Syrians vote in first post-Assad parliamentary elections
Syria is holding parliamentary elections for the first time since the ousting of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad — a milestone in the country’s fr...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. U.S. proposes Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange plan
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Hamas to act swiftly on hostage release and peace talks in Gaza, warning that “all bets are off” if delays continue. His plan envisions Gaza as a weapons-free zone under a U.S.-led international body, with all hostages released within 72 hours in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite his call for restraint, Israeli air strikes continued Saturday, killing at least 29 people, according to local sources.
2. Clashes erupt in Tbilisi as protesters attempt to enter presidential palace
At least 21 police officers and six protesters were injured in overnight clashes in Tbilisi after demonstrators tried to storm Georgia’s presidential palace over disputed local election results. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned the unrest as an attempt to destabilise the country. Security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds after opposition figures called for rejecting the 4 October vote, which they claim was illegitimate. Order was later restored, though smaller protests continued in the capital.
3. Plane carrying 137 Flotilla activists lands in Istanbul
A total of 137 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, including 36 Turkish nationals, arrived in Istanbul on Saturday after being detained by Israel in international waters.
The group flew from Israel’s Ramon Airport in Eilat, landing at Istanbul Airport at 3:50 p.m. local time (12:50 GMT).
Among the passengers were citizens of Türkiye, Malaysia, the United States, the UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Jordan. They were welcomed at the airport by officials and supporters.
4. Türkiye–UAE currency swap deal expected to boost Gulf investments
The currency swap deal between the central banks of Türkiye and the UAE is expected to boost Türkiye’s digital banking sector and attract new Gulf investments.
Signed on Thursday, the agreement establishes a 198 billion lira ($4.7 billion) and 18 billion dirham ($4.9 billion) swap, promoting national currencies in trade and linking the countries’ payment systems.
Economists say the deal will strengthen Türkiye’s foreign reserves, enhance financial stability, and accelerate digital and green investment from the Gulf.
5. At least 30 hurt as Russia targets passenger train in northern Ukraine
Russia struck a passenger train at the Shostka railway station in Ukraine’s Sumy region on 4 October, killing one person and injuring dozens, including children, according to officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the “savage Russian drone strike,” saying around 30 people were hurt as rescue efforts continued. The attack is part of Moscow’s intensified campaign against Ukraine’s rail infrastructure, targeted almost daily in recent weeks.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
Authorities in California have identified the dismembered body discovered in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing from Lake Elsinore since April 2024.
Egypt will host delegations from Israel and Hamas on Monday to discuss “field conditions and details” of a potential exchange involving all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners, as part of the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Italy and Switzerland from Tuesday through 12 October, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday.
Demonstrations by young Moroccans calling themselves “Generation Z” entered their eighth day, with crowds in Rabat and Casablanca demanding reforms in healthcare, education, and anti-corruption efforts while urging the government to resign.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday via a social media post that Israel has agreed on an “initial withdrawal line” for Gaza, which has also been communicated to Hamas.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday called on Palestinian group Hamas to act swiftly in ongoing hostage release and peace negotiations in the Gaza Strip.
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