Your helper

Monday, October 5, 2026

Russian drones attack ship in Black Sea, one Indian injured, two killed: Authorities

London, Oct 5 (PTI): At least two people were killed and some crew members, including one Indian, were injured after a Russian drone strike caused a fire on a Turkish-owned civilian cargo vessel in the Black Sea, authorities said.The Indian Embassy in Romania reported that there were "three Indian nationals among the crew members" and "one of them has been injured and is receiving medical attention.""We have learnt of an attack today on commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea. As per preliminary information, there have been 2 casualties (foreign nationals) while some crew members have been injured and are undergoing medical treatment in Romania. It is further reported that there are three Indian nationals among the crew members," the mission posted on X."Mission is in close contact with the relevant authorities to ascertain further details about the safety and welfare of the Indian nationals," it said.Ambassador Manoj Mohapatra spoke with the Indian nationals and confirmed that "all three are in good health""Amb @manojifs spoke with the three Indian nationals receiving treatment at Constanța County Hospital. He also spoke with the hospital’s Chief Physician, who confirmed that all three are in good health and receiving necessary care. The Ambassador assured them of all possible assistance and support," the mission said.It also said that "all three Indian nationals are safe.""We have spoken to them. One of them has been injured and is receiving medical attention. We are in close touch with the hospital authorities. We are extending all possible support for the welfare and wellbeing of the Indian crew members," the mission added.However, the nationality of those killed is not immediately known.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said there was a "horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Turkiye.""Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board. As of now, unfortunately, we know that the ship’s captain was killed. My condolences. The fate of one other person is still being established," he said.Zelenskyy said 11 crew members were rescued, one of them injured.He further said that Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea."Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help," he posted.The Black Sea is a critical global trade choke point facing severe disruption due to escalating attacks on commercial shipping and port infrastructure from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.On Sunday, a 52-year-old employee of a pharmaceutical warehouse belonging to Indian owners was killed in a Russian strike in Ukraine’s Sumy.On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has moved beyond advocacy and stepped up its efforts in recent months to resolve the Ukraine conflict by engaging in conversations with both Kyiv and Moscow.Jaishankar's comments at an event came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "good ideas" to find a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict. PTI AMS AMS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/russian-drones-attack-ship-in-black-sea-one-indian-injured-two-killed-authorities-1869912

Australia, New Zealand Probe Flydubai Co-Pilot’s Past Amid Hijack Investigation

Edited by: Wesley Dockery Security agencies in Australia and New Zealand on Monday said they were investigating the time that the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 spent in the countries in his youth The Omani national is in custody in the United Arab Emirates. He is suspected of attacking his pilot Smit Machchhar with the emergency ax in the cockpit, and attempting to hijack the plane and crash it intentionally in Israel. The pilot and passengers combined to thwart his attempts and restrain him. After a near-vertical dive lasting around 30 seconds during the fight for control, the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. <h2>What did Australian and New Zealand authorities say about the case?</h2> The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) said on Monday that the man had enrolled at the Melbourne university in the state of Victoria, but said that he did not successfully complete an engineering qualification. A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police said that the Victorian Counter Terrorism Team — comprising federal poice, Victorian state police, and the ASIO intelligence agency — was "investigating the man's links to Australia." Based on Australian media reports, the man arrived on an Australian student visa in 2014, enrolled in 2015, left in 2017, and had his visa canceled in 2019. Similarly, police in New Zealand said on Monday that the suspect spent time there, without specifying exactly where or when. "We are looking into the time he spent here, alongside other agencies where appropriate," New Zealand Police assistant commissioner Micahel Johnson told the RNZ news outlet, issuing similar comments elsewhere. "We are unable to comment further at this time." Flight FZ1073's pilot, Indian national Machchhar, also spent some of his formative years in New Zealand. He completed his early flight training some 18 years ago with the Mainland Air carrier. "I was really pleased to read how he handled the situation," the airline's chief executive Philip Kean told RNZ. "He got through and he got the door open so the other people could save the airplane, because if he hadn't done that, it would have been a disaster." (Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/australia-new-zealand-probe-flydubai-co-pilot-s-past-amid-hijack-investigation-1869907

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Al-Qaeda Hails Flydubai Co-Pilot Attack, Invokes 9/11 Calling For More US, Israeli Airline Strikes

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemen-based branch of the terror group, has praised the failed hijacking of a flydubai aircraft and called for similar attacks targeting US and Israeli airlines. In an editorial published in its weekly Arabic-language publication Al-Bayan, AQAP praised the actions of the Omani co-pilot involved in the incident and argued that aircraft carrying Americans, Israelis and others it considers enemies of Islam remain vulnerable to attacks. Titled ‘Between September 11 and September 30’, the editorial featured images of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre and flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-received-flydubai-crew-list-before-co-pilot-s-attack-on-captain-smit-and-hijack-attempt-report-1869727">Israel Received Flydubai Crew List Before Co-Pilot’s Attack On Captain Smit And Hijack Attempt: Report</a> <h2>AQAP Says Aircraft Remain Vulnerable To Attacks</h2> “The war is far from over; aircraft carrying Zionists, Americans, and forces from the various camps of disbelief warring against Islam still roam the skies,” the editorial said. It referred to the September 11 attacks and the September 30 incident as examples of the vulnerability of aircraft to attacks. The publication claimed that if the hijacking of the flydubai aircraft had succeeded, it could have altered the balance of power in the region. Al-Bayan also suggested that an attack could be carried out by people who do not share the group's religious beliefs but whose actions could nevertheless benefit Muslims. “The enemies of America and the Zionists are far more numerous today than in the past,” the editorial said, adding that an attack could be carried out by someone who “believes in neither God nor the Hereafter”. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lDByhewMb_Y?si=xDMDl2SwargiPbI-" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/flydubai-co-pilot-hamam-al-hammami-who-attacked-smit-machchhar-wanted-to-deliberately-crash-plane-was-not-afraid-of-death-report-1869700">Flydubai Co-Pilot Wanted To Deliberately Crash Plane, Was ‘Not Afraid Of Death’: Report</a> <h2>Flydubai Flight Forced To Land After Cockpit Attack</h2> Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident unfolded. Indian captain Smit Machchhar opened the cockpit door and alerted the crew after he was attacked with a crash axe by his co-pilot, identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami. Machchhar said he managed to open the cockpit door after being attacked, allowing passengers to overpower the co-pilot. The Boeing 737 then plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. A second pair of flydubai pilots who were aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/flydubai-hijacking-plot-al-qaeda-hails-co-pilot-invokes-9-11-calling-for-more-us-israeli-airline-strikes-1869752

Bosnia Election 2026: 3.4 Million Voters Cast Ballots Amid Political Crisis

Edited by: Natalie Muller Polls closed in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday evening, with around 3.4 million voters eligible to take part in the Balkan country's general election. Citizens are electing officials across multiple tiers of government, including members of the multiethnic, tripartite presidency. They will also choose lawmakers for the federal parliament and the heads of institutions for the country's two largely autonomous entities — the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serb-run Republika Srpska. The election comes at a time when the country is struggling with a number of challenges. There's been an economic slowdown, sluggish progress toward EU membership, and a long-drawn-out political gridlock, with the ethnically based dominant parties from the two entities repeatedly stalling decisions by the weak central government that links them. The election will see adversary ethnic parties, the Bosniak SDA, Serb SNSD and Croat HDZ BiH, pitted against multi-ethnic opposition coalitions led by the Social Democratic Party. Polls closed at 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), with preliminary results expected to be released late Sunday. <h2>What is the system that governs Bosnia-Herzegovina?</h2> The economic, administrative and political responsibilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are divided between the multiethnic central government, two semi-autonomous entities, and the self-governing neutral Brcko district. Both entities are further split into several cantons and communities. The complicated framework — divided along ethnic lines — was set up during the US-brokered 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, following the 1992-95 Bosnian war which was triggered by the breakup of Yugoslavia. <h2>Simmering ethnic tensions</h2> Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina's populace, around half are Muslim Bosniaks, while 31% are Orthodox Serb and 15% are Catholic Croat. The country has been peaceful in recent years but its ethnonationalist parties have kept the divisions alive even as voters say they want to move on from the war-era rhetoric and division. <h2>Milorad Dodik not on the ballot but still dominant in Republika Srpska</h2> In Republika Srpska, secessionist leader Milorad Dodik of the SNSD party remains the key figure despite not being on the ballot. Dodik, the former president of the Serb-majority entity, is barred from holding public office for six years after being convicted of defying the top international envoy overseeing the 1995 peace process. Dodik-backed Savo Minic is running for the Republika Srpska's presidency. Dodik wants close &zwnj;ties with Serbia and Russia. He has just returned from Moscow where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Bosnia and Herzegovina is dead, it is an impossible country," Dodik told supporters at the final rally of his in Banja Luka on Friday. <h2>What is happening in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina?</h2> In the Muslim-Croat federation, Bosniak parties are advocating for a stronger central state. The main Bosniak SDA party is focused on efforts to keep the country united against Serb separatism. Bosnian Croats are also largely backing their ethnic parties, including the Bosnian branch of Croatia's ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union. Meanwhile, Denis Becirovic, the incumbent Bosniak presidency member, has vowed a renewed path to the EU and NATO. <h2>EU ambitions</h2> Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a candidate for EU membership since 2022. But the actual start of membership talks depends on the prior implementation of numerous reforms, including strengthening judicial oversight and passing anti-corruption laws. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/bosnia-election-2026-3-4-million-voters-cast-ballots-amid-political-crisis-1869741

Brazil Votes In Tight Presidential Race As Lula Faces Bolsonaro In Likely Runoff

Edited by: Sean Sinico Voting began in Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, with leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a fourth non-consecutive term and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro seeking to continue the right-wing populist movement started by his father, Jair Bolsonaro. Polls have predicted a tight race between the two leading candidates, with neither likely to win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff that would take place on October 25. Lula and Bolsonaro wrapped up their campaigns on Saturday in Brazil's economic powerhouse state of Sao Paulo. <h2>Lula vows to 'defeat the far-right'</h2> The 80-year-old Lula capped off his campaign with a tour through the city of Sao Paulo, vowing to "defeat the far right." Organizers said some 150,000 of Lula's supporters turned up for the rally in Brazil's largest city. Lula has campaigned on continuing his left-leaning Workers' Party platform, comprising welfare programs, state-funded development and income redistribution. "The people will have to choose between strengthening the democratic regime and barbarism ... between progress and backwardness," he said as he cast his ballot on Sunday. <h2>Bolsonaro calls for 'change'</h2> Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, has served as the Liberal Party's senator for Rio de Janeiro since 2019. On Saturday, he led a motorcycle parade through Sao Paulo's countryside cities of Santa Barbara d'Oeste and Americana. He also held up a portrait of his father, while the crowd shouted "mito" — a Portuguese word for "legend" that Jair Bolsonaro's supporters use to refer to him. The right-wing Bolsonaro has campaigned on hardline security policies and tax cuts, emphasizing high cost of living under Lula, who he has slammed as "incompetent." "Brazil needs change," the son of the former president said as he cast his vote. "Brazil cannot bear any more suffering, such as high taxes, so many women killed." <h2>Brazil's 2022 election rematch</h2> The elder Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence in prison for attempting a coup to overturn his loss to Lula in the 2022 presidential election. Flavio Bolsonaro has vowed to pardon his father if elected. Lula's team has cast the Bolsonaro movement as a threat to Brazil's sovereignty, pointing to Flavio and Jair's ties with US President Donald Trump, who last year slapped a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports in response to Jair Bolsonaro's coup trial. The US president called the case a "witch hunt." The younger Bolsonaro has said in interviews he is "more moderate" than his father, who he has nevertheless said will remain "my compass, my point of reference." Policies where both Bolsonaros are similar include relaxed gun control laws and skepticism of human-caused climate change. Trump has not endorsed the senator, but has said he is watching the election "very closely." <h2>What happens next?</h2> Brazil finds itself politically divided, and campaigning has been bitter, with online operations from both sides seizing on every gaffe, accusation and rumor, quickly producing slick videos or AI-generated images for social media. In September, it was revealed Bolsonaro is under investigation for alleged corruption, money laundering and tax evasion tied to the financing of a biopic about his father. He has denied any misconduct. The latest polling for the first round of voting shows Lula at 46% and Bolsonaro at 45%, according to the Brazilian data intelligence and public opinion research firm Quaest cited by Reuters news agency. In the case of a run-off, the Quaest poll shows Lula at 42% and Bolsonaro at 44%. In 2022, Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro by only 1.8 percentage points. Along with voting for president, Brazil's 160 million registered voters are also choosing other lawmakers, governors, and some senators. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first. (Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/brazil-votes-in-tight-presidential-race-as-lula-faces-bolsonaro-in-likely-runoff-1869738

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Netanyahu invites Indian pilot Machchhar to Israel's I-Day event, calls him 'hero' of entire world

Dubai, Oct 4 (PTI): Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday spoke with Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, calling him a "hero" of the entire world for foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight.Netanyahu spoke to the pilot, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE, and also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Machchhar to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day."It's our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It's usually reserved for Israeli citizens, but I think here in this case, all the citizens of Israel will embrace you. They do now, and they will then too. So we hope to see you very soon in Israel," Netanyahu said during his conversation with 38-year-old Machchhar."You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world. I invite Prime Minister @NarendraModi and you to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day," the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted on X."During the emotional conversation that took place this evening, the Prime Minister asked Captain Machchhar how it all started, and Machchhar revealed new details about the terrifying moments in the cockpit," the post read.On flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, seriously injuring him.The flight, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet.In a phone call with Netanyahu, Machchhar told him that before the attack, the co-pilot wanted to pray."...while he was praying, out of respect, I was just looking at the front and not at the back, and suddenly, after, I would say about four-five minutes, there was a big blow to the back of my head."My first thought was that there was catastrophic damage to the aircraft and something was not right. But then after that, the blows kept coming one after the other, and that's when I realised that it's not the aircraft, it's the other guy who was in the cockpit with me," Machchhar said.Netanyahu told him he was "amazed at his courage" and "at your coolness of judgment under impossible conditions.""You saved so many souls. I think you saved something bigger. You saved the spirit of the world...It's something that is being justly hailed around the world. You're a hero of Israel. You're a hero of India. You're a hero of the entire world," Netanyahu told Machchhar."You know, I guess it's a twist of fate, and a twist of faith, and what you did is remarkable. I heard, of course, from the Israeli passengers what transpired after that, and you're a great hero, and you were accompanied by heroes, and you saved the day," Netanyahu said.The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a descent so extreme that part of the rudder was torn away.The co-pilot who attacked Machchhar has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the matter.After receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care. PTI AMS MNKMNK(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/netanyahu-invites-indian-pilot-machchhar-to-israel-s-i-day-event-calls-him-hero-of-entire-world-1869614

UK: 2 Iranians Charged Over Alleged Plot To Attack Jewish Targets In Manchester

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko Two Iranian nationals charged with plotting acts of terrorism against the United Kingdom's Jewish community were remanded in custody by a court in London on Saturday. The pair were detained on September 20, the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The case only came to light on Friday when the two men were charged, just days after another terror plot, which the UK has linked to Iran, was foiled. <h2>What do we know about the case?</h2> Prosecutor Mark Luckett told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Rahman S., 34, and Salam &zwnj;A., 36, are accused of carrying out "hostile reconnaissance" on Jewish targets in Manchester, in northern England. He said the two men planned to use a "homemade explosive device" and had allegedly been in contact with a third party, an Iranian national, most likely operating from within Iran. The contact is alleged to have given the pair instructions on how &zwnj;to put together a homemade device from chlorine and brake fluid, the court heard. Luckett said the two suspects had used online resources, including images, plans and maps, to identify and research potential attack sites. He told the court that the targets included the Manchester Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park synagogue, where two Jewish worshippers were killed in a knife attack a year ago on Friday. The two Iranian suspects had arrived in Britain in small boats that crossed the English Channel from mainland Europe, Luckett added. One had been granted asylum, while the other's application is still pending, the court heard. The pair did not enter a plea and were remanded in custody until their next hearing at London's Old Bailey on October 23. Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator of counterterror policing, said the plot was believed to be isolated and there was no ongoing public threat. <h2>Police find no link to RAF Fairford plot</h2> Evans also said the Manchester plot was "not connected in any way" to the suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford last weekend, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham said showed "strong indications" of Iranian involvement. Also on Saturday, police said a dual British-Iranian national, arrested on Thursday in connection with the RAF Fairford plot, was released on police bail. The 25-year-old was the sixth person arrested and then bailed as the investigation continues. Police said the five other men held are all British nationals in their 20s and from London. Police uncovered the RAF Fairford plot when a farmer spotted suspicious white vans near the base early on Sunday morning and called the authorities. Officers found petrol inside the vans, but no explosives. UK media reported this week that one of the suspects dialled the police about an hour earlier, though that has not been confirmed. Tehran has rejected as baseless accusations of targeting RAF Fairford, which lies 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of London and has been used by US bombers to strike Iran. The UK remains on high alert for potential threats from Russia and Iran. Iran has previously used proxies to commit crimes on British soil, including repeated attacks and plots against Jewish targets, as well as against dissidents. Antisemitic attacks more broadly have risen sharply since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/uk-2-iranians-charged-over-alleged-plot-to-attack-jewish-targets-in-manchester-1869607