The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on selected UPI transactions from October 15, 2026. A 0.4% charge will apply to person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 per transaction. Payments involving railways, telecom, insurance and fuel will attract a flat ₹5 MDR above ₹2,000. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers and merchant payments up to ₹2,000 will remain free. Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh monthly through UPI QR codes are also exempt. The MDR is intended to support the sustainability and infrastructure of India’s digital-payment ecosystem. 

The Primary School, co-founded by Priscilla Chan in East Palo Alto, California, is closing after nearly a decade of operation. Established in 2016, the tuition-free school served children from low-income families while providing education alongside healthcare, dental services, wellness support and early-intervention programs. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) provided more than $125 million in funding over the years. The school’s board voted to shut it down after CZI decided not to continue funding beyond the 2025–26 academic year. CZI said the decision was linked to the school’s academic outcomes, while the closure has raised concerns among affected families and the local community. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Saudi-led coalition described the incident as the second attempted Houthi attack on Mecca, following a 2017 missile incident. Saudi officials warned that the security of Mecca, Medina and pilgrims is a “red line.” The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site, calling the Saudi claim misinformation. The interception came amid intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and growing regional tensions involving Iran, Yemen and Gulf states. Saudi authorities also issued temporary security alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. (PC: Reuters)

India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public health alert against two Pakistan-made cosmetic products: Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream. Testing found both products were unauthorised for sale in India, lacked the required import registration certificates and contained heavy metals above specified limits, which could pose health risks, including toxic effects. CDSCO has advised consumers not to purchase or use the creams and directed sellers, distributors and other establishments not to sell, distribute or advertise them. Authorities have also been asked to prevent their sale. Consumers should check licence and registration details on imported cosmetics. (PC: Unsplash)

A news helicopter covering a deadly bus accident crashed into a parking lot in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing at least three people, officials said. The helicopter was operating near the scene of an earlier SUV-and-city-bus collision that killed two people and injured six others. Video from inside the aircraft appears to capture its final moments, showing the helicopter hovering before the footage suddenly shakes as it crashes. At least one helicopter-crash victim was outside the aircraft. Another person was hospitalized, while authorities continued determining the number of people aboard. More than 50 firefighters responded, and the NTSB and FAA will investigate. 

Eighty-one-year-old Asgar Ali Vora, a former schoolmate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has regained possession of a disputed 2,810-square-metre plot in Navghar, Bhayandar East. Vora had alleged that the land, purchased in 1989, was encroached upon and that forged documents were used to alter its ownership. He met PM Modi on September 8 and sought intervention in the long-running dispute. Days later, BJP MLA Narendra Mehta announced that he would relinquish possession of the disputed property, surrender its construction permission and withdraw a police complaint against Vora following a settlement. Maharashtra government officials also held a meeting involving both sides. (PC: India Today)

The US House of Representatives has advanced legislation targeting Russia and Iran, clearing a procedural hurdle before a final vote expected on September 16. The bill, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026, could give President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries, including India, that purchase Russian oil and gas. The measure passed the procedural vote 214–211. Its advancement does not mean the bill has become law. The proposed sanctions could create significant implications for India-US trade and India’s purchases of Russian energy. (PC: Reuters)

Lionel Messi is set to wear Argentina’s jersey for one final time after being included in the preliminary 26-member squad for a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6. Messi had confirmed his international retirement shortly after Argentina lost the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to Spain. Argentina Football Association (AFA) said Messi accepted its invitation to receive the farewell he deserves and confirmed that members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, along with their families, will also be invited. Argentina will play Bolivia in Cordoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental on October 3 before facing Benin. Messi’s final international appearance came in the 2026 World Cup final. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia is seeking wider regional support as Houthi attacks escalate, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo. The two sides stressed protecting navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, while Egypt did not announce military support but could provide diplomatic backing among Arab countries. Separately, Saudi Arabia’s 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline was damaged in an attack Riyadh blamed on an Iran-aligned Iraqi group. The pipeline offers an alternative to the disrupted Strait of Hormuz; a prolonged shutdown could affect 4% of global oil supply, according to traders cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, Houthis reportedly gained territory around Bab el-Mandeb, while Saudi strikes intensified in Yemen. (PC: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday accused Yemen-based Houthis of targeting Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, after its air force intercepted a drone heading toward the city. Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, said the drone was intercepted at 6:50 pm on Tuesday before entering Mecca’s prohibited airspace. The accusation comes amid heightened West Asia tensions, with the Houthis intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabia and choking the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Houthis, who have declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia, denied attacking Mecca, calling the allegation “a worn-out lie”. The 57-member OIC condemned the attack and expressed support for Saudi measures to deter the Houthis.