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Melbourne (AFP) – A sperm whale has cracked the hull of a yacht sailing in the remote South Pacific, forcing four sailors into a day-and-night fight for survival on the high seas. Crew members on the 16-metre Tai Tam tell AFP of their encounter with a pod of sperm whales 250 nautical miles north of tiny Norfolk Island. At 1 pm New Zealand time, about 30 minutes after the whale collision, they activated an emergency beacon. A container ship, the MV Sofrana Surville, rescued the sailors at 6 am Sunday — about 18 hours after their encounter with the sperm whale.

Moscow (AFP) – President Vladimir Putin says that Russia has “no intention of attacking anyone” but warns that if “we’re faced with aggression, we will have to respond”. His comments come as tensions mount over Kaliningrad — Russia’s heavily militarised territory that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea.

Moscow (AFP) – President Vladimir Putin says that Russia has “no intention of attacking anyone” but warns that if “we’re faced with aggression, we will have to respond”. His comments come as tensions mount over Kaliningrad — Russia’s heavily militarised territory that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea.

HOKKAIDO (Japan) (AFP) – Police in Japan release dashcam footage from a passenger car that was attacked by a brown bear in northern Hokkaido Prefecture. The incident took place on Tuesday when two bears were spotted, believed to be a mother and cub, forcing the vehicle to halt. The larger bear then slammed its body against the car’s bonnet, before running away. One person was travelling in the vehicle, according to public broadcaster NHK, with no injuries reported.

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Cellphone theft and robbery have become a daily security concern for millions of Brazilians, with victims describing financial losses and a growing fear of moving around their own cities. Ahead of the October 4 presidential election, candidates have pledged to tackle the problem, while security companies are turning to networks of cameras and technology to help police identify suspects.

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Cellphone theft and robbery have become a daily security concern for millions of Brazilians, with victims describing financial losses and a growing fear of moving around their own cities. Ahead of the October 4 presidential election, candidates have pledged to tackle the problem, while security companies are turning to networks of cameras and technology to help police identify suspects.

Mumbai (India) (AFP) – Indian pilot Smit Machchhar is hailed as a “hero” after fighting to retain control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him, leaving him wounded but helping avert disaster. The airline says all passengers are safe. According to media reports, 166 of the 174 passengers were Israeli citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also praised the pilot’s “extraordinary bravery”, saying he fought back despite being wounded and helped prevent a catastrophic mid-air disaster.

Mumbai (India) (AFP) – Indian pilot Smit Machchhar is hailed as a “hero” after fighting to retain control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him, leaving him wounded but helping avert disaster. The airline says all passengers are safe. According to media reports, 166 of the 174 passengers were Israeli citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also praised the pilot’s “extraordinary bravery”, saying he fought back despite being wounded and helped prevent a catastrophic mid-air disaster.

Atlanta (AFP) – Footage released by Zoo Atlanta on September 30, 2026, shows one of the zoo’s giant pandas settling into its new surroundings after the zoo welcomed two pandas from China, male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang. The pair arrived at Zoo Atlanta on September 27, 2026, and the zoo says they are already exceeding the team’s expectations and adjusting well to their new environment. The black-and-white mammals are immensely popular around the world, and China loans them out as part of a “panda diplomacy” program to foster foreign ties.

Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israeli passengers from flydubai flight FZ 1073 arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where relatives sing and dance to welcome them after their flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credits the flydubai pilot, Indian national Smit Machchhar, as well as passengers, with averting catastrophe after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and tried to crash the plane.

Ukraine (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the country’s troops in an address marking Ukraine’s Defenders’ Day, saying that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are “defending our lives, defending our values, Ukraine’s right to exist.”

Ukraine (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the country’s troops in an address marking Ukraine’s Defenders’ Day, saying that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are “defending our lives, defending our values, Ukraine’s right to exist.”