A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, is facing a possible death penalty in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court reportedly found him guilty of blasphemy over a Facebook comment allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. The case followed a June video linked to a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. After a user insulted a Hindu deity, Anojan reportedly responded in Tamil with an insult against the Prophet, then deleted the comment and apologised. A screenshot was allegedly shared with his Saudi employer, leading to his arrest. An Al-Ahsa court initially sentenced him to five years and fined him three million Saudi riyals, but prosecutors later sought a Sharia trial, paving the way for a death sentence. Sri Lanka is seeking clemency. (PC: Pexel)

Saudi Arabia’s failure to rein in Iran-backed Houthis has exposed weaknesses in its decades-long policy of outsourcing national security to the United States and Pakistan, West Asia expert Prof. Alvite Ningthoujam said. American fighter jets and personnel had provided a security guarantee, while Pakistan supported the kingdom through military deployments and agreements dating back to the 1960s. Despite formalising their alliance through a mutual defence agreement in 2025 and the Mecca Agreement this year, neither country came to Saudi Arabia’s aid during the Houthi offensive. Ningthoujam said Riyadh became complacent, believing it could “buy security,” while focusing more on internal dissent than external defence. He said the kingdom’s security policy collapsed. (PC: Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP)

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday signed a ₹661.5 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to buy BrahMos fire control systems and launchers for Indian Navy ships. The deal was signed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. It requires at least 68% indigenous content, with Indian industries, including MSMEs, taking part. The ministry said the project is expected to create jobs over the next three years. The systems will strengthen the maritime strike capability of frontline warships. The contract follows the Defence Acquisition Council's August 2025 approval for the equipment. (PC: X)

Eleven Indian sailors were among 12 crew members injured on Tuesday when a projectile struck the Panama-flagged vessel MT On Peace as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz off Oman's coast, the Ministry of External Affairs said. With help from Omani authorities, the injured were evacuated and are being treated in Khasab, Oman. Of the ship's 19 crew members, 17 are Indians. India condemned the attack, thanked Oman and called for an immediate end to attacks on shipping. The ministry said commerce through international waterways must be restored at the earliest. Attacks on vessels in the region have risen in recent weeks after Iran-US peace talks collapsed. (PC: India Today)

Bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86, his publisher HarperCollins said. It said he died "suddenly and peacefully at home" on Monday, between writing sessions. Archer sold more than 300 million books over five decades, including Kane and Abel and the Clifton Chronicles. A former Conservative MP and peer, he was jailed in 2001 for perjury and perverting the course of justice, and was released in 2003. His final novel, Adam and Eve, came out on Tuesday. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called his death "devastating news", while Sir John Major said he lived "one of the most remarkable lives of our age". He is survived by his wife Mary and two sons. (PC: BBC)

Denmark tops the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 for women's inclusion, justice and security, while India sits 131st among 181 countries with a score of 0.607. The index credits Nordic nations with strong public institutions, social welfare systems and lower levels of violence against women. They also lead in education, workforce participation, financial inclusion, legal protections and political representation. For India, reports flag women's safety, political leadership, jobs and legal outcomes as the gaps. The lesson from the top is clear: women's wellbeing depends on stable institutions and equal opportunity, not on any single law. (PC: X)

Second Lady Usha Vance nearly fell on Monday while stepping off the vice presidential helicopter at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying her infant son Alec strapped to her chest. She caught herself on the railing before reaching the ground. Viewers of the footage said officers nearby did not rush to help, and many asked why no one stepped in. Vice President JD Vance left the aircraft after her, holding one of their daughters. Reports say she told officers she nearly fell. Mother and child appeared unhurt. The family was travelling to Alaska for a Republican rally. 

Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly told investigators he acted in “revenge for Gaza” and wanted to “die as a martyr” during an attempted attack on an Israel-bound flydubai flight. Israeli media reported that Shin Bet agents joined his interrogation in the UAE as authorities investigate his background and possible extremist links. Al-Hammami, 29, studied engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne but did not complete his qualification. He also spent six months in New Zealand from November 2018 to May 2019 for flight training. Authorities in both Australia and New Zealand are reviewing his activities and connections during his time there. (PC: X)

France is preparing for a nationwide day of student protests after weeks of demonstrations over education funding and school conditions. More than 500 schools were partly or fully closed on Monday, while at least 190 students have been injured and 5,060 people arrested, according to officials. A 15-year-old student lost his hand during a confrontation in Lens, while another teenager suffered serious injuries after reportedly being hit by a tear gas grenade. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced measures to address students’ concerns but rejected concessions to violence. Protest organisers said the government had offered “nothing concrete” and urged people to join Tuesday’s mobilisation. (PC: BBC)

Bestselling British author and former Conservative politician Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86, HarperCollins said. Archer sold more than 300 million books during a five-decade writing career, including the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel. Born in north London in 1940, he became MP for Louth in 1969 and later served as Conservative Party deputy chairman. His political career ended in 2001 when he was jailed for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice over a libel case against the Daily Star. Released in 2003, he later returned to the House of Lords before retiring in 2024. His final novel, Adam and Eve, is due this week. He leaves wife Mary, two sons and five grandchildren. (PC: X)