Eni

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to the United States on Friday, departing Washington after talks with the Biden administration. Senior US government officials saw him off at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was fired. The send-off is being noted as a ceremonial gesture, with observers weighing what the visit signals for future US-China relations.

A senior Russian diplomat has stated that Moscow remains committed to peace talks over Ukraine and rejected suggestions that Russia is avoiding negotiations. The statement comes as international pressure persists for a diplomatic resolution to the war, with questions over whether both sides are genuinely willing to negotiate. It highlights the ongoing dispute over responsibility for the stalled peace process.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening video address that Russia is not currently preparing to end the war against Ukraine. His remarks underscore Kyiv's view that Moscow retains no intention of halting hostilities despite ongoing international discussion of possible peace efforts. The statement is drawing attention amid continued fighting and diplomatic uncertainty over how, or when, the conflict might be brought to a close.

A Reuters commentary examines which Asian economies will be hit hardest as the US Federal Reserve continues tightening monetary policy. The analysis focuses on how rising US interest rates could pressure Asian currencies, capital flows and debt levels. It comes as markets weigh how long the Fed will keep rates elevated and which regional economies are most vulnerable to capital outflows and weaker currencies.

A Wall Street Journal report says a dispute rooted in World War II history is endangering an alliance important to Ukraine's war effort. The friction is widely understood to involve historical grievances between Ukraine and Poland, a key Kyiv partner, where wartime massacres and contested memory politics have repeatedly strained relations. Observers warn the rift could complicate Western support for Ukraine at a critical stage of the war.

The Israeli military says it eliminated a Hamas sniper who was threatening its troops operating in Gaza, releasing footage of the strike. The incident comes amid ongoing Israeli operations in the territory, where forces continue to report engaging Hamas fighters. Coverage of such targeted strikes continues to draw close attention as the conflict in Gaza persists.

Yemen's leadership has called on the public to enlist while offering amnesty to defectors from the Houthi movement, in an effort to swell pro-government ranks and encourage defections from the group. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and renewed attention on Yemen's long-running conflict.

Iran has officially denied that it intends to carry out military retaliation in response to aviation restrictions affecting its airspace or flights. The statement, reported by Anadolu Agency, comes amid regional tensions where limits on civil aviation have become a flashpoint. Officials in Tehran insist there are no plans for a military response, seeking to calm speculation about possible escalation.

England suffered a defeat in their opening Nations League match against Spain, with the world champions extending their remarkable unbeaten run to 39 games. Spain's dominance since winning the World Cup continues, while England are left to regroup after a frustrating start to the campaign. The result has prompted plenty of reaction and debate among supporters about both sides' form.

Switzerland is voting on an initiative to tighten the country's constitutional neutrality rules and end peacetime military cooperation with NATO. The proposal would legally anchor stricter neutrality, barring joint exercises or security collaboration with the alliance outside wartime. The vote touches a long-running Swiss debate over whether traditional neutrality remains workable amid the war in Ukraine and growing European security concerns.

Yemeni warplanes carried out an airstrike on a major Houthi military base east of Taiz, according to Arab News. Details on casualties or damage have not yet been reported, but the strike marks a notable escalation in the ongoing conflict in Yemen's central highlands, where fighting between government-aligned forces and the Houthis has continued for years.

Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and is awaiting an official response from the United States, according to Al Jazeera reporting. The development comes as UK Chancellor weighs budget decisions under economic pressures linked to the Iran war, with shipping and energy markets watching closely for Washington's answer to the proposal.

Japan has rejected accusations of militarisation after Russia voiced opposition to Tokyo gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over Japan's defence policy and its long-sought bid to expand the council, where Russia holds a veto as one of five permanent members. The dispute underscores widening friction between Moscow and Tokyo amid broader geopolitical rivalry.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he turned down a proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping waterway for global oil traffic. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, and observers are watching closely for what the rejection means for energy markets and regional security.

Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a popular initiative that would have strengthened the country's neutrality, according to initial exit poll projections. The text was championed by the nationalist right and had been labeled pro-Russian by its opponents, who argued it would distance Switzerland from Western partners. The outcome was widely expected by observers ahead of the vote.

A Sept. 24 evening news roundup reports two confrontations: an altercation involving Chinese state media personnel and White House staff, and delegates walking out during Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the UN General Assembly. The departures signal continued diplomatic protest over Israel's conduct in Gaza. The episode highlights rising tensions between governments and press access disputes around high-profile international events.

Pope Leo travelled to Metz, France, wading directly into Europe's increasingly polarised debate over immigration. The visit places the pontiff in a city and country where migration policy has become a sharp political fault line, and observers are watching how he frames the Church's position between humanitarian duty and public anxiety over borders.

EU interior ministers are gathering in Munich to discuss further tightening of the bloc's migration policy. The summit is being held in the city for the second year in a row and has drawn opposition from both ultra-left and ultra-right activists and politicians, who do not want the meeting to take place, with protests reported around the event.

Sudan's army has rejected claims from Ethiopia that it is backing an anti-government coalition. The denial comes amid already strained relations between the two neighbours, and no further details about the specific allegations or Ethiopia's evidence were given in the report. The exchange adds to growing diplomatic friction between Khartoum and Addis Ababa.

South Sudan's Senior Presidential Envoy has voiced support for strengthening the country's emergency preparedness as Ebola outbreaks continue in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The endorsement, highlighted by the World Health Organization's regional office for Africa, underscores concerns that South Sudan could be exposed if the outbreaks spread across borders, and reinforces calls for vigilance, surveillance and readiness of health systems.

Azerbaijan's state oil company Socar will lower fuel prices at its service stations in Italy, following a similar decision by Eni. The price cuts ease pressure on Premier Giorgia Meloni's coalition, which has faced calls to impose a windfall tax on energy companies ahead of the next election. The move is being watched as a sign oil companies are responding to political and public pressure over high fuel costs.

UBS has offered its view on whether the Federal Reserve's tightening cycle represents a turning point for emerging market assets. The question of how higher US rates affect capital flows to developing economies is a recurring concern for investors, and the bank's assessment is being circulated among market watchers tracking the impact on EM currencies, bonds and equities.

A notable shift is being reported among Russia's political commentators: figures previously aligned with the Kremlin line are now openly admitting that the war in Ukraine has brought staggering costs and failures. Observers say this marks a rare break in the commentary class, aligning with assessments long held in the West about the invasion's heavy human and economic toll.