the Interior and Public Security reported.
* A small airplane crashed in mainland Greece on Saturday, killing the pilot, who was the sole person on board, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported.
