Meta has announced that it will begin reporting matters involving child safety directly to the cybercrime portal operated by India’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). The move is aimed at improving coordination with authorities and strengthening efforts to address online exploitation and other crimes targeting children.

A Meta spokesperson said the safety of children on its platforms remains a key priority for the company. Meta also said it is committed to cooperating with government agencies and helping ensure that individuals involved in such offences are held accountable. The company said the decision to report child safety-related cases directly through the I4C portal is intended to support a more coordinated response to online harms involving children. Meta operates several widely used platforms in India, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and has systems in place to identify and restrict content that poses risks to children.

The I4C, which functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, plays a central role in India's efforts to combat cybercrime. It works with law enforcement agencies and uses technology, training and coordinated mechanisms to improve the country's response to online offences. The latest development comes amid increased scrutiny of social media companies over their responsibilities in protecting children online. Government sources have stressed that child safety must be treated as an essential requirement by digital platforms operating in India, describing it as a non-negotiable issue.

The development also follows recent action by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). On September 9, representatives of Meta India appeared before the child rights body after its senior leadership was summoned over allegations involving advertisements linked to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM).

The NCPCR had initiated the matter on its own after a BBC Eye report raised allegations concerning advertisements appearing on Meta-owned platforms. On July 3, 2026, the Commission issued a notice to Meta Platforms, Inc., seeking an explanation regarding the reported content. Meta subsequently submitted its response to the Commission.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also asked the Delhi Police to carry out a detailed investigation into allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram were being used to promote Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in India. The NHRC further asked authorities to determine whether Meta and other entities involved had fulfilled their legal reporting responsibilities under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Meta's decision to directly report child safety concerns through the I4C portal is therefore being viewed in the broader context of growing government and regulatory efforts to make online platforms more accountable for preventing and reporting serious crimes involving children.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday stressed the need for the infrastructure sector to move beyond “retrospective justice” and adopt a model of “preventive justice”. He said contracts and institutional systems should be structured in a way that helps resolve potential disagreements before they develop into full-fledged disputes.

Speaking at the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference 2026, Justice Kant said the Rule of Law should not be limited to correcting problems after a project has already been affected. Instead, it should ensure that contractual obligations are clearly defined, decision-making powers are understood, risks are distributed fairly and dispute-resolution mechanisms are reliable and timely.

He noted that an effective dispute-resolution system should ideally prevent disputes from arising in the first place. According to him, the real measure of success is not the number of disputes a mechanism settles, but how rarely a project needs to rely on it. The CJI also highlighted the importance of creating a common understanding among parties about how unexpected situations will be handled during infrastructure projects. He said early action, transparent communication and quick decisions can stop disagreements from escalating into formal claims.

Justice Kant pointed out that major infrastructure projects cannot simply stop while legal proceedings continue. Construction of bridges and highways, as well as power projects, depends on timely decisions, making prolonged arbitration or appeals potentially disruptive to both schedules and economic objectives.

Calling for greater standardisation in infrastructure contracting, the CJI said key provisions covering payments, project changes, extensions of time, unforeseen circumstances and dispute resolution should follow broadly consistent frameworks rather than being drafted from scratch for every project. However, he stressed that such standardisation must remain flexible enough to account for local laws, institutional capacity and project-specific conditions.

Justice Kant said India’s infrastructure expansion is occurring at an unprecedented scale and pace. He said the country’s objective should be to develop projects more quickly while making them more resilient, sustainable and productive. He urged policymakers, developers and other stakeholders to give greater attention to clearly defined responsibilities, equitable risk-sharing, sensible standardisation, early dispute prevention and speedy, independent resolution when disagreements do arise. These measures, he said, should be viewed as essential tools of good governance rather than simply technical legal requirements.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for greater use of local currencies in international trade, saying closer financial cooperation among emerging economies could help countries reduce the impact of sanctions and strengthen economic integration. Pezeshkian made the remarks while discussing economic cooperation among BRICS countries, where reducing dependence on traditional international financial channels has become an increasingly important issue.

Iran has faced extensive US sanctions that have restricted its access to international banking and financial networks. Tehran has consequently been seeking alternative mechanisms to maintain trade with countries that remain willing to conduct business with it. Pezeshkian's proposal focuses on increasing settlements in national currencies instead of relying predominantly on the US dollar for cross-border transactions. Such arrangements could reduce exposure to sanctions-related restrictions and provide countries with additional options for conducting bilateral trade.

The Iranian president also stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties among BRICS members. Greater cooperation in trade, investment, banking and infrastructure, he argued, could help create a more integrated economic network among emerging economies. The issue has particular relevance for India-Iran economic relations. The two countries have maintained strategic and commercial ties despite the challenges created by international sanctions. India has also continued its engagement with Iran through projects such as the development of Chabahar Port, which is important for regional connectivity.

Bilateral trade has faced significant difficulties in recent years. Sanctions, payment restrictions and complications surrounding financial transactions have made it harder for companies in both countries to conduct business through conventional channels. The push for local-currency settlements is part of a wider discussion within BRICS about developing alternative financial mechanisms. Several member countries have expressed interest in expanding trade conducted in their national currencies and improving cross-border payment systems.

Analysts, however, note that wider adoption of local currencies would require practical arrangements involving banks, businesses and governments. Exchange-rate fluctuations, currency convertibility and differences in financial regulations could present challenges. For Iran, expanding local-currency trade could provide additional options for maintaining international commerce despite sanctions. For other BRICS members, it could offer greater flexibility in cross-border transactions and reduce reliance on a single dominant currency. Pezeshkian's remarks come as BRICS continues to explore ways to deepen economic cooperation among its members. The push for stronger financial links could become an important part of the group's broader efforts to increase trade and investment among emerging economies.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the flight-acceptance hot test of a CE20 cryogenic engine that is set to power the upper stage of the upcoming LVM3-M7 mission, marking a significant step in preparations for India's next heavy-lift launch. The test was conducted on July 6, 2026, at the Main Engine and Stage Test facility of the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. During the test, the CE20 engine initially operated at a thrust level of 19.5 tonnes for 45 seconds before being raised to 22 tonnes for another 25 seconds. ISRO said the engine systems and the Nozzle Protection System performed satisfactorily throughout the test.

The engine will now undergo refurbishment before being integrated into the C32 flight stage being prepared for the LVM3-M7 launch vehicle. The CE20 is an indigenous cryogenic engine developed by ISRO for the upper stage of the LVM3 rocket. The engine is designed to operate in the 19-22 tonne thrust range and has powered multiple LVM3 missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and commercial launches.

The latest hot test is particularly significant because ISRO is working to establish the CE20's operation at the higher 22-tonne thrust level for future LVM3 missions. Increasing the thrust of the upper-stage engine is expected to contribute to improvements in the launch vehicle's payload capability. ISRO had earlier conducted a major sea-level test of the CE20 at 22-tonne thrust on March 10, 2026. The engine was operated for 165 seconds during that test using a Nozzle Protection System and a multi-element igniter. The test was aimed at demonstrating the engine's performance at the higher thrust level under sea-level conditions.

Testing a large cryogenic engine at sea level presents technical challenges because of the large-area-ratio nozzle used by the CE20. The low pressure at the nozzle exit can lead to flow separation, which may cause excessive vibration and thermal loads. ISRO's Nozzle Protection System was developed to address this challenge and enable extended engine testing under sea-level conditions.

The CE20 has undergone an extensive testing programme as ISRO continues to improve the reliability and performance of the LVM3 propulsion system. Previous testing has demonstrated technologies including multi-element ignition, higher-thrust operation, indigenous turbopump bearings and sensors, as well as bootstrap-mode engine start-up.

The successful flight-acceptance test of the engine assigned to LVM3-M7 brings the mission another step closer to launch. Once refurbishment is completed, the engine will be integrated into the C32 flight stage and subsequently into the LVM3 vehicle. The development of the 22-tonne CE20 configuration is also important for India's wider space programme. Improved upper-stage performance could give the LVM3 greater flexibility for future missions involving heavier spacecraft and more demanding orbital requirements. With the latest test successfully completed, ISRO is continuing its efforts to strengthen the LVM3's capabilities and build greater reliability into India's heavy-lift launch operations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Pioneer.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a broad set of initiatives covering family support, housing, technology and Singapore’s national resilience. Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss speak to SMU School of Law Associate Professor Eugene Tan about the major measures, their significance for Singaporeans and what they reveal about the Government’s priorities for the country’s next stage of growth.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Myanmar's military government has released rare images of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting a Red Cross official, marking her first known contact with the outside world since the 2021 coup. The photos were released just ahead of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's first official visit to Thailand, prompting speculation about their political significance.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In a conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy during the 50th Labor conference in Adelaide, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas discussed his state’s political battle with One Nation. He said progressive groups should avoid dismissing or talking down to Pauline Hanson’s supporters, arguing that their concerns need to be understood rather than ignored. Addressing the ongoing debate over the AUKUS submarine deal, Malinauskas acknowledged concerns after the US revealed that Virginia-class submarine production rates had not improved. However, he maintained that walking away from the agreement would create greater strategic risks than the challenges surrounding the controversial defence partnership.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

On Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro chats with Singaporean singer-songwriter Frances Tan, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Song Contest — an international music competition featuring participants from all 56 Commonwealth countries. Tan shares her experience of being chosen as a Grand Finalist, representing Singapore alongside six other finalist nations. She also discusses her original track, Just Me, which she submitted as her contest entry.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.