Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has warned his officials against enriching themselves, in a rare rebuke that signals an early test of his rule 10 months after ousting Bashar al-Assad.

“I didn’t know government salaries were this high!” Sharaa joked as dozens of loyalists arrived at his former rebel base in luxury SUVs. “Have you forgotten you are sons of the revolution?” he scolded, according to attendees.

At the August 30 meeting in Idlib, Sharaa ordered civil servants with luxury cars to hand over their keys or face corruption probes.

Source: Reuters

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shut down the Damascus office of his brother Jamal after allegations he was using family ties to secure business deals.

Soon after, Sharaa reportedly gathered relatives — including his father — to warn them against exploiting the family name for personal gain.

Source: Reuters

The U.S. cancelled the planned Trump–Putin summit in Budapest after Moscow sent a memo insisting on hardline demands over Ukraine — including territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine’s military, and a NATO ban.

A tense call between Russian FM Lavrov and Marco Rubio convinced Trump that Russia wasn’t serious about negotiating.

Source: FT

Protests in Tanzania have entered their third day as demonstrators march toward the State House.

Nigeria: Footage shows JNIM claiming its first attack in the Nigeria.

Canada's Carney meets with China's Xi.

Sudan’s voice in London:

“UAE you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!”

The United States and India signed a 10-year defense pact, deepening military and technological cooperation.

The pact focuses on interoperability, joint production, and intelligence sharing.

China’s 6th-gen J-36 jet flies with the 5th-gen J-20 for the first time.

Sudan: Army soldiers mockingly thank the UAE after seizing a large cache of weapons delivered to its proxy RSF militias.

Russia’s armed forces have reportedly begun using new 9M729 cruise missiles against targets in Ukraine, according to Reuters citing Ukraine’s FM Andriy Sybiha.

One missile launched on August 5 allegedly flew 1,200 km before striking a target.

Ukrainian officials claim 23 such missiles have been used since August 2025, though no debris or proof has been shown.

The 9M729 “Novator” is a land-based version of the Kalibr missile with an estimated 2,000 km range and a 500 kg warhead — the system that led the U.S. to leave the INF Treaty in 2019.

Ukrainian intelligence earlier said Russia ordered 95 of these missiles for use with the Iskander-M1 launcher.

Mali: The army released a statement claiming it killed over a dozen terrorists near In Abao, northeast of Gossi.

Tanzania: The UN urged security forces to avoid excessive force against protesters and called for an investigation into election-related violence.

The protesters are continuing their march toward the State House in large crowds, setting fires along the way.

Germany’s Defense Ministry is under fire after reportedly spending €900 million on drone programs that lacked competitive bidding and failed operational tests.

The scandal centers on accusations that the ministry approved costly, underperforming systems “in blind flight”.

Opposition lawmakers are demanding an inquiry, arguing that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s team ignored expert warnings.

Source: Bild

Ukrainian intelligence destroyed one of Russia’s three Oreshnik ballistic missiles on Russian territory in summer 2023, Zelensky claims, adding that Moscow can produce up to six Oreshniks a year.

The strike was a joint operation by the SBU, GUR, and Foreign Intelligence Service.

Zelensky:

There is no encirclement in Pokrovsk, but the situation remains very difficult.

The battle for the city continues as Russia pushes to capture it after failing in Kupiansk, Dobropillia, and Zaporizhzhia.

Zelensky also mocked reports of Putin’s planned visit, saying:

“He’s welcome — everyone knows how it will end.”

Hezbollah is rearming with rockets, anti-tank missiles, and artillery, defying its cease-fire deal with Israel and risking a new conflict, according to Israeli and Arab intelligence.

Weapons are reportedly entering Lebanon through Syria and seaports, while Hezbollah also manufactures its own.

Israel, frustrated after over 1,000 airstrikes since last November’s truce, warns it may act unilaterally if Lebanon fails to disarm the group, deepening fears of another Israel–Hezbollah war.

Source: WSJ

Zelensky:

In the near future, there will be long-range strikes on Russia.

Targets have been identified.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) Chief Malyuk:

Since the start of the year, there have been almost 160 successful hits on Russian oil production and refining facilities.

In September and October — 20 facilities: six refineries, two terminals, three depots, nine pumping stations.

This led to over 20% deficit in petroleum products, 37% downtime of refining, deficits in 57 Russian regions, and a gasoline export ban until year-end.

Turkish President Erdogan:

Israel possesses nuclear weapons and the most powerful bombs.

Israel has the ability to strike Gaza whenever and however it wants.

How can it be considered innocent?