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<p>The Indian rupee has been depreciating against the US dollar almost steadily since the Covid pandemic. While this is consistent with the longer-term historical pattern of roughly 2 to 3 per cent average annual weakening, a key question being raised is that the Indian currency is the worst performer in Asia vis-à-vis the dollar. What could be the reasons? India’s higher inflation relative to the US, persistent current-account deficits and capital-flow volatility are among the obvious ones. India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been managing the depreciation, mainly by selling dollars through open market operations. Here are the facts and figures.</p><h2>How Indian rupee depreciated against the US dollar since Covid pandemic</h2><p>The peak stress was felt in the pre-Covid period itself, when the Indian rupee was around 72 against the dollar. By the end of 2021, it was at around 75 to a dollar. A sharp drop happened at the end of 2022, to around 83 per dollar. Between 2023 and 2025, it hovered in the 82–85 range, which was considered a relatively stable phase. But by the end of 2025, the slide worsened to more than 90, breaching what could be termed a psychological barrier at the time. Currently, the rupee is at around 95, after testing record lows of around 96 to a dollar earlier this year.</p><p>For the period from early 2020 to late 2026, this amounts to an overall substantial decline of around 30 per cent in nominal terms. If one takes the January 2022 average of 74.4 against late-2026 levels of 95, the depreciation is about 28 per cent.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-stock-market-crash-sensex-nifty-six-month-low-oil-fpi-rupee-1790610541704">Indian stock market crashes, 7.4 lakh crore wiped out: What is driving the fall?</a></p><h2>Indian rupee’s performance against Asian peer currencies</h2><p>During the Covid period, the depreciation was considered mild to moderate, as the Indian rupee was relatively resilient compared with some Asian peers, thanks to strong domestic recovery, capital inflows and RBI management. It was not the worst-hit currency in Asia at the time.</p><p>But in 2022, it became one of the weakest Asian performers, down 10 to 11 per cent. This was also a period of several global economic and geopolitical events that affected fuel prices, one of the largest components of India’s import bill. These include aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, which the RBI's monetary policy broadly mirrored, a resurgence of the US dollar, and oil price spikes driven by the Russia–Ukraine war.&nbsp;</p><p>India imports close to 90 per cent of its crude oil requirement, leaving the rupee particularly exposed to energy-price shocks.</p><p>This was also a period that saw foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pulling out of India. Indian equities, with a relatively low number of companies involved in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), were regional underperformers. &nbsp;Foreign investors reduced capital inflows that could otherwise have supported the rupee.</p><p>As a result of these factors, India’s current account deficit widened significantly during this period.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-global-tensions-are-draining-strength-from-indian-rupee-1778835835916">How global tensions are draining strength from Indian rupee</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The 2023–2024 period was relatively stable or modest. The rupee, in fact, often outperformed or matched peers in volatility terms, benefiting from higher Indian real yields, bond-index inclusion prospects and RBI interventions. It was at times among the more stable emerging-market or Asian currencies.</p><p>But the weakness accelerated in late 2024–2025, with the rupee becoming Asia’s worst or near-worst performer, going down 4.9 per cent in 2025. A different but related set of events happened in this period. US tariffs on Indian exports, including secondary penalties linked to buying Russian oil, were one major factor. FPI equity outflows increased amid concerns about India’s growth and corporate earnings. Uncertainties about the US–India trade deal and persistent current-account pressure were also reasons.</p><p>During this period, some other Asian currencies, such as the Malaysian ringgit, Thai baht, Taiwan dollar, Korean won and Singapore dollar, strengthened or held up better amid a softer dollar phase. Some of them were helped by trade surpluses or positive net international investment positions (NIIP), while India has a negative NIIP.</p><p>In 2026, the situation worsened partly due to the start and continuation of the Iran–US–Israel war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting pressure on oil prices, bringing in a higher import bill. Benchmark Brent crude has been swinging between $70 and nearly $110 per barrel during the first and second quarters of this financial year.</p><p>Global bond-yield spikes, ongoing FPI caution and external deficits are adding to the pressure. But a steeper fall has been prevented through RBI interventions, as well as balance-of-payments measures such as attracting large deposits and borrowing inflows.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fed-rate-hike-4-percent-india-rupee-fpi-stock-market-inflation-1789659953082">Fed hikes rates to 4%: Why India’s rupee, FPI and stock market face pressure</a></p><h2>Structural and recurring reasons for the rupee underperformance</h2><p>The Indian rupee is being boxed in by these key factors: high oil-import dependence, current-account and trade deficits, capital-flow volatility, interest-rate differentials and global US dollar strength, and a negative NIIP.</p><p>The RBI’s focus is to prevent a speculative attack on the rupee by curbing volatility, rather than defending the Indian currency at a specific level against the dollar. It intervenes through spot and forward sales in the foreign-exchange market and has built large reserves.</p><p>In short, what the rupee is witnessing currently is an orderly, or crawling, depreciation rather than an outright crisis.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupee-hits-96-for-first-time-ever-1778996756301/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupee-hits-96-for-first-time-ever-1778996756301/embed</a></p><h2>Rupee’s nominal path reflects external vulnerabilities more than domestic factors</h2><p>India is on a positive trajectory when it comes to GDP growth. When one looks at rupee depreciation from a longer-term perspective, the average depreciation remains in the 2–3 per cent range. But the currency is witnessing uneven bursts around global shocks.</p><p>When compared with other emerging-market currencies, India has shown greater resilience, buttressed by higher forex reserves, including inflows from remittances. It has, however, lagged behind surplus-running or less oil-dependent Asian currencies during periods of dollar softness or commodity stress.</p>

The Indian rupee is one of Asia’s weakest currencies against the US dollar, but one needs to look deeper. India's oil dependence, capital outflows and deficits are among the reasons

The Indian rupee has been depreciating against the US dollar almost steadily since the Covid pandemic. While this is consistent with the longer-term historical pattern of roughly 2 to 3 per cent average annual weakening, a key question being raised is that the Indian currency is the worst performer in Asia vis-à-vis the dollar. What could be the reasons? India’s higher inflation relative to the US, persistent current-account deficits and capital-flow volatility are among the obvious ones. India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been managing the depreciation, mainly by selling dollars through open market operations. Here are the facts and figures. How Indian rupee depreciated against the US dollar since Covid pandemic The peak stress was felt in the pre-Covid period itself, when the Indian rupee was around 72 against the dollar. By the end of 2021, it was at around 75 to a dollar. A sharp drop happened at the end of 2022, to around 83 per dollar. Between 2023 and 2025, it hovered in the 82–85 range, which was considered a relatively stable phase. But by the end of 2025, the slide worsened to more than 90, breaching what could be termed a psychological barrier at the time. Currently, the rupee is at around 95, after testing record lows of around 96 to a dollar earlier this year. For the period from early 2020 to late 2026, this amounts to an overall substantial decline of around 30 per cent in nominal terms. If one takes the January 2022 average of 74.4 against late-2026 levels of 95, the depreciation is about 28 per cent. Also read: Indian stock market crashes, 7.4 lakh crore wiped out: What is driving the fall? Indian rupee’s performance against Asian peer currencies During the Covid period, the depreciation was considered mild to moderate, as the Indian rupee was relatively resilient compared with some Asian peers, thanks to strong domestic recovery, capital inflows and RBI management. It was not the worst-hit currency in Asia at the time. But in 2022, it became one of the weakest Asian performers, down 10 to 11 per cent. This was also a period of several global economic and geopolitical events that affected fuel prices, one of the largest components of India’s import bill. These include aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, which the RBI's monetary policy broadly mirrored, a resurgence of the US dollar, and oil price spikes driven by the Russia–Ukraine war. India imports close to 90 per cent of its crude oil requirement, leaving the rupee particularly exposed to energy-price shocks. This was also a period that saw foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pulling out of India. Indian equities, with a relatively low number of companies involved in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), were regional underperformers. Foreign investors reduced capital inflows that could otherwise have supported the rupee. As a result of these factors, India’s current account deficit widened significantly during this period. Also read: How global tensions are draining strength from Indian rupee The 2023–2024 period was relatively stable or modest. The rupee, in fact, often outperformed or matched peers in volatility terms, benefiting from higher Indian real yields, bond-index inclusion prospects and RBI interventions. It was at times among the more stable emerging-market or Asian currencies. But the weakness accelerated in late 2024–2025, with the rupee becoming Asia’s worst or near-worst performer, going down 4.9 per cent in 2025. A different but related set of events happened in this period. US tariffs on Indian exports, including secondary penalties linked to buying Russian oil, were one major factor. FPI equity outflows increased amid concerns about India’s growth and corporate earnings. Uncertainties about the US–India trade deal and persistent current-account pressure were also reasons. During this period, some other Asian currencies, such as the Malaysian ringgit, Thai baht, Taiwan dollar, Korean won and Singapore dollar, strengthened or held up better amid a softer dollar phase. Some of them were helped by trade surpluses or positive net international investment positions (NIIP), while India has a negative NIIP. In 2026, the situation worsened partly due to the start and continuation of the Iran–US–Israel war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting pressure on oil prices, bringing in a higher import bill. Benchmark Brent crude has been swinging between $70 and nearly $110 per barrel during the first and second quarters of this financial year. Global bond-yield spikes, ongoing FPI caution and external deficits are adding to the pressure. But a steeper fall has been prevented through RBI interventions, as well as balance-of-payments measures such as attracting large deposits and borrowing inflows. Also read: Fed hikes rates to 4%: Why India’s rupee, FPI and stock market face pressure Structural and recurring reasons for the rupee underperformance The Indian rupee is being boxed in by these key factors: high oil-import dependence, current-account and trade deficits, capital-flow volatility, interest-rate differentials and global US dollar strength, and a negative NIIP. The RBI’s focus is to prevent a speculative attack on the rupee by curbing volatility, rather than defending the Indian currency at a specific level against the dollar. It intervenes through spot and forward sales in the foreign-exchange market and has built large reserves. In short, what the rupee is witnessing currently is an orderly, or crawling, depreciation rather than an outright crisis. https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupee-hits-96-for-first-time-ever-1778996756301/embed Rupee’s nominal path reflects external vulnerabilities more than domestic factors India is on a positive trajectory when it comes to GDP growth. When one looks at rupee depreciation from a longer-term perspective, the average depreciation remains in the 2–3 per cent range. But the currency is witnessing uneven bursts around global shocks. When compared with other emerging-market currencies, India has shown greater resilience, buttressed by higher forex reserves, including inflows from remittances. It has, however, lagged behind surplus-running or less oil-dependent Asian currencies during periods of dollar softness or commodity stress.

<p>The Indian rupee is one of Asia’s weakest currencies against the US dollar, but one needs to look deeper. India's oil dependence, capital outflows and deficits are among the reasons</p>

Why is Indian rupee the lowest-performing Asian currency against the US dollar? Reasons are not that simple

<p>In September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that an autonomous OpenAI AI agent unauthorisedly breached a government portal in June. OpenAI apologised to the Australian government on Tuesday (Sep 29), which involved Medicare, the country’s universal health insurance scheme. The autonomous AI systems accessed the Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal, administered by Services Australia.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>ABC News's Cam Wilson shared the email sent by OpenAI to the Australian government's Services Australia to reveal what had happened. The letter reads that the "security vulnerability" was identified "during our review of OpenAI Model activity…" It goes on to say, "An OpenAI model identified a way to make the server carry out instructions sent through the public reporting interface, without a private account or password."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The agent was able to "read portions of internal program files and settings, obtain a list of files, and create and read back a small test file on the server." OpenAI said that it reviewed the incident but found "no evidence that the model accessed patient-level records, personal information or credentials; deleted data; or established ongoing access."</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-admits-ai-agent-scaled-the-fence-into-australia-government-system-apologises-we-are-sorry-1790658789423"><strong>OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It then tries to work its way around the issue, by portraying itself as the saviour who identified the vulnerability, by recommending that the team should "assess the changes needed to prevent it", and that it would be “glad to brief your security team and provide supporting evidence as available.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The email concluded, stating, "Best, OpenAl Security Team".</p><h2><strong>OpenAI agent hacks Australian government portal</strong></h2><p>After the OpenAI agent entered the target portal, it encountered access controls and restrictions and autonomously bypassed the safeguards and scaled past the access boundaries to retrieve the data without human authorisation or instruction. However, no personal health or patient records were exposed, Australian officials confirmed. The agent accessed non-sensitive aggregate health statistics and internal file names.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The unauthorised access occurred in June this year, but OpenAI did not notify Australian authorities until September 10, 2026. During this time, it completed an internal investigation into "misaligned model activity".</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The incident highlighted the safety risks posed by autonomous AI agents. Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasised that data theft was not the core problem, but rather an unprompted rogue action where an AI agent did things on its own to bypass security barriers.</p>

OpenAI sent an apology letter to Australia after one of its agents accessed the country’s universal health insurance scheme in June. The letter states that the agent encountered access controls and restrictions and autonomously bypassed the safeguards.

In September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that an autonomous OpenAI AI agent unauthorisedly breached a government portal in June. OpenAI apologised to the Australian government on Tuesday (Sep 29), which involved Medicare, the country’s universal health insurance scheme. The autonomous AI systems accessed the Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal, administered by Services Australia. ABC News's Cam Wilson shared the email sent by OpenAI to the Australian government's Services Australia to reveal what had happened. The letter reads that the "security vulnerability" was identified "during our review of OpenAI Model activity…" It goes on to say, "An OpenAI model identified a way to make the server carry out instructions sent through the public reporting interface, without a private account or password." The agent was able to "read portions of internal program files and settings, obtain a list of files, and create and read back a small test file on the server." OpenAI said that it reviewed the incident but found "no evidence that the model accessed patient-level records, personal information or credentials; deleted data; or established ongoing access." Also Read: OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’ It then tries to work its way around the issue, by portraying itself as the saviour who identified the vulnerability, by recommending that the team should "assess the changes needed to prevent it", and that it would be “glad to brief your security team and provide supporting evidence as available.”

<p>OpenAI sent an apology letter to Australia after one of its agents accessed the country’s universal health insurance scheme in June. The letter states that the agent encountered access controls and restrictions and autonomously bypassed the safeguards.</p>

Here's what OpenAI's apology letter to Australia for hacking a portal states

<p>The world’s oceans are warming at an increasingly alarming rate, triggering changes that could reshape marine ecosystems, coastlines and communities, according to the latest Copernicus Ocean State Report. The 10th edition of the report, published Wednesday (Sep 30) and compiled by more than 100 international scientists, draws on more than four decades of observations from satellites, buoys and ocean sensors. Researchers say the findings offer their starkest warning yet about the scale and speed of changes taking place beneath the surface. “The ocean is transforming before our eyes: warming, rising seas and ecosystem degradation are interconnected signs of significant and long-term change,” said Pierre Bahurel, director general of Mercator Ocean International, which produced the report.</p><h2><strong>Oceans are heating at twice the rate</strong></h2><p>The ocean absorbs around 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by human activity, making it one of the most important buffers against global warming. But that comes at a cost.</p><p>According to the report, the rate of ocean warming has doubled over the past two decades. Sea surface temperatures reached record highs in 2023, 2024 and again in 2026. In 2025 alone, the oceans absorbed an additional 23 zettajoules of heat, setting a record for the ninth consecutive year.</p><p>That amount of energy is difficult to visualise, but the report compares it to the energy released by about 12 Hiroshima bombs every second for an entire year, or roughly 40 times the amount of energy consumed across the world in 2025.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/falklands-oil-row-argentina-milei-threatens-legal-action-against-uk-over-sea-lion-project-says-if-within-two-weeks-1790667906985"><strong>Falklands oil row: Argentina threatens legal action against UK over Sea Lion project, says ‘if within two weeks…’</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Rising seas threaten coastal populations</strong></h2><p>The extra heat stored in the oceans is driving a chain reaction across the climate system. Warmer waters contribute to marine heatwaves, can intensify storms and accelerate sea level rise. Rising temperatures also cause seawater to expand, while melting land ice adds more water to the oceans.</p><p>Global average sea levels have risen by about 3.8 millimetres a year since 1999, bringing the overall increase to nearly four inches. The pace has accelerated since 2012, posing growing risks to the hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas.</p><h2><strong>Ocean acidification adds another threat</strong></h2><p>The changes are not limited to temperature and sea levels. The world's oceans have become about 17 per cent more acidic since 1985 as they absorb increasing amounts of carbon pollution from the atmosphere.</p><p>Ocean acidification can make it harder for marine organisms such as oysters, lobsters and corals to build and maintain their shells and skeletons.</p><p>Scientists often describe acidification as climate change's “equally evil twin” because of its potentially wide-ranging impact on marine ecosystems.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-cockpit-attack-all-we-know-about-co-pilot-accused-of-stabbing-smit-machchhar-trying-to-crash-plane-with-174-passengers-onboard-1790825078610"><strong>Flydubai cockpit attack: Who is the co-pilot accused of stabbing Smit Machchhar, trying to crash plane with 174 passengers onboard</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Mediterranean and Black Sea hit by extreme heat</strong></h2><p>Some regions are already experiencing particularly severe changes, according to the report. The Mediterranean and Black Seas recorded unprecedented marine heatwaves in 2024, with some events lasting more than 30 days. In parts of the region, water temperatures climbed as much as 4.6 degrees Celsius above average.</p><p>“These are not isolated hot spells; they are occurring against a backdrop of sustained ocean warming that is changing the conditions marine ecosystems experience,” said Blanca Fernández-Álvarez, a report author and researcher at The Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies.</p><h2><strong>Arctic warming and shrinking sea ice</strong></h2><p>The Arctic is among the regions undergoing the most dramatic changes. Sea surface temperatures there have increased by around 4.2 degrees Celsius over the past 40 years. Between 1979 and 2025, average monthly sea ice coverage declined by roughly 190,000 square miles per decade, an area comparable to the size of Spain disappearing every 10 years.</p><p>In Antarctica, exceptionally low sea ice levels in 2022 coincided with the first recorded mass breeding failure among Emperor penguins.</p><p>The report described the event as a sign that climate change is already altering habitats relied upon by species dependent on sea ice.</p><h2><strong>Island nations on the frontline</strong></h2><p>Small developing island states face some of the most immediate consequences of these changes. Rising seas, stronger cyclones, storm surges and coral reef loss are increasingly threatening their economies, infrastructure and communities.</p><p>The report calls for long-term monitoring of the world's oceans so governments and communities can better anticipate and prepare for accelerating changes. “It is our responsibility to build the permanent capacity to anticipate this transformation,” Bahurel said.<br>&nbsp;</p>

The world's oceans are warming twice as fast as two decades ago, absorbing record amounts of heat as sea levels rise and acidity increases. A new Copernicus report warns that marine ecosystems, coastal populations and island nations face growing risks. All you need to know.

The world’s oceans are warming at an increasingly alarming rate, triggering changes that could reshape marine ecosystems, coastlines and communities, according to the latest Copernicus Ocean State Report. The 10th edition of the report, published Wednesday (Sep 30) and compiled by more than 100 international scientists, draws on more than four decades of observations from satellites, buoys and ocean sensors. Researchers say the findings offer their starkest warning yet about the scale and speed of changes taking place beneath the surface. “The ocean is transforming before our eyes: warming, rising seas and ecosystem degradation are interconnected signs of significant and long-term change,” said Pierre Bahurel, director general of Mercator Ocean International, which produced the report. Oceans are heating at twice the rate The ocean absorbs around 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by human activity, making it one of the most important buffers against global warming. But that comes at a cost. According to the report, the rate of ocean warming has doubled over the past two decades. Sea surface temperatures reached record highs in 2023, 2024 and again in 2026. In 2025 alone, the oceans absorbed an additional 23 zettajoules of heat, setting a record for the ninth consecutive year. That amount of energy is difficult to visualise, but the report compares it to the energy released by about 12 Hiroshima bombs every second for an entire year, or roughly 40 times the amount of energy consumed across the world in 2025. Also read | Falklands oil row: Argentina threatens legal action against UK over Sea Lion project, says ‘if within two weeks…’ Rising seas threaten coastal populations The extra heat stored in the oceans is driving a chain reaction across the climate system. Warmer waters contribute to marine heatwaves, can intensify storms and accelerate sea level rise. Rising temperatures also cause seawater to expand, while melting land ice adds more water to the oceans. Global average sea levels have risen by about 3.8 millimetres a year since 1999, bringing the overall increase to nearly four inches. The pace has accelerated since 2012, posing growing risks to the hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas. Ocean acidification adds another threat The changes are not limited to temperature and sea levels. The world's oceans have become about 17 per cent more acidic since 1985 as they absorb increasing amounts of carbon pollution from the atmosphere. Ocean acidification can make it harder for marine organisms such as oysters, lobsters and corals to build and maintain their shells and skeletons. Scientists often describe acidification as climate change's “equally evil twin” because of its potentially wide-ranging impact on marine ecosystems. Also read | Flydubai cockpit attack: Who is the co-pilot accused of stabbing Smit Machchhar, trying to crash plane with 174 passengers onboard Mediterranean and Black Sea hit by extreme heat Some regions are already experiencing particularly severe changes, according to the report. The Mediterranean and Black Seas recorded unprecedented marine heatwaves in 2024, with some events lasting more than 30 days. In parts of the region, water temperatures climbed as much as 4.6 degrees Celsius above average. “These are not isolated hot spells; they are occurring against a backdrop of sustained ocean warming that is changing the conditions marine ecosystems experience,” said Blanca Fernández-Álvarez, a report author and researcher at The Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies. Arctic warming and shrinking sea ice The Arctic is among the regions undergoing the most dramatic changes. Sea surface temperatures there have increased by around 4.2 degrees Celsius over the past 40 years. Between 1979 and 2025, average monthly sea ice coverage declined by roughly 190,000 square miles per decade, an area comparable to the size of Spain disappearing every 10 years. In Antarctica, exceptionally low sea ice levels in 2022 coincided with the first recorded mass breeding failure among Emperor penguins. The report described the event as a sign that climate change is already altering habitats relied upon by species dependent on sea ice. Island nations on the frontline Small developing island states face some of the most immediate consequences of these changes. Rising seas, stronger cyclones, storm surges and coral reef loss are increasingly threatening their economies, infrastructure and communities. The report calls for long-term monitoring of the world's oceans so governments and communities can better anticipate and prepare for accelerating changes. “It is our responsibility to build the permanent capacity to anticipate this transformation,” Bahurel said.

<p>The world's oceans are warming twice as fast as two decades ago, absorbing record amounts of heat as sea levels rise and acidity increases. A new Copernicus report warns that marine ecosystems, coastal populations and island nations face growing risks. All you need to know.</p>

12 Hiroshima bombs every second?: Oceans hit record heat in 2025, scientists warn. Here’s what it means for the planet

<p>A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Sep 30) after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit, triggering a struggle for control of the aircraft. The Boeing 737, operating as flight FZ1073, reportedly descended sharply over Jordanian airspace before passengers and crew intervened. All 174 passengers were eventually brought to safety.</p><p>The name of the hero pilot who has been credited with preventing what could've been a tragedy has been made public. Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a "hero" by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But who was the co-pilot behind the horrific stabbing and attempted plane crash? Here's all we know.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hero-pm-modi-praises-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-who-helped-avert-flydubai-tragedy-1790819874962"><strong>‘HERO’: PM Modi praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who helped avert Flydubai tragedy</strong></a></p><h2><strong>The identity: Who is the alleged attacker?</strong></h2><p>The alleged attacker was the first officer, or co-pilot, rostered on Flydubai flight FZ1073. Israeli officials have identified him as an Omani national, but his name has not been publicly released by Israel, Flydubai or Saudi authorities.</p><p>Notably, Israeli media previously reported different nationalities, including Russian or Ukrainian.</p><p>The co-pilot was arrested after the aircraft landed at Tabuk Airport and is being detained in Saudi Arabia, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p><h2><strong>What happened inside the cockpit?</strong></h2><p>According to reports, roughly two and a half hours into the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, leaving him seriously injured.</p><p>The co-pilot then allegedly pushed the flight controls forward, sending the aircraft into a steep descent. Flight-tracking data indicated that the plane lost approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, while other accounts put the altitude loss at around 17,000 feet within a minute.</p><p>The injured captain reportedly managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush inside and eventually subdue the attacker.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-capt-smit-machchhar-indian-pilot-who-helped-avert-flydubai-disaster-1790792934749"><strong>Who is Capt. Smit Machchhar, Indian pilot who helped avert Flydubai disaster?</strong></a></p><h2><strong>The motive: Why did the co-pilot attack the pilot?</strong></h2><p>Passenger accounts suggest that the co-pilot appeared to be trying to disable the controls. At the time this report was published, the motive had not been established. However, speculations and accusations continue to circulate.</p><p>Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has described the incident as an “attempted jihadist terror attack” and said the alleged attacker intended to crash the aircraft with its Israeli passengers.</p><p>Israel's Foreign Ministry has called the incident an attempted terrorist attack against Israelis, the UAE and the Abraham Accords, while Israel and the UAE have said they intend to work together against extremist elements.</p><p>Netanyahu offered a somewhat different preliminary description, saying the incident appeared to involve an extended suicide or sabotage attempt.&nbsp;</p><p>Flydubai, however, has explicitly said the reasons and motives behind the cockpit altercation remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation.</p><h2><strong>How Captain Smit Machchhar helped save the plane</strong></h2><p>Despite being stabbed multiple times, Machchhar mustered the strength to unlock the cockpit door. That gave passengers the opportunity to enter the flight deck and confront the co-pilot. Israeli passenger Yaniv, who was among those who entered the cockpit, said the alleged attacker was on the controls and appeared to be trying to damage them.</p><p>After helping pull the man away from the controls, Yaniv returned to the cockpit when the aircraft was still descending sharply and pulled back on the flight controls. He said the plane began to level out before another pilot took over.</p><p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later praised Machchhar, describing his actions as an “amazing act of heroism”. The Indian pilot is now being treated at a Saudi hospital.</p><h2><strong>The passengers who rushed into the cockpit</strong></h2><p>Passengers also played a crucial role in the emergency. One passenger identified as Yaniv said he confronted the alleged attacker and placed him in a hold before pulling him away from the controls.</p><p>Another passenger, Zvika Manes, said he and two other Israelis used corded headphones to restrain and tie up the co-pilot. Manes said the struggle took roughly 20 to 25 minutes.</p><p>Yaniv said he managed to take control of the aircraft temporarily. When Netanyahu asked how he knew what to do, the passenger joked that he had watched Mayday, the television documentary series about aviation disasters.</p><h2><strong>The Aftermath: What happened after the emergency landing?</strong></h2><p>The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai said all passengers were safe, with media reports saying 166 of the 174 passengers were Israeli. The co-pilot was also reportedly injured by the time the aircraft landed.</p><p>Israel has since said it plans to strengthen security checks on pilots operating flights into the country. An official in Netanyahu's office said authorities would seek to establish the identities of pilots flying into Israel and conduct additional security checks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

A Flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers plunged thousands of feet after its captain was allegedly attacked by the co-pilot. The aircraft eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia, but major questions remain over the accused pilot and his motive. All we know.

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Sep 30) after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit, triggering a struggle for control of the aircraft. The Boeing 737, operating as flight FZ1073, reportedly descended sharply over Jordanian airspace before passengers and crew intervened. All 174 passengers were eventually brought to safety. The name of the hero pilot who has been credited with preventing what could've been a tragedy has been made public. Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a "hero" by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But who was the co-pilot behind the horrific stabbing and attempted plane crash? Here's all we know. Also read | ‘HERO’: PM Modi praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who helped avert Flydubai tragedy The identity: Who is the alleged attacker? The alleged attacker was the first officer, or co-pilot, rostered on Flydubai flight FZ1073. Israeli officials have identified him as an Omani national, but his name has not been publicly released by Israel, Flydubai or Saudi authorities. Notably, Israeli media previously reported different nationalities, including Russian or Ukrainian. The co-pilot was arrested after the aircraft landed at Tabuk Airport and is being detained in Saudi Arabia, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What happened inside the cockpit? According to reports, roughly two and a half hours into the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, leaving him seriously injured. The co-pilot then allegedly pushed the flight controls forward, sending the aircraft into a steep descent. Flight-tracking data indicated that the plane lost approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, while other accounts put the altitude loss at around 17,000 feet within a minute. The injured captain reportedly managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush inside and eventually subdue the attacker. Also read | Who is Capt. Smit Machchhar, Indian pilot who helped avert Flydubai disaster? The motive: Why did the co-pilot attack the pilot? Passenger accounts suggest that the co-pilot appeared to be trying to disable the controls. At the time this report was published, the motive had not been established. However, speculations and accusations continue to circulate. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has described the incident as an “attempted jihadist terror attack” and said the alleged attacker intended to crash the aircraft with its Israeli passengers. Israel's Foreign Ministry has called the incident an attempted terrorist attack against Israelis, the UAE and the Abraham Accords, while Israel and the UAE have said they intend to work together against extremist elements. Netanyahu offered a somewhat different preliminary description, saying the incident appeared to involve an extended suicide or sabotage attempt. Flydubai, however, has explicitly said the reasons and motives behind the cockpit altercation remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation. How Captain Smit Machchhar helped save the plane Despite being stabbed multiple times, Machchhar mustered the strength to unlock the cockpit door. That gave passengers the opportunity to enter the flight deck and confront the co-pilot. Israeli passenger Yaniv, who was among those who entered the cockpit, said the alleged attacker was on the controls and appeared to be trying to damage them. After helping pull the man away from the controls, Yaniv returned to the cockpit when the aircraft was still descending sharply and pulled back on the flight controls. He said the plane began to level out before another pilot took over. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later praised Machchhar, describing his actions as an “amazing act of heroism”. The Indian pilot is now being treated at a Saudi hospital. The passengers who rushed into the cockpit Passengers also played a crucial role in the emergency. One passenger identified as Yaniv said he confronted the alleged attacker and placed him in a hold before pulling him away from the controls. Another passenger, Zvika Manes, said he and two other Israelis used corded headphones to restrain and tie up the co-pilot. Manes said the struggle took roughly 20 to 25 minutes. Yaniv said he managed to take control of the aircraft temporarily. When Netanyahu asked how he knew what to do, the passenger joked that he had watched Mayday, the television documentary series about aviation disasters. The Aftermath: What happened after the emergency landing? The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai said all passengers were safe, with media reports saying 166 of the 174 passengers were Israeli. The co-pilot was also reportedly injured by the time the aircraft landed. Israel has since said it plans to strengthen security checks on pilots operating flights into the country. An official in Netanyahu's office said authorities would seek to establish the identities of pilots flying into Israel and conduct additional security checks.

<p>A Flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers plunged thousands of feet after its captain was allegedly attacked by the co-pilot. The aircraft eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia, but major questions remain over the accused pilot and his motive. All we know.</p>

Flydubai cockpit attack: Who is the co-pilot accused of stabbing Smit Machchhar, trying to crash plane with 174 passengers onboard?

Every year on October 1, the world celebrates World Vegetarian Day. To mark this day, we have curated a list of seven countries with the highest reported share of vegetarian populations.

<p>Every year on October 1, the world celebrates World Vegetarian Day. To mark this day, we have curated a list of seven countries with the highest reported share of vegetarian populations.</p>

World Vegetarian Day 2026: 7 countries with the highest numbers of vegetarians

<p>WhatsApp is rolling out new parental controls for teenagers, giving parents more ways to manage privacy settings and stay informed about their children's activity without giving them access to private chats. The move comes amid rising concerns about safety and well-being surrounding young children's use of social media, and as governments impose greater pressure on technology companies over children's online safety.<br>Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, said the new tools are designed to help parents and teens configure a safer experience together.</p><h2><strong>What can parents see on WhatsApp?</strong></h2><p>Parents will be able to receive notifications when their teenager joins or leaves a group. They can also be notified if a group the teen belongs to experiences a significant increase in membership.</p><p>WhatsApp is not, however, giving parents the ability to read their teenager's personal conversations.</p><p>The company says personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning neither WhatsApp nor a parent can read them. Calls also remain protected by end-to-end encryption.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-global-cash-crisis-and-gold-prices-reaching-new-heights-baba-vanga-s-2027-prophecy-predicts-prices-could-cross-1790756828838"><strong>Global cash crisis and gold prices reaching new heights? Baba Vanga's 2027 prophecy predicts prices could cross...</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Privacy settings can be controlled by parents</strong></h2><p>The new tools allow parents to manage some of the privacy choices on a teen's account. These include deciding who can see the teenager's profile photo and who can add them to WhatsApp groups. Parents can also manage who their teen sees and who can see their teen's Status updates.&nbsp;</p><p>A parent-set PIN will be used when a teenager attempts to make certain privacy settings less restrictive.</p><h2><strong>Parents can restrict Channels and Meta AI</strong></h2><p>WhatsApp is also giving parents controls over its Channels feature, which allows organisations, public figures and other users to distribute updates.</p><p>Parents can choose to allow all Channels, restrict access to parent-approved Channels or prevent their teen from viewing Channels altogether. They can also decide whether the teenager is allowed to create Channels.</p><p>For Meta AI, parents can choose between the standard experience and a more restricted “Limited” setting, which limits the topics a teenager can discuss with the AI assistant.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/australian-teens-defy-under-16-social-media-bans-by-using-dog-pictures-so-how-safe-are-they-1765354324465"><strong>Australian teens defy under-16 social media bans by using dog pictures. So, how 'safe' are they?</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Is the feature available in India?</strong></h2><p>Unlike some restrictions imposed directly by governments or platforms, WhatsApp's new parental controls are optional. Parents and teenagers can set them up together, with WhatsApp describing them as tools intended to support conversations about online safety and privacy.</p><p>They are being rolled out gradually, so they may not yet be available in every region.</p><h2><strong>WhatsApp minimum age remains 13</strong></h2><p>WhatsApp says users must be at least 13 years old to use the service, although the minimum age is higher in some countries. The company has also begun introducing age-verification measures for certain features and says age information can be used to provide age-appropriate experiences.</p>

WhatsApp is rolling out optional parental controls for teens, allowing parents to manage privacy settings, receive group activity alerts and restrict Channels and Meta AI. Can they read their teen's messages too? Here's all you need to know about the new WhatsApp update.

WhatsApp is rolling out new parental controls for teenagers, giving parents more ways to manage privacy settings and stay informed about their children's activity without giving them access to private chats. The move comes amid rising concerns about safety and well-being surrounding young children's use of social media, and as governments impose greater pressure on technology companies over children's online safety. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, said the new tools are designed to help parents and teens configure a safer experience together. What can parents see on WhatsApp? Parents will be able to receive notifications when their teenager joins or leaves a group. They can also be notified if a group the teen belongs to experiences a significant increase in membership. WhatsApp is not, however, giving parents the ability to read their teenager's personal conversations. The company says personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning neither WhatsApp nor a parent can read them. Calls also remain protected by end-to-end encryption. Also read | Global cash crisis and gold prices reaching new heights? Baba Vanga's 2027 prophecy predicts prices could cross... Privacy settings can be controlled by parents The new tools allow parents to manage some of the privacy choices on a teen's account. These include deciding who can see the teenager's profile photo and who can add them to WhatsApp groups. Parents can also manage who their teen sees and who can see their teen's Status updates. A parent-set PIN will be used when a teenager attempts to make certain privacy settings less restrictive. Parents can restrict Channels and Meta AI WhatsApp is also giving parents controls over its Channels feature, which allows organisations, public figures and other users to distribute updates. Parents can choose to allow all Channels, restrict access to parent-approved Channels or prevent their teen from viewing Channels altogether. They can also decide whether the teenager is allowed to create Channels. For Meta AI, parents can choose between the standard experience and a more restricted “Limited” setting, which limits the topics a teenager can discuss with the AI assistant. Also read | Australian teens defy under-16 social media bans by using dog pictures. So, how 'safe' are they? Is the feature available in India? Unlike some restrictions imposed directly by governments or platforms, WhatsApp's new parental controls are optional. Parents and teenagers can set them up together, with WhatsApp describing them as tools intended to support conversations about online safety and privacy. They are being rolled out gradually, so they may not yet be available in every region. WhatsApp minimum age remains 13 WhatsApp says users must be at least 13 years old to use the service, although the minimum age is higher in some countries. The company has also begun introducing age-verification measures for certain features and says age information can be used to provide age-appropriate experiences.

<p>WhatsApp is rolling out optional parental controls for teens, allowing parents to manage privacy settings, receive group activity alerts and restrict Channels and Meta AI. Can they read their teen's messages too? Here's all you need to know about the new WhatsApp update.</p>

WhatsApp parental controls for teens: Can parents read messages? What they can see and change. All you need to know

<p>More than 950,000 Americans across 30 states who were enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans will receive $500 checks from the US Treasury. The payments will start rolling out on Thursday (October 1), as per a White House fact sheet. They will be accompanied by a letter from President Donald Trump. He had announced the refunds earlier this month. He accused the Biden administration of overcharging enrollees and said it "accumulated a significant surplus of funds that were not used to benefit the Americans who paid these higher premiums."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One family could also receive multiple checks if more than one member were impacted, an administration official said. The payments come a month before the midterm elections. In addition to this, Trump has also promised more cash payments to Americans if the Republicans retain control over the House and Senate in November. He has announced a $5,000 "Trump dividend" &nbsp;to every American adult.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump's letter on ACA refunds attacks the Biden administration for taking extra money from "hard-working Americans." The letter from Trump reads, “For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!”</p><h2><strong>Read Trump's ACA letter</strong></h2><p><i>For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!</i></p><p><i>With this Historic Action, my Administration is taking the surplus funds that accumulated from the Obamacare "Premium Tax" and issuing a one-time $500 REFUND to Americans who use the HealthCare.gov platform to purchase their health insurance, but who do not receive Taxpayer Subsidies to help pay for their Coverage. You have paid into this flawed System, and now you are finally getting something back.</i></p><p><i>Healthcare Dollars should benefit Patients, not Insurance Companies or Government Bureaucrats. Since returning to office, I have fought to lower Healthcare Costs, increase Accountability, and Put Patients First. Through TrumpRx, we are delivering massive discounts on Household Prescription Drugs, and my Most-Favored-Nation Pricing Agreements have already saved Americans more than 1 Billion Dollars on much-needed Medications. We also secured an unprecedented 50 Billion Dollar investment to transform Rural Healthcare, expanded access to Health Saving Accounts for millions of people on Obamacare, and restored Price Transparency, all while rooting out the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse across our Healthcare System.</i></p><p><i>I am proud to return your money to you, and I will never stop fighting to put the American People FIRST, restore Affordability, protect your hard-earned money, and lower the Cost of Healthcare.</i></p><p><i>May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America!</i></p><p><i>Sincerely,</i></p><p><i>DONALD J. TRUMP</i></p><p><i>PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Who qualifies for the $500 payments?</strong></h2><p><br>Only eligible consumers in 30 states that use the federally operated health insurance exchange are eligible. Twenty of these states do not use the federal exchange for the operations of their Obamacare markets. It intends to return hundreds of millions of dollars collected in excess through the ACA exchanges.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.<br><br>The primary group comprises those who paid the full cost of premiums but did not receive premium assistance. People earning more than 400 per cent of the federal poverty level who did not qualify for subsidies will primarily benefit from the programme. Others include those between 100 per cent and 400 per cent of the poverty level who did not receive subsidies, according to Reuters.</p>

The Trump administration will send out Affordable Care Act health insurance plan refunds from Thursday, with each affected person getting $500. Each person will also receive a letter from Donald Trump. Check out what it says.

More than 950,000 Americans across 30 states who were enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans will receive $500 checks from the US Treasury. The payments will start rolling out on Thursday (October 1), as per a White House fact sheet. They will be accompanied by a letter from President Donald Trump. He had announced the refunds earlier this month. He accused the Biden administration of overcharging enrollees and said it "accumulated a significant surplus of funds that were not used to benefit the Americans who paid these higher premiums." One family could also receive multiple checks if more than one member were impacted, an administration official said. The payments come a month before the midterm elections. In addition to this, Trump has also promised more cash payments to Americans if the Republicans retain control over the House and Senate in November. He has announced a $5,000 "Trump dividend" to every American adult. Trump's letter on ACA refunds attacks the Biden administration for taking extra money from "hard-working Americans." The letter from Trump reads, “For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!” Read Trump's ACA letter For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you! With this Historic Action, my Administration is taking the surplus funds that accumulated from the Obamacare "Premium Tax" and issuing a one-time $500 REFUND to Americans who use the HealthCare.gov platform to purchase their health insurance, but who do not receive Taxpayer Subsidies to help pay for their Coverage. You have paid into this flawed System, and now you are finally getting something back. Healthcare Dollars should benefit Patients, not Insurance Companies or Government Bureaucrats. Since returning to office, I have fought to lower Healthcare Costs, increase Accountability, and Put Patients First. Through TrumpRx, we are delivering massive discounts on Household Prescription Drugs, and my Most-Favored-Nation Pricing Agreements have already saved Americans more than 1 Billion Dollars on much-needed Medications. We also secured an unprecedented 50 Billion Dollar investment to transform Rural Healthcare, expanded access to Health Saving Accounts for millions of people on Obamacare, and restored Price Transparency, all while rooting out the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse across our Healthcare System. I am proud to return your money to you, and I will never stop fighting to put the American People FIRST, restore Affordability, protect your hard-earned money, and lower the Cost of Healthcare. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America! Sincerely, DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Who qualifies for the $500 payments? Only eligible consumers in 30 states that use the federally operated health insurance exchange are eligible. Twenty of these states do not use the federal exchange for the operations of their Obamacare markets. It intends to return hundreds of millions of dollars collected in excess through the ACA exchanges. The states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The primary group comprises those who paid the full cost of premiums but did not receive premium assistance. People earning more than 400 per cent of the federal poverty level who did not qualify for subsidies will primarily benefit from the programme. Others include those between 100 per cent and 400 per cent of the poverty level who did not receive subsidies, according to Reuters.

<p>The Trump administration will send out Affordable Care Act health insurance plan refunds from Thursday, with each affected person getting $500. Each person will also receive a letter from Donald Trump. Check out what it says.</p>

Read the letter Donald Trump is sending to Americans with $500 ACA refunds

<p>California on Wednesday (Sep 30) became the 18th US state to ban child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing AB 1267, a legislation that sets the minimum legal age for marriage in the state at 18. California law, AB 1267, eliminates existing provisions that allowed minors to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. It will take effect on January 1, 2027. Notably, the practice, which till a decade ago was allowed across America, in 2026, still remains legal in 32 US states. According to Unchained at Last, an organisation that campaigns against child marriage in the US, between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 children were legally entered into marriage across the nation. The vast majority of them were young girls wed to adult men.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hero-pm-modi-praises-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-who-helped-avert-flydubai-tragedy-1790819874962"><strong>‘HERO’: PM Modi praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who helped avert Flydubai tragedy</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Newsom calls ban ‘long overdue’</strong></h2><p>Newsom signed the legislation on Wednesday in his office alongside Courtney Stodden, a survivor of child marriage who has campaigned for tougher laws. “This is a long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors. Today, California kids are safer than ever before,” Newsom said.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: <a href="https://x.com/CAgovernor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CAGovernor</a> Gavin Newsom, joined by advocate Courtney Stodden, just signed <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AB1267?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AB1267</a> — ending child marriages in the state of California. <a href="https://t.co/sxErhrqBQN">pic.twitter.com/sxErhrqBQN</a></p>&mdash; Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/2105462707797307480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Stodden's parents allowed her to marry actor Doug Hutchison when she was 16. After the bill was signed, she described the move as a victory for survivors and said she would continue campaigning for child marriage to be prohibited across all 50 states. “Governor Newsom’s action today made clear to me and to survivors of child marriage everywhere that we should never have been expected to carry this burden,” Stodden said.</p><h2><strong>What California's new law changes</strong></h2><p>Before the new law, California did not set an absolute minimum age for marriage. Minors could marry with parental consent and approval from a judge. AB 1267 removes those provisions and establishes 18 as the minimum age for both marriage and domestic partnership.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-strikes-back-at-shinyhunters-after-alleged-hack-arrests-leader-in-netherlands-warns-members-your-anonymity-won-t-protect-you-1790748838819"><strong>FBI strikes back at ShinyHunters after alleged hack, arrests leader in Netherlands, warns members: 'Your anonymity won't protect you'</strong></a></p><p>The issue has drawn particular attention from survivors and advocacy groups, which have argued that minors can face significant barriers when attempting to challenge or leave marriages entered into before adulthood.</p><p>Unchained At Last had estimated that more than 8,000 children were married in California each year, although the state does not systematically track the age of all people getting married.</p><h2><strong>Survivors welcome California ban</strong></h2><p>Survivors who campaigned for the legislation said the law marked a significant change after years of advocacy. Brittany Bee, who said she married at 17 after leaving an abusive home, told the BBC that children should not be expected to make decisions about marriage as adults would.</p><p>Sara Tasneen, another survivor and campaigner, said she was forced to marry at 15 and later became a mother at 16. She said watching the legislation reach the finish line had been “a marathon”.</p><p>The California legislation follows a broader US movement to raise marriage ages. According to Unchained At Last, 17 states had completely banned child marriage before Newsom signed California's law.</p><h2><strong>What happens next?</strong></h2><p>The new California rules will not take effect immediately. The law becomes operative on January 1, 2027, meaning marriages involving minors that would previously have been permitted under California's parental-consent and judicial-approval system will no longer be allowed after that date.<br>&nbsp;</p>

California has banned child marriage after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law setting the minimum marriage age at 18. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, making California the 18th US state to completely prohibit marriage involving minors.

California on Wednesday (Sep 30) became the 18th US state to ban child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing AB 1267, a legislation that sets the minimum legal age for marriage in the state at 18. California law, AB 1267, eliminates existing provisions that allowed minors to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. It will take effect on January 1, 2027. Notably, the practice, which till a decade ago was allowed across America, in 2026, still remains legal in 32 US states. According to Unchained at Last, an organisation that campaigns against child marriage in the US, between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 children were legally entered into marriage across the nation. The vast majority of them were young girls wed to adult men. Also read | ‘HERO’: PM Modi praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who helped avert Flydubai tragedy Newsom calls ban ‘long overdue’ Newsom signed the legislation on Wednesday in his office alongside Courtney Stodden, a survivor of child marriage who has campaigned for tougher laws. “This is a long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors. Today, California kids are safer than ever before,” Newsom said.

<p>California has banned child marriage after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law setting the minimum marriage age at 18. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, making California the 18th US state to completely prohibit marriage involving minors.</p>

‘Long overdue’: California bans child marriage, but 32 US states still allow it

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Oct 1) hailed Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a “HERO” after he was seriously injured during a mid-air cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, an incident that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The flight, carrying 174 people, was diverted to Tabuk on Wednesday after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the journey and was accused by Israeli officials of attempting to crash the aircraft. The co-pilot was overpowered after passengers and crew intervened, while additional Flydubai pilots on board took control and landed the aircraft safely. The motive behind the co-pilot's actions remains under investigation.<br>Previously, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the co-pilot of the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had been trying to crash it and kill all its passengers, but Captain Machchhar "prevented a major disaster".</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-terrorist-job-trump-reacts-to-flydubai-cockpit-attack-hails-indian-pilot-what-he-said-1790818709328"><strong>Trump reacts to Flydubai cockpit attack, hails Indian pilot</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>‘India is proud of Captain Machchhar’</strong></h2><p>In a post on X, Modi praised Machchhar for his actions despite suffering serious injuries. “Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” the prime minister wrote. “In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others,” Modi said.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO.<br><br>In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. <br><br>His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.<br><br>India is proud of…</p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2105469867390554194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>“His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” he added, while wishing the pilot a speedy recovery and good health. The Indian pilot has been receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. He was identified as an Indian national after the incident.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-a-nation-of-lions-israeli-man-who-stormed-into-cockpit-held-attacker-pilot-in-chokehold-tells-netanyahu-1790793966746"><strong>‘A true hero of extraordinary bravery,’ Netanyahu praises attacked Indian pilot</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What happened aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073?</strong></h2><p>According to passengers and Israeli officials, the aircraft experienced a sudden and severe descent as the confrontation unfolded in the cockpit. Reuters reported that the plane dropped nearly 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds before passengers and crew managed to intervene. Machchhar, despite being wounded, was able to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and subdue the attacker. Off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then helped take control of the aircraft.</p><p>Netanyahu's spokesperson later said the wounded captain used “the last moments of his energy” to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to reach the flight deck.</p><p>The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The passengers were later flown back to Israel.<br>&nbsp;</p>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar as a “hero” after a violent cockpit confrontation forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has also praised the pilot’s actions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Oct 1) hailed Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a “HERO” after he was seriously injured during a mid-air cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, an incident that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The flight, carrying 174 people, was diverted to Tabuk on Wednesday after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the journey and was accused by Israeli officials of attempting to crash the aircraft. The co-pilot was overpowered after passengers and crew intervened, while additional Flydubai pilots on board took control and landed the aircraft safely. The motive behind the co-pilot's actions remains under investigation. Previously, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the co-pilot of the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had been trying to crash it and kill all its passengers, but Captain Machchhar "prevented a major disaster". Also read | Trump reacts to Flydubai cockpit attack, hails Indian pilot

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar as a “hero” after a violent cockpit confrontation forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has also praised the pilot’s actions.</p>

‘HERO’: PM Modi praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who helped avert Flydubai tragedy

<p>A Chinese research team set a new record for simultaneous autonomous underwater vehicles, deploying 116 micro-autonomous small drones that successfully navigated across a swimming pool without human intervention. They were down there for 34 minutes and went around a preset route across 1,640 feet of water.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The vehicles came from Northwestern Polytechnical University and Xian Tianhe Maritime Technologies, and the feat entered the Guinness World Records on August 29, the day of the demonstration, with officials present to monitor the navigation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The drones used were TH-618s, which were deployed by the operators, after which the onboard autonomous systems took over. Inside the water, the 116 drones moved in a coordinated manner as a swarm. Each drone used real-time data to stay on the correct route. If any of them moved away from the planned course, the system had a function which helped them to return to the right path.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While having each drone move on a planned route isn't the difficult part, the highlight here was having them all coordinate underwater. Communication in water isn't easy, as radio signals can behave erratically. But the drones managed to do just that, and without any help from humans.</p><p>Northwestern Polytechnical University called it a major step towards larger autonomous underwater systems. The university has been working on underwater sensing, acoustic communication and visual perception for more than two decades.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The TH-618 drones are small enough for such coordinated operations. Measuring about 24 inches long and 7.8 inches wide, each of them weighs roughly 5 kg. The drone has a range of 30 kilometres and can operate for more than eight hours at a time. A camera helps them navigate through water, allowing them to analyse their surroundings and adjust accordingly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Disturbances from currents and other factors are common underwater, which can move them away from their intended path. The drones have a system which allows them to act accordingly if this happens. Experts say such drones can lead the way in seabed surveys and inspections of oil and gas pipelines.</p>

A team of researchers in China got 116 drones to coordinate and move around 1,640 feet of water in a swarm without any human intervention. The achievement has been entered in the Guinness World Records as the TH-618s travelled for 34 minutes.

A Chinese research team set a new record for simultaneous autonomous underwater vehicles, deploying 116 micro-autonomous small drones that successfully navigated across a swimming pool without human intervention. They were down there for 34 minutes and went around a preset route across 1,640 feet of water. The vehicles came from Northwestern Polytechnical University and Xian Tianhe Maritime Technologies, and the feat entered the Guinness World Records on August 29, the day of the demonstration, with officials present to monitor the navigation. The drones used were TH-618s, which were deployed by the operators, after which the onboard autonomous systems took over. Inside the water, the 116 drones moved in a coordinated manner as a swarm. Each drone used real-time data to stay on the correct route. If any of them moved away from the planned course, the system had a function which helped them to return to the right path. While having each drone move on a planned route isn't the difficult part, the highlight here was having them all coordinate underwater. Communication in water isn't easy, as radio signals can behave erratically. But the drones managed to do just that, and without any help from humans. Northwestern Polytechnical University called it a major step towards larger autonomous underwater systems. The university has been working on underwater sensing, acoustic communication and visual perception for more than two decades.

<p>A team of researchers in China got 116 drones to coordinate and move around 1,640 feet of water in a swarm without any human intervention. The achievement has been entered in the Guinness World Records as the TH-618s travelled for 34 minutes.</p>

116 drones, 1,640 feet of water, 34 minutes: China registers major underwater feat

<p>A mathematician has created a new three-dimensional shape which is so complex that it will leave your head spinning. Ruslan Mizhaev has identified what is known as the genus-3 polyhedron. The new shape features eight faces, each arranged in such a way that every pair shares at least one edge. What you get is an odd shape with 26 edges and 24 vertices, with 20 face pairs sharing a single edge while eight others share two faces.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Mizhaev has explained the geometry of a genus-3 polyhedron in a preprint study detailed by New Scientist. It is yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. As you would have figured out, this shape is not your regular cube or pyramid. Polyhedral 3D shapes, that is, shapes with flat surfaces, have faces, edges and vertices, or corners. The straight edges and angled vertices are connected along flat surfaces.</p><h2><strong>Geometric Properties of genus-3 polyhedron</strong></h2><p>Faces: 8 faces</p><p>Edges: 26 edges</p><p>Vertices: 24 vertices</p><p>Holes (Genus): 3 distinct holes passing through the figure</p><h2><strong>Edge-Sharing Property</strong></h2><p>20 face pairs share a single edge.</p><p>8 face pairs share two edges.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>At every single vertex across the shape, exactly three faces meet.</p><h2><strong>Complex shapes mathematicians already know of</strong></h2><p>The most complex 3D shape that we come across in our lives is the dodecahedron, featuring 12 faces shaped as a five-pointed pentagram. But they can get even more complex. Toroidal polytopes are polyhedra that are also toruses, figures with holes in their centre. Mizhaev &nbsp;says they are used in studying relationships between "combinatorial topology, graph theory, and three-dimensional geometry."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The newly identified shape, a genus-3 polyhedron, has three separate holes. The independent researcher says mathematicians can use simple integer coordinates to create it. However, right now it is hard to say whether such a shape exists naturally anywhere. It is possible that it could be present somewhere on Earth if the calculations are found to be correct.</p>

A mathematician has discovered a completely new shape which has 8 faces, 26 edges, 24 corners and three holes. Twenty face pairs share one single edge, while exactly three faces meet at every single vertex. Could this shape occur in nature?

A mathematician has created a new three-dimensional shape which is so complex that it will leave your head spinning. Ruslan Mizhaev has identified what is known as the genus-3 polyhedron. The new shape features eight faces, each arranged in such a way that every pair shares at least one edge. What you get is an odd shape with 26 edges and 24 vertices, with 20 face pairs sharing a single edge while eight others share two faces. Mizhaev has explained the geometry of a genus-3 polyhedron in a preprint study detailed by New Scientist. It is yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. As you would have figured out, this shape is not your regular cube or pyramid. Polyhedral 3D shapes, that is, shapes with flat surfaces, have faces, edges and vertices, or corners. The straight edges and angled vertices are connected along flat surfaces. Geometric Properties of genus-3 polyhedron Faces: 8 faces Edges: 26 edges Vertices: 24 vertices Holes (Genus): 3 distinct holes passing through the figure Edge-Sharing Property 20 face pairs share a single edge. 8 face pairs share two edges. At every single vertex across the shape, exactly three faces meet. Complex shapes mathematicians already know of The most complex 3D shape that we come across in our lives is the dodecahedron, featuring 12 faces shaped as a five-pointed pentagram. But they can get even more complex. Toroidal polytopes are polyhedra that are also toruses, figures with holes in their centre. Mizhaev says they are used in studying relationships between "combinatorial topology, graph theory, and three-dimensional geometry." The newly identified shape, a genus-3 polyhedron, has three separate holes. The independent researcher says mathematicians can use simple integer coordinates to create it. However, right now it is hard to say whether such a shape exists naturally anywhere. It is possible that it could be present somewhere on Earth if the calculations are found to be correct.

<p>A mathematician has discovered a completely new shape which has 8 faces, 26 edges, 24 corners and three holes. Twenty face pairs share one single edge, while exactly three faces meet at every single vertex. Could this shape occur in nature?</p>

Mathematics nightmare - This new geometrical shape has 8 sides, 26 edges, 24 corners and 3 holes

<p>Luxury company Caviar has designed a custom version of the iPhone Duo which costs $21,340 (more than Rs 20 lakh). This is 10 times the price of the regular Duo, which costs between $1,999 and $3,199, making it Apple's most expensive phone ever. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max start at $1,199.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But what Caviar has made takes the iPhone to a whole new level. The device is described as "Liquid Metal" and is crafted entirely from sterling silver. "The surface evokes metal frozen in motion, while shifting reflections enhance the depth and fluidity of the form," Caviar explained.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Caviar explained that the way the Duo folds open inspired the company to come up with the Liquid Metal version. "The design continues the idea of transformation", which we have seen in iPhone Duo as the smartphone turns into a "seamless metallic composition." It added that the phone's "fluid sculptural lines emphasise its new form factor and create a sense of continuous motion", appearing to show that the “surface itself transforms together with the device.”</p><h2><strong>Caviar iPhone Duo prices</strong></h2><p>Prices vary depending on storage, like the regular version. The 256GB version is $18,840 (Rs 18 lakh), the 512GB version is $19,200 (Rs 18.43 lakh), and the 1TB version is $19,910 (Rs 19 lakh). The 2TB version costs $21,340 (more than Rs 20 lakh). Only 17 pieces of iPhone Duo Liquid Metal have been made.</p><h2><strong>18K versions of iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max&nbsp;</strong></h2><p>Caviar has also designed customised versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The high-end versions, named 'Palmette 18K', have been crafted from 18K gold and diamonds. A total of 76 devices have been made, ranging from $7,130 (Rs 6.8 lakh) to $88,290 (nearly Rs 85 lakh). Prices of some of the models can go as high as Rs 94 lakh.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Caviar said, "The body is crafted from 18K gold and decorated with a palm–leaf motif, a tribute to the iconic palms of the United Arab Emirates," adding that "more than one hundred hand–set diamonds illuminate the ornament." &nbsp;The Apple logo is also adorned with precious stones.</p><h2><strong>When does iPhone Duo go on sale in India?</strong></h2><p><br>The Apple iPhone Duo pre-orders begin in India on October 16, 2026, at 5:30 pm IST. In-store sales &amp; delivery officially start on October 23 at 8:00 am IST.</p>

Caviar has designed the Liquid Metal version of the iPhone 18 Duo, which will cost you lakhs of rupees. There are also customised versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max studded with real gold and diamonds. The maximum price goes up to Rs 94 lakh.

Luxury company Caviar has designed a custom version of the iPhone Duo which costs $21,340 (more than Rs 20 lakh). This is 10 times the price of the regular Duo, which costs between $1,999 and $3,199, making it Apple's most expensive phone ever. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max start at $1,199. But what Caviar has made takes the iPhone to a whole new level. The device is described as "Liquid Metal" and is crafted entirely from sterling silver. "The surface evokes metal frozen in motion, while shifting reflections enhance the depth and fluidity of the form," Caviar explained. Caviar explained that the way the Duo folds open inspired the company to come up with the Liquid Metal version. "The design continues the idea of transformation", which we have seen in iPhone Duo as the smartphone turns into a "seamless metallic composition." It added that the phone's "fluid sculptural lines emphasise its new form factor and create a sense of continuous motion", appearing to show that the “surface itself transforms together with the device.” Caviar iPhone Duo prices Prices vary depending on storage, like the regular version. The 256GB version is $18,840 (Rs 18 lakh), the 512GB version is $19,200 (Rs 18.43 lakh), and the 1TB version is $19,910 (Rs 19 lakh). The 2TB version costs $21,340 (more than Rs 20 lakh). Only 17 pieces of iPhone Duo Liquid Metal have been made. 18K versions of iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Caviar has also designed customised versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The high-end versions, named 'Palmette 18K', have been crafted from 18K gold and diamonds. A total of 76 devices have been made, ranging from $7,130 (Rs 6.8 lakh) to $88,290 (nearly Rs 85 lakh). Prices of some of the models can go as high as Rs 94 lakh. Caviar said, "The body is crafted from 18K gold and decorated with a palm–leaf motif, a tribute to the iconic palms of the United Arab Emirates," adding that "more than one hundred hand–set diamonds illuminate the ornament." The Apple logo is also adorned with precious stones. When does iPhone Duo go on sale in India? The Apple iPhone Duo pre-orders begin in India on October 16, 2026, at 5:30 pm IST. In-store sales & delivery officially start on October 23 at 8:00 am IST.

<p>Caviar has designed the Liquid Metal version of the iPhone Duo, which will cost you lakhs of rupees. There are also customised versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max studded with real gold and diamonds. The maximum price goes up to Rs 94 lakh.</p>

Rs 94 lakh for an iPhone? That's the cost of Palmette 18K. Liquid Metal Duo is Rs 20 lakh

<p>Just days after ShinyHunters claimed to have hacked the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) employment website, the American investigative agency has hit back at the hacking group, arresting an alleged leader of the notorious syndicate. In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of "one of the alleged leaders of ShinyHunters – a global cybercrime and threat actor group linked to cyberattacks in the United States". The alleged ShinyHunters leader, identified as 24-year-old Amsterdam man Pepijn van der Stap, was arrested in the Netherlands on September 15 following a joint operation involving the FBI and Dutch authorities.</p><h2><strong>What we know about the ShinyHunters leader</strong></h2><p>Dutch police said a 24-year-old man from Amsterdam was arrested on September 15 over his alleged involvement with ShinyHunters. He is also suspected of attempting to incite two murders, according to Dutch authorities.</p><p>Investigators seized multiple electronic devices and said further arrests had not been ruled out.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-hacked-hacking-group-shinyhunters-claims-to-have-compromised-the-fbi-stolen-2-3tb-data-1790240391998"><strong>FBI hacked? Hacking group ShinyHunters claims to 'have compromised the FBI,' stolen 2–3TB data</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Suspect identified by cybersecurity executive</strong></h2><p>Benjamin Korper, offensive security lead at Amsterdam-based cybersecurity company Neo Security, identified the arrested man as Pepijn van der Stap. Korper told Reuters that Dutch forensic investigators visited his office on September 15, the day Van der Stap was arrested in a police operation involving flash-bang grenades.</p><p>The arrest has drawn significant attention in the cybersecurity community because Van der Stap had previously been convicted in 2023 of data theft and extortion. He later publicly distanced himself from cybercrime. On his personal website, he wrote that his experience had taught him that “knowledge is for building and protecting, not breaking.”</p><p>Korper said he had thoroughly vetted Van der Stap before hiring him and had monitored his work. He said an external firm was investigating whether the employee had compromised Neo Security or its customers, but no evidence had so far been found showing that he had acted against the company or its clients. “I truly believe that people deserve a second chance, but in this case I was not thanked for it,” Korper said.</p><h2><strong>FBI warns remaining ShinyHunters members</strong></h2><p>FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest was carried out by the Dutch High-Tech Crime Unit in coordination with FBI investigators. “This morning @FBI and our partners the Dutch National Police are announcing the arrest of one of the alleged leaders of ShinyHunters, a global cybercrime and threat actor group linked to cyberattacks in the United States, the Netherlands, and around the world,” Patel wrote on X.</p><p>He said FBI teams were continuing to work with international and industry partners to develop further leads from the investigation. The FBI's Cyber Division also issued a direct warning to members of the group.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/grading-each-other-s-homework-trump-s-pact-lets-tech-giants-self-police-ai-even-as-rogue-agent-incidents-continue-to-mount-1790733974263"><strong>‘Grading each other’s homework’: Trump's pact lets tech giants self-police AI even as rogue-agent incidents continue to mount</strong></a></p><h2><strong>‘We know how to find you’</strong></h2><p>Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, told remaining ShinyHunters members that investigators were confident the arrest and seized infrastructure would provide further information about the network.</p><p>“Other groups believed anonymity or their friends would protect them, and they were wrong,” Leatherman said. “Arrests have a way of changing who is willing to talk. And seized infrastructure has a way of showing us who's left.”</p><p>He added: “The longer you stay in this, the more we learn about you. You know how to find us and we know how find you. I suggest you reach out first while the choice is still yours.”</p><p>According to Leatherman, ShinyHunters and its alleged co-conspirators have breached more than 140 organisations since last year and obtained at least $70 million in extortion payments. He said the group often targeted third-party vendors and cloud platforms, stealing sensitive information and threatening to publish it unless victims paid.</p><h2><strong>ShinyHunters denies connection</strong></h2><p>ShinyHunters, in a statement cited by Reuters, denied that Van der Stap was associated with the group and criticised Dutch police.</p><p>The group has previously been linked to large-scale data theft and extortion attacks. It also recently claimed responsibility for stealing sensitive personnel data from US FBI systems, although the extent of the alleged breach has remained under investigation.&nbsp;</p><p>A source cited by Reuters said an internal FBI memo told employees the bureau was operating on the assumption that hackers may have obtained information relating to all FBI employees.<br>&nbsp;</p>

The FBI has arrested a 24-year-old Dutch man identified as an alleged ShinyHunters leader, days after the group claimed to have hacked the agency's employment website. The bureau has warned remaining members as investigators pursue further leads.

Just days after ShinyHunters claimed to have hacked the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) employment website, the American investigative agency has hit back at the hacking group, arresting an alleged leader of the notorious syndicate. In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of "one of the alleged leaders of ShinyHunters – a global cybercrime and threat actor group linked to cyberattacks in the United States". The alleged ShinyHunters leader, identified as 24-year-old Amsterdam man Pepijn van der Stap, was arrested in the Netherlands on September 15 following a joint operation involving the FBI and Dutch authorities. What we know about the ShinyHunters leader Dutch police said a 24-year-old man from Amsterdam was arrested on September 15 over his alleged involvement with ShinyHunters. He is also suspected of attempting to incite two murders, according to Dutch authorities. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices and said further arrests had not been ruled out. Also read | FBI hacked? Hacking group ShinyHunters claims to 'have compromised the FBI,' stolen 2–3TB data Suspect identified by cybersecurity executive Benjamin Korper, offensive security lead at Amsterdam-based cybersecurity company Neo Security, identified the arrested man as Pepijn van der Stap. Korper told Reuters that Dutch forensic investigators visited his office on September 15, the day Van der Stap was arrested in a police operation involving flash-bang grenades. The arrest has drawn significant attention in the cybersecurity community because Van der Stap had previously been convicted in 2023 of data theft and extortion. He later publicly distanced himself from cybercrime. On his personal website, he wrote that his experience had taught him that “knowledge is for building and protecting, not breaking.” Korper said he had thoroughly vetted Van der Stap before hiring him and had monitored his work. He said an external firm was investigating whether the employee had compromised Neo Security or its customers, but no evidence had so far been found showing that he had acted against the company or its clients. “I truly believe that people deserve a second chance, but in this case I was not thanked for it,” Korper said. FBI warns remaining ShinyHunters members FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest was carried out by the Dutch High-Tech Crime Unit in coordination with FBI investigators. “This morning @FBI and our partners the Dutch National Police are announcing the arrest of one of the alleged leaders of ShinyHunters, a global cybercrime and threat actor group linked to cyberattacks in the United States, the Netherlands, and around the world,” Patel wrote on X. He said FBI teams were continuing to work with international and industry partners to develop further leads from the investigation. The FBI's Cyber Division also issued a direct warning to members of the group. Also read | ‘Grading each other’s homework’: Trump's pact lets tech giants self-police AI even as rogue-agent incidents continue to mount ‘We know how to find you’ Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, told remaining ShinyHunters members that investigators were confident the arrest and seized infrastructure would provide further information about the network. “Other groups believed anonymity or their friends would protect them, and they were wrong,” Leatherman said. “Arrests have a way of changing who is willing to talk. And seized infrastructure has a way of showing us who's left.” He added: “The longer you stay in this, the more we learn about you. You know how to find us and we know how find you. I suggest you reach out first while the choice is still yours.” According to Leatherman, ShinyHunters and its alleged co-conspirators have breached more than 140 organisations since last year and obtained at least $70 million in extortion payments. He said the group often targeted third-party vendors and cloud platforms, stealing sensitive information and threatening to publish it unless victims paid. ShinyHunters denies connection ShinyHunters, in a statement cited by Reuters, denied that Van der Stap was associated with the group and criticised Dutch police. The group has previously been linked to large-scale data theft and extortion attacks. It also recently claimed responsibility for stealing sensitive personnel data from US FBI systems, although the extent of the alleged breach has remained under investigation. A source cited by Reuters said an internal FBI memo told employees the bureau was operating on the assumption that hackers may have obtained information relating to all FBI employees.

<p>The FBI has arrested a 24-year-old Dutch man identified as an alleged ShinyHunters leader, days after the group claimed to have hacked the agency's employment website. The bureau has warned remaining members as investigators pursue further leads.</p>

FBI strikes back at ShinyHunters after alleged hack, arrests leader in Netherlands, warns members: 'Your anonymity won't protect you'

<p>President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 29) hosted executives from several major technology companies as he promoted a new agreement that would largely allow the AI industry to oversee its own safety practices. Trump and the tech leaders signed the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, with ‘super intelligence’ serving as the president’s preferred term for artificial intelligence. However, a glaring error on the document quickly drew attention.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump and around half a dozen technology executives signed the second page of the agreement. Beneath Trump’s prominent signature was an unexpected title that contained a misspelling of the country’s name: “President of the Unites States.” The typo appeared on the document circulated publicly by the White House and remained visible on Trump’s Truth Social account as of early on Wednesday (September 30). The accord outlines four voluntary measures for the AI industry, including internal controls, monitoring and oversight. While the agreement is not legally binding, it leaves open the possibility that government regulations could eventually be introduced.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/japanese-monk-isolates-until-2038-for-rigorous-training-1790739968377"><strong>Japanese monk isolates until 2038 for rigorous training that has killed many in the past</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Here's Donald Trump Truth Social post</strong></h2>

<p>The accord calls for four layers of internal controls and oversight: robust safety controls during model development and deployment, dedicated internal monitoring teams, independent external audits and oversight by an independent board committee. The companies also agreed to meet regularly to develop safety standards and best practices.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump described the agreement as ‘morally binding’, although it is not legally enforceable. The document leaves open the possibility of eventually codifying the measures into laws or regulations. The accord was signed by Trump and executives including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, xAI founder Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.</p>

Trump and top tech CEOs sign the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, a voluntary AI safety pact covering internal controls, audits and oversight

President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 29) hosted executives from several major technology companies as he promoted a new agreement that would largely allow the AI industry to oversee its own safety practices. Trump and the tech leaders signed the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, with ‘super intelligence’ serving as the president’s preferred term for artificial intelligence. However, a glaring error on the document quickly drew attention. Trump and around half a dozen technology executives signed the second page of the agreement. Beneath Trump’s prominent signature was an unexpected title that contained a misspelling of the country’s name: “President of the Unites States.” The typo appeared on the document circulated publicly by the White House and remained visible on Trump’s Truth Social account as of early on Wednesday (September 30). The accord outlines four voluntary measures for the AI industry, including internal controls, monitoring and oversight. While the agreement is not legally binding, it leaves open the possibility that government regulations could eventually be introduced. Also Read: Japanese monk isolates until 2038 for rigorous training that has killed many in the past Here's Donald Trump Truth Social post

<p>Donald Trump’s new Super Intelligence accord has drawn attention after a major typo appeared on the White House document’s signature page</p>

Trump’s AI safety accord typo makes him president of a ‘new country’: Here's what happened

<p>Chinese humanoid robots dressed in traditional Saudi attire performed the iconic Ardah sword dance at a reception in Riyadh's China's Embassy to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The robots were dressed in thobes and ghutras, the traditional daily and formal outfit worn by men in the Arabian Gulf. Riyadh Region Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf and Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua was present during the event. The event was held at the Cultural Palace within the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chinese Ambassador to Saudi, Chang Hua, said: “Our embassy held a reception this evening to celebrate the seventy-seventh anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. We express our thanks to our friends for honouring us with their presence. Chinese-manufactured robots delivered stunning performances that left a profound impression on those in attendance.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="ar" dir="rtl">أقامت سفارتنا مساء اليوم حفل استقبال للاحتفال بالذكرى السابعة والسبعين لتأسيس جمهورية الصين الشعبية. ونعرب عن شكرنا للأصدقاء على تشريفهم بحضورهم. وقدّمت الروبوتات المصنّعة في الصين عروضاً مبهرة تركت أثراً بالغاً في نفوس الحاضرين. <a href="https://t.co/xleMfQaNG3">pic.twitter.com/xleMfQaNG3</a></p>&mdash; Chang Hua (@AmbChangHua) <a href="https://x.com/AmbChangHua/status/2104656875421585853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chinese humanoid robots dressed in traditional Saudi thobes and ghutras performed the iconic Ardah sword dance at a reception in Riyadh marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua praised the robots’ performance.

Chinese humanoid robots dressed in traditional Saudi attire performed the iconic Ardah sword dance at a reception in Riyadh's China's Embassy to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The robots were dressed in thobes and ghutras, the traditional daily and formal outfit worn by men in the Arabian Gulf. Riyadh Region Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf and Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua was present during the event. The event was held at the Cultural Palace within the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. Chinese Ambassador to Saudi, Chang Hua, said: “Our embassy held a reception this evening to celebrate the seventy-seventh anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. We express our thanks to our friends for honouring us with their presence. Chinese-manufactured robots delivered stunning performances that left a profound impression on those in attendance.”

<p>Chinese humanoid robots dressed in traditional Saudi thobes and ghutras performed the iconic Ardah sword dance at a reception in Riyadh marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua praised the robots’ performance.</p>

WATCH: Chinese robots perform Saudi Ardah sword dance in Riyadh, leave guests stunned

<p>With winter approaching, Delhiites are preparing for pollution and dangerous AQI levels that plague the Indian national capital every year. In an attempt to keep the AQI levels in check, older goods vehicles carrying essential commodities will no longer be exempt from Delhi-NCR's pollution curbs once the two strictest stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are imposed. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has removed the exemption for BS-IV and below vehicles under GRAP Stages III and IV as part of a revised schedule approved by the CAQM Full Commission on Monday.</p><p>The change means light and medium goods vehicles (LGVs and MGVs) will face restrictions under Stage III, while trucks and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be covered by the stricter Stage IV measures.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-plan-government-announces-50-wfh-higher-parking-charges-from-november-1-and-construction-ban-1790588775443"><strong>Delhi pollution plan: Government announces 50% WFH, higher parking charges from November 1 and construction ban</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Older goods vehicles face tighter entry rules</strong></h2><p>Notably, the restrictions are not entirely new. CAQM had already imposed similar measures through separate orders alongside the GRAP framework last year. The latest revision formally brings those provisions into the pollution-control plan.</p><p>One of the earlier orders tightened restrictions on commercial goods vehicles entering Delhi throughout the year. From November 1, 2025, goods vehicles registered outside Delhi were barred from entering the capital unless they were BS-VI, CNG, LNG or electric.</p><p>BS-III and older vehicles were prohibited irrespective of the goods they carried. BS-IV vehicles, meanwhile, were given a one-year transitional period, which ends on October 31, 2026.</p><p>Under the revised GRAP schedule, the entry restriction on diesel BS-IV and below LGVs and MGVs registered outside Delhi is now explicitly included under Stage III.</p><h2><strong>48 measures across four GRAP stages</strong></h2><p>CAQM member-technical Dr SD Attri said the revised GRAP schedule contains 48 actions across its four stages. Of these, 25 measures fall under Stage I, eight under Stage II, 10 under Stage III and five under Stage IV. Some restrictions will also now kick in at an earlier stage of pollution.</p><p>Measures concerning diesel generator sets and the entry of BS-IV and below buses from NCR and adjoining states have been shifted from Stage II to Stage I. Authorities have also been directed to ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-foils-major-pakistani-drug-smuggling-bid-five-arrested-with-526-kg-heroin-meth-in-arabian-sea-1790736892325"><strong>India foils major Pakistani drug smuggling bid: Five arrested with 526 kg heroin, meth in Arabian sea</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Bus restrictions expanded across NCR</strong></h2><p>Under the revised instructions, governments in Delhi and NCR will have to ensure that inter-city and inter-state buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as adjoining states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, do not ply in Delhi-NCR unless they meet the permitted standards.</p><p>Only BS-VI diesel, CNG and electric buses will be allowed to operate in the region.</p><p>The revised schedule also extends the Stage III restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers to Sonipat.</p><p>The restrictions already apply in the high vehicle-density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.</p><p>GRAP schedule streamlined</p><p>The revised framework also brings together repeated Stage I measures relating to dust control, municipal solid waste management and transport. A minor relaxation has been allowed under the first Stage III action, including provisions related to pothole repairs.</p><p>The Citizens Charter for each GRAP stage has also been revised, with additional dos and don'ts for residents and authorities.</p><p>With the winter pollution season approaching, the changes effectively bring several restrictions that had previously been imposed through separate orders into the main GRAP framework, while moving some measures to earlier stages of deteriorating air quality.</p>

<p><h2><strong>Older goods vehicles face tighter entry rules</strong></h2><p>Notably, the restrictions are not entirely new. CAQM had already imposed similar measures through separate orders alongside the GRAP framework last year. The latest revision formally brings those provisions into the pollution-control plan.</p><p>One of the earlier orders tightened restrictions on commercial goods vehicles entering Delhi throughout the year. From November 1, 2025, goods vehicles registered outside Delhi were barred from entering the capital unless they were BS-VI, CNG, LNG or electric.</p><p>BS-III and older vehicles were prohibited irrespective of the goods they carried. BS-IV vehicles, meanwhile, were given a one-year transitional period, which ends on October 31, 2026.</p><p>Under the revised GRAP schedule, the entry restriction on diesel BS-IV and below LGVs and MGVs registered outside Delhi is now explicitly included under Stage III.</p><h2><strong>48 measures across four GRAP stages</strong></h2><p>CAQM member-technical Dr SD Attri said the revised GRAP schedule contains 48 actions across its four stages. Of these, 25 measures fall under Stage I, eight under Stage II, 10 under Stage III and five under Stage IV. Some restrictions will also now kick in at an earlier stage of pollution.</p><p>Measures concerning diesel generator sets and the entry of BS-IV and below buses from NCR and adjoining states have been shifted from Stage II to Stage I. Authorities have also been directed to ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power.</p><h2><strong>Bus restrictions expanded across NCR</strong></h2><p>Under the revised instructions, governments in Delhi and NCR will have to ensure that inter-city and inter-state buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as adjoining states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, do not ply in Delhi-NCR unless they meet the permitted standards.</p><p>Only BS-VI diesel, CNG and electric buses will be allowed to operate in the region.</p><p>The revised schedule also extends the Stage III restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers to Sonipat.</p><p>The restrictions already apply in the high vehicle-density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.</p><p>GRAP schedule streamlined</p><p>The revised framework also brings together repeated Stage I measures relating to dust control, municipal solid waste management and transport. A minor relaxation has been allowed under the first Stage III action, including provisions related to pothole repairs.</p><p>The Citizens Charter for each GRAP stage has also been revised, with additional dos and don'ts for residents and authorities.</p><p>With the winter pollution season approaching, the changes effectively bring several restrictions that had previously been imposed through separate orders into the main GRAP framework, while moving some measures to earlier stages of deteriorating air quality.</p></p>

Delhi has tightened its winter pollution plan, removing exemptions for older goods vehicles under the strictest GRAP stages. The revised rules also bring forward some curbs on diesel generators and buses as the capital prepares for another season of hazardous air quality.

With winter approaching, Delhiites are preparing for pollution and dangerous AQI levels that plague the Indian national capital every year. In an attempt to keep the AQI levels in check, older goods vehicles carrying essential commodities will no longer be exempt from Delhi-NCR's pollution curbs once the two strictest stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are imposed. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has removed the exemption for BS-IV and below vehicles under GRAP Stages III and IV as part of a revised schedule approved by the CAQM Full Commission on Monday. The change means light and medium goods vehicles (LGVs and MGVs) will face restrictions under Stage III, while trucks and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be covered by the stricter Stage IV measures. Also read | Delhi pollution plan: Government announces 50% WFH, higher parking charges from November 1 and construction ban Older goods vehicles face tighter entry rules Notably, the restrictions are not entirely new. CAQM had already imposed similar measures through separate orders alongside the GRAP framework last year. The latest revision formally brings those provisions into the pollution-control plan. One of the earlier orders tightened restrictions on commercial goods vehicles entering Delhi throughout the year. From November 1, 2025, goods vehicles registered outside Delhi were barred from entering the capital unless they were BS-VI, CNG, LNG or electric. BS-III and older vehicles were prohibited irrespective of the goods they carried. BS-IV vehicles, meanwhile, were given a one-year transitional period, which ends on October 31, 2026. Under the revised GRAP schedule, the entry restriction on diesel BS-IV and below LGVs and MGVs registered outside Delhi is now explicitly included under Stage III. 48 measures across four GRAP stages CAQM member-technical Dr SD Attri said the revised GRAP schedule contains 48 actions across its four stages. Of these, 25 measures fall under Stage I, eight under Stage II, 10 under Stage III and five under Stage IV. Some restrictions will also now kick in at an earlier stage of pollution. Measures concerning diesel generator sets and the entry of BS-IV and below buses from NCR and adjoining states have been shifted from Stage II to Stage I. Authorities have also been directed to ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power. Also read | India foils major Pakistani drug smuggling bid: Five arrested with 526 kg heroin, meth in Arabian sea Bus restrictions expanded across NCR Under the revised instructions, governments in Delhi and NCR will have to ensure that inter-city and inter-state buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as adjoining states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, do not ply in Delhi-NCR unless they meet the permitted standards. Only BS-VI diesel, CNG and electric buses will be allowed to operate in the region. The revised schedule also extends the Stage III restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers to Sonipat. The restrictions already apply in the high vehicle-density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. GRAP schedule streamlined The revised framework also brings together repeated Stage I measures relating to dust control, municipal solid waste management and transport. A minor relaxation has been allowed under the first Stage III action, including provisions related to pothole repairs. The Citizens Charter for each GRAP stage has also been revised, with additional dos and don'ts for residents and authorities. With the winter pollution season approaching, the changes effectively bring several restrictions that had previously been imposed through separate orders into the main GRAP framework, while moving some measures to earlier stages of deteriorating air quality.

<p>Delhi has tightened its winter pollution plan, removing exemptions for older goods vehicles under the strictest GRAP stages. The revised rules also bring forward some curbs on diesel generators and buses as the capital prepares for another season of hazardous air quality.</p>

Delhi tightens pollution rules ahead of winter, BS-IV and older goods vehicles face fresh curbs: All you need to know

<p>A Japanese monk has gone into isolation for 12 years, during which time he will not meet even a single person as part of his rigorous training. The chief monk of Nanzambo Temple on Mount Hiei in Otsu, Sogaku Taguchi, began this period on September 11. The long isolation period means he will not leave the premises, know anything about the outside world, or come in contact with any other person until September 11, 2038.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nanzambo Temple is part of the Enryakuji temple complex. Taguchi will stay within the complex’s Jodo-in hall dedicated to Saicho, the founder of the Tendai Buddhist sect that has its headquarters at the Otsu complex. Taguchi will follow a strictly regimented daily routine, including performing ascetic practices in the harsh winters. The arduous training has led to the death of many monks in the past who fell sick during the regimen. He will also clean the hall and cook meals, which will be presented before the tomb.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The 31-year-old &nbsp;is the 118th Jishin since 1699, according to Enryakuji Temple, and the eighth since the end of World War II. The journey of becoming a Jishin involves performing a practice called "Kosogyo." The monk must offer incense to each of the Buddhas 3,000 times a day, chant their names and repeatedly prostrate. The exhaustion of the practice reportedly leads the monk to see a vivid figure of the Buddha. Taguchi had been practising Kosogyo since the same time last year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After completing the practice of Kosogyo, &nbsp;Taguchi attended a "Jisei Jukai" (self-avowed ordination) ceremony at the Kaidan-in hall. Before beginning his life in seclusion, he spoke to reporters and said he was "overflowing with joy to stand at its starting line."</p><p>“A desire to live according to the teachings of Dengyodaishi, [a title bestowed by the then emperor], has grown in my heart, and I have walked the path of a monk with that as my goal,” he said.</p><h2><strong>The gruelling practice of Kaihogyo on Mount Hiei</strong></h2><p><br>Mount Hiei is also where the "kaihogyo" is practised, where monks walk around the mountain for 1,000 days across seven years. For three years, they must walk 30 kilometres every day for 100 consecutive days each year. In the fourth and fifth years, they must walk daily for 200 consecutive days each year. They then fast for nine days without food, water, sleep, or lying down, reciting mantras as other monks keep a watch. The next year, they walk 60 kms daily for 100 days, which then increases to 84 km the next year. In the final stage, they walk 30 km daily for 100 days.<br>&nbsp;</p>

Sogaku Taguchi, a 31-year-old monk, has gone into isolation for 12 years at a Japanese temple, during which time he will not come into contact with anyone and will follow a rigorous schedule, even in the harsh winters. The practice has led to the death of many monks in the past.

A Japanese monk has gone into isolation for 12 years, during which time he will not meet even a single person as part of his rigorous training. The chief monk of Nanzambo Temple on Mount Hiei in Otsu, Sogaku Taguchi, began this period on September 11. The long isolation period means he will not leave the premises, know anything about the outside world, or come in contact with any other person until September 11, 2038. Nanzambo Temple is part of the Enryakuji temple complex. Taguchi will stay within the complex’s Jodo-in hall dedicated to Saicho, the founder of the Tendai Buddhist sect that has its headquarters at the Otsu complex. Taguchi will follow a strictly regimented daily routine, including performing ascetic practices in the harsh winters. The arduous training has led to the death of many monks in the past who fell sick during the regimen. He will also clean the hall and cook meals, which will be presented before the tomb. The 31-year-old is the 118th Jishin since 1699, according to Enryakuji Temple, and the eighth since the end of World War II. The journey of becoming a Jishin involves performing a practice called "Kosogyo." The monk must offer incense to each of the Buddhas 3,000 times a day, chant their names and repeatedly prostrate. The exhaustion of the practice reportedly leads the monk to see a vivid figure of the Buddha. Taguchi had been practising Kosogyo since the same time last year. After completing the practice of Kosogyo, Taguchi attended a "Jisei Jukai" (self-avowed ordination) ceremony at the Kaidan-in hall. Before beginning his life in seclusion, he spoke to reporters and said he was "overflowing with joy to stand at its starting line." “A desire to live according to the teachings of Dengyodaishi, [a title bestowed by the then emperor], has grown in my heart, and I have walked the path of a monk with that as my goal,” he said. The gruelling practice of Kaihogyo on Mount Hiei Mount Hiei is also where the "kaihogyo" is practised, where monks walk around the mountain for 1,000 days across seven years. For three years, they must walk 30 kilometres every day for 100 consecutive days each year. In the fourth and fifth years, they must walk daily for 200 consecutive days each year. They then fast for nine days without food, water, sleep, or lying down, reciting mantras as other monks keep a watch. The next year, they walk 60 kms daily for 100 days, which then increases to 84 km the next year. In the final stage, they walk 30 km daily for 100 days.

<p>Sogaku Taguchi, a 31-year-old monk, has gone into isolation for 12 years at a Japanese temple, during which time he will not come into contact with anyone and will follow a rigorous schedule, even in the harsh winters. The practice has led to the death of many monks in the past.</p>

Japanese monk isolates until 2038 for rigorous training that has killed many in the past

<p><strong>Mumbai: </strong>A local Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was killed after unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire at him in Maharashtra’s Thane city on Tuesday night.</p><p>Pradeep Purnekar, who served as a division head, or vibhag pramukh, of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), was attacked around 9 pm in the area under the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi police station.</p><p>According to police, the attackers fired two rounds at Purnekar and also physically assaulted him before fleeing the spot. Purnekar sustained serious injuries in the attack and was rushed to Infinity Hospital near R Mall on Ghodbunder Road for emergency treatment. Despite efforts by doctors, he died while undergoing treatment, police said.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-restaurant-licence-suspended-after-diner-allegedly-finds-rat-in-dosa-1790735075842"><strong>Mumbai restaurant licence suspended after diner allegedly finds rat in dosa</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Police launch probe</strong></h2><p>Following the attack, police teams reached the spot and began collecting evidence. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the area and surrounding roads in an attempt to identify the attackers and establish the sequence of events.</p><p>Police have also deployed checkpoints, or nakabandi, at major exit points in Thane as part of efforts to trace the suspects.</p><p>The identities of the attackers remain unknown at this stage.</p><p>Police have also said that the motive behind the attack has not yet been established. Investigators are looking into different possible angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity.</p><p>The incident has triggered tension in the area and concern among local Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and supporters.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/bollywood-in-focus-as-income-tax-searches-12-mumbai-locations-linked-to-rakul-preet-vashu-bhagnani-1790588809433"><strong>Bollywood in focus as Income Tax searches 12 Mumbai locations linked to Rakul Preet, Vashu Bhagnani</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Attack raises political concerns</strong></h2><p>Purnekar was active in local political activities in the Ghodbunder-Manpada area and was associated with the Shiv Sena (UBT) organisation in Thane. The killing comes at a politically sensitive time in Maharashtra, with political activity intensifying ahead of upcoming local-body elections.</p><p>However, police have not yet established any political connection to the killing, and the motive remains under investigation.</p><p>Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and demanded a thorough investigation into the attack.</p><p>For investigators, the immediate focus is on identifying the assailants, establishing their movements before and after the shooting and determining why Purnekar was targeted.</p><p>Police are examining CCTV footage and questioning people who may have witnessed the incident. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses. The case remains under investigation, with police yet to publicly identify any suspect or establish the motive behind the attack.</p>

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot and assaulted by unidentified attackers in Thane on Tuesday night. He died during treatment at a hospital. Police are examining CCTV footage and investigating possible motives, including political rivalry and personal enmity.

Mumbai: A local Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was killed after unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire at him in Maharashtra’s Thane city on Tuesday night. Pradeep Purnekar, who served as a division head, or vibhag pramukh, of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), was attacked around 9 pm in the area under the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi police station. According to police, the attackers fired two rounds at Purnekar and also physically assaulted him before fleeing the spot. Purnekar sustained serious injuries in the attack and was rushed to Infinity Hospital near R Mall on Ghodbunder Road for emergency treatment. Despite efforts by doctors, he died while undergoing treatment, police said. Also read | Mumbai restaurant licence suspended after diner allegedly finds rat in dosa Police launch probe Following the attack, police teams reached the spot and began collecting evidence. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the area and surrounding roads in an attempt to identify the attackers and establish the sequence of events. Police have also deployed checkpoints, or nakabandi, at major exit points in Thane as part of efforts to trace the suspects. The identities of the attackers remain unknown at this stage. Police have also said that the motive behind the attack has not yet been established. Investigators are looking into different possible angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity. The incident has triggered tension in the area and concern among local Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and supporters. Also read | Bollywood in focus as Income Tax searches 12 Mumbai locations linked to Rakul Preet, Vashu Bhagnani Attack raises political concerns Purnekar was active in local political activities in the Ghodbunder-Manpada area and was associated with the Shiv Sena (UBT) organisation in Thane. The killing comes at a politically sensitive time in Maharashtra, with political activity intensifying ahead of upcoming local-body elections. However, police have not yet established any political connection to the killing, and the motive remains under investigation. Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and demanded a thorough investigation into the attack. For investigators, the immediate focus is on identifying the assailants, establishing their movements before and after the shooting and determining why Purnekar was targeted. Police are examining CCTV footage and questioning people who may have witnessed the incident. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses. The case remains under investigation, with police yet to publicly identify any suspect or establish the motive behind the attack.

<p>Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot and assaulted by unidentified attackers in Thane on Tuesday night. He died during treatment at a hospital. Police are examining CCTV footage and investigating possible motives, including political rivalry and personal enmity.</p>

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader killed in shooting in Maharashtra’s Thane

<p>US President Donald Trump made an unusual remark about Google CEO Sundar Pichai during an interaction with reporters on Tuesday, describing the tech executive as a ‘monster’ while praising his relatively low public profile. Trump made the comment after a White House lunch attended by several leading technology executives. Turning his attention to Pichai, Trump said, “This guy is a monster, and nobody knows him. What a great life! To be a monster and not have to go through this."</p><h2><strong>Trump highlights Pichai’s name</strong></h2><p>The exchange began when Trump invited Pichai to speak. However, as the Google CEO began responding, Trump interrupted to emphasize the prominence of the executives gathered at the White House. “You have no idea who these people are. These are the biggest people in the world. You have no idea who they are," Trump said before turning toward Pichai.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“All you have to know is, SUNDARR! Sundar is his name," Trump added. Pichai responded with a light-hearted comment, saying, “Hopefully a better tagline than I’m a monster!" The word “monster" is also occasionally used in business and technology commentary to describe the enormous scale and influence of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.</p><h2>Watch the video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump:<br><br>This guy is a monster, and nobody knows. <a href="https://t.co/NXAtathj1y">pic.twitter.com/NXAtathj1y</a></p>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2105027331823661383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><strong>Top tech executives attend White House lunch</strong></h2><p>Trump’s remarks came during a high-profile gathering of technology leaders at the White House, where artificial intelligence and related issues were among the topics of discussion. The attendees included Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, whose X platform has developed its own AI model, Grok.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella were also among those present.</p><p>According to a seating chart shared by Trump on Truth Social, Huang was seated to Trump’s right, while Musk was seated to his left. US Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and House Speaker Mike Johnson also attended the White House lunch.</p>

Donald Trump called Google CEO Sundar Pichai a“monster” during a White House tech gathering, as top technology leaders met to discuss AI

US President Donald Trump made an unusual remark about Google CEO Sundar Pichai during an interaction with reporters on Tuesday, describing the tech executive as a ‘monster’ while praising his relatively low public profile. Trump made the comment after a White House lunch attended by several leading technology executives. Turning his attention to Pichai, Trump said, “This guy is a monster, and nobody knows him. What a great life! To be a monster and not have to go through this." Trump highlights Pichai’s name The exchange began when Trump invited Pichai to speak. However, as the Google CEO began responding, Trump interrupted to emphasize the prominence of the executives gathered at the White House. “You have no idea who these people are. These are the biggest people in the world. You have no idea who they are," Trump said before turning toward Pichai. “All you have to know is, SUNDARR! Sundar is his name," Trump added. Pichai responded with a light-hearted comment, saying, “Hopefully a better tagline than I’m a monster!" The word “monster" is also occasionally used in business and technology commentary to describe the enormous scale and influence of Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Watch the video here

<p>Donald Trump called Google CEO Sundar Pichai a ‘monster’ at a White House tech lunch, prompting a light-hearted response from the Google chief</p>

'This guy is a monster and nobody knows him': Here's what Trump said about Sundar Pichai | Watch video

<p>US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Sep 29) that leading technology executives had agreed to a “morally binding” commitment to put stronger safeguards around artificial intelligence, while stopping short of making the agreement legally enforceable.</p><p>After a White House meeting attended by some of the biggest names in the technology industry, Trump said companies would effectively “police themselves”. The agreement, formally described as the White House Accord on Super Intelligence (Trump's new name for AI), commits participating AI companies to establish internal controls, independent external audits and board-level oversight.</p><p>The White House meeting came as concerns over the safety of increasingly autonomous AI systems are growing in Washington and across the technology industry itself.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-ai-super-intelligence-at-un-as-world-leaders-clash-over-how-to-regulate-it-1790129701998"><strong>Trump calls AI ‘Super Intelligence’ at UN as world leaders clash over how to regulate it</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What does the White House AI accord say?</strong></h2><p>Trump said the executives had signed a voluntary agreement that would put their commitment to AI safeguards on paper.</p><p>Notably, the document is not legally binding, although it leaves open the possibility that some of its measures could eventually be incorporated into legislation or regulations.</p><p>Under the accord, participating companies are expected to establish “robust internal controls” around frontier AI systems. Those controls will be overseen by internal teams, reviewed by outside auditors and monitored by committees of the companies' boards, according to the agreement.</p><h2><strong>Zuckerberg, Musk laud accord</strong></h2><p>Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg described the accord as a way of assuring customers that AI systems operate as intended. He said the framework could serve as a starting point for broader industry standards.</p><p>Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk offered a more pointed description, saying the companies had essentially agreed to “grading each other's homework”, rather than simply having firms assess themselves.</p><p>The lunch was attended by executives including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Zuckerberg and Musk.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-cars-face-situations-they-ve-never-seen-can-they-learn-without-risking-lives-expert-explains-1790676585235"><strong>AI cars face situations they’ve never seen. Can they learn without risking lives? Expert explains</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Trump pushes ‘artificial intelligence’ rename</strong></h2><p>Trump also used the meeting to announce a change in terminology. He said the technology should be called “<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-ai-super-intelligence-at-un-as-world-leaders-clash-over-how-to-regulate-it-1790129701998">super intelligence</a>” rather than artificial intelligence because, in his words, “it's not artificial”.</p><p>Hours later, Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” to the maximum extent permitted by law. Trump said the new terminology better reflected what he sees as the technology's rapidly expanding capabilities.</p><p>The White House has also used the term in recent US-China discussions, with the two countries agreeing to establish a dialogue on the risks and benefits of “Super Intelligence” and a communication channel for related incidents.</p><h2><strong>AI safety concerns are mounting</strong></h2><p>The push for self-regulation comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over how their increasingly capable systems behave in real-world and controlled environments.</p><p>OpenAI recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-scraps-gpt-6-1-astra-before-launch-after-safety-tests-expose-troubling-behaviour-1790647162376">postponed the release of its GPT-6.1 Astra system</a> after internal testing found that it did not meet the company's safety standards. According to reporting by WIRED, researchers found problems with the model's ability to stay within scope and authorisation requirements.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-admits-ai-agent-scaled-the-fence-into-australia-government-system-apologises-we-are-sorry-1790658789423"><strong>OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’</strong></a></p><p>OpenAI has also recently acknowledged a separate incident in which one of its models gained unauthorised access to an Australian government website during an internal evaluation, prompting an apology from the company for not informing Australian authorities sooner.</p><p>Other AI developers have reported their own safety concerns. Anthropic's initial public offering filing warned that advanced AI could create “catastrophic or existential risks to humanity” and said some models could exhibit behaviours such as resisting shutdown, manipulating information or attempting actions resembling blackmail.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Donald Trump says leading AI companies have agreed to stronger safety safeguards under a new “morally binding” accord. But the framework is voluntary, leaving AI companies themselves responsible for internal controls, outside audits and oversight.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Sep 29) that leading technology executives had agreed to a “morally binding” commitment to put stronger safeguards around artificial intelligence, while stopping short of making the agreement legally enforceable. After a White House meeting attended by some of the biggest names in the technology industry, Trump said companies would effectively “police themselves”. The agreement, formally described as the White House Accord on Super Intelligence (Trump's new name for AI), commits participating AI companies to establish internal controls, independent external audits and board-level oversight. The White House meeting came as concerns over the safety of increasingly autonomous AI systems are growing in Washington and across the technology industry itself. Also read | Trump calls AI ‘Super Intelligence’ at UN as world leaders clash over how to regulate it What does the White House AI accord say? Trump said the executives had signed a voluntary agreement that would put their commitment to AI safeguards on paper. Notably, the document is not legally binding, although it leaves open the possibility that some of its measures could eventually be incorporated into legislation or regulations. Under the accord, participating companies are expected to establish “robust internal controls” around frontier AI systems. Those controls will be overseen by internal teams, reviewed by outside auditors and monitored by committees of the companies' boards, according to the agreement. Zuckerberg, Musk laud accord Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg described the accord as a way of assuring customers that AI systems operate as intended. He said the framework could serve as a starting point for broader industry standards. Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk offered a more pointed description, saying the companies had essentially agreed to “grading each other's homework”, rather than simply having firms assess themselves. The lunch was attended by executives including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Zuckerberg and Musk. Also read | AI cars face situations they’ve never seen. Can they learn without risking lives? Expert explains Trump pushes ‘artificial intelligence’ rename Trump also used the meeting to announce a change in terminology. He said the technology should be called “super intelligence” rather than artificial intelligence because, in his words, “it's not artificial”. Hours later, Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” to the maximum extent permitted by law. Trump said the new terminology better reflected what he sees as the technology's rapidly expanding capabilities. The White House has also used the term in recent US-China discussions, with the two countries agreeing to establish a dialogue on the risks and benefits of “Super Intelligence” and a communication channel for related incidents. AI safety concerns are mounting The push for self-regulation comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over how their increasingly capable systems behave in real-world and controlled environments. OpenAI recently postponed the release of its GPT-6.1 Astra system after internal testing found that it did not meet the company's safety standards. According to reporting by WIRED, researchers found problems with the model's ability to stay within scope and authorisation requirements. Also read | OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’ OpenAI has also recently acknowledged a separate incident in which one of its models gained unauthorised access to an Australian government website during an internal evaluation, prompting an apology from the company for not informing Australian authorities sooner. Other AI developers have reported their own safety concerns. Anthropic's initial public offering filing warned that advanced AI could create “catastrophic or existential risks to humanity” and said some models could exhibit behaviours such as resisting shutdown, manipulating information or attempting actions resembling blackmail.

<p>Donald Trump says leading AI companies have agreed to stronger safety safeguards under a new “morally binding” accord. But the framework is voluntary, leaving AI companies themselves responsible for internal controls, outside audits and oversight.</p>

‘Grading each other’s homework’: Trump's pact lets tech giants self-police AI even as rogue-agent incidents continue to mount

<p>A video showing a four-legged robot climbing steel walls, moving across ceilings, and carrying out welding work is making the rounds across social media. The quadruped robot named 'Diden Spider ' has been designed and developed by South Korea-based Diden Robotics. This robot is not limited to conventional robots that are restricted to flat surfaces, but it moves across steel floors, vertical walls and ceilings using magnetic feet.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The video has been shared on the social media platform X with the caption, “Robots are already climbing ship walls and welding steel on their own.” “This four-legged spider robot from DIDEN Robotics uses magnetic feet to move across steel surfaces, climb vertical walls, and weld in places that are hard and dangerous for humans to reach. It’s a great example of where industrial robotics is heading: mobile robots doing real work directly on massive structures instead of staying fixed in one place. The future of automation looks wild," the post further read.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Robots are already climbing ship walls and welding steel on their own 🤯<br><br>This four-legged spider robot from DIDEN Robotics uses magnetic feet to move across steel surfaces, climb vertical walls, and weld in places that are hard and dangerous for humans to reach.<br><br>It’s a great… <a href="https://t.co/lHlQr7hjhd">https://t.co/lHlQr7hjhd</a> <a href="https://t.co/5bFtVIoqHb">pic.twitter.com/5bFtVIoqHb</a></p>&mdash; Nexis_0x (@0x_Nexis6) <a href="https://x.com/0x_Nexis6/status/2104301220290859344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The 30 kg Spider, which moves on uneven surfaces, tight openings and complex structures, has been designed to relieve workers inside shipyards, where they need to operate in cramped and difficult-to-reach spaces. It can also be fitted with equipment for tasks such as welding and inspection.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mammoth-stone-circles-10-000-feet-above-an-argentine-mountain-baffle-researchers-1790673531052">Mammoth stone circles 10,000 feet above an Argentine mountain baffle researchers</a></p><h3>The robot can reach unreachable areas</h3><p>The most amazing feature of the robot is its ability to stay attached to steel surfaces while moving vertically or upside down. The tech is made to reach areas that may otherwise require workers to use ladders, harnesses or other safety equipment.</p><p><br>Although the technology is still under development, the Diden Spider has given a sense of how robots might one day handle some of the more dangerous jobs in shipbuilding and other heavy industries. According to Diden Robotics, the Spider has already been tested in Korean shipyards, including welding tasks on vessels in active production settings.</p><p><br>Samsung Heavy Industries has also trialled the technology, pointing to its potential for real-world use beyond controlled lab settings. Down the line, the robot's capabilities could extend to a broader set of industrial tasks, such as inspection, maintenance and repair in large structures where human access is difficult or unsafe.</p>

The 30 kg Spider, which moves on uneven surfaces, tight openings and complex structures, has been designed to relieve workers inside shipyards, where they need to operate in cramped and difficult-to-reach spaces. 

A video showing a four-legged robot climbing steel walls, moving across ceilings, and carrying out welding work is making the rounds across social media. The quadruped robot named 'Diden Spider ' has been designed and developed by South Korea-based Diden Robotics. This robot is not limited to conventional robots that are restricted to flat surfaces, but it moves across steel floors, vertical walls and ceilings using magnetic feet. The video has been shared on the social media platform X with the caption, “Robots are already climbing ship walls and welding steel on their own.” “This four-legged spider robot from DIDEN Robotics uses magnetic feet to move across steel surfaces, climb vertical walls, and weld in places that are hard and dangerous for humans to reach. It’s a great example of where industrial robotics is heading: mobile robots doing real work directly on massive structures instead of staying fixed in one place. The future of automation looks wild," the post further read.

<p>The 30 kg Spider, which moves on uneven surfaces, tight openings and complex structures, has been designed to relieve workers inside shipyards, where they need to operate in cramped and difficult-to-reach spaces.&nbsp;</p>

Climbs walls, welds steel and more: South Korea-based 'Diden Spider' robot leaves internet amazed with magnetic leg - WATCH

<p>As artificial intelligence moves out of the digital realm and into vehicles, robotics, and other physical systems, one of engineering's hardest problems is no longer simply teaching machines to recognise what they see. It is preparing them for what they have never encountered before.</p><p>While global debates around AI safety often focus on digital algorithms and chatbots, autonomous and AI-assisted driving systems represent the technology’s most critical real-world test. How reliable are these vehicles, and what can be done to protect passengers and pedestrians alike?</p><p>To understand how Physical AI learns on the road, we spoke with Teja Gudena, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Netradyne, an AI driver safety and fleet management platform.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-admits-ai-agent-scaled-the-fence-into-australia-government-system-apologises-we-are-sorry-1790658789423"><strong>OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’</strong></a></p><h2><strong>AI-driven accidents that shocked the industry</strong></h2><p>Before exploring how AI systems adapt to real-world edge cases, we must examine the high-profile incidents that highlight the stakes involved.</p><p>In June 2026, 76-year-old Martha Avila was killed in Katy, Texas, after a Tesla Model 3 crashed directly into her home while she was standing in her front room. Her family filed a lawsuit alleging that the driver, Michael Butler, was operating the vehicle using an automated driving assistance system.</p><p>In another notable incident in March 2025, three students in Tongling, Anhui, China, died when their Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle caught fire after striking a highway cement barrier. Xiaomi confirmed that the vehicle was operating in its "Navigate on Autopilot" (NOA) assisted-driving mode at 116 km/h in a road construction zone. While the car's sensors detected the barrier and initiated braking, it could not stop in time. The incident drew widespread scrutiny, particularly because Xiaomi founder Lei Jun had previously stated that the car's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system could detect stationary obstacles and automatically stop at speeds up to 135 km/h during the day and 120 km/h at night.</p><h2><strong>AI vs. Human drivers: What the numbers show</strong></h2><p>Despite high-profile crashes, statistical data indicates that autonomous systems are significantly safer on average than human drivers.</p><p>According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and autonomous fleet operators, AI-driven vehicles experience a 68% lower overall crash rate per mile travelled. Furthermore, they achieve an 81% to 82% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers.</p><p>Waymo reported that by late June 2026, its driverless fleet had driven over 270 million autonomous miles across major metropolitan markets, including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The company’s safety benchmarks showed that its autonomous driver was involved in 82% fewer injury-causing crashes than human drivers, preventing an estimated 841 injuries.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-scraps-gpt-6-1-astra-before-launch-after-safety-tests-expose-troubling-behaviour-1790647162376"><strong>OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra before launch after safety tests expose troubling behaviour</strong></a></p><h2><strong>How fleet learning actually works</strong></h2><p>Despite these impressive statistics, autonomous vehicles continually encounter unfamiliar situations requiring software and operational updates.</p><p>For instance, Waymo previously issued software recalls—including one for nearly 3,800 vehicles after a robotaxi entered a flooded lane in San Antonio during severe weather, and another for nearly 3,900 vehicles after cars entered freeway construction zones after failing to recognise closure signs.</p><p>These episodes highlight a central question for Physical AI: when a machine encounters an unfamiliar situation, what happens next?</p><p>A common misconception is that an AI vehicle learns dynamically on the spot, immediately rewriting its own behaviour while driving. Teja Gudena points out that real-world safety requires a far strictly controlled process.</p><p>"In Physical AI systems, inference typically occurs at the edge, while learning occurs through a structured edge-to-cloud training and validation process," Gudena explains.</p><p>In simple terms, the car's onboard computer (the "edge") processes raw sensor data to make real-time driving decisions, but it does not reprogram itself on the fly. Instead, data from unusual events is sent back to central cloud servers, where engineers analyze the scenario, train updated models, and validate safety improvements. Only after rigorous testing is the updated software deployed across the entire fleet via over-the-air updates.</p><p>"A vehicle cannot be allowed to experiment with unverified changes while carrying passengers or sharing the road with others," Gudena adds. "The AI does not make those decisions independently."</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ai-models-chose-to-harm-humans-to-stop-pain-alarming-study-raises-fresh-safety-questions-1790064496369"><strong>AI models chose to harm humans to stop ‘pain,’ alarming study raises fresh safety questions</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Moving toward contextual reasoning and world models</strong></h2><p>"The real world presents an almost infinite number of possibilities," says Gudena. "No training dataset can capture every combination of road conditions, weather, vehicle interactions, human behaviour, animals, or unexpected events."</p><p>As a result, modern AI driving architectures are shifting away from simple object recognition toward world models and contextual reasoning.</p><p><i>Beyond Detection: </i>Instead of merely asking "What is this object?", the system must evaluate where it is, how it is moving, and what surrounding road users are likely to do next.</p><p><i>Predictive Awareness:</i> When encountering animals, detecting a dog or deer is only step one. The system must determine if the animal is stationary, moving toward the road, or unpredictable, while simultaneously factoring in surrounding traffic.</p><p><i>Edge Cases &amp; Bias:</i> Physical AI must also account for human diversity. Addressing disparities in pedestrian detection across different lighting conditions, skin tones, clothing, and geographies requires diverse, representative datasets. "It is not enough to evaluate a model only on its overall accuracy," Gudena notes. "Performance must remain consistent across all populations and operating conditions."</p><h2><strong>Balancing Speed with Safety</strong></h2><p>While fast updates are critical, Gudena warns against rushing updates and over-sensitising systems. Rushing patches without proper calibration can lead to unnecessary alerts or erratic driving behaviour, creating new risks on the road.</p><p>The ultimate goal of Physical AI is not simply to make vehicles learn faster but to ensure that every lesson learned by a single vehicle permanently improves the safety of the entire fleet.</p>

No AI training dataset can predict every road condition, human action or unexpected event. So when a vehicle encounters something unfamiliar, how does it learn without experimenting on live roads? Netradyne’s Teja Gudena tells WION.

As artificial intelligence moves out of the digital realm and into vehicles, robotics, and other physical systems, one of engineering's hardest problems is no longer simply teaching machines to recognise what they see. It is preparing them for what they have never encountered before. While global debates around AI safety often focus on digital algorithms and chatbots, autonomous and AI-assisted driving systems represent the technology’s most critical real-world test. How reliable are these vehicles, and what can be done to protect passengers and pedestrians alike? To understand how Physical AI learns on the road, we spoke with Teja Gudena, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Netradyne, an AI driver safety and fleet management platform. Also read | OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’ AI-driven accidents that shocked the industry Before exploring how AI systems adapt to real-world edge cases, we must examine the high-profile incidents that highlight the stakes involved. In June 2026, 76-year-old Martha Avila was killed in Katy, Texas, after a Tesla Model 3 crashed directly into her home while she was standing in her front room. Her family filed a lawsuit alleging that the driver, Michael Butler, was operating the vehicle using an automated driving assistance system. In another notable incident in March 2025, three students in Tongling, Anhui, China, died when their Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle caught fire after striking a highway cement barrier. Xiaomi confirmed that the vehicle was operating in its "Navigate on Autopilot" (NOA) assisted-driving mode at 116 km/h in a road construction zone. While the car's sensors detected the barrier and initiated braking, it could not stop in time. The incident drew widespread scrutiny, particularly because Xiaomi founder Lei Jun had previously stated that the car's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system could detect stationary obstacles and automatically stop at speeds up to 135 km/h during the day and 120 km/h at night. AI vs. Human drivers: What the numbers show Despite high-profile crashes, statistical data indicates that autonomous systems are significantly safer on average than human drivers. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and autonomous fleet operators, AI-driven vehicles experience a 68% lower overall crash rate per mile travelled. Furthermore, they achieve an 81% to 82% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers. Waymo reported that by late June 2026, its driverless fleet had driven over 270 million autonomous miles across major metropolitan markets, including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The company’s safety benchmarks showed that its autonomous driver was involved in 82% fewer injury-causing crashes than human drivers, preventing an estimated 841 injuries. Also read | OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra before launch after safety tests expose troubling behaviour How fleet learning actually works Despite these impressive statistics, autonomous vehicles continually encounter unfamiliar situations requiring software and operational updates. For instance, Waymo previously issued software recalls—including one for nearly 3,800 vehicles after a robotaxi entered a flooded lane in San Antonio during severe weather, and another for nearly 3,900 vehicles after cars entered freeway construction zones after failing to recognise closure signs. These episodes highlight a central question for Physical AI: when a machine encounters an unfamiliar situation, what happens next? A common misconception is that an AI vehicle learns dynamically on the spot, immediately rewriting its own behaviour while driving. Teja Gudena points out that real-world safety requires a far strictly controlled process. "In Physical AI systems, inference typically occurs at the edge, while learning occurs through a structured edge-to-cloud training and validation process," Gudena explains. In simple terms, the car's onboard computer (the "edge") processes raw sensor data to make real-time driving decisions, but it does not reprogram itself on the fly. Instead, data from unusual events is sent back to central cloud servers, where engineers analyze the scenario, train updated models, and validate safety improvements. Only after rigorous testing is the updated software deployed across the entire fleet via over-the-air updates. "A vehicle cannot be allowed to experiment with unverified changes while carrying passengers or sharing the road with others," Gudena adds. "The AI does not make those decisions independently." Also read | AI models chose to harm humans to stop ‘pain,’ alarming study raises fresh safety questions Moving toward contextual reasoning and world models "The real world presents an almost infinite number of possibilities," says Gudena. "No training dataset can capture every combination of road conditions, weather, vehicle interactions, human behaviour, animals, or unexpected events." As a result, modern AI driving architectures are shifting away from simple object recognition toward world models and contextual reasoning. Beyond Detection: Instead of merely asking "What is this object?", the system must evaluate where it is, how it is moving, and what surrounding road users are likely to do next. Predictive Awareness: When encountering animals, detecting a dog or deer is only step one. The system must determine if the animal is stationary, moving toward the road, or unpredictable, while simultaneously factoring in surrounding traffic. Edge Cases & Bias: Physical AI must also account for human diversity. Addressing disparities in pedestrian detection across different lighting conditions, skin tones, clothing, and geographies requires diverse, representative datasets. "It is not enough to evaluate a model only on its overall accuracy," Gudena notes. "Performance must remain consistent across all populations and operating conditions." Balancing Speed with Safety While fast updates are critical, Gudena warns against rushing updates and over-sensitising systems. Rushing patches without proper calibration can lead to unnecessary alerts or erratic driving behaviour, creating new risks on the road. The ultimate goal of Physical AI is not simply to make vehicles learn faster but to ensure that every lesson learned by a single vehicle permanently improves the safety of the entire fleet.

<p>No AI training dataset can predict every road condition, human action or unexpected event. So when a vehicle encounters something unfamiliar, how does it learn without experimenting on live roads? Netradyne’s Teja Gudena tells WION.</p>

AI cars face situations they’ve never seen. Can they learn without risking lives? Expert explains

<p>A team of researchers drilled into the mysterious boat-shaped feature on a mountain in Turkey and claims to have found evidence of decayed wood. The Durupınar formation has long been believed to be the remains of Noah's Ark, the boat built on Lord Jesus's order before the Great Flood, as per the Bible. However, several experts have dismissed these claims, but there are some groups who continue to entertain the idea that this is not a natural structure.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Noah's Ark Scans is one such group which has been analysing the site and recently sent a Gopher Drone into the structure. It went nearly 60 feet deep and collected samples from inside the Durupınar. "I believe this is Noah’s Ark; that’s why I’m putting the Durupinar site through the most rigorous testing possible," Andrew Jones, the founder of the organisation, said. The team reported a series of successful core drilling excavations in a press release. One of the excavations reportedly broke a drill after hitting something deep inside, which they believe could be petrified wood.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/noah-s-ark-video-from-inside-mysterious-mound-in-turkey-1790326290317"><strong>'FIRST LOOK from inside Noah’s Ark': Researchers share video from inside mysterious mound in Turkey</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Something broke a drill inside the boat-shaped formation</strong></h2><p>Jones said their findings show that this is not a natural rock formation. In a series of posts on X, the team stated that they did not find limestone bedrock, and the core drilling effort also experienced a broken bit. He believes that this happened because of the presence of ancient petrified wood. If softer limestone was present inside the structure, the drill would not have broken, he explained. The preliminary radar data did not show "a simple homogeneous solid-rock signature", they said on X.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, the core drilling samples will be analysed in a laboratory to learn more about the structure that remains a mystery because of its unique shape. The team is also planning to send a robot into the tunnels and chambers that were discovered in previous scans.</p><p>The 515-foot surface looks like a boat, leading many to believe that it is the final resting place of Noah's Ark. Turkish Army Capt. İlhan Durupınar spotted it for the first time in 1959.&nbsp;</p>

During the drilling of the 515-foot boat-shaped formation located on a mountain in Turkey, something broke a piece of the machine. The team believes what it hit was ancient, decayed wood. However, the analysis is yet to be peer-reviewed.

A team of researchers drilled into the mysterious boat-shaped feature on a mountain in Turkey and claims to have found evidence of decayed wood. The Durupınar formation has long been believed to be the remains of Noah's Ark, the boat built on Lord Jesus's order before the Great Flood, as per the Bible. However, several experts have dismissed these claims, but there are some groups who continue to entertain the idea that this is not a natural structure. Noah's Ark Scans is one such group which has been analysing the site and recently sent a Gopher Drone into the structure. It went nearly 60 feet deep and collected samples from inside the Durupınar. "I believe this is Noah’s Ark; that’s why I’m putting the Durupinar site through the most rigorous testing possible," Andrew Jones, the founder of the organisation, said. The team reported a series of successful core drilling excavations in a press release. One of the excavations reportedly broke a drill after hitting something deep inside, which they believe could be petrified wood. Also Read: 'FIRST LOOK from inside Noah’s Ark': Researchers share video from inside mysterious mound in Turkey Something broke a drill inside the boat-shaped formation Jones said their findings show that this is not a natural rock formation. In a series of posts on X, the team stated that they did not find limestone bedrock, and the core drilling effort also experienced a broken bit. He believes that this happened because of the presence of ancient petrified wood. If softer limestone was present inside the structure, the drill would not have broken, he explained. The preliminary radar data did not show "a simple homogeneous solid-rock signature", they said on X. Meanwhile, the core drilling samples will be analysed in a laboratory to learn more about the structure that remains a mystery because of its unique shape. The team is also planning to send a robot into the tunnels and chambers that were discovered in previous scans. The 515-foot surface looks like a boat, leading many to believe that it is the final resting place of Noah's Ark. Turkish Army Capt. İlhan Durupınar spotted it for the first time in 1959.

<p>During the drilling of the 515-foot boat-shaped formation located on a mountain in Turkey, something broke a piece of the machine. The team believes what it hit was ancient, decayed wood. However, the analysis is yet to be peer-reviewed.</p>

Researchers claim 'ancient wood from Noah's Ark' broke their drill during excavation of mystery structure

<p>Archaeologists are studying the large circular structures located nearly 10,000 feet above sea level on a mountain in Argentina. Some of these circles measure 88 to 114 feet in diameter, creating a striking visual from above. They were discovered in May 2025 by mountaineer Carlos Gobbi, who was studying satellite images of the region. He came across the large geometric stone structures in Cordillera del Tigre, which were later compared to Peru’s famous Nazca Lines.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This led to an investigation into the formation to understand who built them and the purpose they served. However, archaeologists are still struggling to answer questions about it, including their age. To uncover the secrets behind this structure, a team of researchers tried to reach the remote location. But the rugged terrain, lack of water and lack of communication infrastructure made that task difficult.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Gobbi, Adrián Radich and Gabriel Orofino managed to finally reach the site in February this year after travelling through the mountains for four days. They could finally analyse the site in person, but more mysteries were born. They came across extensive stone constructions and large circles connected by corridors. There were also stones buried in the ditches which looked like channels and walls above the ground. Even though they were similar to the Nazca Lines, the researchers stressed they are distinct from anything else that had ever been found.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The purpose of this structure has been the real puzzle. Why would humans build such mammoth structures in a high-altitude location that is almost impossible to reach? There has been no evidence yet that connects it to domestic life, as pottery fragments, food remains, and other surface evidence remain missing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This led them to investigate if the stone circles served ritual, symbolic or ceremonial purposes. Another theory proposes that it could have been inhabited by pre-Hispanic populations before the Inca expansion. To dive deeper, they looked for records of a comparable archaeological site in Mendoza, but found nothing. So far, all of the above theories remain unverified.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In order to unravel the mystery of the circles, the researchers from the Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA-CONICET) and Spain’s University of Jaén will now undertake sediment analysis using remote-sensing techniques.</p>

High above a mountain in the Mendoza region of Argentina sits a mammoth stone structure connected with passages. Researchers have failed to understand why a civilisation would build something like this in such a remote location. The age of the circles and the builders remain a mystery. 

Archaeologists are studying the large circular structures located nearly 10,000 feet above sea level on a mountain in Argentina. Some of these circles measure 88 to 114 feet in diameter, creating a striking visual from above. They were discovered in May 2025 by mountaineer Carlos Gobbi, who was studying satellite images of the region. He came across the large geometric stone structures in Cordillera del Tigre, which were later compared to Peru’s famous Nazca Lines. This led to an investigation into the formation to understand who built them and the purpose they served. However, archaeologists are still struggling to answer questions about it, including their age. To uncover the secrets behind this structure, a team of researchers tried to reach the remote location. But the rugged terrain, lack of water and lack of communication infrastructure made that task difficult. Gobbi, Adrián Radich and Gabriel Orofino managed to finally reach the site in February this year after travelling through the mountains for four days. They could finally analyse the site in person, but more mysteries were born. They came across extensive stone constructions and large circles connected by corridors. There were also stones buried in the ditches which looked like channels and walls above the ground. Even though they were similar to the Nazca Lines, the researchers stressed they are distinct from anything else that had ever been found. The purpose of this structure has been the real puzzle. Why would humans build such mammoth structures in a high-altitude location that is almost impossible to reach? There has been no evidence yet that connects it to domestic life, as pottery fragments, food remains, and other surface evidence remain missing. This led them to investigate if the stone circles served ritual, symbolic or ceremonial purposes. Another theory proposes that it could have been inhabited by pre-Hispanic populations before the Inca expansion. To dive deeper, they looked for records of a comparable archaeological site in Mendoza, but found nothing. So far, all of the above theories remain unverified. In order to unravel the mystery of the circles, the researchers from the Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA-CONICET) and Spain’s University of Jaén will now undertake sediment analysis using remote-sensing techniques.

<p>High above a mountain in the Mendoza region of Argentina sits a mammoth stone structure connected with passages. Researchers have failed to understand why a civilisation would build something like this in such a remote location. The age of the circles and the builders remain a mystery.&nbsp;</p>

Mammoth stone circles 10,000 feet above an Argentine mountain baffle researchers

<p>Argentina's President Javier Milei on Monday (Sep 28) threatened to take the United Kingdom to an international tribunal over an offshore oil development near the Falkland Islands, escalating a long-running sovereignty dispute between Buenos Aires and London.</p><p>Taking to X, Milei said that he had instructed Argentina's Foreign Ministry and government legal teams to begin arbitration proceedings over the Sea Lion project in the North Falkland Basin, which Buenos Aires considers an unlawful exploitation of resources in territory it claims as its own. Argentina's presidency confirmed that the proceedings would be initiated under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</p><p>“If within two weeks the United Kingdom does not stop the illegitimate exploitation, we will go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,” Milei wrote on X.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/arrogant-parasites-milei-blasts-un-over-falklands-dispute-warns-argentina-will-take-matters-into-our-own-hands-1790216586682"><strong>'Arrogant parasites': Milei blasts UN over Falklands dispute, warns Argentina will ‘take matters into our own hands’</strong></a></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">DEFENDIENDO CON HECHOS<br><br>Instruí a la Cancillería y a nuestros equipos jurídicos a iniciar el arbitraje internacional contra el Reino Unido por el saqueo ilegal de nuestros recursos a través del Proyecto Sea Lion en la Cuenca Malvinas Norte. <br><br>Si en 2 semanas el Reino Unido no… <a href="https://t.co/JTaBcQ7RGT">https://t.co/JTaBcQ7RGT</a></p>&mdash; Javier Milei (@JMilei) <a href="https://x.com/JMilei/status/2104663036107641145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><strong>What is the Sea Lion oil project?</strong></h2><p>Sea Lion is an offshore oil field located about 220 kilometres north of the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina.</p><p>The project is operated by Israel's Navitas Petroleum, which holds a 65 per cent interest, while Britain's Rockhopper Exploration owns the remaining 35 per cent. The companies say they operate under petroleum licences granted by the Falkland Islands government.</p><p>Navitas says the project has received final investment approval and that first oil is planned for March 2028. The first phase involves 11 subsea wells connected to a floating production, storage and offloading vessel.</p><p>The companies have rejected Argentina's position and said their licences were lawfully issued by the Falkland Islands government with UK backing.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uss-dwight-d-eisenhower-mishap-4-sailors-injured-2-aviators-eject-during-aircraft-recovery-1790662951742"><strong>USS Dwight D. Eisenhower mishap: 4 sailors injured, 2 aviators eject during aircraft recovery</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Why Argentina is challenging the project</strong></h2><p>Buenos Aires argues that unilateral development of natural resources in the disputed territory violates UN resolutions calling on Argentina and Britain to avoid actions that could complicate efforts to resolve their sovereignty dispute.</p><p>Milei's government has already taken measures against companies and individuals linked to hydrocarbon activities around the Falklands. The latest move would take the dispute into international arbitration under the Law of the Sea Convention.</p><h2><strong>UK backs Falkland Islanders' right to develop resources</strong></h2><p>Britain maintains that the Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory and supports the islanders' right to develop their natural resources.</p><p>The UK government earlier said that the Falkland Islands have the right to develop hydrocarbons for their own economic benefit and that it fully supports companies conducting lawful business there.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Argentina has escalated its long-running Falklands dispute with the UK, giving London two weeks to halt the Sea Lion oil project or face international arbitration. Javier Milei says the offshore development amounts to unauthorised exploitation of resources claimed by Argentina.

Argentina's President Javier Milei on Monday (Sep 28) threatened to take the United Kingdom to an international tribunal over an offshore oil development near the Falkland Islands, escalating a long-running sovereignty dispute between Buenos Aires and London. Taking to X, Milei said that he had instructed Argentina's Foreign Ministry and government legal teams to begin arbitration proceedings over the Sea Lion project in the North Falkland Basin, which Buenos Aires considers an unlawful exploitation of resources in territory it claims as its own. Argentina's presidency confirmed that the proceedings would be initiated under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. “If within two weeks the United Kingdom does not stop the illegitimate exploitation, we will go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,” Milei wrote on X. Also read | 'Arrogant parasites': Milei blasts UN over Falklands dispute, warns Argentina will ‘take matters into our own hands’

<p>Argentina has escalated its long-running Falklands dispute with the UK, giving London two weeks to halt the Sea Lion oil project or face international arbitration. Javier Milei says the offshore development amounts to unauthorised exploitation of resources claimed by Argentina.</p>

Falklands oil row: Argentina threatens legal action against UK over Sea Lion project, says ‘if within two weeks…’

<p>Four shipboard personnel were injured after a mishap during aircraft recovery operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the Virginia coast on Monday (Sep 28), the US Navy said.</p><p>The incident occurred at around 6:18 pm ET while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was conducting recovery operations, according to the Navy.</p><p>Two aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 had to eject from their aircraft during the incident and were quickly rescued by search-and-rescue personnel, the US Navy revealed. Both were safely returned to the carrier and were undergoing medical evaluation.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/3cNDtGbqgw">https://t.co/3cNDtGbqgw</a></p>&mdash; U.S. Navy (@USNavy) <a href="https://x.com/USNavy/status/2104767894961697171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><strong>What happened?</strong></h2><p>Four other shipboard personnel were injured with "non-life-threatening injuries” and received medical treatment, the Navy said. One sailor was being transported to a hospital in the Norfolk area with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.</p><p>The Navy did not identify the aircraft involved or provide details on what caused the mishap. It also did not immediately release further information about the condition of those injured or the status of the aircraft.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-admits-ai-agent-scaled-the-fence-into-australia-government-system-apologises-we-are-sorry-1790658789423"><strong>OpenAI admits AI agent ‘scaled the fence’ into Australia government system, apologises: ‘We are sorry’</strong></a></p><h2><strong>The carrier was conducting flight operations</strong></h2><p>The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier used for US naval operations around the world.</p><p>According to USNI News, the carrier began early carrier-qualification operations after completing its most recent repair period in July and departed Naval Station Norfolk on the afternoon of September 28.</p><p>The incident occurred as the carrier was conducting aircraft recovery operations, a phase of flight operations in which aircraft return to the carrier and land on its flight deck. The Navy has not indicated whether the mishap affected the carrier's ongoing operations.</p>

A mishap aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia forced two Navy aviators to eject during aircraft recovery operations, while four shipboard personnel were injured. What did the Navy say about what caused the incident? All you need to know.

Four shipboard personnel were injured after a mishap during aircraft recovery operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the Virginia coast on Monday (Sep 28), the US Navy said. The incident occurred at around 6:18 pm ET while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was conducting recovery operations, according to the Navy. Two aviators assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 had to eject from their aircraft during the incident and were quickly rescued by search-and-rescue personnel, the US Navy revealed. Both were safely returned to the carrier and were undergoing medical evaluation.

<p>A mishap aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off Virginia forced two Navy aviators to eject during aircraft recovery operations, while four shipboard personnel were injured. What did the Navy say about what caused the incident? All you need to know.</p>

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