Nepal has condemned a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah oilfield that resulted in the death of a Nepali migrant worker and injuries to others. The incident, which also killed a Filipino national and injured Indian and Pakistani nationals, occurred amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Another attack on King Fahd International Airport also claimed an Indian life.
India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims, in Saudi Arabia due to ongoing flight cancellations and regional tensions. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is providing assistance, coordinating with Saudi authorities, and helping facilitate the early return of affected individuals amidst disruptions caused by drone and missile attacks.
An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This incident follows another attack on the Shaybah oilfield where an Indian was also injured, amidst escalating strikes by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi infrastructure.
India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to take precautions due to heightened security concerns following drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The advisory includes instructions on what to do during an aerial attack and notes flight disruptions, with Indian carriers suspending services until late October.
India has advised its nationals in Saudi Arabia to 'remain calm and vigilant' due to an evolving security situation, including drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which recently resulted in the death of an Indian national and injuries to several others.
India has strongly condemned the recent Houthi militant attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports, asserting that the targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable.
Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, who was convicted of blasphemy over a Facebook comment. The decision comes after sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Sri Lankan government. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake welcomed the verdict, highlighting the importance of patient diplomacy.
A senior Pakistan Army general has confirmed the presence of Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia, operating in "multiple capabilities" and "domains" amidst escalating Houthi attacks. This deployment is linked to the Makkah defence pact, a trilateral agreement with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia for collective deterrence, though specific details remain classified. Both Pakistan and Turkiye emphasise the defensive nature of their involvement.
India has strongly condemned a major attack on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in 12 deaths and over 300 injuries. New Delhi called the repeated targeting of civilians and infrastructure "completely unacceptable" and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
India has issued a new advisory for its citizens in Saudi Arabia, urging them to follow local instructions, stay indoors during aerial attacks, and be aware of ongoing flight disruptions. The advisory follows an October 10 attack on Riyadh airport that injured several Indians, with some still hospitalised. Major Indian airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi cities until late October, impacting travellers and Umrah pilgrims.
India has issued an advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to stay indoors during aerial attacks and follow local instructions, amidst ongoing tensions and drone/missile attacks by Houthi rebels. The advisory follows an attack on Riyadh airport that killed one Indian national and injured several others, leading to flight suspensions by Indian carriers.
India has issued an advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant and stay indoors due to an escalating security situation involving Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure, including airports. The advisory also cautions against circulating related news and confirms the normal functioning of Indian diplomatic missions. Flight services from India to Riyadh have been cancelled by Air India and Air India Express until October 10 following the attacks.
Saudi Arabia defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 to win the 27th Gulf Cup, marking their first title in 22 years. Goals from Hammam Al Hammami and Feras Al Brikan secured the victory, with the Saudi team maintaining a clean sheet throughout the tournament.
Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to deploy military forces in Saudi Arabia as part of the Makkah Alliance for Defence. This decision follows recent attacks by Houthi rebels and aims to strengthen collective deterrence against threats to Saudi Arabia. The alliance, formed in August, considers an attack on one member as an attack on all.
An Indian national was killed and ten others injured in an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy confirmed the death and ongoing medical care for the injured. India has strongly condemned the repeated attacks, which Saudi Arabia blames on Yemen's Houthis, and called for an immediate cessation of violence.
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is in stable condition in Saudi Arabia after being seriously injured while preventing his co-pilot from crashing a Flydubai flight. He was stabbed during the incident, but managed to alert others, leading to the co-pilot's incapacitation and a safe landing. Both Indian and Israeli leaders have praised his heroic actions.
Top defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye have affirmed their commitment to the Makkah Defence Alliance, a trilateral pact aimed at collective security against threats, particularly from Yemen's Houthi rebels. The alliance, formed last month, considers an attack on one as an attack on all, and its members met in Riyadh to discuss intelligence sharing, military coordination, and capability integration to defend Saudi Arabia's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is hailed as a 'real hero' by a senior Israeli official for his bravery during a mid-air 'terror act' on a Flydubai flight, preventing a 'bigger tragedy' after being attacked by his co-pilot with a knife.
The Saudi-led coalition issued a stern warning to Yemen's Houthi rebels after intercepting a drone targeting Mecca, Islam's holiest city. Describing it as a "hostile and terrorist act," the coalition declared the security of holy sites a "red line" and vowed deterrent measures. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with both sides exchanging accusations of military operations and civilian targeting.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning that the Makkah Defence Alliance, a newly formed pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, stands ready to activate its collective defence provisions in response to escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline shutdown could make crude costlier for India as refiners face fewer supply routes and rising freight and insurance costs.
Saudi Arabia will conduct the preliminary investigation into the Omani co-pilot who attempted to crash flydubai flight FZ1073, after the Tel Aviv-bound plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Tabuk Airport.
A newly-wed woman in Keralam has filed a complaint against her husband and in-laws, accusing them of dowry harassment and physical assault. She alleges brutal attacks in Saudi Arabia, where her husband works, and in Keralam, leading to a police investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act.
India has expressed serious concern over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's civilian infrastructure and economic assets, stating that such actions threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the issue with his Saudi counterpart. India also condemned the targeting of commercial shipping after an Indian national went missing following an attack on a Panama-flagged ship off Oman.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reiterated the nation's unwavering commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, underscoring its role in regional security following an attempted drone attack near the holy city of Mecca. The pact, signed by Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia, establishes a framework for collective deterrence against armed attacks.
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an apparent altercation in the cockpit. Israeli officials confirmed a "severe disaster" was averted, with initial fears of a hijacking prompting fighter jet deployment. Passenger accounts described panic and a pilot being stabbed, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Any military response to a cross-border terror attack from Pakistan will have to take into account the new alignments beginning to take shape in the region, points out former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
Fighting in Yemen has intensified as Houthi rebels advance on strategic government-held areas like Marib and Taiz, putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to respond. The conflict is also linked to wider US-Iran tensions affecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with former US President Trump commenting on the situation.
BRICS nations have successfully reached a consensus on a joint statement following extensive negotiations, with India playing a crucial role in bridging differences, particularly among West Asian members like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, despite regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
A question has been raised whether the Mecca Pact will have a negative impact on our doctrine that the Operation Sindoor has only been suspended and that it would be resumed if Pakistan engages in terrorism in the future. But the Mecca Pact only speaks of aggression, not defence against terrorism, points out Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Bangladesh is considering joining a newly formed defence alliance between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye, with junior ministers stating that any decision would be based on national interests and a "Bangladesh First" policy. The pact, signed in Makkah, aims for collective deterrence.
Axios has reported that a new US intelligence report has found that Iran has "substantially increased" its efforts to target American diplomats and officials in the Middle East. The intel memo which Axios cited also said that plots against American diplomats were reaching "advanced stages."
Air India has extended the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia until October 20, 2026, due to escalating tensions and Houthi attacks in the region. IndiGo and Akasa Air have also extended their flight suspensions to Saudi cities, with passengers offered full refunds.
US missions across West Asia have issued a security alert advising American nationals to "exercise heightened vigilance" due to Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the potential for Iran and its allies to target US interests. The advisory warns of potential travel disruptions and escalating hostilities, linking the Houthi actions to Iran's regional network and the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has vehemently denied "outrageous and categorically false" allegations in a new book, "Princes and Thieves," which claims he accessed secret bank accounts linked to UAE, Saudi, and Israeli funds. Kushner stated on X that the author provided no evidence and that such claims never surfaced during his extensive past investigations.
The Indian rupee depreciated by 43 paise to close at 94.81 against the US dollar, influenced by a negative trend in domestic equity markets, surging crude oil prices, and significant foreign institutional investor outflows.
7 Dogs has all the money, stars and kinetic action you could want, but its vanity-project sheen cannot hide a painfully generic screenplay, observes Sreeju Sreedharan.
'It beggars belief that Saudi Arabia would deploy military force against India, a top partner and market.'
Indian paddlers Jehan Dorab Madan and Shubham Wadhwa secured a bronze medal in the men's doubles MD4 table tennis event at the Asian Para Games. Despite a 0-3 loss to South Korea in their final group match, their overall performance placed them among the top four, earning them a podium finish. Jehan Madan, at 50, became the oldest Indian medallist at the event.
Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel secured another victory at the Asian Para Games, defeating Jordan's Faten Eleimat in women's para table tennis. While Patel topped her group, other Indian paddlers like Sonalben Patel, Shubham Wadhwa, Ekta Bhyan, Jehan Madan, and Dattaprasad Chougule faced mixed results in their respective categories.
