Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered $1 billion to Yemen’s Houthi rebels in exchange for a ceasefire and an end to attacks on the kingdom, according to Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. The proposal reportedly emerged during talks in Tehran involving Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iran offered to mediate between Riyadh and the Houthis amid rising regional tensions. The reported package would support public-sector salaries and civilian infrastructure in Houthi-controlled areas. However, Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the alleged offer or any transfer of funds. (PC: India Today)

Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between 2 am and 4 am on Wednesday, October 28, according to the Meteorological Department. The very severe cyclonic storm is forecast to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to south of Yanam. It is likely to bring sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph. The storm was moving west-northwest over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 18 kmph. The department said its outer spiral band had already reached land, while the cyclone’s faster movement advanced the expected landfall time. (PC: NDTV)

Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered Yemen’s Houthi rebels a $1 billion financial package in an Iran-brokered deal aimed at securing a ceasefire and halting attacks on Saudi infrastructure, according to Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. The proposal was discussed during Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s reported visit to Tehran, where Iran offered to mediate. Participants included Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and senior Iranian officials. Saudi Arabia reportedly promised funding for civilian infrastructure reconstruction and public-sector wages in Houthi-controlled areas, in exchange for an end to attacks. Riyadh said the visit supported de-escalation, dialogue and diplomatic mediation efforts. (PC: NDTV)

New York Times journalist Lydia Polgreen has faced criticism from Indian commentators over her October 26 opinion column, “In India, I Saw Things That Should Scare Trump.” The piece argued that protests in India should concern US President Donald Trump, suggesting young, educated Indians were increasingly willing to challenge the BJP-led central government. Critics questioned whether Polgreen’s week-long visit to New Delhi and conversations at two protest sites could support broad conclusions about the political mood of a country of 1.4 billion people. They argued that demonstrations may reflect genuine grievances without necessarily signalling a wider political shift, while limited turnout alone cannot rule out public discontent. (P C: Anand Singh, Social Media)

Pakistan’s imports from India surged 69 per cent year-on-year to $61.74 million in July–September 2026, compared with $36.55 million during the same period last year, according to State Bank of Pakistan data cited by Dawn. Pakistan reported no exports to India during the quarter, despite both countries maintaining trade restrictions imposed after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Experts suggest intermediary hubs such as the UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka may facilitate shipments, although the figures do not establish whether restrictions were bypassed. Pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals, petroleum products and agricultural goods are among the products traded. The increase highlights continued demand amid strained bilateral relations. (PC: AP)

India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in Wellington on October 27, chasing 199 in just 13.2 overs and securing an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two matches remaining. Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 44 off 19. The opening pair added 133 runs in 7.1 overs, helping India score 118 runs during the powerplay. India reached 50 in just 2.2 overs and crossed 100 within five overs. The victory also extended India’s record in rapid successful chases: the team became the first to complete five chases of 150 or more in fewer than 15 overs, surpassing Australia’s previous mark. (PC: BCCI)

Actress Gal Gadot voted in Israel’s October 27, 2026, election and urged fellow Israelis to exercise their democratic right. In an Instagram story recorded at her polling booth, the former Wonder Woman star encouraged voters to support the candidates they believed in, saying she was voting for change. Gadot also expressed hope for a positive outcome for the country. On Monday night, she received an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University, where she addressed the significance of the election in her acceptance speech. She described voting as an opportunity to make a difference and urged eligible citizens to participate responsibly, guided by their beliefs and concern for fellow Israelis.

Yemen’s Houthi movement on Tuesday claimed responsibility for attacking Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, according to AFP. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the strike had directly hit its target, while AFP correspondents reportedly heard explosions in the Saudi capital earlier that day. However, Saudi Arabia had not confirmed an attack on the ministry. Saudi authorities said their air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed rebels and destroyed three others targeting the country’s eastern region. Saree also claimed the Houthis targeted two military transport aircraft with ballistic missiles, one at Najran airport and another at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. (PC: Reuters)

Innodata India Pvt Ltd has reportedly laid off nearly 550 employees without prior notice, according to a News18 report citing India Today. Employees described a sudden disruption on Monday, October 26, when workers initially logged in and recorded attendance as usual before losing access to company laptops and official accounts around lunchtime. Termination emails were subsequently sent to their personal email addresses. Employees also discovered that payslips had been generated on the company’s HR portal, listing October 26 as their resignation date and last working day. The report said job cuts also affected Innodata’s Philippines team. The US-based company provides data engineering and artificial intelligence services, including data labelling and model training. (PC: News18)

The Bombay High Court on October 27 put on hold the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) ‘Leave India Notice’ issued to actor Imran Khan until Monday, November 2. The court also adjourned the hearing on his petition challenging the notice. The development follows a hearing deferred a day earlier after Khan sought additional time, with the Centre raising no objection. The notice was issued days after the actor participated in a Mumbai protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. During proceedings, senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, opposed an intervention application that questioned whether a civil writ petition challenging the FRRO’s action could be heard on the criminal side. (PC: The Indian Express)