UKRAINE: Two anti-corruption agencies said at the weekend they have uncovered a graft scheme that inflated the prices of military procurement contracts in return for bribes.

Four people have been arrested so far. An MP, several local officials and National Guard personnel are reported to be involved.

The agencies had their independence of central government restored on Thursday, after a contentious Bill had placed them under presidential control.

UNITED STATES: President Donald Trump has fired Bureau of Labour Statistics director Erika McEntarfer after a report showed disappointing jobs growth.

Just 73,000 jobs were created in the US last month 258,000 fewer were created in May and June than previously estimated, the report said.

Mr Trump posted online that “in my opinion, today’s jobs numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

SYRIA: More clashes erupted today between government-backed militias and rival groups.

Fighting between Kurdish forces and troops controlled by the new Ahmad al-Sharaa government occurred in the north, while in the south Druze factions reportedly attacked government soldiers in Sweida, the scene of serious violence, including Israeli intervention, last month.

PAKISTAN: The country’s Human Rights Commission called on police at the weekend to drop terrorism charges against a seven-year-old boy.

The boy from Balochistan province reposted a speech critical of the government on social media, being charged on Thursday under anti-terror laws with seeking to provoke violence.

The commission said the charge was “reprehensible” and called on the national government to intervene to protect the child.