Attacks on Saudi Arabian airports have disrupted flights operated by Indian airlines to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. One Indian was killed and 11 injured in an attack on Riyadh’s international airport on October 12. Eight injured people remain hospitalised, including 4 in intensive care. India condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure and called for an immediate halt to such strikes. The Indian embassy in Riyadh is in regular contact with the Indian community and is assisting travellers affected by flight disruptions. Several Indian airlines have cancelled services until October 17. (PC: HT)

Canada is pushing to finalise a trade agreement with India by the end of 2026 as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to reduce reliance on the United States. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement were progressing well. The deal could increase annual bilateral trade in goods and services to $70 billion by 2030, from $30.4 billion in 2025. Canada also plans to deepen cooperation with the European Union in critical minerals, energy and artificial intelligence. The move comes as Ottawa works to diversify trade partnerships amid US protectionist policies. (PC: Reuters)

A major cyberattack has targeted supermarket refrigeration systems across France, forcing temperatures in fridges and freezers to rise to 50°C. The attack affected hundreds of stores, including outlets operated by Intermarché, Carrefour and Monoprix. Spoiled food, fires and significant financial losses were reported. Investigators suspect hackers exploited weaknesses in outdated refrigeration software. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked the national cybersecurity agency to investigate. The Paris prosecutor’s office has also opened a probe. Officials have warned that the incident exposes serious security gaps in systems essential to food storage and supply chains.  (PC: X)

A Blinkit delivery partner in Mumbai has won hearts online after rescuing an injured puppy and helping it recover with support from fellow riders. The story came to light when Mumbai-based professional Roshan Mhatre noticed the puppy accompanying a delivery partner after placing an order. Curious, he learnt that the dog had been seriously injured after coming under a car’s tyre. Delivery riders at a local warehouse cared for the puppy until it recovered. The dog now stays at the warehouse and joins riders on deliveries. Mhatre shared the experience on LinkedIn, where users praised their kindness. (PC: India Today)

New York City is expected to ban horse-drawn carriages from June 2028, following safety concerns and calls for better treatment of horses. The proposed legislation, known as Romanch’s Law, will be put to a City Council vote on October 22. It gained support after 18-year-old Indian visitor Romanch Mahajan died in June when a horse pulling his carriage bolted in Central Park. Mayor Zohran Mamdani also backs the ban and plans to help workers transition to other jobs. The proposal includes training and financial support, while preventing horses from being sold for slaughter. (PC: BBC)

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Ankita Bhandari’s parents at India Gate in Delhi on Wednesday as they protested against BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor. The family has urged President Droupadi Murmu to put the appointment on hold until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP angle in Ankita’s 2022 murder case. Her father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, said Gautam “should be behind bars”. The allegations against Gautam remain unproven, and he has denied them. The family warned of a hunger strike if its demand is not met. (PC: India Today)

Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has urged citizens and institutions to prepare for worst-case scenarios amid continuing conflict involving the United States and Iran. Addressing the Shura Council, he stressed collective responsibility as attacks on energy facilities by Iran and its proxies, including Yemen’s Houthis, have heightened regional uncertainty and disrupted oil and energy production. Citing attacks affecting Qatar and a recent incident in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, he described Iran’s strikes on Qatar as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty. Al Thani called for intensified efforts to secure Gulf shipping routes, the Strait of Hormuz, energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, warning that Gulf security cannot be compromised.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for a gathering with the national flag at Central Park, Connaught Place, Delhi, on October 16, following the detention of party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The two leaders were sent to five days of judicial custody after waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar. In a video, Dipke urged supporters to assemble at 5 pm and asked people outside Delhi to organise similar gatherings in their cities. Calling the national flag a symbol of pride, he questioned whether waving it had become a crime. Dipke said he was not worried about being jailed himself and vowed to continue waving the Tricolour.

Passengers aboard Air India flight AI2030 from Frankfurt to Delhi described confusion after the aircraft diverted to Jaipur on Wednesday following a hijack alert. The Boeing 787-9, carrying 293 passengers and 13 crew, landed in Jaipur 9.30 am and reached Delhi 3.15 pm. Passengers underwent security checks, passport and baggage scanning before reboarding. Others suspected engine failure after seeing firefighters, while one passenger said a Jaipur official mentioned a “bomb threat-like situation.” The aircraft had transmitted transponder code 7500, internationally recognised as a hijacking or unlawful-interference alert. The DGCA will investigate the trigger, suspected to be a technical glitch; officials have not established whether the aircraft or ATC system was responsible. (PC: X)

Three Indian nationals were killed and five others injured in a fire at a residential building in Bochum, Germany, early Tuesday, local media reported Wednesday. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27 and a 26-year-old man. Police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian resident of the building on suspicion of murder. Investigators have ruled out a technical fault and suspect arson, but are still examining whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally. Authorities have not released the victims’ names or identified their home states in India. Reports also did not specify the nationalities or further details of the five injured people. The blaze struck a multi-family building in Hofstede. (PC: X)