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 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.

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)

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals of the Arctic Open 2026 in Vantaa, Finland, defeating Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-15, 21-15 in 49 minutes. The sixth-seeded Indian held her nerve during crucial stages, winning six consecutive points after the first game was tied at 15-all and taking eight of the next 10 points after the second game reached 13-all. Sindhu will next face top seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the quarterfinals. The two have not met since 2022, with Intanon leading their head-to-head record 9-4. (PC: ANI)

Indian equity markets suffered another sharp decline on October 8, with the Nifty 50 falling 1.64% to 22,231.80 after touching a fresh 52-week low of 22,179.90. The Sensex dropped 1,045.46 points to 71,593.24. BSE-listed companies lost around ₹12.64 lakh crore in market capitalisation over two sessions, amid elevated crude oil prices, high US bond yields and continued foreign investor selling. Metal, realty and energy stocks faced heavy pressure, while midcap and smallcap indices fell more than 2%. The RBI’s recent rate hike and geopolitical concerns further weakened investor sentiment. (PC: BT)

Shah Rukh Khan paid an emotional tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died on October 8 at the age of 75. Sharing a heartfelt note, SRK remembered Patekar as a mentor, teacher, critic and friend. He recalled their first meeting and Nana’s blunt advice to focus on being an actor rather than simply looking like a hero. Khan also described Patekar’s unusual way of showing affection, saying his scolding often ended in warmth and hugs. SRK expressed regret over not having more conversations, arguments, tea and carrom games with him. He concluded by calling Nana a masterful actor and an unforgettable personality. (PC: X)

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on October 8, had a notable association with the Indian Army beyond his film career. He had joined the Territorial Army in the late 1980s and underwent extensive military training while preparing for his 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack. During the 1999 Kargil War, Patekar approached then Defence Minister George Fernandes for permission to serve alongside troops. After approval, he paused his acting career and spent around 60 days with the Army’s Quick Reaction Team, serving across Srinagar, Dras and Leh. He reportedly lost about 20 kg during the deployment. (PC: NDTV)