Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Israel stops 13 Gaza aid boats, prompting global criticism
Israeli forces have stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, but 30 boats are continuing to sail towards the war-ravaged Strip, flotilla organisers said on Thursday, 2 October. A video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by Reuters showed the most prominent of the flotilla's passengers, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.
2. European Political Community Summit opens in Copenhagen tomorrow
Leaders from across Europe meet in Copenhagen on 2 October for the seventh European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security and support for Ukraine at the top of the agenda following today’s informal European Council. The EPC convenes in the Danish capital, bringing together EU and non-EU leaders for a high-level discussion on Europe’s security, resilience and continued backing for Ukraine.
3. Qarabağ FK beats Copenhagen 2-0 in UCL Round 2 clash
Qarabağ claimed their second win in the UEFA Champions League group stage with a 2-0 victory over Copenhagen at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku on Wednesday. The win gives Qarabağ six points, placing them fourth in their group. The Azerbaijani side started the group stage with a 3-2 win over Benfica in Portugal.
4. Zelenskyy blames Russia for Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia power cuts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately cutting power to the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear plants, creating a risk of nuclear incidents. Zelenskyy said Moscow’s drone attack on Slavutych cut power to the decommissioned Chornobyl plant for three hours, affecting 307,000 people and leaving the new safe confinement facility without power.
5. Death toll from Philippine quake rises to 72
The death toll from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off central Philippines late on Tuesday has risen to 72, the civil defence agency said on Thursday, 2 October. Another 294 people were injured, the agency said in a report. The latest death toll was an increase of three from Wednesday and all fatalities were recorded in the central Visayas region.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destructio...
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families di...
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families displaced by war by organising public screenings of World Cup matches.
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
The South Caucasus is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of past conflicts but also as a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia. One analyst says this presents an opportunity for a new Euro-Atlantic approach focused on long-term regional cooperation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), allowing Russian athletes to compete in many international events, including qualifying competitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June since records began in 2026, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The record-breaking month brought extreme heat, widespread disruption and thousands of excess deaths across parts of the continent.
South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld former President Yoon Suk Yeol's seven-year prison sentence in a case linked to his 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
Germany has reached an agreement with the U.S. to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles and deploy them on German territory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin on Thursday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment