An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh was forced to turn back on October 8 after Houthi attacks targeted airports in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over aviation safety. Flight AI2243, which had departed Delhi, returned safely after pilots decided to avoid Saudi airspace. The attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and other Saudi airports reportedly caused casualties, with one person killed and eight injured in one incident. Air India and Air India Express subsequently suspended flights to and from Riyadh until October 10. Passengers affected by cancellations are being offered refunds or rescheduling options. (PC: X)

The US Department of Labor has suspended major IT companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Tata and Capgemini, from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, a key step toward employment-based Green Cards. Officials allege misuse of foreign-worker programmes and say the move aims to protect American jobs. Microsoft and Adobe were also suspended amid federal investigations. The decision means the Labor Department will not accept new or process pending PERM applications involving the affected companies. The suspension does not cancel H-1B visas, but could create significant hurdles for Indian IT professionals seeking permanent residency through their employers. (PC: India Today)

The Delhi government has ordered all liquor shops in the national capital to remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a preventive measure to maintain public order. The Excise Department issued the order based on inputs from Delhi Police, amid ongoing protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral processes. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, although authorities have not granted permission for the gathering. More than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel are being deployed across Delhi ahead of the anticipated protest. (PC: HT)

Thailand’s Queen Suthida has successfully completed her first solo flight in a JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet, marking a significant milestone in her aviation career. The flight took place on October 8 at the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 7 in Surat Thani and was witnessed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and senior Air Force officials. The Queen underwent extensive training, including simulator sessions and flights in a two-seat Gripen with an instructor, before flying the single-seat fighter alone. She has more than 1,188 hours of flying experience across various aircraft. The King later presented her with flowers and a Golden Gripen Order patch. 

The Centre has capped trade margins at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for all non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines, aiming to make cancer treatment more affordable. The measure covers branded and generic, domestic and imported, patented and non-patented drugs. According to government sources, the move could reduce the MRPs of some cancer medicines by up to 70% and save patients around ₹2,500 crore annually. The decision follows concerns raised by the Supreme Court over large differences between retailer purchase prices and MRPs. The policy seeks to curb excessive mark-ups while maintaining medicine availability. 

Indian households’ inflation expectations have risen sharply, reflecting growing concerns about the cost of living. According to the RBI’s September 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey, median inflation expectations for the next year increased to 10%, up from 9.4% in July. Expectations for the next three months also climbed to 9.9%, compared with 9.2% previously. The survey, conducted among 5,987 respondents across 19 cities, found food prices to be a major concern. The findings come shortly after the RBI raised its repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% to address persistent inflationary pressures. 

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on October 8, had once saved ₹1.5 crore to purchase a luxury car. In 2015, however, a television report showing the suffering of families affected by farmer suicides in drought-hit Maharashtra deeply moved him. He decided to use the money to support distressed farming families instead. Along with actor Makarand Anaspure, Patekar later co-founded the NAAM Foundation, focusing on farmer welfare, water conservation and rural development. The foundation has reportedly helped millions of farmers, disaster-affected families and widows, making social service an important part of Patekar’s legacy. (PC: File)

Actor-activist Prakash Raj, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke led a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on October 8 against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Organised as a “People’s Tribunal,” the demonstration brought together women, students and civil-society groups who alleged irregularities and wrongful deletion of voter names. Protesters demanded that the SIR exercise be scrapped and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. Raj argued that the issue concerns citizens’ voting rights and dignity, while Rathee criticised the Election Commission over what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability.

Russia has finalized preparations to provide Iran with a $1 billion loan, but the transfer is awaiting Iranian bank account details. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, disagreements within the Iranian government over how the funds should be used have delayed the payment. Iran’s Planning and Budget Organization reportedly wants the money for vehicle imports, while the Oil Ministry seeks equipment for the energy sector and the Agriculture Ministry wants essential goods. The loan is reportedly the first installment of a planned $20 billion Russian loan. The move comes as Moscow and Tehran deepen financial cooperation amid extensive Western sanctions. (PC: AP)

The 57th GST Council meeting in New Delhi recommended major changes to GST enforcement rules. The Council decided to remove the power of GST officers to arrest taxpayers under the GST law, marking a significant shift toward less punitive tax administration. It also recommended raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, meaning cases involving tax evasion below ₹5 crore would generally not lead to prosecution. Additionally, the Council proposed reducing the general penalty from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000. The reforms aim to simplify compliance, reduce procedural burdens and improve the ease of doing business. (PC: X)