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Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including a Panamanian-flagged vessel being struck and catching fire off the coast of Oman and US President Donald Trump saying he has a call scheduled “very soon” with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia.
TOP STORIES
A Panamanian-flagged commercial vessel was targeted off Oman’s Musandam Governorate, sparking a fire aboard the ship and prompting the medical evacuation of 10 crew members, the Omani Defense Ministry said.
The vessel, identified as the ON PEACE, was targeted about nine nautical miles northeast of Limah in Musandam overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, said a ministry statement.
The Royal Oman Air Force in coordination with the relevant authorities carried out a medical evacuation operation for 10 members of the ship’s crew following the incident, according to the statement.
The crew members were airlifted to Khasab Hospital in Musandam, where they received necessary medical care.
US President Donald Trump said he has a call scheduled "very soon" with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Washington monitors reports of a pneumonic plague case in Russia.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether he had spoken with Putin about the issue, Trump said: "I have a call scheduled very soon."
"So far, we're in very deep discussions. We'll be able to report about it probably tomorrow," he added.
Trump earlier said the US is looking "very strongly" at the risk of pneumonic plague from Russia, adding that Washington will "help them."
NEWS IN BRIEF
BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
The Turkish Space Agency (TUA) has signed two agreements with the space agencies of fellow member countries of the Organization of Turkic States as well as the UK Space Agency to help strengthen international cooperation.
The agreements were signed during the first two days of this week’s 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in the Turkish Riviera city of Antalya, which began Monday.
A new framework agreement builds on existing cooperation under a joint CubeSat project coordinated by the Organization of Turkic States, which Türkiye is a founding member of. It aims to advance joint work and lay the groundwork for future space projects.
Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into whether Meta breached online safety rules when it introduced Instagram’s disappearing-content feature Instants.
Launched in May, the feature allows users to share photos and videos that disappear after being viewed.
Ofcom said it would determine whether Meta conducted “suitable and sufficient” assessments of illegal-content and child-safety risks before the rollout as required under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
“Our online safety laws are clear. Significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they’re launched,” Ofcom enforcement director George Lusty said.
CULTURE AND LIFE
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to the Belgian physicist Francis Halzen.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Halzen was awarded the prize "for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin."
Halzen recognized that the ice at the South Pole could be used to detect particles known as neutrinos, a vision considered "fundamental" to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a cubic kilometer of ice that is equipped with light sensors.
Italy's Ambassador to Ankara Giuseppe Manzo praised cooperation between Italy and Türkiye in the space sector, saying the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is one of the official sponsors of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).
"Türkiye and Italy have strong cooperation in space," Manzo told Anadolu on the sidelines of the congress, organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
Referring to the GOKTURK-1 project as an important example of longstanding Turkish-Italian space cooperation, Manzo said both countries consider space a priority.
He also recalled that Italian and Turkish astronauts worked together as part of Axiom Mission 3, describing the cooperation between the two countries as "great" and noting that it dates back years.
SPORTS
Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title after Alex de Minaur retired injured in the final, while Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Japan Open crown with a straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka.
Djokovic took a closely contested opening set 7-6(3) in Beijing before Australia's De Minaur received medical treatment and returned to the court with his left thigh heavily bandaged.
De Minaur won the opening game of the second set but was unable to continue, handing the 39-year-old Serbian the title.
The victory extended Djokovic's perfect record at the China Open to 34-0 and gave him his seventh title in seven appearances at the tournament.
UEFA opened an investigation after an Israeli player was accused of spitting at a member of Ireland's coaching staff during their Nations League match in Serbia, according to media reports.
Ireland's head of athletic performance, Damien Doyle, alleged that an Israeli player spat at him as the teams left the pitch at halftime of Sunday's 1-1 draw at TSC Arena in Backa Topola, according to The Irish Times.
The match was an Ireland home fixture but was moved to a neutral venue in Serbia and played behind closed doors after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) cited “operational challenges” surrounding the fixture.
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