India Condemns Attacks on Saudi Arabia as Riyadh Thwarts Drone Threats Near Mecca

The Managing Director and Head of Meta India has arrived at the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights premises in Delhi following a summons over child sexual exploitative and abuse material advertisements. The child rights body had previously issued a notice seeking explanations regarding revenue, traction, and the lack of content checks. The Indian government has instructed Meta to follow domestic rules, mandate the registration of police FIRs in jurisdictions where incidents occur, and ensure independent internal checks and balances. Meta is also required to submit reports under the Home Ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to address illicit content across social media platforms.

A political confrontation has broken out between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party over a 0.4 per cent merchant fee proposed on Unified Payments Interface transactions exceeding 2,000 rupees. The Congress accused the central government of burdening citizens and succumbing to global pressure, alleging the cost will eventually fall upon consumers. The Bharatiya Janata Party refuted these allegations, stating that transactions up to 2,000 rupees remain entirely free for consumers and that 96 per cent of transactions will incur no fees. Industry experts noted that person-to-person payments carry no charges and that the vast majority of person-to-merchant payments fall below the 2,000 rupees threshold. They explained that merchant fees on higher-value transactions help sustain private payment infrastructure without impacting small vendors or everyday users.

A Pakistan Navy vessel, identified as the Yarmook-class corvette PNS Hunain, reportedly collided with an Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea after executing an aggressive manoeuvre. The Indian warship and its crew suffered no major damage. Following the incident, India lodged a strong protest, with the Ministry of External Affairs summoning Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires in New Delhi over the violation of the 1991 bilateral agreement. India's Chargé d'Affaires in Islamabad was also directed to lodge a formal complaint with the Pakistan Foreign Office.

A special report highlights the transformation in Mirzapur where the village of Lahuri Yadav received tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission's Har Ghar Nal Yojana. Nestled in the Vindhya Hills, the settlement of roughly 1,500 residents previously faced severe water scarcity, with women walking nearly five kilometres to collect water from springs and forests. Piped water access began on August 31, 2023, providing major relief to local households. The initiative is part of a broader push across Uttar Pradesh, where more than 2.36 crore rural homes were connected to tap water with over 5.07 lakh kilometres of pipeline laid by March 2025.