ISRAEL – UAE – INDIA
Israel and India pay tribute to Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, who, through his courage, managed to stop the Omani co-pilot who was attempting to hijack the aircraft and (possibly) crash it. He was seriously injured in the struggle and underwent surgery yesterday in Saudi Arabia; he is currently reported to be in a stable condition. Although the pilot was struck in the neck by a slash from a blade, he managed to open the cockpit, allowing some passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker; another pilot on board then safely landed the aircraft. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have both paid tribute to his actions, which proved crucial in preventing a massacre. Machchhar is reportedly from Gujarat, of the Hindu faith, and holds a licence to fly Boeing 737s (737-800 and 737 MAX 8/9), with around 15 years’ experience in commercial aviation and approximately 9,750 hours on the 737, of which over 6,400 were as captain with SpiceJet.
INDONESIA
Police today arrested the captain of the vessel that capsized on 13 September in the Java Sea, causing the deaths of at least 78 people, whilst a further 57 remain missing as the (difficult) search operations are still ongoing. The ferry Virgo Transport 8 had 243 people on board when it capsized due to bad weather whilst crossing from Surabaya (East Java) to Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan). A further 108 people are believed to have survived. The captain is suspected of having breached the law by knowingly operating a vessel unfit for navigation, an offence punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment where there are fatalities.
CHINA
To mark China’s National Day, celebrated today, 1 October, President Xi Jinping urged the nation to continue on its path with “firm confidence” and to take “concrete steps” towards the great “national rejuvenation”. Xi, who also holds the posts of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made these remarks yesterday during a reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The occasion marked the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The President went on to call for greater exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait and for the fight against secessionist forces seeking ‘independence’, whilst promoting the peaceful development of relations between the two sides of the Strait to facilitate reunification.
BANGLADESH
Health authorities recorded 1,948 new cases of dengue fever and at least six deaths linked to the haemorrhagic fever outbreak yesterday alone, according to a statement from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Since the start of this year’s outbreak, Bangladesh has recorded 245 deaths and 79,620 infections to date. Last year, the disease claimed 413 lives and affected 102,861 people. In response to the growing outbreak, pest control teams in various municipalities have continued large-scale insecticide spraying operations.
PAKISTAN – AFGHANISTAN
Pakistani air strikes launched today in Afghanistan hit three homes, killing nine people, according to the Afghan Taliban government. In contrast, Islamabad stated that the attacks had killed 22 ‘terrorists’ after targeting their hideouts, against a backdrop of growing tension between the two neighbouring countries following three months of relative calm. The victims of the attacks in the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Helmand included women and children, the Afghan Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced on X, adding that a further 11 people were injured. An attack carried out by militants on a police facility in north-western Pakistan last month, which claimed the lives of 24 people, has reignited tensions.
VIETNAM
In a rare and unusual move, the country’s leaders have acknowledged the existence of public dissent, recognising the presence of “divergent opinions” on a major development project in Hanoi, after more than 25 per cent of those taking part in a consultation voted against the initiative. Although the communist regime has little tolerance for dissent, during September it encouraged the public to voice their views on multi-billion-dollar plans to redevelop areas along Hanoi’s Red River and those surrounding a historic lake in the city centre. Thousands of homes have already been demolished or earmarked for demolition as part of a century-long urban development plan approved in May, which envisages the construction of infrastructure, luxury residential complexes and parks. The project was first presented in early 2026, but the public consultation revealed a more detailed map indicating exactly which homes would be demolished.
RUSSIA – IRAN
Speaking at the forum ‘The Role of Culture in Russian-Iranian Interaction’ at the Russian State University for the Humanities, the Iranian ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said that Iran and Russia are ‘experiencing a period of rebirth in bilateral relations’. The diplomat noted that Moscow and Tehran have experienced periods of peace and periods of difficulty in their bilateral relations at various points in history, but now “our countries are close, thanks to the presidents of both nations, Vladimir Putin and Masud Pezeshkyan”.
ARMENIA
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed with Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporacion America Airports, the progress of airport programmes in Armenia and prospects for expansion. The parties discussed in particular the development of Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan and Širak Airport in Gyumri – both of which are operated under concession by the company – as well as infrastructure improvements and the implementation of other investment projects.
