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.
Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April due to escalating Middle East tensions, reducing the 2026 F1 calendar from 24 to 22 races.
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.
Naveen Puligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif will race in WRC3 class as the World Rally Championship (WRC) makes its historic debut in Saudi Arabia.
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.
Pakistan is set to host a quadrilateral summit of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye to discuss the ongoing conflict in West Asia and explore avenues for peace negotiations.
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.
Saudi Arabia, who were invited to play in the tournament by the North American soccer governing body and reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group D, did well to contain heavy favourites Mexico's attack in the first half.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nine Indian nationals were killed in a road accident near Jizan in western Saudi Arabia. The Indian mission in Jeddah said it is providing full support and is in touch with the authorities and families.
The UAE has initiated an investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was forced to divert and land in Saudi Arabia. An Indian pilot was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight, leading to an emergency landing. Authorities are examining all circumstances, including potential links to terrorist activity, asserting UAE jurisdiction over the UAE-registered aircraft.
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.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that evidence suggests a flydubai pilot attempted to crash a Tel Aviv-bound flight, but was stopped by an Israeli passenger and a crew member.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday signed a key joint defence agreement under which an attack against one of them will be treated as an attack against all of them, amid increasing security concerns in the wake of escalating tensions in West Asia.
Hammad Albalawi, head of Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid unit, said his country welcomes all visitors, including LGBTQ people and their bid to host the 48-team showpiece event has nothing to do with 'sportswashing' their human rights record.
Air India Express, Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo have cancelled flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following reported attacks by Houthi militants on Riyadh and Abha airports, with cancellations extended until at least October 9-10.
India is closely monitoring the health of Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot who bravely saved a flydubai flight despite being stabbed by his co-pilot. Machchhar, initially treated in Saudi Arabia, has been moved to Abu Dhabi for further medical care, with Indian diplomatic missions providing full support.
A news report details how Israel scrambled fighter jets and stood ready to shoot down a Flydubai plane after a co-pilot's cockpit stabbing attempt led to a rapid descent and fears of a hijacking en route to Tel Aviv.
Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia have signed a trilateral defence pact, agreeing to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. Analysts suggest this alliance could significantly diminish the United States' strategic influence in West Asia and elevate Pakistan's geopolitical standing, potentially acting as a deterrent in regional conflicts.
Israel has implemented new aviation security directives, barring pilots and cabin crew from countries without diplomatic ties, including Pakistan, from entering its airspace. This follows a hijacking attempt last month on a flight to Israel, where Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while thwarting the plot. The restrictions affect over two dozen nationalities and have prompted airlines like Air France and United Airlines to adjust crew assignments.
With the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed unease over travelling to the country for the upcoming Jeddah Grand Prix.
India and Saudi Arabia on Monday decided to expedite implementation of the $50 billion West Coast refinery project, and identified energy, defence, semiconductor and space as areas for intensified cooperation during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The Saudi statement came as tensions soared significantly, with Pakistan claiming that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones early Saturday.
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.
'Her presence lit up the room as she reflected on a remarkable career that has shaped generations of Indian cinema.'
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar bravely recounts his terrifying mid-air ordeal aboard a flydubai flight last month, detailing how his quick thinking and survival instinct thwarted a co-pilot's planned suicide attack and saved over 170 lives.
India's anti-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has registered a case to investigate a mid-air attack on Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, inside the cockpit of an Israel-bound flydubai flight, citing an "apparent attempt to hijack or cause it to crash."
India has once again raised alarms over the escalation in the security situation in the Red Sea area and strongly condemned Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabian territory, "including on civilians and economic assets."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr's second goal in their 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan's Neftchi in the AFC Champions League Elite, a match that was delayed by an hour due to a security warning in Riyadh.
Carlos Alcaraz reveals prize money attracted him to Saudi's Six Kings Slam
Indian shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, marking his third medal at the continental event. He achieved a throw of 20.64m, while Iran's Mohammadreza Tayebise won gold with a new Games record of 20.81m, breaking Toor's previous record.
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is being hailed as a hero after he thwarted an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a flydubai flight carrying nearly 180 people. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, Machchhar fought back, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. Indian envoys met his family in Dubai, assuring full government support, while the co-pilot has been arrested in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for a lifetime ban on football fans who chanted the name of deceased former teammate Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match. The incident, which occurred during a game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal, deeply affected Neves, a close friend of Jota.
Saudi Arabia said this month it had executed 81 men, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian.
