Xi Jinping said President Trump’s May visit to China at his invitation was successful and the two leaders agreed to build a constructive strategic-stability relationship. He noted Trump had invited him to visit the US and that he had come as promised, with reciprocal visits occurring within six months. Xi said he and Trump held candid, in-depth talks and reached a number of new points of consensus that enrich the bilateral constructive strategic-stability relationship and provide new strategic g

Ben Powell, BlackRock’s chief investment strategist for the Middle East and Asia‑Pacific, said Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are increasingly on global investors’ radar and are “indeed very attractive,” likening them to Gulf states and India as emerging capital-inflow destinations. He highlighted Kazakhstan’s pension and capital-market reforms as encouraging. Kazakhstan’s economy grew 4.1% YoY in the first eight months, led by manufacturing and construction; Uzbekistan expanded 8.5% in H1. Strong growth, ongoing reforms and rising interest in critical minerals are drawing capital — foreign investors have placed roughly $2bn into Kazakhstan’s tenge‑denominated bond market since the start of the year.

Pope Leo urged the world not to become indifferent to the 'scourge' of war.