Friday morning news: October 2, 2026

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Attempted terror attacks update/reactions » Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says authorities now have more information about a copilot who tried to hijack a commercial airliner on its way to Israel.

NETANYAHU: We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination...

He was reportedly an Omani national. Israel’s initial assessment is that he likely acted alone.

Authorities arrested him in Saudi Arabia, and then sent him to Abu Dhabi, where the UAE is investigating the incident.

The still-unnamed suspect is accused of stabbing the flight's captain and trying to crash the plane.

Passengers managed to overpower him and regain control of the plane.

NETANYAHU: These guys are regular civilians and they did a job--I'm not sure that my team could have done any better. I'm not sure they could have done what they did. They're superheroes. And they saved the day.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says his department is keeping a close eye on American flights.

MULLIN: We see no credible threat to the United States, however, all of DHS, including our air marshals and TSA, we're always at a heightened alert for this kind of stuff.

And in an unrelated case, police on Thursday made a sixth arrest in connection with a suspected terror plot targeting a U.S.-run base in England. Police arrested the 27-year-old in London and has been identified as a dual citizen of the U.K. and Iran.

Pentagon stuff » The Pentagon is rolling out details on new projects unveiled this week during what Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called his ‘State of the Force’ address. WORLD’s Harrison Watters has more from Washington.

HARRISON WATTERS: Pete Hegseth said the Department of War is commissioning a task force to consider the future of war in space, with a team of civilians at the wheel.

HEGSETH: Project Meridian will be co-led by three of our nation’s best minds: Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich.

WATTERS: Luckey is least well known of those three names. He’s a 34-year-old tech and defense industry leader.

The trio has until late January to recommend new weapons and technologies for future battlefields.

Hegseth also announced a new department at the Pentagon, the office of religious affairs, reporting directly to him.

HEGSETH: We’re placing spiritual health at the same level as physical health. Our department is, you might say, putting on the whole armor of God.

WATTERS: Other new projects include scaling up drone capabilities and building a new American military base.

The expansions come as Hegseth acknowledges he has authorized 20% cuts in the top ranks of generals and admirals. While critics warn the cuts could drain experience, Hegseth says they’ll make the military leaner and more accountable.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Harrison Watters in Washington.

Space-X launch » Four astronauts woke up at the International Space Station this morning:

AUDIO: T-minus 10, 9, 8 …

After launching from Cape Canaveral Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

AUDIOD: 3, 2, 1, and liftoff! Go Falcon, go Dragon, and go Crew 13!

NASA says the nearly eight-hour trip was the fastest ever by an American spacecraft to the station.

Commander Jessica Watkins is leading the crew on a six month mission, replacing a crew that arrived in February. NASA says their work includes growing human tissue from stem cells and testing new ways to grow crops in space.

Pakistani airstrikes » Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan have killed at least 10 civilians, most of them children, according to the United Nations. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports:

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Afghanistan's Taliban rulers say the bombs fell early Thursday morning, destroying homes in two provinces.

Pakistan says it targeted hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists and that early reports show 22 militants killed.

On Thursday, Pakistan's army spokesman said the country will do whatever it must to protect its people. Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry accused the Taliban governor of Kandahar of hosting militant leaders in August, including Baloch separatists and al-Qaida members to discuss attacks against Pakistan.

The Taliban dismisses the claims as propaganda.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Putin says Russia will use ‘all weapons’ if attacked » Russian leader Vladimir Putin Thursday reiterated a threat that Moscow could use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad.

That's a Russian region wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. This week, Moscow sent NATO a written warning that it would use its entire arsenal if the alliance tried to blockade the region. Russia claims NATO is planning one.

NATO says it isn't targeting Kaliningrad and denounced what it called "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."

Russia's neighbors have their own complaints. Poland says a Russian helicopter from Kaliningrad crossed into its airspace last week, the latest in a string of Russian drone and aircraft incursions on NATO’s eastern flank.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Katie McCoy joins us for Culture Friday. And later, a documentary looks at the AI race and fears about its future.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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