‘I closed my eyes to brace for impact’: the man who escaped a whale’s mouth

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Adrián Simancas encountered a humpback off Chile’s coast – but scientists say he was never at risk of being swallowed

Adrián Simancas had been paddling for two hours in the calm but icy seas of the Strait of Magellan, off the coast of Chilean Patagonia, when something massive emerged from the water and dragged him under.

“I saw dark blue and white colours before feeling a slimy texture brush against my face,” the 24-year-old told the Guardian. “I closed my eyes to brace for impact, but it was soft, like being hit by a wave.”

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Can Arab nations stop Trump’s ‘Gaza Riviera’ plans? – DW (English)

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  1. Can Arab nations stop Trump's 'Gaza Riviera' plans?  DW (English)
  2. Trump doubles down on plan to empty Gaza. This is what he has said and what’s at stake  The Associated Press
  3. Why Trump’s Plan to Relocate Gazans Is Untenable for Jordan  The New York Times
  4. Trump's ethnic cleansing plan: No option left for the Palestinians but to stay and fight  Middle East Eye
  5. The Rift Between Trump and His Allies in Egypt and Jordan Is Playing in Hamas' Favor  Haaretz
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Albanese sparks anger with pledge over controversial salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour

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Prime minister tells Salmon Tasmania of promise to change legislation and allow ‘sustainable’ farming to continue

Anthony Albanese has promised to introduce legislation that will allow “sustainable salmon farming” to continue in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, sparking anger from conversationists and researchers who urged for the local industry to be scaled back.

The promise, made in a letter to industry group Salmon Tasmania, came after years of lobbying for action in Macquarie Harbour to save the threatened Maugean skate from extinction.

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Melbourne zoo investigating shock death of Kimya the western lowland gorilla

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Vets are undertaking a necropsy to determine why beloved 20-year-old animal suddenly died on Saturday morning

Vets at Melbourne zoo are investigating the sudden death of 20-year-old western lowland gorilla, Kimya.

In a statement, Zoos Victoria said the gorilla’s death was “unexpected” and that staff were “devastated” at the news.

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UK-based lawyers for Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai targeted by Chinese state

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Exclusive: Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers say they have been subject to surveillance, hacking and rape threats

UK-based lawyers have spoken out about being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in a campaign of intimidation including surveillance, hacking of bank accounts and rape threats.

The barristers, from Doughty Street Chambers in London, say there has been a coordinated and concerted campaign against them since they began acting for the jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media mogul, Jimmy Lai, three years ago.

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‘Guess who’s back?’: the inside story of Nigel Farage’s quest for power

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With a new HQ and digital-savvy staff, Reform UK is trying to tighten its operation – but there are tensions over fringe views and trouble brewing at the grassroots

Nigel Farage seems to be everywhere again: striding into rallies to the beat of Eminem, popping up at Maga parties in Washington, hosting a champagne-soaked fundraiser in Mayfair and grinning on the ITV breakfast sofa taunted by a Chinese dragon.

Since July, Reform UK has soared in the polls, threatening the Conservatives and Labour and leaving many backers daring to dream that one day Farage could enter government.

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Pilbara community evacuated by helicopter over Cyclone Zelia flooding risk

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Storm quickly weakened after making landfall east of Port Hedland with strongest parts hitting remote areas

Properties have been damaged and large trees uprooted by an ex-tropical cyclone still wreaking havoc in Western Australia, with record rainfall triggering significant flooding from which people are being evacuated by helicopter.

Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall in the north-west of Western Australia on Friday and was quickly weakened as it crossed the coast east of Port Hedland.

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Trump: I’d take a hard stance on Gaza Saturday, but can’t say what Israel will do – The Times of Israel

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  1. Trump: I’d take a hard stance on Gaza Saturday, but can’t say what Israel will do  The Times of Israel
  2. Trump: US will 'back' Israel in whatever Netanyahu chooses as Hamas continue holding hostages  The Jerusalem Post
  3. Trump backs 'hard stance' on Gaza, says he does not know what Israel will do  Reuters
  4. Hamas says it will adhere to Gaza ceasefire after threat to delay next release of Israeli hostages  CBS News
  5. Hamas backs down over hostage deal threat  Yahoo
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Lebanon: UN vehicle torched as Hezbollah supporters protest – DW (English)

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  1. Lebanon: UN vehicle torched as Hezbollah supporters protest  DW (English)
  2. Senior UN peacekeeper injured in convoy attack in Lebanon  BBC.com
  3. Lebanon says 25 arrested after attack on UN peacekeepers  The Times of Israel
  4. UN peacekeeping mission deputy commander injured after convoy attacked in Beirut  Reuters
  5. Lebanon: UN peacekeeping commander injured after convoy attacked by protesters  Sky News
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Southport killer’s sentence will not be referred to court of appeal

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Attorney general declines to refer Axel Rudakubana’s 52-year minimum sentence to unduly lenient sentence scheme

The sentence of the Southport killer will not be referred to the court of appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, the attorney general has said.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was handed a 52-year minimum sentence for murdering three girls at a dance class, the second-longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history, but the Southport MP Patrick Hurley previously asked the attorney general to review the sentence as “unduly lenient”, saying it is “not severe enough”.

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