Iran plunged into nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivit...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 28th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Kyiv hit by overnight Russian drone and missile strikes
Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv, causing widespread damage to residential buildings and fires across the city.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the strike as Russia’s response to diplomacy, called for strong sanctions, and urged reactions from China and Hungary.
2. White House lowers flags to half-staff in honour of Minneapolis shooting victims
A gunman opened fire on worshippers and schoolchildren at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 17 others before taking his own life.
Authorities are investigating the attack as a potential domestic terrorism and hate crime, while officials urge caution against politicising the tragedy amid debates over gun access and identity issues.
3. Britain, France, and Germany move to trigger UN sanctions
Britain, France, and Germany are expected to start the process of reinstating UN sanctions on Iran on Thursday, while hoping Tehran will make nuclear programme commitments within 30 days that could lead them to postpone formal action, according to diplomats.
Meanwhile, UN nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have returned to Iran, but full access and verification remain unresolved.
4. Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin to join Xi Jinping at Beijing military parade
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend China’s 3 September military parade alongside President Xi Jinping, showcasing solidarity during Western sanctions and pressure.
The event will highlight China’s military capabilities, advanced weaponry, and the growing strategic ties between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.
5. Qarabağ FK make history, qualify for Champions League group stage again
Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK have become the country’s only club to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage twice.
Despite a 3-2 loss to Ferencváros, Qarabağ advanced 5-4 on aggregate, marking a historic return to Europe’s top competition and a proud moment for Azerbaijani football.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivity drop sharply, leaving millions of residents isolated from online communication.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that the text of a bilateral security guarantee between Kyiv and Washington is "essentially ready" to be finalised with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iran’s Commander-in-Chief of Army, Major General Amir Hatami has warned against hostile rhetoric from U.S. and Israeli officials. “Iran considers the intensification of the enemies' rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation unanswered,” Hatami said.
Türkiye says it's prepared a self-sustaining international stabilisation force for Gaza and has already begun training, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said, reiterating Ankara’s readiness to deploy troops to support humanitarian efforts and help end the fighting.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed reports that Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s toppled leader, was previously offered asylum in Türkiye.
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