India has advised its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain “alert and vigilant” amid the prevailing situation in the Kingdom. In an advisory issued on October 8, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh urged citizens to follow local authorities’ instructions, stay indoors as necessary and exercise caution. Indians were also strongly advised against circulating or reposting videos or news related to ongoing events. The embassy, Indian Consulate in Jeddah and their VFS-supported services continue to function normally, while further advisories will be issued if necessary. The 24x7 Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra helpline remains operational. The advisory comes amid escalating Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, with reported explosions, flight disruptions and deaths at Riyadh and Abha airports.

The US Department of Labour has suspended major IT outsourcing firms, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL, from the Permanent Labour Certification Program (PERM), alleging abuse of the system used to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency. PERM is a labour certification generally required before employers can sponsor foreign workers for employment-based green cards, although it does not apply to every green-card category. The report also states that Microsoft and Adobe were suspended amid federal investigations, while nine universities face probes over alleged wage undercutting. The suspensions could affect major Indian IT companies that rely on foreign-worker programmes, although the article provides no further details about the specific allegations or duration of the suspensions.

Ratan Tata’s beloved pet dog Goa was injured in a car accident outside Bombay House, the Tata Group headquarters in Mumbai’s Fort area, on Thursday. The dog was taken inside the building, described as his favourite space, where he received prompt medical attention. Noel Tata also visited to check on him. By evening, Goa was reportedly doing well, apart from howling when his injured paw was touched. Parish priest Fr Joseph D’Souza said Goa was on the road to recovery and expected to be the “showstopper” at the Blessing of Pets ceremony at Our Lady of Health Church in Cavel, Kalbadevi, scheduled for Sunday, October 11. The report did not provide further details about the accident. (PC: X)

Veteran actor Nana Patekar was cremated with full state honours at his Donje farmhouse in Pune on Thursday, amid chants of “Nana Amar Rahe.” His son Malhar lit the funeral pyre. According to his associates, Patekar had expressed a wish to be cremated at his farmhouse. Film personalities including Jackie Shroff, Sajid Nadiadwala and Anil Sharma attended the funeral, alongside political dignitaries. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also paid his last respects, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute at Pune airport. Patekar, 75, died on October 8 after suffering cardiac arrest at his Goa residence. Doctors tried to revive him for nearly 45 minutes before he was declared dead at 5:20 am.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will not launch military action against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, while saying Washington and Tehran are engaged in “productive discussions.” In a Truth Social post, Trump said the US blockade of Iran would remain fully in place despite the diplomatic talks. His announcement comes as the two countries continue exchanging proposals aimed at ending the conflict and addressing disputes involving the Strait and Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump described Iran as being in very poor economic and military condition, while maintaining that the blockade would continue. The announcement signals a pause in potential US strikes until the midterm elections, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Bangladesh is seeking a new, longer-term Ganges water-sharing agreement with India before the existing 1996 treaty expires on December 12, 2026. Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said Dhaka wants a revised agreement with guarantee provisions protecting Bangladesh’s required dry-season water share. He said both sides are working through the Joint Rivers Commission and expressed hope that a new arrangement would be completed before the deadline. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said negotiations on transboundary rivers and the treaty’s future are continuing through discussion, dialogue and diplomacy, with international law also being considered. Bangladesh and India share 54 transboundary rivers, while the Teesta dispute remains separate from the Ganges treaty. (PC: AFP)

US authorities have suspended major IT services firms, including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCLTech and Cognizant, from participating in the PERM employment-based Green Card sponsorship programme. The News18 report says the move follows allegations of systemic visa fraud and misuse of labour certification processes designed to protect domestic wages. With PERM processing halted, the primary route to permanent residency for tens of thousands of skilled professionals on H-1B visas has effectively closed. More than 100,000 Indian technology workers and their families face uncertainty. Affected workers may struggle to change employers, accept promotions or switch roles without resetting multi-year filing timelines, while families face financial and long-term planning pressures and decisions. (PC: X)

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has issued a security advisory to Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions following attacks targeting airports in the Kingdom. Indians have been urged to remain alert, stay indoors when necessary and strictly follow instructions from Saudi authorities through official channels. The embassy also advised nationals not to circulate or repost videos or news related to the ongoing situation. The advisory follows attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports that reportedly killed three people and injured 36. Indian diplomatic and VFS services in Riyadh and Jeddah continue to operate normally, while a 24-hour helpline remains available. (PC: X)

The 57th GST Council meeting has approved major changes aimed at making GST enforcement less punitive for taxpayers. The Council decided to remove arrest powers of GST officers and raise the threshold for launching prosecution from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. It also removed the mandatory minimum punishment, leaving decisions on fines or imprisonment to judicial discretion. The general penalty where no specific penalty applies has been reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000. The Council also recommended that GST notices below ₹10,000 should not be issued and existing ones below that amount withdrawn. The reforms are intended to improve ease of doing business. (PC: ANI)

Pakistan has reportedly stepped up military support for Saudi Arabia as the newly activated Makkah Defence Pact enters practical implementation amid escalating Houthi attacks. According to a New York Times report cited by India Today, Pakistani fighter jets were used in strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. Around 8,000 Pakistani troops are also estimated to be stationed in Saudi Arabia. However, Pakistan’s Information Ministry has rejected the report of PAF jets striking Houthis as “fake and fabricated,” while the military has confirmed Pakistani forces are present in Saudi Arabia. The pact focuses on collective defence and rapid deployment of capabilities. (PC: India Today)