belagavi l monday l october 05, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION OPEC+ concurs to keep November oil output targets steady OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to keep oil production ‌targets steady for November, in line with market cues that policy shifts are unlikely until next year Exports at 60-80% of normal levels lens on future production estimates Core members of broader OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman. Gulf OPEC+ producers have been pumping well below output targets in the face of continuing export ​disruptions from the US-Israel war on Iran, with exports fluctuating at 60% to 80% of normal levels, Reuters reported ■ ■ The Iran war has delayed the group’s output capacity review—crucial to determine members’ 2027 output quotas—because it has thrown estimates of future production potential into uncertainty OPEC+ pumped 25 million barrels per day in August, up ​630,000 bpd from July, still 5 million bpd below prewar levels ​in February 2 mn bpd of output cuts in place covering most opec+ members CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Jaishankar flags deeper US shift, says global order faces new gaps Anti-CEC protests become bigger, thousands hit streets Some structural changes are linked to current administration, others reflect long-term shifts J AYA N TH J A C O B @ New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday the US is undergoing deeper structural changes that extend beyond the policies of any one administration. He said the decline of US underwriting of the existing global order was creating new gaps and responsibilities for other major powers. He also stressed that India’s long relationship with Russia remains important even as New Delhi continues to push for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich Leader’s Meeting in Delhi, Jaishankar said some of the changes in US policy could be temporary or linked to the current administration, but others reflected longer-term shifts. “It is important here to distinguish the more structural trends express read UCC in Bengal within six months: Suvendu Kolkata: Citing two BJPruled states—Uttarakhand and Gujarat—West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said that his government too plans to introduce a Union Civil Code (UCC) in the state within six months | P8 Drug haul on Pakistan border doubles in ’26 Chandigarh: The first nine months of the year witnessed a surge in narcotics, arms and ammunition smuggling and infiltration of UAVs into the Indian territory and airspace from neighbouring Pakistan along the border in Punjab | P8 Shift in Indian strategy on Russia-Ukraine conflict India has moved beyond advocacy in trying to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war by becoming more actively involved in discussions aimed at addressing issues arising from the war, including the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. “We’ve conversations with Russia and Ukraine,” said S Jaishankar from the behavioral ones and take both of them seriously .” Looking at the continuity of some policies across administrations, Jaishankar noted several initiatives associated with US President Donald Trump’s first administration continued under President Joe Biden. “Many policies which President Trump initiated in his first administration continued under Biden,” he said and cited the emergence of a US industrial policy as one example. On India’s relationship with Russia, Jaishankar said the ties had deep historical roots and expanded beyond their traditional focus on defence and security. He said Russia stood by India at critical moments when its security and territorial integrity were under threat. “That history is not forgotten,” he said, adding that the relationship today encompasses defence, nuclear cooperation, space, trade, investment, energy and resources. At the same time, he described the Russia-Ukraine war as “an unfortunate conflict” and reiterated India’s position it should end through dialogue and diplomacy “There . has to be negotiations in this regard,” Jaishankar said, noting that India had advocated this position for years and had in recent months become more directly involved in efforts to address some of the issues arising from the conflict. “We have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard,” he said. India has sought to contribute to discussions on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea as well as concerns involving grain exports, energy exports and “non-attack possibilities,” he added. Flydubai co-pilot likely to have acted independently, say Israel investigators a g encies @ Tel Aviv THE Omani co-pilot accused of attacking his colleague on board the Flydubai flight to Israel and trying to seize the controls most likely acted alone, Israeli sources told CNN on Sunday . Another Israeli source said that, at the moment, Israel does not know of any link to a group or government. The co-pilot in in custody in the UAE. Israel and UAE are both probing the incident. Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing, is also conducting its own investigations. Australia police probe local links A counterterrorism unit in Australia is probing local links of the Omani pilot of FZ1073. According to media reports, the Omani national studied ​at a university in Melbourne Authorities in the UAE had shared with Israel a list of passengers and crew ahead of the FlyDubai flight, regional officials said on Sunday but Israel , had not raised red flags on any passenger or member of the crew before the flight took off. Flydubai flight FZ1073 avoided disaster on its journey from Dubai on Wednesday plummet, ing 16,000 feet in 30 seconds after the attack on the plane’s captain. Despite being wounded, pilot Captain Smit Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door and signal his distress to passengers and crew, who rushed into the cockpit to regain control of the aircraft. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Omani authorities had barred the pilot from flying over suspicions he had adopted radical ideological views. Police detain protesters demanding resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Sunday | Parveen Negi S u d h ir S u r ya w a ns h i & UDAYA N K I S HO R E @ Mumbai/New Delhi Protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged election irregularities continued on Sunday, with opposition parties taking to the streets in Mumbai and multiple student groups agitating in New Delhi. In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray the MNS chief Raj Thackeray NCP , , (SP) state president Jayant Patil and Congress leader Vigilance Balasaheb Thorat, with probe in KL thousands, participated in Keralam Home the ‘Virat Garjana Morcha’ Minister Ramesh (Grand Roar March) which Chennithala culminated in a rally . has ordered a “We are fighting to get Vigilance probe real freedom to India that into a 2006 has been muzzled by the BJP through the Election project when CEC Gyanesh Kumar Commission and other inwas PWD secy dependent institutions that and the death of are no longer free and fair... a Malaysian 13 crore voters were denied engineer the right to vote just so the BJP could win state elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal comfortably Uddhav alleged, referring to deletions in ,” the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Raj Thackeray said the SIR should be cancelled and voting done by ballot papers. In the capital, Congress, AAP, various student organisations, and civil society groups held protests as police fortified central Delhi to bar them from reaching Jantar Mantar. AISA’s Neha Bora, and AAP’s Delhi chief Saurabh Bhardwaj were among several detained and later released. Bora was detained in a police car near Shangri-La hexagon. Protesters lay on the ground and climbed atop the car to block its movement forcing police to drive in reverse to take her away . Minister: El Nino will hit food production E xpress N ews S ervice @Madikeri Karnataka Agriculture Minister PM Narendra Swamy has warned that adverse weather conditions because of the El Nino conditions will lead to severe consequences, leading to a shortage in food production, in the coming two to three months. “The entire world is facing climate disturbances because of the El Niño effect. Apart from food shortage, it is expected to lead to lack of fodder for livestock, drinking water scarcity and other adverse impacts,” he cautioned. He said necessary precautions should be taken as temperatures are expected to rise by 3-6 degrees Celsius in the near future. In an exclusive interview with TNIE, Dr SV Suresha, the vicechancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, said as the state is going through a severe drought situation, agricultural research is now focusing on climate-resilient technologies that can save farmers from distress | P4 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken 24-yearold Vishal Kumar Metre from Yenkur village in Bhalki taluk of Bidar district to Bengaluru for questioning, sources said. Vishal was arrested on October 2 in connection with a case registered at the Katak Chincholi police station. The police alleged that through WhatsApp and Instagram, he was in contact with members of a banned organisation and individuals accused of involvement in antinational activities, including a person designated a terrorist. After examining Vishal’s WhatsApp and Instagram accounts following his arrest, investigators allegedly found communication with Pakistanbased Shahzad Bhatti, who is said to be a designated terrorist, and his associates, police sources said. The police have registered a case against seven individuals, including three identified as Scores of journalists sat in protest in front of Parliament Street Police Station here on Sunday demanding registration of an FIR on sexual harassment complaints of three women scribes against Delhi police personnel. The police finally transferred the plaints to its Crime Branch for “impartial enquiry”. Members of Congress, AAP and CJP joined in the journalists’ protest after three women scribes said they were sexually harassed by cops durSpat among ing detention of protesters supporters at Jantar Mantar at SaturCongress, AAP, day’s agitation against CJP and AISA Chief Election Commissupporters have sioner Gyanesh Kumar. been swiping at They alleged no women each other on X personnel had been present although AISA’s at the spot. One of the comNeha Bora and plainants claimed that an CJP’s Abhijeet Assistant Commissioner of Dipke reaffirmed Police had sexually assaulttheir support for ed her. “I asked ACP Vivek each other and Bhagat of the Delhi Police their struggle about the absence of women police personnel, following which he sexually assaulted me and pushed me back,” she said. The New Delhi district police in a statement said the complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch which will examine the allegations. The Press Club of India pointed out that the woman journalist had spent hours at the police station on Saturday night to get an FIR registered. “Behaviour of this kind cannot be normalised in a democracy Journalists must . be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues,” it said in a statement. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi questioned the delay in police action and raised concerns about the safety of women. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Shivamogga a games to remember Members of the Indian contingent wave the Tricolour and walk during the Asian Games Closing Ceremony in Nagoya on Sunday. India finished fourth in the medal tally with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals (85 medals). Athletics brought 24 medals (1 gold) while boxers (3 gold), archers (5 gold) and shooters (3 gold) stole the show with stellar performances. India will look to build on the momentum and shift the focus to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles | PTI | P11 NIA takes Bidar youth to Bengaluru to grill him on ‘terror’ links M a r u t i B a vi d o d d i @ B i d a r UDAYA N K I S HO R E @ New Delhi Visvesvaraya steel plant records `1.96 cr profit in Sept: Kumaraswamy ‘Climate-proof tech can end farmers’ distress’ Rainfall will decrease in the coming days, though there might be some light rain because of cyclones, he added. Narendra Swamy who is also , district in-charge minister, said this was what was discussed at a recent conference of agriculture ministers in New Delhi. After journo stir, Delhi cops send sex harassment complaints to CB Pakistanis, in connection with alleged unlawful activities reported on October 2, 2026. The case has also led to the registration of a separate criminal case against five accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The seven individuals named in the case are Vishal alias Vijaykumar Metre (24), Shahzad Bhatti, Rana Hunain and Nomi Khan, identified as Pakistani nationals, Ashu Sharma of Mainpuri district in Uttar Pradesh, Raj Bhai of Khargone district in Madhya Pradesh and another unidentified person from Bidar. The police are investigating the roles played by each accused. In a related development, the police registered a case, Crime No. 83/2026, against five individuals – Shahzad Bhatti, Rana Hunain, Nomi Khan, Ashu Sharma and Raj Bhai alias Lucky Singh. The case records indicate their suspected links to activities associated with designated terror organisations. The police reportedly found that Rana Hunain had used WhatsApp profiles under the names ‘Rahe Haq’ and ‘RANA BHAI 333’. His alleged activities, along with information gathered about the other accused, came under police scrutiny . Cases have been registered under Sections 18, 20 and 39 of UAPA, along with relevant provisions of the BNS, 2023. The Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant in Bhadravathi has recorded a profit for the third consecutive month, signalling an improvement in the financial performance of the lossmaking unit, Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy said. The plant recorded a net profit of Rs 33 lakh in July, Rs 1.71 crore in August and Rs 1.96 crore in September, he stated in a press release. He attributed the improvement to reforms undertaken after he assumed charge as Union steel minister, continued monitoring and frequent visits to the plant. The recent performance is encouraging and reflects the commitment and collective effort of the workforce, he stated. VISL’s net revenue rose to Rs 51.87 crore in September, compared with Rs 27.48 crore in the same period last year. The plant recorded a net loss of Rs 3.78 crore in September 2025. The unit’s cumulative net loss through September 2026 stood at Rs 2.03 crore, a substantial improvement from the Rs 22.77 crore loss recorded during the corresponding period last year. Kumaraswamy said the improvement of over Rs 20 crore demonstrated the progress made in strengthening the It reflects the commitment and hard work of our workforce. I congratulate our workers and the entire plant team for this encouraging performance HD Kumaraswamy, Union Steel Minister plant’s financial position. “It reflects the commitment and hard work of our workforce. I congratulate our workers and the entire plant team for this encouraging performance,” Kumaraswamy said. He urged VISL workers to maintain the momentum and continue efforts to improve operational efficiency and build a stronger and more sustainable future for the plant.