THURSDAY 01 OCTOBER, 2026 CENTRE NOTIFIES TIGHTER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CAFE III NORMS epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard B R E X I T U -T U R N BURNHAM TALKS UK RETURN TO EU SOFTER TARGETS FOR LIGHTER VEHICLES Andy Burnham put the idea of Britain rejoining the EU on the table on Wednesday, breaking a taboo for a UK PM in the debate to return to European grouping A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 Modi, Trump hold first call since Russia sanctions law INDONESIA DEMOLISHES LUXURY PRISON VILLAS Authorities razed luxury prison “villas” outside Jakarta on Wednesday where whisky and a huge TV were seized from a complex, complete with a pool and a gym, in which inmates were allegedly paying to live. | P9 NEW DELHI FLIGHT FZ1073 1 5.21 UTC: Flight begins steep descent, followed by a sharp ascent, repeats it, as per Flightradar24 J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to maintain close engagement to advance the India-US strategic partnership in their first conversation since the passage of the Russia sanctions legislation in the US. It is learnt that Modi raised key issues, including New Delhi’s concerns over the move to impose tariff on countries buying Russian oil. The call came as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in the US for talks aimed at advancing a proposed bilateral trade agreement and securing an interim trade arrangement. During the telephone conversation, Modi and Trump reviewed cooperation in trade, defence, energy and critical technologies, an official release said. “The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, energy critical technologies , and other areas of mutual interest,” the release said. The two leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership”, the statement said. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed efforts to promote global peace and security . Modi, in a post on X, described the conversation as “productive”. “Had a productive conversation with President Trump. We reviewed our bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas,” Modi said. The call came amid rising trade tensions following the US enactment of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which allows the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas.  2 2 1 3 4 ROUTE OF FLY DUBAI FLIGHT 5.28.48 am: Aircraft begins squawking 7700, a discreet international code to indicate general emergency 3 05:33 am: Aircraft then oscillates around an altitude of about 15,000 feet. Ground speed varies significantly 4 05:35 am: Switches to squawk 7500, another code to indicate unlawful interference. Flight then turns west, briefly entering Jordanian airspace before turning back 180 degrees and heading southwest toward Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. It switches back to squawk 7700 as it approached Tabuk, lands at 6.58 am EASING CONGESTION `1.8K CR AI-ENABLED TRAFFIC SYSTEM FOR COPS GETS NOD M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi THE Centre on Wednesday approved a `1,789.52-crore Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for Delhi Police aimed at improving traffic flow, road safety, enforcement and incident response across the national capital. Briefing media after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the technology-driven project would cover 42 identified traffic corridors and be implemented in three phases over 24 months. “The initiative is part of broader efforts by the Centre and the Delhi government to modernise transport infrastructure and improve urban mobility. It seeks to make more efficient use of Delhi’s existing road network by replacing largely fixed traffic management practices with systems that can respond in real time to changing road conditions,” he said. Vaishnaw said that all 1,529 signals in Delhi currently operate on fixed timers, meaning signal durations remain unchanged even when traffic volumes vary significantly Sewer network overhaul The Delhi Jal Board has given in-principle approval of a `17,969.93 crore, 10-year programme to overhaul sewer maintenance across Delhi through a new “One Zone, One Operator” model. It maintains 11,212 km of sewer lines and 6.68 lakh manholes. P3 among multiple approaches reaching to the cross sections. “Under the ITMS, adaptive traffic control systems will dynamically alter signal timings based on prevailing traffic conditions. Signals along designated corridors will also be coordinated to reduce unnecessary stoppages and delays,” he said. Vaishnaw said the system could be used to manage congestion at roundabouts. “During low traffic periods, signals may not be required, while heavy traffic could trigger automated regulation to prevent gridlocks,” he said. Delhi has around 71 lakh active registered vehicles. The new system aims to improve the utilisation of existing road capacity through realtime monitoring, automated control and faster operational responses, the minister said.  J8.00  PAGES 12 The benchmark for average fuel consumption will tighten from 3.996 litres per 100 km in 2027-28 to 3.327 litres per 100 km in 2031-32, a 16.7% improvement. The reference vehicle weight has been raised to 1,229 kg from 1,082 kg under the existing norms, meaning relatively softer targets for lighter vehicles and greater efficiency requirements for heavier ones | P10 INFLIGHT TERROR High drama aboard Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight as co-pilot stabs captain, tries to crash plane; aircraft plunges 17,000 ft; off-duty pilots take control, make emergency landing A G E N C I E S @ Dubai/Jerusalem A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport on Wednesday after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain with a knife and tried to intentionally crash the plane with 174 passengers, most of them Israelis. The incident prompted Israel to close its airspace and scramble warplanes over fears that the jet had been hijacked. Flight-tracking data showed the plane suddenly plummeted, losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute. The aircraft subsequently transmitted emergency signals, including a code indicating possible unlawful interference. Following the pandemonium, two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were travelling in the same plane as passengers entered the cockpit and took control of the flight. The knife-wielding copilot was subdued with the help of passengers and the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia for emergency landing. The off-duty pilots landed the NO CONFIRMATION Israeli news website Ynet, citing officials, reported that the pilot was Indian and the co-pilot was an Omani national, who was suspected of trying to crash the aircraft. The Indian captain fought with him to prevent the crashing, with Israeli passengers later helping subdue the co-pilot. But there was no independent confirmation of the pilot’s nationality plane safely and the passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv in another aircraft. “The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport. All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for,” a Flydubai spokesperson said. Flydubai said the reasons for the fight between the pilots were unknown. “At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation. We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts,” a spokersperson said. The airline said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and that all passengers were safe. “The captain and copilot were found to have injuries and were transported to hospital,” a statement from the Tabuk airport said. An Israeli official said there may have been an attempt to attack Israelis, and an investigation is ongoing. He said that a “major disaster was narrowly avoided” adding passengers had prevented an ‘Israeli 9/11’ by tying up the assailant. While Flydubai did not disclose the identities of the pi- INDIA to take fight against CEC to streets P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi IN a show of unity, 20 INDIA bloc parties came together here on Wednesday to announce a joint action plan demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to ballot papers over EVMs. Kumar has been under Opposition and civil society fire for a week since reports revealed a rift in the functioning of the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. After a three-hour-meeting, the INDIA bloc parties, in a joint press meet, announced country in October and Novemthey would rope in youngsters ber, including one in Delhi on and civil society organisations November 1. and hold ‘Save Democracy’ Congress president Mallikarmarches from October jun Kharge, former 2-8 before district magparty chiefs Sonia istrate offices to press Gandhi and Rahul their charge of ‘vote Gandhi, TMC chief chori’. On October 6, Mamata Baner jee, all opposition MPs will CPM general secretary march to the EC headM A Baby Jammu and , quarters in Delhi. OpKashmir Chief Minisposition leaders will ter Omar Abdullah, Gyanesh Kumar seek an appointment RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav with the President in and NCP (SP) MP Suthe second week of October to priya Sule were among those at submit a representation on the the meeting; Shiv Sena (UBT) matter. The bloc will also hold chief Uddhav Thackeray and five massive rallies across the Jharkhand CM and JMM chief SC livid, says may disband UP police and bring in CBI for shielding accused S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi COMING down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Police for shielding an accused in a criminal case by “fudging investigation”, despite the eyewitness account and physical handing over of the suspect to the police at the scene, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said “enough is enough” and that “this nonsense has to stop at some point”. The top court said it might as well disband UP Police and direct the CBI to take over all the probes in the state. “This nonsense (shielding accused) has to stop at some point. In everything you have an agenda. How will people trust you if this is how you proceed with matters? It is better if we ask CBI to step in all UP Police investigations. We might as well ‘Accused handed over to cops, yet no FIR’ As per the case details, the complainant apprehended the accused motorcycle rider at the spot, and handed him over to the police, yet an FIR was lodged against an unknown person, apparently to shield the accused. disband the UP Police. This nonsense has to stop at some point,” observed a two-judge bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva. The court has sought detailed explanation from senior UP police officials on why the FIR was registered in such a manner and why the accused was not named despite being caught at the spot. The court had in the past also pulled up UP police in several cases for alleged biased investigation and failure to follow due procedure. The court reiterated that the rule of law must prevail and the police cannot act as per its own agenda. B U L L’S E Y E S From almost quitting archery to two gold at Asiad: Sahil’s story OME two years ago, Sahil Jadhav wanted to walk away from archery His ca. reer, he thought, was going nowhere. He was living on borrowed time: mother’s jewellery had already been sold to ensure he would get the required paraphernalia to keep the fire of ambition burning. That flame was about to be extinguished when he was forced to compete with borrowed arrows at a selection trial to make it to the Indian team. Over the last two years, though, Sahil has only known big wins. The apogee of his career came on Wednesday Twice in. side the first half of the day at the archery ranges, Sahil occupied the top step of the podium — as part of the mixed team and the men’s side — as Indian archers dominanted the proceedings with three gold medals on Wednesday. The com- INDRANEEL DAS EXPRESS @ ASIAN GAMES NAGOYA pound archer, whose gold in the mixed team event also gave India a quota at LA2028, said he faced no pressure in the final. In fact, his last shot was a 10. A product of the famed Archery Academy in Satara, Maharashtra, he shifted to the National lots, some Israeli media outlets identified them as Omani and Emirati nationals. Meanwhile, some reports claimed the captain was Indian national Smit Machchhar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft with Israeli passengers on board. He said the pilot who carried out the stabbing had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities. Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger told him that the aircraft went into a spin and began descending, after which the passenger and a crew member managed to break into the cockpit and, together, they overpowered the pilot who had carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems. He said another crew member then entered the cockpit and helped stabilise the aircraft. “I salute these heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage. They prevented a major disaster,” he said. Sahil Jadhav celebrates with his gold after the men’s team event | PTI Centre of Excellence in Kolkata two years ago. Despite their meagre savings, the parents and the coach, Pravin Sawant, kept him in good spirits. “He competed with borrowed arrows during the selection trials and earned a place in the India team,” said his father Rajesh Jadhav. The breakthrough came at the World University Games in 2025 where he came within a whisker of scoring 150 (ended up with 149). Soon, he became the country’s top compound archer. Securing Olympic quota for India was a bonus. “The feeling is great and result of a lot of hard work,” said Sahil, who is still hoping for a Class One job from Maharashtra government. Hard work, determination and no less grit took him from the verge of retirement to the top step of the podium. Next stop? It could well be Los Angeles. Hemant Soren joined online. At the briefing, Kharge said the bloc will appeal to the Supreme Court to expedite the cases related to the SIR and electoral malpractices. Kharge said everyone had agreed that all polls should be conducted on ballot papers and that laws framed by this “chori government” should be annulled. He dubbed Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as real “puppeteers” of EC. Sources said Mamata, during the meeting, called for a broader Opposition mobilisation and urged all leaders to set aside their egos to fight the BJP . SHAH IN PUNJAB ‘Drunk Mann can’t tackle drug menace’ H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the AAP government of failing to curb the drug menace in the state. Taking a dig at CM Bhagwant Mann, without naming him, he said, “Someone who himself gets intoxicated can never make the state drugfree.” He was addressing a massive rally at the culmination of BJP’s 13-day “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra”, which began on September 18 and covered around 4,000 km through all 117 Assembly constituencies. The Union minister said, “The AAP government has allowed the trade in ‘chitta’ to operate openly,’’ he alleged. “I want to tell Bhagwant Mann that even if you had done nothing else but made Punjab drugfree, the people would have forgiven you,” Shah said. Without naming the chief minister, Shah said, “Someone who gets intoxicated and insults the gurus cannot free Punjab from the scourge of drugs.” Making an appeal to the mothers and youth, Shah said, “I promise the mothers and youth of Punjab that if you vote for us, we will free Punjab from the trade before December 31, 2029,” he said.