PM Modi lauds Captain Smit Machchhar; pilot says used every bit of energy to save plane

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar over a video call on Friday (October 2, 2026) and lauded him for foiling an attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight. Mr. Modi called the pilot a hero who proved to the world that Indians “are willing to risk their lives to save others”. “Today is Gandhi Jayanti, you have shown the world what the true meaning of ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) is,” Prime Minister Modi told Captain Machchar. The pilot called Mr. Modi his “biggest idol”.

Captain Machchhar is currently hospitalised in the UAE, recovering from wounds he received when his co-pilot attacked him in an alleged bid to seize control of the aircraft that was going to Tel Aviv. A wounded Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door, following which passengers overpowered the co-pilot. The plane later landed safely in Saudi Arabia after two other pilots on board took control.

India women’s hockey team wins Asian Games gold after 44 years, qualifies for 2028 Olympics

The Indian women’s hockey team humbled defending champions China 1-0 on Friday (October 2, 2026) to win their first Asian Games gold medal in 44 years, securing a direct berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Lalremsiami scored the all-important winning goal for India with a fantastic tomahawk in the 10th minute.

The Indians were at their best in defence as they thwarted relentless Chinese attack thereafter, including a penalty stroke save by veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia. With this, India ended a 44-year wait for their second Asian Games gold.

Asian Games 2026: Sujeet Kalkal wins first wrestling gold, beats Olympic champion

Sujeet Kalkal underlined his growing supremacy in the men’s 65 kg wrestling category, clinching the Asian Games gold in Nagoya on Friday (October 2, 2026), while defeating an Olympic champion en route to the title, to crown a stunning year of domination.

He had already beaten stronger Iranian and Japanese rivals on his way to the final, and there was no doubt that the 23-year-old Sujeet would win his first Asian Games gold. But Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev made it challenging for the Indian. Sujeet fell behind 2-9, before scoring eight points in a row in a dramatic turnaround for a sensational victory.

USTR Greer says he does not think “something is imminent” on trade deal with India

While negotiations on an India-U.S. trade deal are nearing the end, the deal itself is not “imminent”, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated on Friday (October 2, 2026) India time. His comments followed a “constructive conversation” with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in the U.S. on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministerial conference.

“We had a very constructive conversation, Minister Goyal and myself,” Mr. Greer said at a press conference. “Our staff is meeting right now, since they’re in the country and we’re here. We are continually trying to finish the trade deal with India.” “I would characterise it, as we say in the U.S., we’re in the short strokes,” he added. “So I think we’re toward the end of it. At the same time, I don’t think there’s something imminent.”

Bombay HC asks if Parth Pawar benefited from Mundhwa land deal, grants pre-arrest bail to accused

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (October 1, 2026) recorded that Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and a Rajya Sabha MP, holds 99% stake in Ameida Enterprises LLP. The LLP bought 40 acres of land in Mundhwa in Pune from the government at a price below value, the court noted.

The court granted bail in anticipation of arrest to Suryakant Yewale, a Tehsildar in Pune. Police have named Mr. Yewale as an accused in the case. The case concerns allegations of irregularities in the purchase of the land in Mundhwa by Ameida Enterprises LLP. The court asked why Mr. Pawar was not named as an accused. Police named Digvijay Patil, who holds 1% stake in the LLP, as an accused. On September 7, Justice Madhav Jamdar directed the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, to file an affidavit explaining why Mr. Pawar’s name had not been added as an accused.

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay launches Vettri Payanam scheme, expanding no-fare bus travel for women

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme on Friday (October 2, 2026), expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons, at the Koyambedu bus terminus in Chennai. Coinciding with Gandhi Jayanthi, Mr. Vijay kickstarted the scheme by issuing free tickets to women passengers.

The Vettri Payanam scheme will reach 84.32 lakh beneficiaries every day. It is an expansion of the five-year-old Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme. In the expanded scheme, women can undertake no-fare travel in the Ordinary, Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe buses in cities and towns, Ordinary buses in mofussil areas, and Ordinary buses in Ghat sections beyond 40 km.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan moves Madras HC seeking passport issuance

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan has filed a writ petition before the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Chennai to expeditiously dispose of his passport application pending with the passport seva kendra (PSK) in Tambaram.

The petitioner has sought a direction to both the RPO and the PSK to consider a representation made by him on September 1, 2026, for taking a time-bound decision on his application for the issuance of an Indian passport. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy adjourned the case by a week, after it was reported that the police were yet to submit their report to the passport authorities.

Commerce Minister Goyal defends India against U.S. forced labour and excess capacity investigations

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal informed the G20 Trade Ministers gathered in the U.S. that India does not have structural excess capacity in the sectors identified by the U.S., and that it has taken steps to prohibit the import of goods made using forced labour.

This comes at a time when the U.S. has already levied a 10% tariff on India for not doing enough to stop imports of goods made using forced labour, and is currently investigating it and other countries for structural excess capacity, which could bring additional tariffs.

Two suspected Pakistani intruders shot dead by BSF in Punjab

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday shot dead two suspected Pakistani intruders along the international border in Punjab, officials said. The incident took place in the Tarn Taran district area around noon.

Two suspected Pakistanis were shot dead by the BSF along the front on Friday (October 2, 2026). Further details are being ascertained, the officials said. Punjab shares a 553-km long front with Pakistan.

Google data centre project cleared for approvals after due diligence of DPR, APIIC tells High Court

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has told the High Court that the detailed project report (DPR) submitted by Raiden Infotech Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Google (Alphabet), for the establishment of Google’s hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam district, and the land allotment proposal were placed before the State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC) and the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) after due diligence.

The allotment of 160 acres of land belonging to Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Vari Devasthanam, situated in Adavivaram and Mudasarlova villages of Visakhapatnam Rural mandal, to the company was made after the project was cleared by the SIPC and the SIPB and then by the Council of Ministers, the APIIC said.