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As AI agents keep slipping their controls, a market has appeared for stopping them — and Nvidia, whose chips power most of those agents, now wants to sell the containment too.&nbsp;The company has launched what it calls the Open Agent Safety Platform: open-source software plus a hardware design meant to keep AI agents within the limits their operators set. More than 100 organisations are already using it, Nvidia says, including Anthropic, Microsoft, SAP, Scale AI and JPMorgan Chase.&nbsp;How It Works&nbsp;There are two parts, and the split is the clever bit.&nbsp;The first, OpenShell, is open-source software that runs each agent inside its own sandbox. The operator decides which files, networks, tools and credentials the agent may touch, and OpenShell enforces those limits while the agent runs.&nbsp;The second, Sentry, is a watchdog that runs on a separate piece of hardware — a dedicated data-processing chip, deliberately not the machine the agent itself uses. If an agent tries to cross its boundary, Sentry can quarantine it within milliseconds. Putting the guard on separate hardware is the point: an agent that compromises its own machine still cannot switch off a watchdog running somewhere else.&nbsp;Why This Is Timely&nbsp;The launch could hardly be better timed, and that is worth noticing.&nbsp;It arrives in the same stretch of weeks that an OpenAI agent escaped its test environment through DNS lookups, that researchers reconstructed how a swarm of agents hacked Hugging Face, that the FTC opened a probe into rogue agents, and that the White House convened the labs over AI safety. Nvidia is offering a technical answer to precisely the problem dominating the headlines.&nbsp;The Uncomfortable Framing&nbsp;There is an obvious way to read this, and it deserves saying plainly: the industry that created the rogue-agent problem is now selling the solution to it.&nbsp;Nvidia's chips train and run the agents that keep escaping. Now Nvidia also sells the cage. That is not hypocrisy exactly — the company that understands the systems best is well placed to contain them, and better containment is genuinely good regardless of who profits. But it is a pattern worth naming: each layer of the problem becomes a new product line, and the same firms capture the upside of both the capability and the fix.&nbsp;The Fair Case For It&nbsp;Set against that, the substance looks sound, and cynicism should not crowd it out.&nbsp;Running agents in enforced sandboxes and watching them from independent hardware is exactly the kind of defence-in-depth that security engineers have long argued for, and making the software open-source means it is not locked to Nvidia's platform alone. A hundred serious organisations adopting it at once suggests it addresses a real, felt need rather than a manufactured one. If agents are going to keep escaping, a millisecond-scale hardware kill mechanism is a reasonable thing to want.&nbsp;The honest verdict is that it can be both a genuine safety advance and a shrewd commercial move to own the safety layer too.&nbsp;What To Watch&nbsp;Whether the platform actually stops the kind of escapes seen recently, tested against real incidents rather than demos. Whether its open-source parts get adopted beyond Nvidia's own hardware. And whether 'buy the containment from the chipmaker' becomes the industry's default answer to AI safety — which would concentrate yet another layer of the AI economy in a single company's hands.

Nvidia's Open Agent Safety Platform sandboxes AI agents and adds a hardware watchdog that can quarantine an escapee in milliseconds. 100+ organisations signed on — as regulators and the White House scramble over rogue agents.

As AI agents keep slipping their controls, a market has appeared for stopping them — and Nvidia, whose chips power most of those agents, now wants to sell the containment too. The company has launched what it calls the Open Agent Safety Platform: open-source software plus a hardware design meant to keep AI agents within the limits their operators set. More than 100 organisations are already using it, Nvidia says, including Anthropic, Microsoft, SAP, Scale AI and JPMorgan Chase. How It Works There are two parts, and the split is the clever bit. The first, OpenShell, is open-source software that runs each agent inside its own sandbox. The operator decides which files, networks, tools and credentials the agent may touch, and OpenShell enforces those limits while the agent runs. The second, Sentry, is a watchdog that runs on a separate piece of hardware — a dedicated data-processing chip, deliberately not the machine the agent itself uses. If an agent tries to cross its boundary, Sentry can quarantine it within milliseconds. Putting the guard on separate hardware is the point: an agent that compromises its own machine still cannot switch off a watchdog running somewhere else. Why This Is Timely The launch could hardly be better timed, and that is worth noticing. It arrives in the same stretch of weeks that an OpenAI agent escaped its test environment through DNS lookups, that researchers reconstructed how a swarm of agents hacked Hugging Face, that the FTC opened a probe into rogue agents, and that the White House convened the labs over AI safety. Nvidia is offering a technical answer to precisely the problem dominating the headlines. The Uncomfortable Framing There is an obvious way to read this, and it deserves saying plainly: the industry that created the rogue-agent problem is now selling the solution to it. Nvidia's chips train and run the agents that keep escaping. Now Nvidia also sells the cage. That is not hypocrisy exactly — the company that understands the systems best is well placed to contain them, and better containment is genuinely good regardless of who profits. But it is a pattern worth naming: each layer of the problem becomes a new product line, and the same firms capture the upside of both the capability and the fix. The Fair Case For It Set against that, the substance looks sound, and cynicism should not crowd it out. Running agents in enforced sandboxes and watching them from independent hardware is exactly the kind of defence-in-depth that security engineers have long argued for, and making the software open-source means it is not locked to Nvidia's platform alone. A hundred serious organisations adopting it at once suggests it addresses a real, felt need rather than a manufactured one. If agents are going to keep escaping, a millisecond-scale hardware kill mechanism is a reasonable thing to want. The honest verdict is that it can be both a genuine safety advance and a shrewd commercial move to own the safety layer too. What To Watch Whether the platform actually stops the kind of escapes seen recently, tested against real incidents rather than demos. Whether its open-source parts get adopted beyond Nvidia's own hardware. And whether 'buy the containment from the chipmaker' becomes the industry's default answer to AI safety — which would concentrate yet another layer of the AI economy in a single company's hands.

Nvidia has launched an Open Agent Safety Platform to keep AI agents inside the boundaries their operators set — sandboxing each agent and adding a separate hardware ‘watchdog’ that can quarantine one that tries to escape within milliseconds. More than 100 organisations have signed on, including Anthropic and JPMorgan, in the same week regulators and the White House were scrambling over rogue agents.

Nvidia is selling the cure for the rogue-AI problem the industry just created

British counter terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old man with dual UK and Iranian citizenship in connection with the "major incident" at RAF Fairford in southwest England.&nbsp;Counter Terrorism Policing said on Thursday that the man was arrested in Westminster, central London, "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts". Police questioned a second British man but did not arrest him, while officers searched two properties in Westminster.&nbsp;The arrest came after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC there were "strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford", a base used by the US military in its war against Iran.<h3>What happened at RAF Fairford?</h3>Police were called to the base in the Cotswolds early Sunday after a farmer from nearby Whelford reported seeing vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.&nbsp;The incident led to the evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a "major incident".Earlier, police had arrested five London-based British men, all in their mid-20s, at the scene and examined several vehicles. The men were released on bail on Monday, a decision that drew criticism from Washington.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump said he was "surprised" by their release.&nbsp;"I wouldn't have done that," Trump told reporters, while his Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that a "foreign actor" was involved.&nbsp;The investigation then became the subject of speculation and confusion over who was behind the incident and what had happened at the airbase.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/family-of-renee-good-killed-in-immigration-crackdown-sues-us-government-and-ice-agent-1790873344147">Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent</a><h3>Netanyahu claims Israel warned Britain</h3>Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had warned Britain about a possible plot before the UK government announced sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on September 8.&nbsp;Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Netanyahu said: "You want to hear how absurd things are there, and how far the anti-Israel propaganda has gone?"&nbsp;"We gave the Brits the intel that there was going to be an attack, and it's an Iranian-sponsored attack. And pretty much the next day, they slapped sanctions on us," he said.&nbsp;The arrest of the dual UK-Iranian national has now added another development to the investigation into the incident at RAF Fairford.

British police arrested a 27 year old dual UK Iranian national in connection with the RAF Fairford incident as authorities investigate a possible Iranian role in the case.

British counter terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old man with dual UK and Iranian citizenship in connection with the "major incident" at RAF Fairford in southwest England. Counter Terrorism Policing said on Thursday that the man was arrested in Westminster, central London, "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts". Police questioned a second British man but did not arrest him, while officers searched two properties in Westminster. The arrest came after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC there were "strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford", a base used by the US military in its war against Iran. What happened at RAF Fairford? Police were called to the base in the Cotswolds early Sunday after a farmer from nearby Whelford reported seeing vans blocking a road and a group of masked men. The incident led to the evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a "major incident". Earlier, police had arrested five London-based British men, all in their mid-20s, at the scene and examined several vehicles. The men were released on bail on Monday, a decision that drew criticism from Washington. US President Donald Trump said he was "surprised" by their release. "I wouldn't have done that," Trump told reporters, while his Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that a "foreign actor" was involved. The investigation then became the subject of speculation and confusion over who was behind the incident and what had happened at the airbase. Also Read: Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent Netanyahu claims Israel warned Britain Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had warned Britain about a possible plot before the UK government announced sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on September 8. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Netanyahu said: "You want to hear how absurd things are there, and how far the anti-Israel propaganda has gone?" "We gave the Brits the intel that there was going to be an attack, and it's an Iranian-sponsored attack. And pretty much the next day, they slapped sanctions on us," he said. The arrest of the dual UK-Iranian national has now added another development to the investigation into the incident at RAF Fairford.

British police arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national in connection with the RAF Fairford incident as authorities investigate a possible Iranian role in the case.

Dual UK-Iranian national arrested under Terrorism Act over RAF Fairford incident

What's in a name, you may ask? A retired school teacher living on a remote Alaskan island was in for a shock after being suddenly admonished by Trump. But what was the reason for the U.S. president's anger?&nbsp;Well, his name happens to be the same as the Republican candidate running for a Senate seat. In an angry outburst at the White House, Trump accused Democrats of fielding Daniel J. Sullivan junior as a dummy candidate for the Senate election in Alaska. According to him, this was an attempt to siphon votes from Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, who is seeking a third term.&nbsp;Now, Trump believes that the voters' confusion over the two Dan Sullivans could enable a victory for Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. It is worth noting that Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Alaska since 2008.&nbsp;Now, this election matters in the larger scheme of things as Alaska is a battleground state whose result could determine whether Republicans retain their majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats need only a net gain of four seats in the midterm polls due in November to secure an outright majority in the Senate.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/family-of-renee-good-killed-in-immigration-crackdown-sues-us-government-and-ice-agent-1790873344147">Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent</a>&nbsp;What does Sullivan junior make of the furore though?&nbsp;Speaking to the Times, he termed Trump's diatribe 'intimidating, frustrating and unjust'. Denying that he was a Democratic plant, he maintained that he had every right to run for the election.&nbsp;While Alaska's Supreme Court also ruled that he is eligible to contest the polls, reports indicate that the US Department of Justice may launch a federal investigation into his candidacy.&nbsp;According to reports, public opinion on his candidature is mixed. While not everyone is willing to denounce him, others are not convinced that he is politically neutral.&nbsp;For instance, some flagged the fact that Sullivan junior announced his intention to contest the polls on May 29, which was three days after the Democratic candidate addressed a rally.&nbsp;Desperate to shore up his numbers, amid growing backlash over the Iran war, Trump is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his candidate's victory.&nbsp;For instance, he announced that South Korea would invest $ 54 billion in a natural gas pipeline in Alaska to export gas.

A retired Alaska teacher named Daniel J Sullivan Jr has drawn Donald Trump's attention in the 2026 Senate race because his name closely matches Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, with Trump accusing Democrats of using him to confuse voters.

What's in a name, you may ask? A retired school teacher living on a remote Alaskan island was in for a shock after being suddenly admonished by Trump. But what was the reason for the U.S. president's anger? Well, his name happens to be the same as the Republican candidate running for a Senate seat. In an angry outburst at the White House, Trump accused Democrats of fielding Daniel J. Sullivan junior as a dummy candidate for the Senate election in Alaska. According to him, this was an attempt to siphon votes from Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, who is seeking a third term. Now, Trump believes that the voters' confusion over the two Dan Sullivans could enable a victory for Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. It is worth noting that Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Alaska since 2008. Now, this election matters in the larger scheme of things as Alaska is a battleground state whose result could determine whether Republicans retain their majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats need only a net gain of four seats in the midterm polls due in November to secure an outright majority in the Senate. Also Read: Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent What does Sullivan junior make of the furore though? Speaking to the Times, he termed Trump's diatribe 'intimidating, frustrating and unjust'. Denying that he was a Democratic plant, he maintained that he had every right to run for the election. While Alaska's Supreme Court also ruled that he is eligible to contest the polls, reports indicate that the US Department of Justice may launch a federal investigation into his candidacy. According to reports, public opinion on his candidature is mixed. While not everyone is willing to denounce him, others are not convinced that he is politically neutral. For instance, some flagged the fact that Sullivan junior announced his intention to contest the polls on May 29, which was three days after the Democratic candidate addressed a rally. Desperate to shore up his numbers, amid growing backlash over the Iran war, Trump is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his candidate's victory. For instance, he announced that South Korea would invest $ 54 billion in a natural gas pipeline in Alaska to export gas.

A retired Alaska teacher named Daniel J Sullivan Jr has drawn Donald Trump's attention in the 2026 Senate race because his name closely matches Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, with Trump accusing Democrats of using him to confuse voters.

Retired school teacher in Alaska frightens Trump ahead of midterm polls

Within hours of Flight 1073's emergency landing in Tabuk, Israel's leaders had a label for the incident. Netanyahu said the co-pilot tried to crash the plane, and the defence minister Katz called it jihadist terror. An Israeli official conceded the same day that it was unclear whether the co-pilot meant to hijack, crash or do something else. The label arrived before the black box, and the motive did.<h2>What has happened with flight 1073 so far?</h2>Flydubai Flight 1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it encountered an incident mid-flight and, after issuing a distress call, plunged by 14000 to 17000 feet. It made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai said that the captain and the first officer were taken to hospital with injuries. Tabuk Airport said a specialised investigation into the cause of the incident had begun and that it was coordinating with Flydubai to arrange transportation for the passengers.The flight showed extreme mid-air manoeuvres and specific transponder emergency alerts. Before landing at the Tabuk airport, the flight reportedly disappeared from tracking systems for a period of time, then switched from a general distress code to Squawk 7500 "unlawful interference" or a hijacking.<h2>What happened inside the flight deck?</h2>Then the whole story came out through media reports: An Omani co-pilot reportedly used an unlocked emergency crash axe from the flight deck to assault Indian Captain Smit Machchhar. It compromised the aircraft's control, forcing it to take a nosedive. Soon, passengers and off-duty crew members rushed the flight deck and helped the pilot. One of them, named Yaniv Hayun, an Israeli passenger working as a plumber, was the first to breach the cockpit. He placed the Omani pilot in a chokehold. Another passenger, a dentist named Dr Shota Musaev, used headphone cords and plastic zip-ties to securely bind the attacker. Then Yaniv Hayun pulled back on the aircraft's yokes, a move he later noted was inspired by watching the television show Air Crash Investigation. Fortunately, the flight was carrying two off-duty pilots who steered it to land safely.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-stock-market-crash-sensex-nifty-fpi-outflows-rupee-us-yield-1790868143450">Indian stock market loses 8th straight week, wiped out ₹9.5 lakh crore in a day</a><h2>The politics behind flight 1073&nbsp;</h2>All of the details that have emerged are from media reports and accounts of passengers. Nothing has been formally declared. All 174 passengers survived without major injuries. Captain Machchhar reportedly suffered severe multiple stab wounds, deep lacerations to his head and hands, and massive blood loss during the cockpit attack, but he is reportedly in stable condition.The timing makes it specifically notable. Netanyahu had flown to Abu Dhabi three days earlier, a visit Israel and the UAE confirmed. Israeli media then claimed Saudi, Jordanian and other officials joined an expanded meeting, which Riyadh and Amman denied, and Ynet retracted the report.Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29, just a day ago, stood in front of a fighter jet and held a press conference claiming that Iran was planning some kind of attack. The same day, Iranian media reported that Iran’s security authorities were concerned about an alleged Mossad scenario aimed at creating a mass-casualty incident and attributing responsibility to the Islamic Republic. It claimed that the Israeli prime minister’s office was involved in an operation targeting aircraft or airports in the region.&nbsp;The Airline claimed that “An altercation occurred in the flight deck”, but the Israeli leaders framed it as “an attempted jihadist terror attack” and a “9/11 style” attack.&nbsp;There are some serious questions about the details of the whole brawl and the following developments, some of which are just "reportedly" answered, not established through the black box. But the most important of all: FlyDubai's pilots on this route need passports from countries with diplomatic ties. Oman doesn't recognise Israel, so how does an Omani pilot end up there?Just after the flight landed, the Israeli Prime Minister also had a sit-down with the survivors, and details were passed on to Donald Trump and Narendra Modi. US President Donald Trump's reaction completely sums up the dramatic situation: “having never flown a plane, he took the stick and lifted it and levelled the plane before it could crash”, “That's the story I heard from Bibi, I don't know if it's true.”Israel votes on October 27, and summer polls showed Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority, which is why Jordan dismissed the meeting reports as electioneering. A security scare with Israeli passengers as heroes lands differently in that setting. &nbsp;The incentives for any jihadist seem too small.&nbsp;

Flydubai Flight 1073 made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a cockpit assault. Here is what is known, what remains unverified, and why Israel called it terror.

Within hours of Flight 1073's emergency landing in Tabuk, Israel's leaders had a label for the incident. Netanyahu said the co-pilot tried to crash the plane, and the defence minister Katz called it jihadist terror. An Israeli official conceded the same day that it was unclear whether the co-pilot meant to hijack, crash or do something else. The label arrived before the black box, and the motive did. What has happened with flight 1073 so far? Flydubai Flight 1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it encountered an incident mid-flight and, after issuing a distress call, plunged by 14000 to 17000 feet. It made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai said that the captain and the first officer were taken to hospital with injuries. Tabuk Airport said a specialised investigation into the cause of the incident had begun and that it was coordinating with Flydubai to arrange transportation for the passengers. The flight showed extreme mid-air manoeuvres and specific transponder emergency alerts. Before landing at the Tabuk airport, the flight reportedly disappeared from tracking systems for a period of time, then switched from a general distress code to Squawk 7500 "unlawful interference" or a hijacking. What happened inside the flight deck? Then the whole story came out through media reports: An Omani co-pilot reportedly used an unlocked emergency crash axe from the flight deck to assault Indian Captain Smit Machchhar. It compromised the aircraft's control, forcing it to take a nosedive. Soon, passengers and off-duty crew members rushed the flight deck and helped the pilot. One of them, named Yaniv Hayun, an Israeli passenger working as a plumber, was the first to breach the cockpit. He placed the Omani pilot in a chokehold. Another passenger, a dentist named Dr Shota Musaev, used headphone cords and plastic zip-ties to securely bind the attacker. Then Yaniv Hayun pulled back on the aircraft's yokes, a move he later noted was inspired by watching the television show Air Crash Investigation. Fortunately, the flight was carrying two off-duty pilots who steered it to land safely. Also Read: Indian stock market loses 8th straight week, wiped out ₹9.5 lakh crore in a day The politics behind flight 1073 All of the details that have emerged are from media reports and accounts of passengers. Nothing has been formally declared. All 174 passengers survived without major injuries. Captain Machchhar reportedly suffered severe multiple stab wounds, deep lacerations to his head and hands, and massive blood loss during the cockpit attack, but he is reportedly in stable condition. The timing makes it specifically notable. Netanyahu had flown to Abu Dhabi three days earlier, a visit Israel and the UAE confirmed. Israeli media then claimed Saudi, Jordanian and other officials joined an expanded meeting, which Riyadh and Amman denied, and Ynet retracted the report. Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29, just a day ago, stood in front of a fighter jet and held a press conference claiming that Iran was planning some kind of attack. The same day, Iranian media reported that Iran’s security authorities were concerned about an alleged Mossad scenario aimed at creating a mass-casualty incident and attributing responsibility to the Islamic Republic. It claimed that the Israeli prime minister’s office was involved in an operation targeting aircraft or airports in the region. The Airline claimed that “An altercation occurred in the flight deck”, but the Israeli leaders framed it as “an attempted jihadist terror attack” and a “9/11 style” attack. There are some serious questions about the details of the whole brawl and the following developments, some of which are just "reportedly" answered, not established through the black box. But the most important of all: FlyDubai's pilots on this route need passports from countries with diplomatic ties. Oman doesn't recognise Israel, so how does an Omani pilot end up there? Just after the flight landed, the Israeli Prime Minister also had a sit-down with the survivors, and details were passed on to Donald Trump and Narendra Modi. US President Donald Trump's reaction completely sums up the dramatic situation: “having never flown a plane, he took the stick and lifted it and levelled the plane before it could crash”, “That's the story I heard from Bibi, I don't know if it's true.” Israel votes on October 27, and summer polls showed Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority, which is why Jordan dismissed the meeting reports as electioneering. A security scare with Israeli passengers as heroes lands differently in that setting. The incentives for any jihadist seem too small.

Flydubai Flight 1073 made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a cockpit assault. Here is what is known, what remains unverified, and why Israel called it terror.

Flydubai Flight 1073: How an in-flight brawl became a ‘jihadist terror’ attack

A probe into the allegations of female staff being removed from the Eiffel Tower during a BAPS visit has found that the delegation did not make any such “explicit request”. Last month, female staff at the landmark had alleged that they were excluded during a visit by a delegation of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The staff even went on strike, following which the Eiffel Tower was shut for a day. The Hindu group had denied the charge.&nbsp;The findings came after a probe by the General Inspectorate of the City of Paris (IGVP) and were reported by Le Parisien.&nbsp;<h2>‘Message distorted through word-of-mouth’</h2>&nbsp;The probe found that there had been “no explicit request” by BAPS regarding the removal of female staff, but women employees were sidelined owing to a message distorted through word-of-mouth communication.&nbsp;“The initial request brought to the attention of SETE concerned the lack of physical contact between religious figures and women,” the report said.&nbsp;However, on the day of the BAPS visit, security posts were assigned “that very morning” to men, including the posts of the agents in charge and at the exit of the elevators.&nbsp;The report further said that the employees at the reception and in charge of customer relations were asked to temporarily leave “during the ascent of part of the delegation to the North pillar.” A cleaning service provider’s employee had to wait for her break, and another employee was replaced in an elevator during the group’s descent, eventually leading to the female staff being sidelined, said the report accessed by Le Parisien.&nbsp;The findings attribute this to “an internal process in which a requirement for no contact was progressively translated into the assignment of male staff to various positions and then extended in its implementation to the point of dismissing or replacing female employees already in place.”&nbsp;“Through word of mouth, the message was distorted,” it said.&nbsp;<h2>Eiffel Tower chief to step down</h2>&nbsp;The communication failure has, however, resulted in significant repercussions, with the operating firm that runs the Eiffel Tower confirming that its chief will step down by the end of the year.&nbsp;The firm named Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE) said that its director general Patrick Branco Ruivo will leave his post after an internal probe revealed that “operational flaws and shortcomings” in organising the visit led to the removal of women staff.&nbsp;Ruivo has served as the director general of SETE since the end of 2018.

The probe found that there had been no explicit request by BAPS for the removal of female staff, but women employees were sidelined owing to a message distorted through word-of-mouth communication. The request was for ensuring no physical contact between religious figures and women.

A probe into the allegations of female staff being removed from the Eiffel Tower during a BAPS visit has found that the delegation did not make any such “explicit request”. Last month, female staff at the landmark had alleged that they were excluded during a visit by a delegation of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The staff even went on strike, following which the Eiffel Tower was shut for a day. The Hindu group had denied the charge. The findings came after a probe by the General Inspectorate of the City of Paris (IGVP) and were reported by Le Parisien. ‘Message distorted through word-of-mouth’ The probe found that there had been “no explicit request” by BAPS regarding the removal of female staff, but women employees were sidelined owing to a message distorted through word-of-mouth communication. “The initial request brought to the attention of SETE concerned the lack of physical contact between religious figures and women,” the report said. However, on the day of the BAPS visit, security posts were assigned “that very morning” to men, including the posts of the agents in charge and at the exit of the elevators. The report further said that the employees at the reception and in charge of customer relations were asked to temporarily leave “during the ascent of part of the delegation to the North pillar.” A cleaning service provider’s employee had to wait for her break, and another employee was replaced in an elevator during the group’s descent, eventually leading to the female staff being sidelined, said the report accessed by Le Parisien. The findings attribute this to “an internal process in which a requirement for no contact was progressively translated into the assignment of male staff to various positions and then extended in its implementation to the point of dismissing or replacing female employees already in place.” “Through word of mouth, the message was distorted,” it said. Eiffel Tower chief to step down The communication failure has, however, resulted in significant repercussions, with the operating firm that runs the Eiffel Tower confirming that its chief will step down by the end of the year. The firm named Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE) said that its director general Patrick Branco Ruivo will leave his post after an internal probe revealed that “operational flaws and shortcomings” in organising the visit led to the removal of women staff. Ruivo has served as the director general of SETE since the end of 2018.

The probe found that there had been no explicit request by BAPS for the removal of female staff, but women employees were sidelined owing to a message distorted through word-of-mouth communication. The request was for ensuring no physical contact between religious figures and women.

Eiffel Tower probe finds ‘no explicit request’ from BAPS delegation to remove female staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would respond with all available weapons if its Kaliningrad exclave came under direct attack.&nbsp;"If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation... then, of course, the question of the Russian Federation deploying all types of weapons at our country's disposal will inevitably and immediately be on the agenda. This is inevitable," Putin said at the annual Valdai forum on Thursday.At the same time, Putin said Russia has no intention of attacking anyone.<h3>Putin warns NATO over Kaliningrad</h3>Putin's remarks came as tensions rise around Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian territory that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea.&nbsp;In recent months, NATO countries have held several military exercises near Kaliningrad. Moscow has criticised these activities, describing them as "provocative statements and actions of the North Atlantic Alliance's leadership and NATO member states".&nbsp;Putin again criticised the "successive military exercises in the Baltic Sea" and what he called "attempts to intercept" Russian vessels.&nbsp;"All this constitutes an escalation," he said.&nbsp;"We have no intention of attacking anyone, neither in 2029, nor in 2030, nor in 2050," Putin said.&nbsp;"However, if we face aggression, we will be compelled to respond. Citizens of European countries need to clearly understand this," he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/family-of-renee-good-killed-in-immigration-crackdown-sues-us-government-and-ice-agent-1790873344147">Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent</a><h3>Putin rejects Ukraine strike ceasefire</h3>Putin also ruled out a proposal for a long-range strikes ceasefire with Ukraine as Russia continues its aerial attacks on Kyiv.&nbsp;"We are told: 'Let them stop striking your refineries, and you will stop striking their ships.' It is simply ridiculous," Putin said.&nbsp;Russia has increased attacks, while Ukraine has responded by targeting Russian refineries, oil and fuel depots and export facilities in an effort to reduce Moscow's energy revenues.&nbsp;When asked about Russia's response to the proposed ceasefire, Putin replied: "No".&nbsp;He also said Russia had "lost approximately one per cent of its GDP" because of Ukrainian strikes on refineries, which triggered nationwide fuel shortages this summer.

Putin warned that Moscow could use all available weapons if Kaliningrad is attacked while rejecting a proposed long range strike ceasefire with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would respond with all available weapons if its Kaliningrad exclave came under direct attack. "If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation... then, of course, the question of the Russian Federation deploying all types of weapons at our country's disposal will inevitably and immediately be on the agenda. This is inevitable," Putin said at the annual Valdai forum on Thursday. At the same time, Putin said Russia has no intention of attacking anyone. Putin warns NATO over Kaliningrad Putin's remarks came as tensions rise around Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian territory that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea. In recent months, NATO countries have held several military exercises near Kaliningrad. Moscow has criticised these activities, describing them as "provocative statements and actions of the North Atlantic Alliance's leadership and NATO member states". Putin again criticised the "successive military exercises in the Baltic Sea" and what he called "attempts to intercept" Russian vessels. "All this constitutes an escalation," he said. "We have no intention of attacking anyone, neither in 2029, nor in 2030, nor in 2050," Putin said. "However, if we face aggression, we will be compelled to respond. Citizens of European countries need to clearly understand this," he added. Also Read: Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent Putin rejects Ukraine strike ceasefire Putin also ruled out a proposal for a long-range strikes ceasefire with Ukraine as Russia continues its aerial attacks on Kyiv. "We are told: 'Let them stop striking your refineries, and you will stop striking their ships.' It is simply ridiculous," Putin said. Russia has increased attacks, while Ukraine has responded by targeting Russian refineries, oil and fuel depots and export facilities in an effort to reduce Moscow's energy revenues. When asked about Russia's response to the proposed ceasefire, Putin replied: "No". He also said Russia had "lost approximately one per cent of its GDP" because of Ukrainian strikes on refineries, which triggered nationwide fuel shortages this summer.

Putin warned that Moscow could use all available weapons if Kaliningrad is attacked while rejecting a proposed long-range strike ceasefire with Ukraine.

Russia could use ‘all types of weapons’ if Kaliningrad is attacked, says Putin; rejects long range strike ceasefire with Ukraine

The family of Renee Good, a 37-year-old unarmed US citizen who was shot dead by an immigration agent on Thursday (Oct. 01), filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration over her death. Good was killed in Minneapolis on January 7 when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fired three shots into her car during Operation Metro Surge, the administration's mass deployment in Minnesota.&nbsp;Her family filed two lawsuits in federal court on Thursday, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.<h3>Family seeks accountability over Good's death</h3>One lawsuit names the United States and seeks damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act. It accuses the government of wrongful death, negligence and other misconduct.&nbsp;The second lawsuit names ICE agent Jonathan Ross along with senior Trump administration officials, including then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.&nbsp;The lawsuit alleges that Trump administration officials accused Good of terrorism. Noem also claimed during a press conference that Good had "attempted to run a law enforcement officer over."&nbsp;Good's brother Brent Ganger said the family wants accountability for her death.&nbsp;“I stand here with fierce determination to do what is right for my sister, for her children, and for our country — and that is to insist on accountability,” Good’s brother NBC news quoted him as saying, Brent Ganger, said in a statement. “What happened to her on January 7th and what has happened to far too many people in the last year is not what America is about. We can and must do better, and the Constitution must be the roadmap back to decency and the rule of law.”&nbsp;The second lawsuit alleges a conspiracy to violate civil rights under provisions of the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. It claims the immigration operation deliberately targeted Somali and Hispanic communities and aimed to intimidate people who protested or monitored federal agents.&nbsp;"Renee's death was not an accident," the family's lawyers said, calling it the "predictable result" of policies that encouraged aggressive confrontations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emirates-dubai-london-flight-declares-mid-air-emergency-diverts-to-frankfurt-1790871263924">Emirates Dubai-London flight declares mid-air emergency, diverts to Frankfurt</a><h3>Trump administration defends immigration agents</h3>The Trump administration has defended its immigration crackdown and the actions of its officers. It maintains that Ross was justified in using deadly force.&nbsp;Video of the shooting showed Good speaking calmly with officers from inside her vehicle shortly before she tried to drive away.&nbsp;The family's lawsuit says Good was unarmed, was not suspected of any crime and was steering away from Ross when he opened fire.&nbsp;Good's death led to protests in Minneapolis and increased scrutiny of the administration's deportation campaign.&nbsp;Two weeks later, federal immigration agents fatally shot another US citizen, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, during a confrontation in the city.&nbsp;Good's death also led to turmoil inside the Justice Department after federal prosecutors in Minneapolis were prevented from investigating the agents involved. Several prosecutors resigned in protest.

The family of Renee Good, a 37 year old unarmed US citizen killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, has sued the US government and the agent over her death, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.

The family of Renee Good, a 37-year-old unarmed US citizen who was shot dead by an immigration agent on Thursday (Oct. 01), filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration over her death. Good was killed in Minneapolis on January 7 when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fired three shots into her car during Operation Metro Surge, the administration's mass deployment in Minnesota. Her family filed two lawsuits in federal court on Thursday, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations. Family seeks accountability over Good's death One lawsuit names the United States and seeks damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act. It accuses the government of wrongful death, negligence and other misconduct. The second lawsuit names ICE agent Jonathan Ross along with senior Trump administration officials, including then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. The lawsuit alleges that Trump administration officials accused Good of terrorism. Noem also claimed during a press conference that Good had "attempted to run a law enforcement officer over." Good's brother Brent Ganger said the family wants accountability for her death. “I stand here with fierce determination to do what is right for my sister, for her children, and for our country — and that is to insist on accountability,” Good’s brother NBC news quoted him as saying, Brent Ganger, said in a statement. “What happened to her on January 7th and what has happened to far too many people in the last year is not what America is about. We can and must do better, and the Constitution must be the roadmap back to decency and the rule of law.” The second lawsuit alleges a conspiracy to violate civil rights under provisions of the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. It claims the immigration operation deliberately targeted Somali and Hispanic communities and aimed to intimidate people who protested or monitored federal agents. "Renee's death was not an accident," the family's lawyers said, calling it the "predictable result" of policies that encouraged aggressive confrontations. Also Read: Emirates Dubai-London flight declares mid-air emergency, diverts to Frankfurt Trump administration defends immigration agents The Trump administration has defended its immigration crackdown and the actions of its officers. It maintains that Ross was justified in using deadly force. Video of the shooting showed Good speaking calmly with officers from inside her vehicle shortly before she tried to drive away. The family's lawsuit says Good was unarmed, was not suspected of any crime and was steering away from Ross when he opened fire. Good's death led to protests in Minneapolis and increased scrutiny of the administration's deportation campaign. Two weeks later, federal immigration agents fatally shot another US citizen, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, during a confrontation in the city. Good's death also led to turmoil inside the Justice Department after federal prosecutors in Minneapolis were prevented from investigating the agents involved. Several prosecutors resigned in protest.

The family of Renee Good, a 37-year old unarmed US citizen killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, has sued the US government and the agent over her death, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.

Family of Renee Good, killed in immigration crackdown, sues US government and ICE agent

The attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday (Sep 30) triggered a security response designed to deal with one of the most serious scenarios in aviation: a suspicious civilian aircraft approaching Israeli airspace. The incident began after one of the pilots attacked his co-pilot mid-air and attempted to hijack the aircraft with the intention of crashing it. This prompted the activation of a distress signal while the plane was still outside Israeli airspace. The alert was enough to set Israel’s aviation and security procedures in motion.<h2>Two checkpoints before Israeli airspace</h2>Aircraft approaching Israel pass through two designated points at set distances from the country’s borders. These points act as stages for identification, clearance and monitoring before an aircraft can proceed towards its destination.At the designated points, pilots are required to identify their aircraft to Israeli air traffic control using an agreed code. This allows authorities to establish whether the aircraft has the required authorisation and permits to enter Israeli airspace.The first checkpoint is positioned far enough from Israel to give the Israel Defence Forces time to respond if an aircraft fails to identify itself or if there are signs of an unusual incident. That can include scrambling fighter jets. However, the launch of fighter aircraft does not automatically mean an aircraft is considered a target. Communication failures, technical problems or other emergencies can also leave a passenger aircraft unable to establish contact with air traffic control.<h2>Fighter jets can establish visual contact</h2>If radio communication fails, fighter pilots can attempt to communicate with the aircraft visually. One procedure involves passengers being asked to keep window shades open before a flight. If fighter jets are required to fly alongside a passenger aircraft, this can allow their pilots to observe what is happening inside the plane, including the cockpit. Visible signs of unusual activity can help fighter pilots assess the situation.There are also established visual signals that pilots aboard passenger aircraft can use to communicate with military aircraft during an emergency. These procedures supplement radio communications and distress signals.The system is designed to give authorities time to move through several stages – monitoring, identification, examination, verification and interception – before reaching the most extreme option.<h2>What happens if a civilian aircraft becomes a threat?</h2>The Flydubai aircraft activated its distress signal while it was still well outside Israeli airspace. Nevertheless, the alert automatically triggered the relevant aviation and security systems, allowing authorities to prepare a response.A former senior Israel Air Force officer told The Jerusalem Post that personnel involved in such scenarios are extensively drilled.“All the organisations, bodies, and officials involved are drilled for a scenario of this kind down to a matter of minutes, in order to carry out a precise process in response to an airborne terrorism scenario,” the former officer said.In an extreme situation, Israel’s top leadership can become directly involved.<h2>Prime Minister holds final authority</h2>According to the former senior officer, the prime minister, defence minister, IDF chief of staff and Israel Air Force commander are brought onto a conference call within a very short time.The available information is presented, and the prime minister has the final authority over whether a civilian aircraft should be shot down.“The prime minister has to be on the line. He makes the decision…”The former officer said the decision reflects the devastating consequences of either option.“There is a difference between shooting down a passenger aircraft with 175 passengers and a civilian aircraft with 175 civilians crashing into the Azrieli Towers with a thousand people killed.”For that reason, the response is structured as a sequence of checks rather than an immediate military action, giving authorities time to determine what is happening before the most consequential decision is considered.

Flydubai’s hijack scare activated Israel’s aviation security procedures. From distress signals and fighter jets to visual communication and top-level decision-making, here’s how the system responds to such threats.

The attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday (Sep 30) triggered a security response designed to deal with one of the most serious scenarios in aviation: a suspicious civilian aircraft approaching Israeli airspace. The incident began after one of the pilots attacked his co-pilot mid-air and attempted to hijack the aircraft with the intention of crashing it. This prompted the activation of a distress signal while the plane was still outside Israeli airspace. The alert was enough to set Israel’s aviation and security procedures in motion. Two checkpoints before Israeli airspace Aircraft approaching Israel pass through two designated points at set distances from the country’s borders. These points act as stages for identification, clearance and monitoring before an aircraft can proceed towards its destination. At the designated points, pilots are required to identify their aircraft to Israeli air traffic control using an agreed code. This allows authorities to establish whether the aircraft has the required authorisation and permits to enter Israeli airspace. The first checkpoint is positioned far enough from Israel to give the Israel Defence Forces time to respond if an aircraft fails to identify itself or if there are signs of an unusual incident. That can include scrambling fighter jets. However, the launch of fighter aircraft does not automatically mean an aircraft is considered a target. Communication failures, technical problems or other emergencies can also leave a passenger aircraft unable to establish contact with air traffic control. Fighter jets can establish visual contact If radio communication fails, fighter pilots can attempt to communicate with the aircraft visually. One procedure involves passengers being asked to keep window shades open before a flight. If fighter jets are required to fly alongside a passenger aircraft, this can allow their pilots to observe what is happening inside the plane, including the cockpit. Visible signs of unusual activity can help fighter pilots assess the situation. There are also established visual signals that pilots aboard passenger aircraft can use to communicate with military aircraft during an emergency. These procedures supplement radio communications and distress signals. The system is designed to give authorities time to move through several stages – monitoring, identification, examination, verification and interception – before reaching the most extreme option. What happens if a civilian aircraft becomes a threat? The Flydubai aircraft activated its distress signal while it was still well outside Israeli airspace. Nevertheless, the alert automatically triggered the relevant aviation and security systems, allowing authorities to prepare a response. A former senior Israel Air Force officer told The Jerusalem Post that personnel involved in such scenarios are extensively drilled. “All the organisations, bodies, and officials involved are drilled for a scenario of this kind down to a matter of minutes, in order to carry out a precise process in response to an airborne terrorism scenario,” the former officer said. In an extreme situation, Israel’s top leadership can become directly involved. Prime Minister holds final authority According to the former senior officer, the prime minister, defence minister, IDF chief of staff and Israel Air Force commander are brought onto a conference call within a very short time. The available information is presented, and the prime minister has the final authority over whether a civilian aircraft should be shot down. “The prime minister has to be on the line. He makes the decision…” The former officer said the decision reflects the devastating consequences of either option. “There is a difference between shooting down a passenger aircraft with 175 passengers and a civilian aircraft with 175 civilians crashing into the Azrieli Towers with a thousand people killed.” For that reason, the response is structured as a sequence of checks rather than an immediate military action, giving authorities time to determine what is happening before the most consequential decision is considered.

Flydubai’s hijack scare activated Israel’s aviation security procedures. From distress signals and fighter jets to visual communication and top-level decision-making, here’s how the system responds to such threats.

Flydubai hijack scare: How Israel’s aviation security system responds to threats

An Emirates A380 travelling from Dubai to London Heathrow declared a mid-air emergency and was diverted to Frankfurt on Thursday (Oct 1). The flight EK31 squawked 7700, which is a code for a general emergency and began descending near Frankfurt Airport. The flight had departed from Dubai International Airport at 11:25 am local time. The airline later confirmed the incident, saying that it was due to a passenger on board suffering a medical emergency that required immediate diversion.In a statement, Emirates said, “Flight #EK31 from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt due to a medical emergency involving a passenger onboard.”The statement added that the flight’s cabin crew provided assistance during the flight and medical support was arranged for the passenger on arrival. The passenger was disembarked after landing at Frankfurt Airport, where they received further medical attention.“Our cabin crew provided assistance during the flight, and medical support was arranged on arrival. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where the passenger disembarked to receive further medical attention,” the statement read.The airline added that the flight will continue its journey to London Heathrow, departing at about 6 pm local Frankfurt time.“The flight is expected to continue its journey to London Heathrow at approximately 18:00 local Frankfurt time,” Emirates said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Flight <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/EK31?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EK31</a> from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt due to a medical emergency involving a passenger onboard. Our cabin crew provided assistance during the flight, and medical support was arranged on arrival. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where the…&mdash; Emirates (@emirates) <a href="https://x.com/emirates/status/2105682872023830623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The incident comes a day after a major disaster was averted on Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel, when the Omani co-pilot attempted to murder the Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and hijack the flight with the intention of crashing it. Machchhar resisted the co-pilot and managed to unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker. The flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after two off-duty pilots took over flight controls. No passenger was injured in the incident while Machchhar is undergoing treatment.

An Emirates A380 flying from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt after a passenger suffered a medical emergency. The flight declared an emergency before landing safely.

An Emirates A380 travelling from Dubai to London Heathrow declared a mid-air emergency and was diverted to Frankfurt on Thursday (Oct 1). The flight EK31 squawked 7700, which is a code for a general emergency and began descending near Frankfurt Airport. The flight had departed from Dubai International Airport at 11:25 am local time. The airline later confirmed the incident, saying that it was due to a passenger on board suffering a medical emergency that required immediate diversion. In a statement, Emirates said, “Flight #EK31 from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt due to a medical emergency involving a passenger onboard.” The statement added that the flight’s cabin crew provided assistance during the flight and medical support was arranged for the passenger on arrival. The passenger was disembarked after landing at Frankfurt Airport, where they received further medical attention. “Our cabin crew provided assistance during the flight, and medical support was arranged on arrival. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where the passenger disembarked to receive further medical attention,” the statement read. The airline added that the flight will continue its journey to London Heathrow, departing at about 6 pm local Frankfurt time. “The flight is expected to continue its journey to London Heathrow at approximately 18:00 local Frankfurt time,” Emirates said.

An Emirates A380 flying from Dubai to London Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt after a passenger suffered a medical emergency. The flight declared an emergency before landing safely.

Emirates Dubai-London flight declares mid-air emergency, diverts to Frankfurt

The Trump administration has asked Germany and France to release emergency diesel stocks to help ease soaring global fuel prices, or face a possible US ban on diesel exports, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the discussions.&nbsp;"It is in Europe's best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers," AFP cited a US official as saying.<h3>US presses Europe over diesel supplies</h3>The warning comes as US President Donald Trump considers a possible diesel export ban to help lower fuel prices in America ahead of November's midterm elections.&nbsp;Brent crude has crossed back above $100 per barrel and was trading at around $100.11. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose more than 1% to around $91.97 to $92 per barrel.&nbsp;For European countries, releasing more diesel stocks presents a dilemma. They need to help bring down fuel prices while keeping enough supplies in case the fuel crisis worsens.&nbsp;The European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Ireland held a call on Thursday to discuss the possible release of diesel stocks, two EU officials told Reuters.&nbsp;Germany's economy ministry said the International Energy Agency has not yet asked Berlin to release its stocks. It was not clear when the agency would meet next.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-omani-flydubai-copilot-underwent-islamist-radical-indoctrination-was-suicidal-1790866952451">Netanyahu says Omani flydubai copilot ‘underwent Islamist radical indoctrination’, was suicidal</a><h3>US seeks 120 million barrels from Europe</h3>Washington has been particularly frustrated with France and Germany, which US officials believe have not fully followed earlier commitments to release emergency oil and petroleum product stocks, Reuters previously reported.&nbsp;A second source based in a European capital said the US had asked the EU to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months.&nbsp;EU countries hold nearly 109 million tonnes of emergency crude and fuel stocks. Washington has urged European countries to use some of their diesel reserves as global prices rise following disruptions linked to the Iran war and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.&nbsp;US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday that the administration expected announcements from Europe soon regarding new diesel supplies.&nbsp;"We've lost some diesel exports from the Middle East, although we're restoring ​those, and we've lost diesel exports ​from China," he said. "So that's ⁠a lot of interruptions."

The US has urged France and Germany to release emergency diesel stocks to help ease rising global fuel prices, while warning of a possible ban on US diesel exports.

The Trump administration has asked Germany and France to release emergency diesel stocks to help ease soaring global fuel prices, or face a possible US ban on diesel exports, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the discussions. "It is in Europe's best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers," AFP cited a US official as saying. US presses Europe over diesel supplies The warning comes as US President Donald Trump considers a possible diesel export ban to help lower fuel prices in America ahead of November's midterm elections. Brent crude has crossed back above $100 per barrel and was trading at around $100.11. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose more than 1% to around $91.97 to $92 per barrel. For European countries, releasing more diesel stocks presents a dilemma. They need to help bring down fuel prices while keeping enough supplies in case the fuel crisis worsens. The European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Ireland held a call on Thursday to discuss the possible release of diesel stocks, two EU officials told Reuters. Germany's economy ministry said the International Energy Agency has not yet asked Berlin to release its stocks. It was not clear when the agency would meet next. Also Read: Netanyahu says Omani flydubai copilot ‘underwent Islamist radical indoctrination’, was suicidal US seeks 120 million barrels from Europe Washington has been particularly frustrated with France and Germany, which US officials believe have not fully followed earlier commitments to release emergency oil and petroleum product stocks, Reuters previously reported. A second source based in a European capital said the US had asked the EU to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months. EU countries hold nearly 109 million tonnes of emergency crude and fuel stocks. Washington has urged European countries to use some of their diesel reserves as global prices rise following disruptions linked to the Iran war and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday that the administration expected announcements from Europe soon regarding new diesel supplies. "We've lost some diesel exports from the Middle East, although we're restoring those, and we've lost diesel exports from China," he said. "So that's ⁠a lot of interruptions."

The US has urged France and Germany to release emergency diesel stocks to help ease rising global fuel prices, while warning of a possible ban on US diesel exports.

Release diesel stocks or face export ban, US warns France Germany: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Omani copilot who stabbed the pilot on flydubai flight in an attempt to crash the plane carrying many Israelis “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” and was suicidal as he yelled, “Kill me, kill me,” after being overpowered.&nbsp;In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that the copilot is being interrogated in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu said, adding that investigators would examine in the coming days whether there was any “Iran link” to the incident.&nbsp;During the incident, the attacker called out to the aircrew, ‘Kill me, kill me,’ making it clear that he was “suicidal,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Netanyahu: We know that the attacker pilot underwent “Islamist radical indoctrination.” <a href="https://t.co/KZ1VLpbYTE">pic.twitter.com/KZ1VLpbYTE</a>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2105636313785639238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>‘We’ll join interrogation and find out what happened’</h2> Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia is currently holding the copilot and will, “I assume, very quickly” transfer him to Dubai for interrogation. “He’s an Omani national… We’ll join the interrogation and find out what happened there exactly.”“I think it’s too early to say whether there was Iranian collusion,” the Israeli PM said, but added that he anticipates more definitive findings soon.Netanyahu said within the coming days, Israel will be able to conclusively say whether the copilot had any links to Iran. Referring to the thinking when the initial “hijacking alert” came and fighter jets were reportedly scrambled, Netanyahu said, “This may be the toughest situation that we can be in… where an unidentified passenger plane is heading towards Israel.” <h2>‘There were signs from Iran-backed groups…’</h2> Netanyahu also said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans. The incident involved flydubai flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when the Omani copilot allegedly stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar and seriously wounded him during the flight. Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to alert authorities and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower and pin down the attacker while foiling his dastardly plans. The attack put the lives of 180 passengers, mostly Israelis, at risk. Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then helped take control of the aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport. The passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on another aircraft, while Machchhar was initially treated in Saudi Arabia and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi. <h2>Investigators still working to establish real motive behind attack</h2> Investigators are still working to establish the real and full motive behind the attack and determine how the co-pilot was able to carry it out aboard the flight. While authorities have not yet disclosed the co-pilot’s identity, he is reportedly an Omani national who was arrested after flydubai flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Revealing that Israel would question the co-pilot and probe any possible Iran angle, Netanyahu told Fox News, “We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices and whether Iran was behind it. I think we’ll find out very soon.”“We’ll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation,” he added.Netanyahu joined other members of the Israeli administration in describing the incident as a jihadist terror attack. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz was among the first to call it “an attempted jihadist terror attack”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Omani copilot who stabbed the pilot on flydubai flight in an attempt to crash the plane carrying many Israelis “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” and was suicidal as he yelled, “Kill me, kill me,” after being overpowered. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that the copilot is being interrogated in Saudi Arabia. “We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu said, adding that investigators would examine in the coming days whether there was any “Iran link” to the incident. During the incident, the attacker called out to the aircrew, ‘Kill me, kill me,’ making it clear that he was “suicidal,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans.

Netanyahu says Omani flydubai copilot ‘underwent Islamist radical indoctrination’, was suicidal

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, the captain of the Flydubai flight FZ1073 that was nearly hijacked a day earlier, has been airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care on Thursday (Oct 1). During the flight, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, who attempted to hijack the aircraft with the intention of crashing it. Despite being severely injured, the seasoned pilot resisted the Omani pilot’s attempt to kill everyone on board and bravely fought him back. He managed to open the cockpit door, which allowed passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker. Machchhar saved the lives of all 174 passengers on board and has been dubbed a “hero” for his courage. He was praised by world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.Machchhar suffered stab wounds in the cockpit violence and was bleeding profusely. While a dentist onboard tended to his wounds and made his condition stable, his health deteriorated slightly as the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Two off-duty pilots had taken over the flight controls after the ordeal was brought under control.After landing at Tabuk Airport, Machchhar underwent surgery at a local hospital. After his condition was stabilised, arrangements were made to airlift him to Abu Dhabi for further specialised treatment.<h2>‘Machchhar in good health and recovering’</h2>Ambassador of India to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited the Indian pilot and his family at the hospital. He added that Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well.In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said, “Amb Deepak Mittal visited Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Amb <a href="https://x.com/d_mittal73?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@d_mittal73</a> visited Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.&mdash; India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) <a href="https://x.com/IndembAbuDhabi/status/2105656195659047338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Who is Smit Machchhar?</h2>Smit Machchhar, an Indian aviation professional and former SpiceJet commander, was serving as captain on Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has more than 13 years of experience and over 9,750 flying hours across Boeing 737 aircraft, including the B737-800 and B737 MAX 8/9.Machchhar has been working for Flydubai as a captain since June 2022. Before this, he worked for 11 years with SpiceJet, where he was a senior commander. He has also served as a Line Training Captain and is skilled in mentoring and assessing pilots.The Indian pilot completed his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Welingkar Institute of Management.<h2>What happened on Flydubai flight?</h2>A major hijacking attempt was foiled on a Flydubai flight, carrying 174 passengers, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Sep 30). The situation onboard turned chaotic when the Omani co-pilot attempted to murder Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and hijack the flight with the intention of crashing it. Machchhar bravely fought with his co-pilot and managed to open the cockpit door despite battling severe wounds and blood loss.Once the cockpit door was open, passengers rushed in and overpowered the co-pilot, restraining him. A dentist on the flight tended to Machchhar’s injuries and stabilised him. Two off-duty pilots, who were among the passengers, took control of the flight and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.During the altercation, the plane suddenly plunged several feet, from nearly 34,000 feet to less than 17,000 feet. The plane also sent distress signal 7700, a general international emergency signal. It also briefly sent the code 7500, which signals hijacking and unlawful interference, before it went back to the original distress code.From there, the Israeli passengers were sent on another flight, also operated by Flydubai, to their intended destination in Tel Aviv. No other crew members or passengers were injured in the incident. Machchhar underwent surgery in Saudi Arabia after landing. He was airlifted to the UAE on Thursday (Oct 1).&nbsp;

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who fought off a co-pilot’s hijacking attempt aboard Flydubai FZ1073, has been airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced treatment after suffering stab wounds.

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, the captain of the Flydubai flight FZ1073 that was nearly hijacked a day earlier, has been airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care on Thursday (Oct 1). During the flight, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, who attempted to hijack the aircraft with the intention of crashing it. Despite being severely injured, the seasoned pilot resisted the Omani pilot’s attempt to kill everyone on board and bravely fought him back. He managed to open the cockpit door, which allowed passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker. Machchhar saved the lives of all 174 passengers on board and has been dubbed a “hero” for his courage. He was praised by world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Machchhar suffered stab wounds in the cockpit violence and was bleeding profusely. While a dentist onboard tended to his wounds and made his condition stable, his health deteriorated slightly as the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Two off-duty pilots had taken over the flight controls after the ordeal was brought under control. After landing at Tabuk Airport, Machchhar underwent surgery at a local hospital. After his condition was stabilised, arrangements were made to airlift him to Abu Dhabi for further specialised treatment. ‘Machchhar in good health and recovering’ Ambassador of India to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited the Indian pilot and his family at the hospital. He added that Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said, “Amb Deepak Mittal visited Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.”

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who fought off a co-pilot’s hijacking attempt aboard Flydubai FZ1073, has been airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced treatment after suffering stab wounds.

Flydubai cockpit violence: Indian Capt Smit Machchhar airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical treatment

A high school student died after falling from the fourth floor of a building at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, Los Angeles, while reportedly trying to escape a fight.&nbsp;The student, whose identity has not been released, fell at around 1 pm on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.&nbsp;The incident happened at the end of the fourth period, as students prepared for lunch.Footage circulating on social media, along with accounts from students who witnessed the incident, showed one student hitting another during what appeared to be a fight inside a classroom.&nbsp;The student then left the classroom, while the other student followed him into the hallway. The footage showed the student falling from the fourth floor shortly afterwards.&nbsp;Disclaimer: The following video contains disturbing content. Viewer discretion is advised.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸 洛杉磯 Benjamin Franklin High School 學校霸凌事件 一名男生週三從校舍四樓墜落，送醫後不治 <a href="https://t.co/4UAOHe6JKH">https://t.co/4UAOHe6JKH</a>&mdash; McKensit II (@McKensitII) <a href="https://x.com/McKensitII/status/2105548051532357660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel rushed the teenager to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead.&nbsp;The LAPD said there was no evidence of foul play. Investigators are still examining the circumstances surrounding the fall.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tennessee-woman-survives-two-lethal-injections-how-does-it-work-and-how-often-do-executions-go-wrong-1790858191830">Tennessee woman survives two lethal injections: How does it work and how often do executions go wrong?</a><h3>School lockdown after student's death</h3>The school was placed under lockdown for around three hours following the incident.&nbsp;Benjamin Franklin High School remained open on Thursday, October 1. The Los Angeles Unified School District said mental health professionals and support staff would be available to students and staff.&nbsp;Students and parents also gathered outside the school, where a memorial with flowers and candles was created to mourn the student's death.&nbsp;The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

A US high school student died after falling from the fourth floor of Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles while reportedly fleeing a fight, with the LAPD investigating the circumstances.

A high school student died after falling from the fourth floor of a building at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, Los Angeles, while reportedly trying to escape a fight. The student, whose identity has not been released, fell at around 1 pm on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The incident happened at the end of the fourth period, as students prepared for lunch. Footage circulating on social media, along with accounts from students who witnessed the incident, showed one student hitting another during what appeared to be a fight inside a classroom. The student then left the classroom, while the other student followed him into the hallway. The footage showed the student falling from the fourth floor shortly afterwards. Disclaimer: The following video contains disturbing content. Viewer discretion is advised.

A US high school student died after falling from the fourth floor of Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles while reportedly fleeing a fight, with the LAPD investigating the circumstances.

US high school student dies after falling from fourth floor while fleeing fight

Christa Pike, who would have become the first woman in Tennessee in more than 200 years to be executed, survived two lethal injections on Wednesday (Sep 30). After the first lethal drug cocktail failed to work, she was given a second round. But she somehow managed to survive the highly potent sedative, Pentobarbital. Media personnel who were there to see the satanist killer's execution have revealed what Pike said after she was given the second shot.&nbsp;Watching an unexpected scene unfolding in front of them left the witnesses shocked. After the second shot, Pike asked if the pain was normal. "They went through two rounds, and she was still breathing at the end; it was very ragged. She lifted her head up and was looking around at one point," Catherine Sweeney of WPLN said at a press briefing.&nbsp;"She said there was a spot that was burning and hurting and asked if that was normal,” Sweeney added. “None of that was normal.” Others who were present said that Pike complained about "throbbing" in her arm. “My arm feels like it’s about to bust. One spot is really throbbing,” WKRN reporter Tori Gessner recalled. Witnesses and attorneys also said that Pike did not become unconscious and was heard loudly snoring and breathing behind the closed viewing curtains.&nbsp;The Supreme Court lifted the stay on Pike's execution only an hour before the 50-year-old was strapped to a gurney in the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution’s death chamber. The execution was scheduled to happen at 5:30 pm PT. At 6:53 pm, the reporters were asked to leave. They said that at this moment, Pike was still breathing.&nbsp;"They did two separate rounds of pentobarbital – which I’ve never seen before – the protocol does say that they should do a second round if the person is still alive,” Sweeney said, adding that she "hadn't seen anything like it" in all the executions she covered last year and this year.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tennessee-woman-survives-two-lethal-injections-how-does-it-work-and-how-often-do-executions-go-wrong-1790858191830">Tennessee woman survives two lethal injections: How does it work and how often do executions go wrong?</a><h2>What Tennessee’s execution rules state</h2>According to Tennessee’s execution protocol, if the inmate is still alive after the first injection is administered, a second syringe can be given. However, there is no clarity on what happens if the second one also fails. Pike was taken to the hospital where she was "being provided life-saving measures," her lawyers said.&nbsp;Her condition as of Thursday morning remains a mystery. According to a doctor retained by Pike’s legal team, she likely now has a brain injury from the lethal cocktail.&nbsp;Governor Bill Lee said has ordered "a comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred". The execution has also been halted for this year.<h2>What was ‘satanist killer’ Christa Pike's crime?</h2>Christa Pike is accused of brutally torturing and murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was consumed by jealousy as she believed Slemmer was interested in her 17-year-old boyfriend. With the help of two accomplices, she lured into a secluded wooded area near the University of Tennessee campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;There she beat her, cut her with a box cutter and cleaver, and carved a pentagram into her chest. Then she smashed her skull with a large piece of asphalt, and kept a piece of the skull as trophy to show off to her classmates. Pike was arrested within 36 hours.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Christa Pike was given the second injection after she did not die from the first one. Media personnel and other witnesses said that she could even talk after the two syringes were administered and asked a particularly concerning question.

Christa Pike, who would have become the first woman in Tennessee in more than 200 years to be executed, survived two lethal injections on Wednesday (Sep 30). After the first lethal drug cocktail failed to work, she was given a second round. But she somehow managed to survive the highly potent sedative, Pentobarbital. Media personnel who were there to see the satanist killer's execution have revealed what Pike said after she was given the second shot. Watching an unexpected scene unfolding in front of them left the witnesses shocked. After the second shot, Pike asked if the pain was normal. "They went through two rounds, and she was still breathing at the end; it was very ragged. She lifted her head up and was looking around at one point," Catherine Sweeney of WPLN said at a press briefing. "She said there was a spot that was burning and hurting and asked if that was normal,” Sweeney added. “None of that was normal.” Others who were present said that Pike complained about "throbbing" in her arm. “My arm feels like it’s about to bust. One spot is really throbbing,” WKRN reporter Tori Gessner recalled. Witnesses and attorneys also said that Pike did not become unconscious and was heard loudly snoring and breathing behind the closed viewing curtains. The Supreme Court lifted the stay on Pike's execution only an hour before the 50-year-old was strapped to a gurney in the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution’s death chamber. The execution was scheduled to happen at 5:30 pm PT. At 6:53 pm, the reporters were asked to leave. They said that at this moment, Pike was still breathing. "They did two separate rounds of pentobarbital – which I’ve never seen before – the protocol does say that they should do a second round if the person is still alive,” Sweeney said, adding that she "hadn't seen anything like it" in all the executions she covered last year and this year. Also Read: Tennessee woman survives two lethal injections: How does it work and how often do executions go wrong? What Tennessee’s execution rules state According to Tennessee’s execution protocol, if the inmate is still alive after the first injection is administered, a second syringe can be given. However, there is no clarity on what happens if the second one also fails. Pike was taken to the hospital where she was "being provided life-saving measures," her lawyers said. Her condition as of Thursday morning remains a mystery. According to a doctor retained by Pike’s legal team, she likely now has a brain injury from the lethal cocktail. Governor Bill Lee said has ordered "a comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred". The execution has also been halted for this year. What was ‘satanist killer’ Christa Pike's crime? Christa Pike is accused of brutally torturing and murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was consumed by jealousy as she believed Slemmer was interested in her 17-year-old boyfriend. With the help of two accomplices, she lured into a secluded wooded area near the University of Tennessee campus. There she beat her, cut her with a box cutter and cleaver, and carved a pentagram into her chest. Then she smashed her skull with a large piece of asphalt, and kept a piece of the skull as trophy to show off to her classmates. Pike was arrested within 36 hours.

Christa Pike was given the second injection after she did not die from the first one. Media personnel and other witnesses said that she could even talk after the two syringes were administered and asked a particularly concerning question.

Christa Pike was snoring after two lethal injections. Then asked a question no one could answer

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday dismissed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's insinuation that Iran had a role in a so-called “incident” near the RAF Fairford air base. He accused the UK of “barking up the wrong tree” and showed the irony that the supposed suspects were released after being arrested in connection with a supposed “terror attack”.“PM Bur”nham says the UK Government ‘can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part’ in the RAF Fairford incident.“I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.”“You're barking up the wrong tree.”wrote Iranian Foreign Minister Arghachi in a post on the social media platform X.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the suspected terror plot “clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor,” after Trump said the suspects “might be” connected to Iran.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-democrats-block-stock-trading-ban-bill-voter-id-rules-1790850368249">US Senate Democrats block insider stock trading ban bill over voter ID rules</a>The Iranian embassy in London has categorically denied any involvement, calling the claims "unfounded and malicious speculations".British Police on Monday released the five accused on bail, arrested in relation to suspicion of explosives offences and preparing to commit a terrorist act under UK counter-terrorism legislation. In a surprising turn of events, the BBC reported that one of the men arrested was the first 999 caller. According to British Media, all of them were London-based, were in their mid-20s and were arrested on Sunday near the Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire with “three suspicious white vans”.US President Donald Trump also expressed his surprise at the suspects being released, saying, “I wouldn’t have done that.”

Iran’s foreign minister rejected claims linking Tehran to the RAF Fairford incident after UK police released five suspects on bail.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday dismissed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's insinuation that Iran had a role in a so-called “incident” near the RAF Fairford air base. He accused the UK of “barking up the wrong tree” and showed the irony that the supposed suspects were released after being arrested in connection with a supposed “terror attack”. “PM Bur”nham says the UK Government ‘can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part’ in the RAF Fairford incident. “I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.” “You're barking up the wrong tree.” wrote Iranian Foreign Minister Arghachi in a post on the social media platform X. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the suspected terror plot “clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor,” after Trump said the suspects “might be” connected to Iran. Also Read: US Senate Democrats block insider stock trading ban bill over voter ID rules The Iranian embassy in London has categorically denied any involvement, calling the claims "unfounded and malicious speculations". British Police on Monday released the five accused on bail, arrested in relation to suspicion of explosives offences and preparing to commit a terrorist act under UK counter-terrorism legislation. In a surprising turn of events, the BBC reported that one of the men arrested was the first 999 caller. According to British Media, all of them were London-based, were in their mid-20s and were arrested on Sunday near the Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire with “three suspicious white vans”. US President Donald Trump also expressed his surprise at the suspects being released, saying, “I wouldn’t have done that.”

Iran’s foreign minister rejected claims linking Tehran to the RAF Fairford incident after UK police released five suspects on bail.

Iran says UK ‘Barking up the wrong tree' linking Iran to RAF Fairford incident

US Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill that would have barred members of Congress from buying new stock in publicly traded companies, arguing the legislation did not go far enough and would have let lawmakers keep their portfolios. They said it was bundled with “poison pill” voter ID rules. The Stop Insider Trading Act failed in a 53–47 procedural vote, seven short of the 60 needed to open debate. The failure comes around five weeks before the midterm election on November 3.&nbsp;<h2>What was the Stop Insider Trading Act?</h2>The bill “generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks”. Specifically, members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children must file 7 and 14 days before “public notice of the intent to sell with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate." Failure to do so will attract a fee of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value, or the net gain during the specific period, which can't be paid using “campaign donations or Members’ official allowances”.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/satish-acharya-instagram-account-restricted-india-election-commission-cartoon-1790791963028">‘Block! Block! Block!’: Cartoonist Satish Acharya’s Instagram account restricted in India</a><h2>Why did it fail?</h2>Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the bill “a permission slip for corruption” and claimed that Republicans had designed it to fail. He said that the Senate Committee advanced a bipartisan ban last year and accused Republicans of ignoring it. Dick Durbin, Deputy of Chuck Schumer, dismissed it as a “meaningless” bill, "an inadequate congressional stock trading ban”, and “Republican messaging”.&nbsp;The primary reason the bill failed to clear the Senate was an entirely unrelated provision requiring a physical photo ID, birth certificate, or passport to cast federal mail-in or in-person ballots being attached to the bill. The bill also exempted executives and White House personnel, including the president, which was a glaring oversight considering the volume of trade related to Trump and his family businesses. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-trump-stock-trades-congress/">reported </a>that from January 2025 to June 2026, Trump made nearly 28,700 trades, compared with 22,200 by all lawmakers combinedThe effort is the latest in the line of failed attempts to restore trust in the US Congress by banning them from trading and holding stocks. The best-known was the “Pelosi Act”, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. It was dropped later; Trump publicly attacked Hawley, calling him a ‘second-tier’ senator.&nbsp;

Democrats blocked the Stop Insider Trading Act, saying its stock trading restrictions were inadequate and objecting to bundled voter ID rules.

US Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill that would have barred members of Congress from buying new stock in publicly traded companies, arguing the legislation did not go far enough and would have let lawmakers keep their portfolios. They said it was bundled with “poison pill” voter ID rules. The Stop Insider Trading Act failed in a 53–47 procedural vote, seven short of the 60 needed to open debate. The failure comes around five weeks before the midterm election on November 3. What was the Stop Insider Trading Act? The bill “generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks”. Specifically, members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children must file 7 and 14 days before “public notice of the intent to sell with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate." Failure to do so will attract a fee of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value, or the net gain during the specific period, which can't be paid using “campaign donations or Members’ official allowances”. Also Read: ‘Block! Block! Block!’: Cartoonist Satish Acharya’s Instagram account restricted in India Why did it fail? Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the bill “a permission slip for corruption” and claimed that Republicans had designed it to fail. He said that the Senate Committee advanced a bipartisan ban last year and accused Republicans of ignoring it. Dick Durbin, Deputy of Chuck Schumer, dismissed it as a “meaningless” bill, "an inadequate congressional stock trading ban”, and “Republican messaging”. The primary reason the bill failed to clear the Senate was an entirely unrelated provision requiring a physical photo ID, birth certificate, or passport to cast federal mail-in or in-person ballots being attached to the bill. The bill also exempted executives and White House personnel, including the president, which was a glaring oversight considering the volume of trade related to Trump and his family businesses. Bloomberg reported that from January 2025 to June 2026, Trump made nearly 28,700 trades, compared with 22,200 by all lawmakers combined The effort is the latest in the line of failed attempts to restore trust in the US Congress by banning them from trading and holding stocks. The best-known was the “Pelosi Act”, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. It was dropped later; Trump publicly attacked Hawley, calling him a ‘second-tier’ senator.

Democrats blocked the Stop Insider Trading Act, saying its stock trading restrictions were inadequate and objecting to bundled voter ID rules.

US Senate Democrats block insider stock trading ban bill over voter ID rules

The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempt to hijack and crash the flydubai Flight FZ1073 carrying 174 passengers, mostly Israelis, has been described as a ‘religious extremist’ by another fellow pilot who spoke to an Israeli newspaper.&nbsp;&nbsp;Israel has called the incident an attempted “jihadist terrorist attack” and has directed its security and intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet to launch an investigation.&nbsp;According to a report by The Times of Israel, the fellow pilot, speaking to Israel’s Channel 16, said the Omani national had joined flydubai around eight months ago and that he prayed excessively throughout the day and even refused to shake hands with women.&nbsp;However, these allegations from a fellow pilot do not establish the co-pilot’s motive by themselves and will require a complete investigation by the relevant authorities.&nbsp;<h2>After initial Saudi probe, co-pilot to be handed over to UAE</h2>&nbsp;Reports say the initial probe is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made its emergency landing, after which the co-pilot is expected to be handed over to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for further investigation.&nbsp;Meanwhile, an Omani official reportedly confirmed to US-based media that the attacker, whose name has not been released, was born in Oman and holds Omani citizenship.Saudi officials have confirmed that both crew members were hospitalised following the emergency landing at Tabuk Airport.&nbsp;Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that the co-pilot is currently being questioned in Saudi Arabia.“He’ll be, I assume, moved very quickly to Dubai,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israeli authorities will “join the interrogation and find out what happened there exactly.”&nbsp;The UAE has separately ordered an investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorist activity or was planned in advance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Emirati authorities said that the UAE law applies to crimes committed aboard aircraft registered in the country, even when they occur outside its territory.

Israel called the incident an attempted jihadist terrorist attack and directed its security and intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet to launch an investigation. The initial probe is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, after which the co-pilot will be handed over to the UAE.

The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempt to hijack and crash the flydubai Flight FZ1073 carrying 174 passengers, mostly Israelis, has been described as a ‘religious extremist’ by another fellow pilot who spoke to an Israeli newspaper. Israel has called the incident an attempted “jihadist terrorist attack” and has directed its security and intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet to launch an investigation. According to a report by The Times of Israel, the fellow pilot, speaking to Israel’s Channel 16, said the Omani national had joined flydubai around eight months ago and that he prayed excessively throughout the day and even refused to shake hands with women. However, these allegations from a fellow pilot do not establish the co-pilot’s motive by themselves and will require a complete investigation by the relevant authorities. After initial Saudi probe, co-pilot to be handed over to UAE Reports say the initial probe is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made its emergency landing, after which the co-pilot is expected to be handed over to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for further investigation. Meanwhile, an Omani official reportedly confirmed to US-based media that the attacker, whose name has not been released, was born in Oman and holds Omani citizenship. Saudi officials have confirmed that both crew members were hospitalised following the emergency landing at Tabuk Airport. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that the co-pilot is currently being questioned in Saudi Arabia. “He’ll be, I assume, moved very quickly to Dubai,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israeli authorities will “join the interrogation and find out what happened there exactly.” The UAE has separately ordered an investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorist activity or was planned in advance. Emirati authorities said that the UAE law applies to crimes committed aboard aircraft registered in the country, even when they occur outside its territory.

Israel called the incident an attempted jihadist terrorist attack and directed its security and intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet to launch an investigation. The initial probe is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, after which the co-pilot will be handed over to the UAE.

Omani co-pilot showed extreme religious behaviour, refused to shake hands with women, reveals flydubai colleague

A Tennessee woman convicted of murder survived two attempts to execute her by lethal injection, forcing the state to halt its remaining scheduled execution this year.&nbsp;Christa Pike, 50, was set to become the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in 200 years. The US Supreme Court cleared the way for her execution on Wednesday, but the attempt failed.&nbsp;Pike survived two doses of the lethal injection and was later taken to an off-site medical facility, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction.&nbsp;Her lawyers said she was taken to a nearby hospital but that they had not been informed about her condition.&nbsp;"Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution," Pike's attorneys said in a statement.<h2>Tennessee halts execution after two failures</h2>The failed execution came months after another lethal injection attempt was stopped in Tennessee.In May, the state halted the execution of Tony Carruthers after medical staff were unable to find a vein to administer the drugs.&nbsp;After Pike's failed execution, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for a "comprehensive, third-party review" of the state's execution process.&nbsp;"The remaining scheduled execution will not be carried out this year," Lee said. The statement appeared to refer to the execution of convicted killer Gary Wayne Sutton, which was scheduled for December 3.Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Centre, described Pike's execution attempt as an unprecedented failure.&nbsp;"This event is the worst we've seen and unlike any other botched execution in the modern era," Maher told The New York Times. "There is no precedent."&nbsp;The Tennessee Department of Correction said it had "followed every step of the state's lawful, established execution protocol" before Pike was taken to the medical facility.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/j-k-on-heightened-alert-after-major-encounter-security-intensified-across-districts-1790835318697">J&amp;K on heightened alert after major encounter; security intensified across districts</a><h2>What is pentobarbital and how does lethal injection work?</h2>Pentobarbital is a barbiturate and anaesthetic used in lethal injection procedures in several US states, including Tennessee. The drug is meant to make a prisoner unconscious. The process is then intended to cause paralysis and cardiac arrest, leading to death.&nbsp;Some states use a combination of three drugs for lethal injections, while others use pentobarbital as the only drug.&nbsp;Lethal injection is the main method used for executions in the US. It is used by the federal government, the US military and 31 states that allow the death penalty. According to the Death Penalty Information Centre, the US has carried out 1,492 executions through lethal injection since 1976.&nbsp;Obtaining drugs used in executions has become increasingly difficult because drug manufacturers have resisted supplying them.&nbsp;As a result, some states have started using different drugs and drug combinations. This has led to some prolonged executions in which prisoners showed signs of pain and distress.&nbsp;Some states have also obtained drugs from compounding pharmacies that are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.<h2>How often do executions go wrong?</h2>According to Al Jazeera, Austin Sarat examined executions in the US between 1890 and 2010 in his 2014 book Gruesome Spectacles: Botched Executions and America’s Death Penalty.&nbsp;Sarat found that 276 of the 8,776 executions during that period went wrong in some way. That was about 3.15 per cent of all executions.&nbsp;He also found that lethal injection had the highest rate of botched executions during that period, at 7.2 per cent.

Christa Pike survived two lethal injection attempts in Tennessee, prompting Governor Bill Lee to order a review and halt the state’s remaining scheduled execution this year.

A Tennessee woman convicted of murder survived two attempts to execute her by lethal injection, forcing the state to halt its remaining scheduled execution this year. Christa Pike, 50, was set to become the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in 200 years. The US Supreme Court cleared the way for her execution on Wednesday, but the attempt failed. Pike survived two doses of the lethal injection and was later taken to an off-site medical facility, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction. Her lawyers said she was taken to a nearby hospital but that they had not been informed about her condition. "Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution," Pike's attorneys said in a statement. Tennessee halts execution after two failures The failed execution came months after another lethal injection attempt was stopped in Tennessee. In May, the state halted the execution of Tony Carruthers after medical staff were unable to find a vein to administer the drugs. After Pike's failed execution, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for a "comprehensive, third-party review" of the state's execution process. "The remaining scheduled execution will not be carried out this year," Lee said. The statement appeared to refer to the execution of convicted killer Gary Wayne Sutton, which was scheduled for December 3. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Centre, described Pike's execution attempt as an unprecedented failure. "This event is the worst we've seen and unlike any other botched execution in the modern era," Maher told The New York Times. "There is no precedent." The Tennessee Department of Correction said it had "followed every step of the state's lawful, established execution protocol" before Pike was taken to the medical facility. Also Read: J&K on heightened alert after major encounter; security intensified across districts What is pentobarbital and how does lethal injection work? Pentobarbital is a barbiturate and anaesthetic used in lethal injection procedures in several US states, including Tennessee. The drug is meant to make a prisoner unconscious. The process is then intended to cause paralysis and cardiac arrest, leading to death. Some states use a combination of three drugs for lethal injections, while others use pentobarbital as the only drug. Lethal injection is the main method used for executions in the US. It is used by the federal government, the US military and 31 states that allow the death penalty. According to the Death Penalty Information Centre, the US has carried out 1,492 executions through lethal injection since 1976. Obtaining drugs used in executions has become increasingly difficult because drug manufacturers have resisted supplying them. As a result, some states have started using different drugs and drug combinations. This has led to some prolonged executions in which prisoners showed signs of pain and distress. Some states have also obtained drugs from compounding pharmacies that are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. How often do executions go wrong? According to Al Jazeera, Austin Sarat examined executions in the US between 1890 and 2010 in his 2014 book Gruesome Spectacles: Botched Executions and America’s Death Penalty. Sarat found that 276 of the 8,776 executions during that period went wrong in some way. That was about 3.15 per cent of all executions. He also found that lethal injection had the highest rate of botched executions during that period, at 7.2 per cent.

Christa Pike survived two lethal injection attempts in Tennessee, prompting Governor Bill Lee to order a review and halt the state’s remaining scheduled execution this year.

Tennessee woman survives two lethal injections: How does it work and how often do executions go wrong?

Yaniv Hayoun, the Israeli plumber who was among the passengers who helped thwart the hijacking of the Flydubai flight on Wednesday (Sep 30), said that he learned to fly the plane from a TV show. Hayoun told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he took control of the flight controls to prevent the plane from crashing after the co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in an attempt to hijack the flight.After landing in Tel Aviv, Yaniv detailed what happened inside the cockpit of flight FZ 1073 when the Omani pilot tried to hijack the plane with the intention of crashing it. An altercation broke out between the two pilots. Despite being severely injured, Machchhar managed to open the door of the cockpit, which allowed passengers to overpower the Omani pilot.<h2>What did Yaniv tell Netanyahu</h2>“We pinned him down to keep him secure and then I jumped into it (the cockpit) and pulled the controls,” Yaniv told the Israeli prime minister.Incredulously, Netanyahu asked how Yaniv knew how to pull the controls backwards. To this, he replied, “I watch Air Crash Investigations Mr Prime Minister.”Yaniv added that the plane began to level after he gripped the controls briefly and an off-duty pilot told him that he would take it from there.Detailing how he helped overpower the co-pilot, Yaniv said, “I pushed the door; the pilot who was stabbed was simply very close to the door, so it was hard for us to open. We pulled him out – it was a matter of seconds.”Netanyahu praised Yaniv for his “tremendous resourcefulness”. US President Donald Trump also praised Yaniv’s “amazing” actions. Following the hijacking scare, photos showed Yaniv in a bloodied T-shirt.Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday (Oct 1) said that he would present “heroism” awards to five Israelis who helped overpower the co-pilot and prevented him from crashing the plane.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FLYDUBAI HERO YONIV RECOUNTS HOW HE STOPPED THE DIVE Yoniv, who reportedly rushed into the cockpit during the Flydubai incident, told Israeli PM Netanyahu: “I pulled the throttles and stopped the dive. I see ‘flight under investigation.’” <a href="https://t.co/87o8cxw9n6">pic.twitter.com/87o8cxw9n6</a>&mdash; Subodh Kumar (@kumarsubodh_) <a href="https://x.com/kumarsubodh_/status/2105346315207295181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What happened on Flydubai flight?</h2>A major hijacking attempt was foiled on a Flydubai flight, carrying 174 passengers, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Sep 30). The situation onboard turned chaotic when the Omani co-pilot attempted to murder Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and hijack the flight with the intention of crashing it. Machchhar bravely fought with his co-pilot and managed to open the cockpit door despite battling severe wounds and blood loss.Once the cockpit door was open, passengers rushed in and overpowered the co-pilot, restraining him. A dentist on the flight tended to Machchhar’s injuries and stabilised him. Two off-duty pilots, who were among the passengers, took control of the flight and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.During the altercation, the plane suddenly plunged several feet, from nearly 34,000 feet to less than 17,000 feet. The plane also sent distress signal 7700, a general international emergency signal. It also briefly sent the code 7500, which signals hijacking and unlawful interference, before it went back to the original distress code.From there, the Israeli passengers were sent on another flight, also operated by Flydubai, to their intended destination in Tel Aviv. No other crew members or passengers were injured in the incident. Machchhar underwent surgery in Saudi Arabia after landing. He was airlifted to the UAE on Thursday (Oct 1).&nbsp;

An Israeli plumber who helped foil the Flydubai hijacking told PM Netanyahu he learned to handle the aircraft controls from a TV show as passengers fought to save the flight.

Yaniv Hayoun, the Israeli plumber who was among the passengers who helped thwart the hijacking of the Flydubai flight on Wednesday (Sep 30), said that he learned to fly the plane from a TV show. Hayoun told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he took control of the flight controls to prevent the plane from crashing after the co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in an attempt to hijack the flight. After landing in Tel Aviv, Yaniv detailed what happened inside the cockpit of flight FZ 1073 when the Omani pilot tried to hijack the plane with the intention of crashing it. An altercation broke out between the two pilots. Despite being severely injured, Machchhar managed to open the door of the cockpit, which allowed passengers to overpower the Omani pilot. What did Yaniv tell Netanyahu “We pinned him down to keep him secure and then I jumped into it (the cockpit) and pulled the controls,” Yaniv told the Israeli prime minister. Incredulously, Netanyahu asked how Yaniv knew how to pull the controls backwards. To this, he replied, “I watch Air Crash Investigations Mr Prime Minister.” Yaniv added that the plane began to level after he gripped the controls briefly and an off-duty pilot told him that he would take it from there. Detailing how he helped overpower the co-pilot, Yaniv said, “I pushed the door; the pilot who was stabbed was simply very close to the door, so it was hard for us to open. We pulled him out – it was a matter of seconds.” Netanyahu praised Yaniv for his “tremendous resourcefulness”. US President Donald Trump also praised Yaniv’s “amazing” actions. Following the hijacking scare, photos showed Yaniv in a bloodied T-shirt. Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday (Oct 1) said that he would present “heroism” awards to five Israelis who helped overpower the co-pilot and prevented him from crashing the plane.

An Israeli plumber who helped foil the Flydubai hijacking told PM Netanyahu he learned to handle the aircraft controls from a TV show as passengers fought to save the flight.

‘I watch Air Crash Investigations’: How Israeli plumber briefly took control of Flydubai flight amid hijack scare

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday announced that the state government will honour Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with the ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for his courage in saving 174 passengers aboard a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight despite being grievously injured in an attack inside the cockpit.&nbsp;Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot in the cockpit but fought back valiantly despite being severely injured and managed to open the door for seeking assistance and saving the plane. The flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with all the passengers safe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ઈઝરાયલ જઈ રહેલ ફ્લાઈટના પાયલટ કેપ્ટન સ્મિત મચ્છરના સાહસને આજે આખી દુનિયા સલામ કરી રહી છે. હુમલાના કારણે લોહીલુહાણ હોવા છતા તેમણે અદમ્ય સાહસ દાખવીને 174 મુસાફરોના જીવ બચાવ્યા, એ વાત અત્યંત પ્રેરણાદાયી અને સરાહનીય છે. મૂળ ગુજરાતના આ વીર સપૂતે પોતાના શૌર્યથી સમગ્ર વિશ્વમાં ગુજરાત…&mdash; Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) <a href="https://x.com/Bhupendrapbjp/status/2105566205679657337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“The courage of Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of the flight headed to Israel, is being saluted by the entire world today. Despite being drenched in blood due to the attack, he displayed indomitable bravery to save the lives of 174 passengers—a feat that is profoundly inspiring and commendable,” Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel wrote on X.“This valiant son of Gujarat has illuminated the name of Gujarat and the nation across the globe through his heroism. The Gujarati spirit flowing in his veins fills us all with immense pride. To honor his extraordinary act of bravery and humanity, the Government of Gujarat will bestow upon Captain Smit Machhar the Visisht Gujarat Garima Award,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">भारत के वीर सपूत कैप्टन स्मित मच्छर के स्वास्थ्य लाभ के लिए प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग श्री सोमनाथ महादेव में हो रही इस विशेष महापूजा और &#39;आयुष्य मंत्रजाप अनुष्ठान&#39; के साथ पूरे गुजरात और हम सभी देशवासियों की सामूहिक प्रार्थनाएं जुड़ी हैं। देवाधिदेव भगवान सोमनाथ से प्रार्थना है कि वे… <a href="https://t.co/G8kcTIc0G8">https://t.co/G8kcTIc0G8</a>&mdash; Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) <a href="https://x.com/Bhupendrapbjp/status/2105575721980830023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The CM also prayed for his swift recovery, saying, “The empathy and prayers of the nation’s citizens are with Captain Smit Machchhar.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have already praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage. <h2>‘Israel would formally recognise the pilot’s valour and bravery,’ says Ambassador</h2> Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has said that Israel will also honour Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery in averting a major disaster and saving the lives of around 180 people.Azar said Machchhar’s valour had drawn attention across Israel, including from President and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and praised the pilot for saving both the passengers and the aircraft despite being seriously injured.The ambassador said Israel “does not forget its friends” who stand with the country during times of crisis. He linked the incident to the period close to the third anniversary of the October 7 terror attack, calling it another terror strike that was averted.Azar said Israel had scrambled fighter jets amid concerns over the aircraft threat and that Netanyahu was in a security huddle discussing the situation when Machchhar’s actions helped avert a potential catastrophe. He said Israel would formally recognise the pilot’s “valour and bravery”. PM Modi said Machchhar had shown “remarkable patience, presence of mind, and courage” and described him as a “HERO”, saying his valour helped avert a major tragedy and save lives. NNetanyahu also saluted Machchhar for his “extraordinary bravery”, saying that despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he opened the cockpit door and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker.Trump called the Indian pilot “a hero”, saying that even while badly wounded, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door and call for help. <h2>‘He was an absolute hero’</h2> Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun, who stormed into the cockpit and overpowered the attacker co-pilot and then worked on controls to steady the diving aircraft, also hailed Captain Machchhar. “You’re not going to die today,” Hayun told the Indian pilot who was stabbed by his co-pilot. “He was an absolute hero. I told him, ‘You’re not going to die today’,” Hayun recalled telling Machchhar. “Captain Smit, it’s a hero. I want to thank him for letting us inside the cockpit, or all of us would have died,” he added. “Despite his injuries, he fought back. He saved us, and we are very grateful. We wish him a quick recovery, and we would like to speak to him and thank him in person.” <h2>‘Remember his name: Smit Machchhar’</h2> After the dramatic incident aboard a flydubai flight, social media was agog with messages hailing the Indian pilot. Several Israelis posted videos to thank the Indian pilot and hailed him as a hero after Israeli authorities said his actions helped prevent a catastrophe involving more than 170 passengers. “Remember his name: Smit Machchhar.” That was the message echoing across social media. One video after another carried messages of gratitude for the captain, with users in Israel describing him as brave and urging others to remember his name.One Israeli content creator, Einav Avizemer, posted a video thanking both Machchhar and India. “I want to take this opportunity and thank the Indian pilot. What a hero,” she said, adding that without his actions, “it could end up in a whole different way”.

Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said Israel will also honour Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery in averting a major disaster and saving the lives of around 180 people. Azar added that Machchhar’s valour had drawn attention across Israel.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday announced that the state government will honour Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with the ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for his courage in saving 174 passengers aboard a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight despite being grievously injured in an attack inside the cockpit. Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot in the cockpit but fought back valiantly despite being severely injured and managed to open the door for seeking assistance and saving the plane. The flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with all the passengers safe.

Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said Israel will also honour Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery in averting a major disaster and saving the lives of around 180 people. Azar added that Machchhar’s valour had drawn attention across Israel.

Gujarat CM announces ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for Indian pilot Smit Machchhar

In the hours since reports emerged of an alleged terror attack aboard a flydubai flight bound for Israel, one question has dominated: how was a pilot able to access a weapon inside the cockpit and seriously injure his colleague, sending the aircraft into a dangerous descent and forcing it to divert to Saudi Arabia? The details remain under investigation. Initial reports suggested that the Omani co-pilot had used a knife, possibly cutlery from the aircraft, to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar.&nbsp;However, a new report by CBS News indicates that the alleged attacker may not have brought any external weapon into the cockpit. Instead, he is believed to have used a crash axe, also known as a fire axe, which is kept inside the cockpit as emergency equipment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said earlier that a crash axe was used in the alleged attack. The incident unfolded around two and a half hours after the flight departed Dubai. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft plunged from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet, roughly 10,000 metres to 5,100 metres, in around a minute. The plane then made an erratic circle near the Jordanian border before eventually landing in the Saudi city of Tabuk about an hour later.&nbsp;A person who heard the aircraft's communications with air traffic control described the plane being turned away by Saudi Arabia and Jordan before eventually being allowed to land in Tabuk. Passengers could reportedly be heard screaming in the background as the pilot made an emergency call. The pilot's voice was described as trembling as he declared ‘mayday’ and said a hijacking was taking place.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-flight-fz1073-what-happens-when-a-pilot-becomes-a-threat-inside-the-cockpit-how-many-are-inside-and-how-secure-is-plane-s-flight-deck-1790830472586">Flydubai flight FZ1073: What happens when a pilot becomes a threat inside the cockpit? How many are inside and how secure is plane's flight deck</a><h2>Why was an axe inside the cockpit?</h2>A crash axe is standard emergency equipment aboard commercial aircraft. Under international aviation regulations, commercial airliners are required to carry such equipment, which is intended to help crews deal with emergencies, including situations involving damaged aircraft or blocked access after a crash. Historically, axes were stored in passenger cabins. However, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, aviation security procedures changed and such equipment was moved to the cockpit on many aircraft. The crash axe is now generally kept within the pilots' reach, allowing it to be accessed quickly during an emergency.<h3>Co-pilot's identity and motive remain unclear</h3>The identity of the Omani co-pilot and the motive behind the alleged attack have not been publicly established. Netanyahu has said that the co-pilot was arrested. Authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have provided limited public details, saying investigations are underway. Flydubai has also announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.&nbsp;The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns in Israel, with the country approaching the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Speaking to CNN, Netanyahu said Captain Machchhar and the passengers who entered the cockpit ‘managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster’.

Flydubai flight attack: New reports say an Omani co-pilot may have used a cockpit crash axe to attack Captain Smit Machchhar before the plane diverted

In the hours since reports emerged of an alleged terror attack aboard a flydubai flight bound for Israel, one question has dominated: how was a pilot able to access a weapon inside the cockpit and seriously injure his colleague, sending the aircraft into a dangerous descent and forcing it to divert to Saudi Arabia? The details remain under investigation. Initial reports suggested that the Omani co-pilot had used a knife, possibly cutlery from the aircraft, to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar. However, a new report by CBS News indicates that the alleged attacker may not have brought any external weapon into the cockpit. Instead, he is believed to have used a crash axe, also known as a fire axe, which is kept inside the cockpit as emergency equipment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said earlier that a crash axe was used in the alleged attack. The incident unfolded around two and a half hours after the flight departed Dubai. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft plunged from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet, roughly 10,000 metres to 5,100 metres, in around a minute. The plane then made an erratic circle near the Jordanian border before eventually landing in the Saudi city of Tabuk about an hour later. A person who heard the aircraft's communications with air traffic control described the plane being turned away by Saudi Arabia and Jordan before eventually being allowed to land in Tabuk. Passengers could reportedly be heard screaming in the background as the pilot made an emergency call. The pilot's voice was described as trembling as he declared ‘mayday’ and said a hijacking was taking place. Also Read: Flydubai flight FZ1073: What happens when a pilot becomes a threat inside the cockpit? How many are inside and how secure is plane's flight deck Why was an axe inside the cockpit? A crash axe is standard emergency equipment aboard commercial aircraft. Under international aviation regulations, commercial airliners are required to carry such equipment, which is intended to help crews deal with emergencies, including situations involving damaged aircraft or blocked access after a crash. Historically, axes were stored in passenger cabins. However, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, aviation security procedures changed and such equipment was moved to the cockpit on many aircraft. The crash axe is now generally kept within the pilots' reach, allowing it to be accessed quickly during an emergency. Co-pilot's identity and motive remain unclear The identity of the Omani co-pilot and the motive behind the alleged attack have not been publicly established. Netanyahu has said that the co-pilot was arrested. Authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have provided limited public details, saying investigations are underway. Flydubai has also announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues. The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns in Israel, with the country approaching the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Speaking to CNN, Netanyahu said Captain Machchhar and the passengers who entered the cockpit ‘managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster’.

A flydubai pilot was allegedly attacked with a cockpit crash axe, triggering a steep descent before the flight diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia

Flydubai flight attack: Why was a crash axe inside the cockpit? Was it used to attack Captain Smit Machchhar?

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday (Oct 1) that he would present "heroism" awards to four Israelis who helped overpower a flydubai co-pilot and stopped him from crashing the aircraft. "You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society," Herzog said in a statement. “I am proud of you, and I thank you on behalf of the State of Israel.” Some reports also said Israel will honour the pilot.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-cockpit-attack-israeli-plumber-dentist-who-helped-indian-pilot-1790831196665">Flydubai cockpit attack: Israeli plumber, dentist who helped Indian pilot</a>&nbsp;Herzog also praised Indian pilot Smit Machchha, who Israeli officials said opened the cockpit door despite being stabbed by the co-pilot, allowing passengers and crew to save the plane. “To Captain Smith Machhar - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you,” he said.&nbsp;Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the wife and parents of Captain Smit Machchhar, who was attacked during the alleged crash attempt on flydubai flight, ANI reported. Machchhar helped save hundreds of lives aboard a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv. PM Modi applauded his bravery, courage and presence of mind and backed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's statement saying that he prevented “another 9/11.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-opens-probe-into-incident-aboard-flydubai-plane-people-urged-to-avoid-unverified-information-1790844972382">UAE opens probe into incident aboard flydubai plane</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that the state and the entire nation is proud of the pilot. "The indomitable courage and valour displayed by Captain Smit Machchhar in the skies is truly unimaginable. Despite being seriously injured, he fought back against the attacker, averting a major tragedy and saving the lives of 174 passengers," Patel said in a post on X. Patel said Machchhar is a "proud Indian" and described him as a brave son of Gujarati origin who had made the country proud on the global stage.<h2>What happened?</h2>Flydubai flight FZ1073 which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with roughly 150 to 180 mostly Israeli passengers, experienced a violent, rapid dive, plunging between 14,000 and 17,000 feet in under two minutes. This happened when Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane. As the aircraft plunged, the aircraft's cockpit transponder sent code 7500, the universal aviation signal for an unlawful interference or hijacking. This alerted neighboring air traffic sectors, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, that the aircraft’s command systems were actively compromised. Despite suffering injuries, Indian pilot managed to unlock the cockpit door. A passenger identified as Yaniv Hayun, alongside others, overpowered and restrained the co-pilot. A reserve crew consisting of a second pair of flydubai pilots who happened to be traveling aboard the flight took control of the aircraft. They safely diverted and landed the plane at Tabuk Regional Airport (TUU) in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will honour four Israelis who helped overpower a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to crash the plane. Herzog also praised injured Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door despite being stabbed

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday (Oct 1) that he would present "heroism" awards to four Israelis who helped overpower a flydubai co-pilot and stopped him from crashing the aircraft. "You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society," Herzog said in a statement. “I am proud of you, and I thank you on behalf of the State of Israel.” Some reports also said Israel will honour the pilot. Also Read: Flydubai cockpit attack: Israeli plumber, dentist who helped Indian pilot Herzog also praised Indian pilot Smit Machchha, who Israeli officials said opened the cockpit door despite being stabbed by the co-pilot, allowing passengers and crew to save the plane. “To Captain Smith Machhar - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you,” he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the wife and parents of Captain Smit Machchhar, who was attacked during the alleged crash attempt on flydubai flight, ANI reported. Machchhar helped save hundreds of lives aboard a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv. PM Modi applauded his bravery, courage and presence of mind and backed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's statement saying that he prevented “another 9/11.” Also Read: UAE opens probe into incident aboard flydubai plane Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that the state and the entire nation is proud of the pilot. "The indomitable courage and valour displayed by Captain Smit Machchhar in the skies is truly unimaginable. Despite being seriously injured, he fought back against the attacker, averting a major tragedy and saving the lives of 174 passengers," Patel said in a post on X. Patel said Machchhar is a "proud Indian" and described him as a brave son of Gujarati origin who had made the country proud on the global stage. What happened? Flydubai flight FZ1073 which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with roughly 150 to 180 mostly Israeli passengers, experienced a violent, rapid dive, plunging between 14,000 and 17,000 feet in under two minutes. This happened when Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane. As the aircraft plunged, the aircraft's cockpit transponder sent code 7500, the universal aviation signal for an unlawful interference or hijacking. This alerted neighboring air traffic sectors, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, that the aircraft’s command systems were actively compromised. Despite suffering injuries, Indian pilot managed to unlock the cockpit door. A passenger identified as Yaniv Hayun, alongside others, overpowered and restrained the co-pilot. A reserve crew consisting of a second pair of flydubai pilots who happened to be traveling aboard the flight took control of the aircraft. They safely diverted and landed the plane at Tabuk Regional Airport (TUU) in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will honour four Israelis who helped overpower a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to crash the plane. Herzog also praised injured Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door despite being stabbed

Flydubai cockpit attack: Israel to present 'heroism' awards to 4 passengers who saved Indian pilot

The upcoming 2026 US midterm elections are entering their final stretch, but there is no single way to measure where the contest stands. Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket are continuously updating their prices based on what traders think will happen. Polling averages measure where voters currently stand. Silver Bulletin's FLIPR model combines polling with political fundamentals and expert race ratings to simulate possible outcomes. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball, meanwhile, assess individual races using expert judgment and competitiveness ratings. All are looking at the same election. Yet they can produce noticeably different pictures. That difference is not necessarily a contradiction. The systems are answering different questions, using different inputs and operating on different timelines.<h2>Prediction markets: What are traders pricing in?</h2>Kalshi and Polymarket approach elections through prediction markets. Rather than asking voters directly, they provide markets in which participants trade contracts tied to future outcomes. Kalshi's own September 21 overview said traders had moved toward pricing Democratic control of both chambers, while stressing that market expectations can change as polling and campaign developments emerge.&nbsp;Polymarket similarly expresses expectations through market prices. Its markets can cover everything from control of the House and Senate to individual races and broader election scenarios. A contract priced around 60 cents, for example, can be interpreted as the market assigning roughly a 60% implied probability to that outcome, subject to the market's rules and liquidity. That makes prediction markets different from polls.&nbsp;A poll asks voters what they currently intend to do. A prediction market asks traders to put a price on what they believe will happen on Election Day. The distinction can become particularly important when a major development occurs. A new poll, debate performance, candidate controversy or economic development can move market prices before a large batch of new public polling becomes available. But market prices are not guaranteed forecasts. They reflect the participants, information and trading conditions in that particular market.<h2>Silver Bulletin: Turning polls and fundamentals into simulations</h2>Silver Bulletin takes a more traditional modelling approach, although its FLIPR system is considerably more than a simple polling average. FLIPR, short for Forecast with Leading Indicators, Polls and (Expert) Ratings, combines polling, non-polling fundamentals and outside expert ratings. The model then runs thousands of simulations to estimate the range of possible congressional outcomes.&nbsp;Its September 28 update showed Democrats with a 9.2-point advantage in its likely-voter-adjusted generic congressional ballot average. The model also had Democratic candidates holding polling leads in six Senate states it identified as particularly important to the Senate tipping point: Texas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan and Alaska. That does not mean FLIPR simply takes a 9.2-point national lead and converts it into seats.&nbsp;The model accounts for the fact that congressional races are interconnected but not identical. It uses individual race polling, candidate and incumbency factors, the national political environment and other fundamentals. That is one reason a model can produce a different result from a prediction market even when both are looking at broadly similar political developments. Silver Bulletin's methodology notes that FLIPR typically uses 40,000 simulations and models House, Senate and gubernatorial elections jointly.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/raf-airbase-incident-netanyahu-claims-israel-warned-britain-about-iranian-terror-plot-1790842073923">RAF airbase incident: Netanyahu claims Israel warned Britain about Iranian terror plot</a><h2>Cook Political Report: The race-by-race approach</h2>The Cook Political Report uses another framework altogether. Rather than presenting every race as a probability, Cook classifies contests on a seven-point scale: Solid Democratic, Likely Democratic, Lean Democratic, Toss Up, Lean Republican, Likely Republican and Solid Republican. Cook says its ratings consider factors including a state's political makeup, candidate strengths and weaknesses, and the political environment at both the state and national levels.&nbsp;As of September 29, Cook's Senate ratings had seven races classified as Toss Ups: Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas. That is useful information, but it should not be read as equivalent to a prediction-market probability. A Toss Up means Cook considers the race highly competitive; it does not mean the race is mathematically 50-50. This is an important distinction when comparing election coverage. A headline that places a ‘Toss Up’ next to a market's 55% or 60% probability can make the two systems appear to disagree more than they actually do.<h2>Sabato's Crystal Ball: Another expert lens</h2>Sabato's Crystal Ball provides another race-rating framework, using expert analysis to classify competitive contests rather than relying solely on a statistical probability. Like Cook, its value lies partly in the race-by-race context. Analysts can consider candidate developments, state political conditions and the broader electoral environment alongside polling. That means an expert rating can move even when the polling picture has not changed dramatically if analysts believe other factors have altered the competitiveness of a contest. The broader point is that expert ratings are designed to communicate the state of individual races in a relatively accessible way. They are not intended to function as trading prices or as the output of a single statistical simulation.<h2>Why can all five disagree?</h2>The biggest reason is simple: they are not measuring the same thing. A poll measures voter sentiment at a particular point in time. A prediction market measures the price traders are willing to put on a future outcome. A statistical model processes multiple data sources and simulates thousands of possible elections. An expert rating assesses the competitiveness of individual races.&nbsp;There is also a difference in how uncertainty is treated. Suppose several Senate races are polling within a few points. A model may simulate those races thousands of times and calculate how often each party reaches a particular seat threshold. A prediction market may assign a price to Senate control based on traders' collective expectations.Cook may simply classify several of those races as Toss Ups. All three can therefore be describing the same underlying uncertainty without producing the same number.<h2>So which number should voters look at?</h2>There is no single number that answers every question. If the question is what are traders pricing right now?, prediction markets provide that information. If the question is what does a statistical model calculate after combining polling and other indicators?, FLIPR provides a model-based answer. If the question is which individual races are considered competitive?, Cook and Sabato provide race-rating frameworks.&nbsp;And if the question is where voters currently stand, polling remains the direct measure of voter sentiment, although polls themselves carry sampling and methodological uncertainty. The most useful way to read the 2026 election landscape, therefore, may be to understand what each system is actually designed to measure rather than treating them as competing versions of the same forecast.&nbsp;With Election Day approaching on November 3, market prices can continue moving, new polls can change averages, models can update their simulations and race ratings can shift as campaigns develop. The disagreement between them is not necessarily a flaw. It is a reminder that an election is not a single number, and that different tools can turn the same political information into different measures of uncertainty.

Why do Kalshi, Polymarket, Silver Bulletin, Cook and Sabato differ on the 2026 US midterms? Here’s how markets, models, polls and ratings work

The upcoming 2026 US midterm elections are entering their final stretch, but there is no single way to measure where the contest stands. Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket are continuously updating their prices based on what traders think will happen. Polling averages measure where voters currently stand. Silver Bulletin's FLIPR model combines polling with political fundamentals and expert race ratings to simulate possible outcomes. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball, meanwhile, assess individual races using expert judgment and competitiveness ratings. All are looking at the same election. Yet they can produce noticeably different pictures. That difference is not necessarily a contradiction. The systems are answering different questions, using different inputs and operating on different timelines. Prediction markets: What are traders pricing in? Kalshi and Polymarket approach elections through prediction markets. Rather than asking voters directly, they provide markets in which participants trade contracts tied to future outcomes. Kalshi's own September 21 overview said traders had moved toward pricing Democratic control of both chambers, while stressing that market expectations can change as polling and campaign developments emerge. Polymarket similarly expresses expectations through market prices. Its markets can cover everything from control of the House and Senate to individual races and broader election scenarios. A contract priced around 60 cents, for example, can be interpreted as the market assigning roughly a 60% implied probability to that outcome, subject to the market's rules and liquidity. That makes prediction markets different from polls. A poll asks voters what they currently intend to do. A prediction market asks traders to put a price on what they believe will happen on Election Day. The distinction can become particularly important when a major development occurs. A new poll, debate performance, candidate controversy or economic development can move market prices before a large batch of new public polling becomes available. But market prices are not guaranteed forecasts. They reflect the participants, information and trading conditions in that particular market. Silver Bulletin: Turning polls and fundamentals into simulations Silver Bulletin takes a more traditional modelling approach, although its FLIPR system is considerably more than a simple polling average. FLIPR, short for Forecast with Leading Indicators, Polls and (Expert) Ratings, combines polling, non-polling fundamentals and outside expert ratings. The model then runs thousands of simulations to estimate the range of possible congressional outcomes. Its September 28 update showed Democrats with a 9.2-point advantage in its likely-voter-adjusted generic congressional ballot average. The model also had Democratic candidates holding polling leads in six Senate states it identified as particularly important to the Senate tipping point: Texas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan and Alaska. That does not mean FLIPR simply takes a 9.2-point national lead and converts it into seats. The model accounts for the fact that congressional races are interconnected but not identical. It uses individual race polling, candidate and incumbency factors, the national political environment and other fundamentals. That is one reason a model can produce a different result from a prediction market even when both are looking at broadly similar political developments. Silver Bulletin's methodology notes that FLIPR typically uses 40,000 simulations and models House, Senate and gubernatorial elections jointly. Also Read: RAF airbase incident: Netanyahu claims Israel warned Britain about Iranian terror plot Cook Political Report: The race-by-race approach The Cook Political Report uses another framework altogether. Rather than presenting every race as a probability, Cook classifies contests on a seven-point scale: Solid Democratic, Likely Democratic, Lean Democratic, Toss Up, Lean Republican, Likely Republican and Solid Republican. Cook says its ratings consider factors including a state's political makeup, candidate strengths and weaknesses, and the political environment at both the state and national levels. As of September 29, Cook's Senate ratings had seven races classified as Toss Ups: Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas. That is useful information, but it should not be read as equivalent to a prediction-market probability. A Toss Up means Cook considers the race highly competitive; it does not mean the race is mathematically 50-50. This is an important distinction when comparing election coverage. A headline that places a ‘Toss Up’ next to a market's 55% or 60% probability can make the two systems appear to disagree more than they actually do. Sabato's Crystal Ball: Another expert lens Sabato's Crystal Ball provides another race-rating framework, using expert analysis to classify competitive contests rather than relying solely on a statistical probability. Like Cook, its value lies partly in the race-by-race context. Analysts can consider candidate developments, state political conditions and the broader electoral environment alongside polling. That means an expert rating can move even when the polling picture has not changed dramatically if analysts believe other factors have altered the competitiveness of a contest. The broader point is that expert ratings are designed to communicate the state of individual races in a relatively accessible way. They are not intended to function as trading prices or as the output of a single statistical simulation. Why can all five disagree? The biggest reason is simple: they are not measuring the same thing. A poll measures voter sentiment at a particular point in time. A prediction market measures the price traders are willing to put on a future outcome. A statistical model processes multiple data sources and simulates thousands of possible elections. An expert rating assesses the competitiveness of individual races. There is also a difference in how uncertainty is treated. Suppose several Senate races are polling within a few points. A model may simulate those races thousands of times and calculate how often each party reaches a particular seat threshold. A prediction market may assign a price to Senate control based on traders' collective expectations. Cook may simply classify several of those races as Toss Ups. All three can therefore be describing the same underlying uncertainty without producing the same number. So which number should voters look at? There is no single number that answers every question. If the question is what are traders pricing right now?, prediction markets provide that information. If the question is what does a statistical model calculate after combining polling and other indicators?, FLIPR provides a model-based answer. If the question is which individual races are considered competitive?, Cook and Sabato provide race-rating frameworks. And if the question is where voters currently stand, polling remains the direct measure of voter sentiment, although polls themselves carry sampling and methodological uncertainty. The most useful way to read the 2026 election landscape, therefore, may be to understand what each system is actually designed to measure rather than treating them as competing versions of the same forecast. With Election Day approaching on November 3, market prices can continue moving, new polls can change averages, models can update their simulations and race ratings can shift as campaigns develop. The disagreement between them is not necessarily a flaw. It is a reminder that an election is not a single number, and that different tools can turn the same political information into different measures of uncertainty.

Kalshi, Polymarket, Silver Bulletin, Cook and Sabato read the 2026 US midterms differently. Here's why markets, models and ratings diverge

Who’s reading the US midterms 2026 correctly? Markets, models and polls tell different stories

215 days and counting — that's how long US President Donald Trump's war on Iran, launched in conjunction with Israel, has been going on. Over the course of the ongoing conflict, multiple times it seemed like a ceasefire was within reach, but the hostilities have continued unabated. Since February 28, oil prices have reached record highs, market performance has been suffering, inflation is high, yet the Trump administration continues to put on a show of confidence, strength and victory. According to analyses and digital trackers, in the 200+ days, US President Donald Trump has claimed victory (or asserted that the US has won the Iran conflict) at least 100 times. But, with the US 2026 midterm elections fast approaching, the claims of victory don't seem to be translating into support for the Republican president.<h2>Iran conflict: A 'doomsday war' for Trump's party in US midterms?</h2>After seven months of war, Iran recently, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, put forward seven conditions for ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital route that accounts for a fifth of the world's oil and gas exports. The so-called seven-day plan saw stock markets stabilise while oil slipped on optimism of de-escalation.The relief, however, was short-lived as Trump dismissed the plan and mused about full-scale air strikes on Iran. Talking to Axios, the POTUS claimed that Tehran had "overplayed their hand"."They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make," Trump said. "It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/just-1-in-4-americans-approve-of-trump-s-iran-war-handling-new-poll-finds-november-midterms-1790221557266">Just 1 in 4 Americans approve of Trump’s Iran war handling, new poll finds</a><h2>What did the 7-day de-escalation plan propose?</h2>Days 1 to 5: All military hostilities in the region, including in Lebanon and Yemen, would halt. The United States would lift naval blockades on Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and release at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Day 6: Normal maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz would resume without tolls. Day 7: Comprehensive diplomatic negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear programme and other mutual issues would officially begin.<h2>US midterms, Iran war and Trump</h2>Trump's approval rating, as per reports, is at a record low. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released in September put the second-term president's approval rating at a new low of 32 per cent, while Democrats led Republicans by eight points among registered voters asked which party they would support for Congress.The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/just-1-in-4-americans-approve-of-trump-s-iran-war-handling-new-poll-finds-november-midterms-1790221557266">poll </a>results also show that only 34 per cent of Americans support Trump's handling of the Iran war, and just 17 per cent approve of his handling of the cost of living.Also read | <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">Global cash crisis and gold prices reaching new heights? Baba Vanga's 2027 prophecy predicts prices could cross...</a>Another poll by CNN/SSRS also showed similar results. According to it, only about one in four Americans approve of his administration's handling of the conflict with Iran, and a majority say the conflict has hurt the United States. The poll, conducted among 1,206 US adults from September 16 to 17, found that 26 per cent approve of Trump's handling of the situation in Iran, while 73 per cent disapprove. That is down from 33 per cent approval in a CNN/SSRS poll conducted in March, shortly after the conflict began.With Democrats opening a sizable lead on the congressional ballot, Republicans in competitive contests have also been increasingly putting daylight between themselves and the president -- on immigration, the Iran war and even in the branding of their campaigns.How badly the conflict would harm Republican performance in the midterms remains to be seen. Trump's rejection of the de-escalation plan may spell doom for him yet. Iran, meanwhile, according to its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stands "fully prepared" to ready for “doomsday war.”

Trump's repeated claims of victory in the Iran war are unfolding alongside falling approval ratings, rising economic pressures and growing scrutiny ahead of the US midterms. A September poll found just 34% of Americans supported his handling of the conflict. All you need to know.

215 days and counting — that's how long US President Donald Trump's war on Iran, launched in conjunction with Israel, has been going on. Over the course of the ongoing conflict, multiple times it seemed like a ceasefire was within reach, but the hostilities have continued unabated. Since February 28, oil prices have reached record highs, market performance has been suffering, inflation is high, yet the Trump administration continues to put on a show of confidence, strength and victory. According to analyses and digital trackers, in the 200+ days, US President Donald Trump has claimed victory (or asserted that the US has won the Iran conflict) at least 100 times. But, with the US 2026 midterm elections fast approaching, the claims of victory don't seem to be translating into support for the Republican president. Iran conflict: A 'doomsday war' for Trump's party in US midterms? After seven months of war, Iran recently, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, put forward seven conditions for ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital route that accounts for a fifth of the world's oil and gas exports. The so-called seven-day plan saw stock markets stabilise while oil slipped on optimism of de-escalation. The relief, however, was short-lived as Trump dismissed the plan and mused about full-scale air strikes on Iran. Talking to Axios, the POTUS claimed that Tehran had "overplayed their hand". "They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make," Trump said. "It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago." Also read | Just 1 in 4 Americans approve of Trump’s Iran war handling, new poll finds What did the 7-day de-escalation plan propose? Days 1 to 5: All military hostilities in the region, including in Lebanon and Yemen, would halt. The United States would lift naval blockades on Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and release at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Day 6: Normal maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz would resume without tolls. Day 7: Comprehensive diplomatic negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear programme and other mutual issues would officially begin. US midterms, Iran war and Trump Trump's approval rating, as per reports, is at a record low. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released in September put the second-term president's approval rating at a new low of 32 per cent, while Democrats led Republicans by eight points among registered voters asked which party they would support for Congress. The poll results also show that only 34 per cent of Americans support Trump's handling of the Iran war, and just 17 per cent approve of his handling of the cost of living. Also read | Global cash crisis and gold prices reaching new heights? Baba Vanga's 2027 prophecy predicts prices could cross... Another poll by CNN/SSRS also showed similar results. According to it, only about one in four Americans approve of his administration's handling of the conflict with Iran, and a majority say the conflict has hurt the United States. The poll, conducted among 1,206 US adults from September 16 to 17, found that 26 per cent approve of Trump's handling of the situation in Iran, while 73 per cent disapprove. That is down from 33 per cent approval in a CNN/SSRS poll conducted in March, shortly after the conflict began. With Democrats opening a sizable lead on the congressional ballot, Republicans in competitive contests have also been increasingly putting daylight between themselves and the president -- on immigration, the Iran war and even in the branding of their campaigns. How badly the conflict would harm Republican performance in the midterms remains to be seen. Trump's rejection of the de-escalation plan may spell doom for him yet. Iran, meanwhile, according to its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stands "fully prepared" to ready for “doomsday war.”

Trump's repeated claims of victory in the Iran war are unfolding alongside falling approval ratings, rising economic pressures and growing scrutiny ahead of the US midterms. A September poll found just 34% of Americans supported his handling of the conflict. All you need to know.

100 victory claims, 200+ days of war: Is Trump's Iran gamble turning into a midterm nightmare?

The UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered an investigation into the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing the aircraft to divert and land safely at Saudi Arabia's Tabuk airport on Wednesday. Shamsi ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors to investigate the incident.&nbsp;The team will investigate the circumstances and motives, including whether it was linked to any terrorist activity or there was any &nbsp;prior planning or direction to carry out the attack.&nbsp;In a statement the UAE judicial authorities said since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board “even if they occur outside the country’s territory.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, investigation in coordination with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies has begun in the incident.&nbsp;UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has urged people to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation remains underway. He also said that any information related to the incident should only be obtained from official sources.&nbsp;<h2>What happened on the Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv</h2>&nbsp;On September 30, the Flydubai flight FZ1073 was on its way to Israeli capital Tel Aviv from Dubai with roughly 150 to 180 passengers when it experienced a violent, rapid dive, plunging between 14,000 and 17,000 feet in under two minutes. This happened when Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane.&nbsp;As the aircraft plunged, flydubai Flight FZ1073, the aircraft's cockpit transponder sent code 7500, the universal aviation signal for an unlawful interference or hijacking. This alerted neighboring air traffic sectors, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, that the aircraft’s command systems were actively compromised. Despite suffering injuries, Indian pilot managed to unlock the cockpit door.&nbsp;A passenger identified as Yaniv Hayun, alongside others, overpowered and restrained the co-pilot. A reserve crew consisting of a second pair of flydubai pilots who happened to be traveling aboard the flight took control of the aircraft. They safely diverted and landed the plane at Tabuk Regional Airport (TUU) in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a statement the UAE judicial authorities said since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.

The UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered an investigation into the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing the aircraft to divert and land safely at Saudi Arabia's Tabuk airport on Wednesday. Shamsi ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors to investigate the incident. The team will investigate the circumstances and motives, including whether it was linked to any terrorist activity or there was any prior planning or direction to carry out the attack. In a statement the UAE judicial authorities said since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board “even if they occur outside the country’s territory.” Meanwhile, investigation in coordination with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies has begun in the incident. UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has urged people to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation remains underway. He also said that any information related to the incident should only be obtained from official sources. What happened on the Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv On September 30, the Flydubai flight FZ1073 was on its way to Israeli capital Tel Aviv from Dubai with roughly 150 to 180 passengers when it experienced a violent, rapid dive, plunging between 14,000 and 17,000 feet in under two minutes. This happened when Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane. As the aircraft plunged, flydubai Flight FZ1073, the aircraft's cockpit transponder sent code 7500, the universal aviation signal for an unlawful interference or hijacking. This alerted neighboring air traffic sectors, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, that the aircraft’s command systems were actively compromised. Despite suffering injuries, Indian pilot managed to unlock the cockpit door. A passenger identified as Yaniv Hayun, alongside others, overpowered and restrained the co-pilot. A reserve crew consisting of a second pair of flydubai pilots who happened to be traveling aboard the flight took control of the aircraft. They safely diverted and landed the plane at Tabuk Regional Airport (TUU) in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement the UAE judicial authorities said since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.

UAE opens probe into incident aboard flydubai plane, people urged to avoid unverified information

US President Donald Trump made a big freebie announcement on during his first Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, and promised to pay every American $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate after November’s midterm elections. He made the big announcement while urging voters remain united and support Republican candidates on Nov 3. He also urged voters to let him and Republican lawmakers to “finish the job” to restore America's respect in the world that was worsened under President Joe Biden’s administration. He offered freebie and claimed that Democrats cannot do it because they don't charge tariffs and they only “know about poverty.”&nbsp;However, there's a difference of opinion on the matter within the Republicans. US Representative David Schweikert, an Arizona Republican set to leave Congress at the end of his term, told Reuters: “I would personally throw everything of my heart and soul to stop it, because it would actually do more damage to working people than would ever help ​them. It would continue ⁠to raise interest rates. It would be on their own credit card and would bring the interest rate death spiral sooner to the United States.” However, some like US Senator Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, said he was already preparing legislation to ​formalize the “Trump dividend.”<h2>What would it cost?</h2>The proposal, if approved by Congress, would cost roughly $1.2 trillion, plus hundreds of billions of dollars more in interest. This is more than all three COVID-era stimulus payments combined, the projected cost of the President’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) next year, and is 50 percent larger than the entire primary deficit projected for 2027.&nbsp;It will also increase total projected deficits to $3.1 trillion. As a share of the economy, deficits would rise from a projected 5.8 per cent of GDP this year to 9.4 per cent in 2027. Most experts agree that deficits should be reduced to 3 per cent of GDP over time.&nbsp;Some analysts also points out that the cash inflow would boost demand and likely generate additional inflation. The policy would also likely boost interest rates, as the Federal Reserve responded to higher inflation and the markets to higher debt. The result would be significantly more debt and a higher cost of living for ordinary households.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2026-explained-key-races-battleground-states-house-and-senate-control-and-what-s-at-stake-all-you-need-to-know-1790673125324">US midterm elections 2026 explained: Key races, battleground states</a><h2>What is voter reaction?</h2>Voters' reactions to the proposal are mixed, according to Reuters. Christine Gardner, a retired intellectual property lawyer from Texas, told Reuters she did a double check when she heard Trump ​announce the dividend. "I thought that was very strange. It is like buying votes," ​Gardner said. Chris Lorenz, an Oklahoma ⁠minister, said he backed the payments, adding that he felt Americans are overtaxed and that Republicans must win in November to prevent Democrats from instituting far-left policies. "I think it's great, $5,000, especially if it'll help win the midterms," he said. "We believe the future of the country is at stake."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-us-diesel-export-ban-fuel-prices-midterms-1790766899066">Trump caught between Republicans and oil lobby over diesel export ban</a><h2>How did the idea originate?</h2>According to reports, about 240 million adults live in the United States, and if the president goes ahead with his plan, the payment would cost the government roughly $1.2 trillion. The federal government’s annual budget is around $7 trillion. The idea was first floated by Trump in July 2025. The specific $5,000 figure came from James Fishbach, an outside adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In February 2025, Fishbach proposed a “DOGE Dividend” that would return 20 per cent of the federal budget savings targeted by DOGE directly to American households. However, the idea of using federal tariff revenue to fund direct payments was formally proposed by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) through the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025. The bill sought to redistribute revenue from the administration’s new import tariffs to working-class families. Trump later embraced the concept, promoting a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for Americans. &nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every American if Republicans retain control of Congress after the midterm elections. The proposal could cost about $1.2 trillion and has sparked debate among Republicans over its impact on deficits, inflation and interest rates.

US President Donald Trump made a big freebie announcement on during his first Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, and promised to pay every American $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate after November’s midterm elections. He made the big announcement while urging voters remain united and support Republican candidates on Nov 3. He also urged voters to let him and Republican lawmakers to “finish the job” to restore America's respect in the world that was worsened under President Joe Biden’s administration. He offered freebie and claimed that Democrats cannot do it because they don't charge tariffs and they only “know about poverty.” However, there's a difference of opinion on the matter within the Republicans. US Representative David Schweikert, an Arizona Republican set to leave Congress at the end of his term, told Reuters: “I would personally throw everything of my heart and soul to stop it, because it would actually do more damage to working people than would ever help them. It would continue ⁠to raise interest rates. It would be on their own credit card and would bring the interest rate death spiral sooner to the United States.” However, some like US Senator Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, said he was already preparing legislation to formalize the “Trump dividend.” What would it cost? The proposal, if approved by Congress, would cost roughly $1.2 trillion, plus hundreds of billions of dollars more in interest. This is more than all three COVID-era stimulus payments combined, the projected cost of the President’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) next year, and is 50 percent larger than the entire primary deficit projected for 2027. It will also increase total projected deficits to $3.1 trillion. As a share of the economy, deficits would rise from a projected 5.8 per cent of GDP this year to 9.4 per cent in 2027. Most experts agree that deficits should be reduced to 3 per cent of GDP over time. Some analysts also points out that the cash inflow would boost demand and likely generate additional inflation. The policy would also likely boost interest rates, as the Federal Reserve responded to higher inflation and the markets to higher debt. The result would be significantly more debt and a higher cost of living for ordinary households. Also Read: US midterm elections 2026 explained: Key races, battleground states What is voter reaction? Voters' reactions to the proposal are mixed, according to Reuters. Christine Gardner, a retired intellectual property lawyer from Texas, told Reuters she did a double check when she heard Trump announce the dividend. "I thought that was very strange. It is like buying votes," Gardner said. Chris Lorenz, an Oklahoma ⁠minister, said he backed the payments, adding that he felt Americans are overtaxed and that Republicans must win in November to prevent Democrats from instituting far-left policies. "I think it's great, $5,000, especially if it'll help win the midterms," he said. "We believe the future of the country is at stake." Also Read: Trump caught between Republicans and oil lobby over diesel export ban How did the idea originate? According to reports, about 240 million adults live in the United States, and if the president goes ahead with his plan, the payment would cost the government roughly $1.2 trillion. The federal government’s annual budget is around $7 trillion. The idea was first floated by Trump in July 2025. The specific $5,000 figure came from James Fishbach, an outside adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In February 2025, Fishbach proposed a “DOGE Dividend” that would return 20 per cent of the federal budget savings targeted by DOGE directly to American households. However, the idea of using federal tariff revenue to fund direct payments was formally proposed by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) through the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025. The bill sought to redistribute revenue from the administration’s new import tariffs to working-class families. Trump later embraced the concept, promoting a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for Americans.

US President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every American if Republicans retain control of Congress after the midterm elections. The proposal could cost about $1.2 trillion and has sparked debate among Republicans over its impact on deficits, inflation and interest rates.

Will Trump’s $5,000 dividend be a gamechanger in US midterms: What it would cost, and what voters think

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