TIRUCHY  THURSDAY  OCTOBER 01, 2026  `9.00  PAGES 12  LATE CITY EDITION CENTRE NOTIFIES TIGHTER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CAFE-III NORMS The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy norms for passenger vehicles target a 16.7% improvement in fleet-average over five years SOFTER TARGETS FOR LIGHTER VEHICLES EXPECT MORE FUEL-SAVING TECH IN CARS The benchmark for average fuel consumption will tighten from 3.996 litres per 100 km in 2027-28 to 3.327 litres per 100 km in 2031-32, a 16.7% improvement. The reference vehicle weight has been raised to 1,229 kg from 1,082 kg under the existing norms, meaning relatively softer targets for lighter vehicles and greater efficiency requirements for heavier ones ■ ■ Battery electric and range-extended electric vehicles will get a 3.0 volume multiplier, meaning every vehicle sold will be counted as three, helping carmakers score more efficiency points than fossil fuel cars The number of accepted fuel-saving technologies has risen from 4 to 12. These include start-stop systems, tyre-pressure monitoring etc April 1, 2027 WHEN THE NEW NORMS WILL KICK IN. THEY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT TILL 2032 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 FLIGHT FZ1073 1 5.21 UTC: Flight begins steep descent, followed by a sharp ascent, repeats it, as per Flightradar24 Modi, Trump hold first call since Russia bill’s passage 2 2 1 3 4 J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to maintain close engagement to advance the India-US strategic partnership in their first conversation since the US passed the Russia sanctions law. The call also came as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in the US for talks aimed at advancing a proposed bilateral trade agreement and securing an interim trade arrangement. During the telephone conversation, Modi and Trump reviewed cooperation in trade, defence, energy and critical technologies and other areas of mutual interest, an official release said. They “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and agreed to maintain close engagement to deepen cooperation,” the statement said. “Had a productive conversation with President Trump,” Modi wrote on X. The call came amid rising trade tensions after the US enactment of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, allowing the US to slap up to 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India. MRPL UNIT BLAST Smoke erupts after a massive explosion at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited oil refinery in Mangaluru, Karnataka on Wednesday | PTI ROUTE OF FLY DUBAI FLIGHT 5.28.48 am: Aircraft begins squawking 7700, a discreet international code to indicate general emergency 3 05:33 am: Aircraft then oscillates around an altitude of about 15,000 feet. Ground speed varies significantly 4 05:35 am: Switches to squawk 7500, another code to indicate unlawful interference. Flight then turns west, briefly entering Jordanian airspace before turning back 180 degrees and heading southwest toward Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. It switches back to squawk 7700 as it approached Tabuk, lands at 6.58 am INFLIGHT TERROR High drama aboard Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight as co-pilot stabs captain, tries to crash plane; aircraft plunges 17,000 ft; off-duty pilots take control, make emergency landing A G E N C I E S @ Dubai/Jerusalem A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport on Wednesday after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain with a knife and tried to intentionally crash the plane with 174 passengers, most of them Israelis. The incident prompted Israel to close its airspace and scramble warplanes over fears that the jet had been hijacked. Flight-tracking data showed the plane suddenly plummeted, losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute. The aircraft subsequently transmitted emergency signals, including a code indicating possible unlawful interference. Following the pandemonium, two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were travelling in the same plane as passengers entered the cockpit and took control of the flight. The knife-wielding copilot was subdued with the help of passengers and the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia for emergency landing. The off-duty pilots landed the NO CONFIRMATION Israeli news website Ynet, citing officials, reported that the pilot was Indian and the co-pilot was an Omani national, who was suspected of trying to crash the aircraft. The Indian captain fought with him to prevent the crashing, with Israeli passengers later helping subdue the co-pilot. But there was no independent confirmation of the pilot’s nationality plane safely and the passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv in another aircraft. “The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport. All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for,” a Flydubai spokesperson said. Flydubai said the reasons for the fight between the pilots were unknown. “At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation. We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts,” a spokersperson said. The airline said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and that all passengers were safe. “The captain and copilot were found to have injuries and were transported to hospital,” a statement from the Tabuk airport said. An Israeli official said there may have been an attempt to attack Israelis, and an investigation is ongoing. He said that a “major disaster was narrowly avoided” adding passengers had prevented an ‘Israeli 9/11’ by tying up the assailant. While Flydubai did not disclose the identities of the pi- Capital war: Rival states INDIA to take fight against CEC to streets camp in Chennai to woo investors & dealmakers P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi C S H I V A K U M A R @ Chennai TAMIL Nadu’s status as one of India’s favoured industrial destinations is being challenged on its own turf as rival states are opening offices in Chennai to reach out to companies for potential investment and to poach professionals trained at Guidance Tamil Nadu, the state’s primary investment promotion agency . The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board, a state investment promotion agency, is considering setting up office in Chennai. Invest UP, Uttar Pradesh’s investment promotion agency, recently established an office in the city Har. yana is also expected to follow suit, said sources at the state industries department. An Invest UP official privately called the contest among states a “blood sport”. An industries department source told TNIE that other state agencies have attempted to lure investment-promotion professionals trained at Guidance Tamil Nadu. Both AP and UP agencies are also carrying out this employee-poaching that the state industries department has called a “serious concern”. States should compete on their own strengths, not try to lure other’s staff, the source said. “Our approach has never been ‘Poaching’ from TN Sources said AP & UP agencies have attempted to poach officials trained in Guidance TN and called it a “serious concern.” As the TN agency prepares for a pay revision, employees have been asked to sign a bond promising not to join offices associated with competing states, say sources. to compete on incentives alone,” he added, pointing to Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem, infrastructure, talent, speed of execution, and policy continuity. As Guidance prepares for a pay revision, staffs have been asked to sign a bond promising not to join offices associated with competing states, according to people familiar with the discussions held this week. “There is huge demand for officials from Guidance because they are more skilled,” a former P2 Guidance official said. IN a show of unity, 20 INDIA bloc parties came together here on Wednesday to announce a joint action plan demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to ballot papers over EVMs. Kumar has been under Opposition and civil society fire for a week since reports revealed a rift in the functioning of the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. After a three-hour-meeting, the INDIA bloc parties, in a CHEQUERED HISTORY Raja brought food for the police in the van, along with arms, as instructed by the Inspector General, said Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission report. On an inspector’s orders, he got atop the van and “opened fire twice according to the visual, though he claims he fired only once”. The bullets “might or might not have hit anyone ... it hit the headlines in the newspapers and was subject of debate on the floor of the Assembly as well,” the report said. Raja passed away at the age of 46 at a hospital due to a kidney illness. joint press meet, announced country in October and Novemthey would rope in youngsters ber, including one in Delhi on and civil society organisations November 1. and hold ‘Save Democracy’ Congress president Mallikarmarches from October jun Kharge, former 2-8 before district magparty chiefs Sonia istrate offices to press Gandhi and Rahul their charge of ‘vote Gandhi, TMC chief chori’. On October 6, Mamata Baner jee, all opposition MPs will CPM general secretary march to the EC headM A Baby Jammu and , quarters in Delhi. OpKashmir Chief Minisposition leaders will ter Omar Abdullah, Gyanesh Kumar seek an appointment RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav with the President in and NCP (SP) MP Suthe second week of October to priya Sule were among those at submit a representation on the the meeting; Shiv Sena (UBT) matter. The bloc will also hold chief Uddhav Thackeray and five massive rallies across the Jharkhand CM and JMM chief M K A N A N T H & S G O D S O N W I S E LY D A S S @ Chennai / Thoothukudi HE was the unintended poster boy of one of Tamil Nadu’s deadly police firing tragedies. Images of the yellow T-shirtclad Raja aiming and firing a Self Loading Rifle (SLR) at the crowd from a police vehicle went viral during the 2018 ant i - S t e rl i t e p r o t e s t s i n Thoothukudi sparking outrage. Eight years after that fateful firing in which 13 people died, head constable Raja passed away at the age of 46 at a hospital in Thoothukudi on Tuesday losing his final battle , The photo shows Raja atop a police van, aiming his SLR at the crowd during the protest in Thoothukudi to a kidney illness. Volume II of the final report of the “Justice Tmt Aruna Jagadeesan Commission of Inquiry --- Constituted to inquire into the causes and circumstances leading to the Open- S From almost quitting archery to two gold at Asiad: Sahil’s story trial to make it to the Indian team. Over the last two years, though, Sahil has only known big wins. The apogee of his career came on Wednesday Twice in. side the first half of the day at the archery ranges, Sahil occupied the top step of the podium — as part of the mixed team and the men’s side — as Indian archers dominanted the proceedings with three gold medals on Wednesday. The com- INDRANEEL DAS EXPRESS @ ASIAN GAMES NAGOYA pound archer, whose gold in the mixed team event also gave India a quota at LA2028, said he faced no pressure in the final. In fact, his last shot was a 10. A product of the famed Archery Academy in Satara, Maharashtra, he shifted to the National Sahil Jadhav celebrates with his gold after the men’s team event | PTI Hemant Soren joined online. At the briefing, Kharge said the bloc will appeal to the Supreme Court to expedite the cases related to the SIR and electoral malpractices. Kharge said everyone had agreed that all polls should be conducted on ballot papers and that laws framed by this “chori government” should be annulled. He dubbed Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as real “puppeteers” of EC. Sources said Mamata, during the meeting, called for a broader Opposition mobilisation and urged all leaders to set aside their egos to fight the BJP . Armed Reserve ‘cook’, face of police firing during anti-Sterlite stir, dies B U L L’S E Y E OME two years ago, Sahil Jadhav wanted to walk away from archery His ca. reer, he thought, was going nowhere. He was living on borrowed time: mother’s jewellery had already been sold to ensure he would get the required paraphernalia to keep the fire of ambition burning. That flame was about to be extinguished when he was forced to compete with borrowed arrows at a selection lots, some Israeli media outlets identified them as Omani and Emirati nationals. Meanwhile, some reports claimed the captain was Indian national Smit Machchhar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft with Israeli passengers on board. He said the pilot who carried out the stabbing had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities. Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger told him that the aircraft went into a spin and began descending, after which the passenger and a crew member managed to break into the cockpit and, together, they overpowered the pilot who had carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems. He said another crew member then entered the cockpit and helped stabilise the aircraft. “I salute these heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage. They prevented a major disaster,” he said. Centre of Excellence in Kolkata two years ago. Despite their meagre savings, the parents and the coach, Pravin Sawant, kept him in good spirits. “He competed with borrowed arrows during the selection trials and earned a place in the India team,” said his father Rajesh Jadhav. The breakthrough came at the World University Games in 2025 where he came within a whisker of scoring 150 (ended up with 149). Soon, he became the country’s top compound archer. Securing Olympic quota for India was a bonus. “The feeling is great and result of a lot of hard work,” said Sahil, who is still hoping for a Class One job from Maharashtra government. Hard work, determination and no less grit took him from the verge of retirement to the top step of the podium. Next stop? It could well be Los Angeles. ing of Fire Resulting in Death and injury to persons on 22.05.2018 at Thoothukudi …” submitted in August 2022 mentions the role of Raja under the subhead “The Excess Indulged In By The Police - And The Resultant Impairment of Its Image”. According to the report, Raja and Lakshmikanthan and constables Murugan and Jayaprakash (all Armed Reserve cops) were engaged in cooking food for the police personnel when they were asked to take 5 SLRs with 50 bullets to the collectorate where the riots and police firP5 ing had already begun. PRESS INTAKE Vijay accuses DMK and AIADMK of joining hands to oppose TVK | P4 Tiruchy corporation tops Tamil Nadu in property tax collection | P3 Two siblings, aged 10 and six, electrocuted while playing near a defunct water unit | P2 Madras HC rejects plea seeking transfer of probe in Veeramani case from SIT to CBI | P4