The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously supported a bill to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism due to the abduction of Ukrainian children. This is Senator Graham's third attempt to pass such a decision, which would have devastating consequences for the Russian economy.
In Syria, the "Islamic State" is rapidly reviving, having changed tactics, operating in small groups and organizing ambushes. This is happening against the backdrop of a reduction in the American contingent and political instability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Electronic Arts has restricted access to its games for users in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia regions and Crimea. The reason given is sanctions and embargoes, although the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are controlled by Ukraine.
At the Ukrainian-Romanian border, customs officers found a man in a truck from Istanbul, hiding among packages of baby diapers. According to preliminary data, he may be a Syrian citizen, and border guards are establishing the circumstances of the illegal border crossing.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made his first official visit to Moscow for talks with Putin. Issues of Bashar al-Assad's extradition and the presence of Russian military bases in Syria are being discussed.
The Israel Defense Forces announced that the first seven hostages captured on October 7, 2023, have been handed over to Hamas. Another 13 people will be released during the day.
Israel has moved closer to retrieving the remains of intelligence officer Eli Cohen, executed in Syria in 1965. This issue could be resolved as part of negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv regarding de-escalation of tensions.
The US Senate voted to lift sanctions against Syria, imposed under the "Caesar Act. " Damascus viewed the move as a "historic moment," and Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa called it a major breakthrough.
Russian sources stated that Russia is ready to shoot down missiles that the US may transfer to Ukraine. In addition, a Russian official said that the Russians are ready to strike at the launchers.
The average daily volume of Russian seaborne oil shipments for the four weeks to October 5 was 3. 57 million barrels per day. This comes amid drone attacks on refineries, which are forcing the redirection of supplies to export terminals, straining their capacity.
After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, several women entered the Syrian parliament. The new parliament, consisting of 210 deputies, will work until a new Constitution is adopted.
On October 7, the world celebrates World Cotton Day, highlighting its importance for the economy and society, as well as International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day.
On October 5, Syria held its first elections after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. Citizens elected two-thirds of the 210 members of parliament through indirect voting.
Voting began in Syria on October 5 for the first parliamentary elections since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The voting is indirect, with 6,000 voters electing new members of parliament.
British police have identified the attacker of a synagogue in Manchester as a 35-year-old citizen of Syrian origin and have detained three more suspects. Three men are in hospital with serious injuries sustained during the terrorist act.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to four citizens, including schoolboy Stepan Chubenko, killed by Russian militants in 2014. His killers are three militants of the "Kerch" battalion, one of whom, Vadym Pohodin, is still fighting against Ukraine.
An investigative judge in Damascus has issued an arrest warrant in absentia for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He is accused of premeditated murder, torture, and deprivation of liberty in connection with the 2011 incidents in Daraa.
Ukraine and Syria signed a joint communiqué on the resumption of diplomatic relations. This happened after the fall of the Assad regime and Syria's recognition of the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Ankara's efforts to achieve a just peace between Ukraine and Russia, planning to advance the Istanbul negotiation process. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue with France and the development of cooperation in trade, energy, and defense.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not provide any details on the content of the talks.
Belarus is betting on trade with Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia. This has become a new stage in the country's economic strategy, which is trying to support enterprises through cooperation with Venezuela, Syria, North Korea, and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with former US Army General David Petraeus in New York. In 2006, Petraeus oversaw al-Sharaa's detention in Iraq.
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly has begun in New York and will last until September 29. It will bring together about a hundred presidents and over 40 prime ministers to discuss global challenges and strengthen international cooperation.
The US is trying to prevent Russian airlines from obtaining sanctioned spare parts.
Parliamentary elections in Syria will be held on October 5, 2025. The vote was postponed due to logistical problems related to the lack of reliable records and population displacement.
Donald Trump plans bilateral talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A meeting between the American president and UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also possible.
US Central Command reported the elimination of Omar Abdul Kader, a high-ranking ISIS militant who posed a direct threat to the US. His elimination disrupts the terrorist organization's ability to plan new terrorist attacks.
The number of refugees in Germany decreased by 50,000 people in the first half of 2025, reaching 3. 495 million. The reasons for the reduction were deportations, voluntary departures, and naturalization, including over 83,000 Syrians who received citizenship.
A bipartisan group of American senators proposes recognizing Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism. This will happen if the countries do not return more than 19,000 Ukrainian children taken during the war.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that the appearance of 19 drones in the country's airspace cannot be a coincidence, and NATO air defense forces have been tested. He also noted that this is an unprecedented violation of EU and NATO space, and discussions will take place at the highest level.
