India rejected the China-Pakistan Joint Boundary Commission after it became operational, saying the body has no legal basis and Pakistan cannot enter arrangements concerning Indian territory under its illegal and forcible occupation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position remained clear, asserting there is no boundary between Pakistan and China. India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India and that it has never recognised the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, which it considers illegal and invalid. Jaiswal said boundary cooperation concerning Indian territories would be unacceptable and would not affect India’s sovereignty. He urged Islamabad to vacate the areas it holds under occupation.

Yemen’s Houthi forces have claimed attacks on a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and a Saudi air base in Khamis Mushait. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group used dozens of ballistic missiles and attack drones against the Yanbu facility, claiming the strikes caused a large fire and extensive damage. He also said multiple ballistic missiles targeted the Khamis Mushait air base. Saudi authorities and Aramco have not officially confirmed any damage, and the claims have not been independently verified. Yanbu has become important to Saudi oil exports because the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, prompting Riyadh to reroute crude through the Red Sea port. The Yanbu refinery has 250,000-barrel-per-day capacity, while YASREF has 400,000 barrels.

Adidas has confirmed layoffs within its Technology organisation in India, reportedly affecting nearly 50 per cent of employees at its India Tech Hub in Gurugram. Software engineers, data scientists and data engineers are among those affected. However, Adidas has not disclosed the number of employees impacted. In a statement to Wocult, the company said it had made the “difficult decision” to reduce roles within its Technology organisation. Adidas said the move is part of ongoing efforts to align its operating model with the changing needs of the business. The reported layoffs affect technology roles, while the company has provided no figure for the total workforce reduction at the India Tech Hub. (PC: AP)

Traders are worried about the new 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI payments above ₹2,000. Several market groups said the charge could increase costs for businesses. Some traders warned they may encourage customers to pay in cash, especially during the festive season. The government has said customers cannot be charged the MDR. Small merchants earning up to ₹1 lakh a month through UPI QR codes will also remain exempt. The government estimates about 96% of merchant transactions will continue to have zero MDR. Traders, however, fear the new charge could make digital payments less attractive.  

India has rejected a new Pakistan-China boundary commission, saying it has no legal basis. The commission held its first meeting in Islamabad to discuss border management, surveys, trade and connectivity. India said it does not recognise the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement and considers it illegal and invalid. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan cannot make agreements involving territory that India claims as its own. India also opposed any move to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. New Delhi said such cooperation between Pakistan and China would not affect India’s claims over the disputed territories.

Mumbai’s iconic Cafe Mondegar is among four food establishments whose licences have been suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The action followed inspections that found serious food safety and hygiene violations. At Cafe Mondegar, officials found problems with food storage temperatures, thawing and cooling procedures. The FDA also warned of a possible risk of cross-contamination. The other establishments are Maharashtra Biryani Centre, Tribhuvan Dairy Farm and Mahavir Cashew and Foods. The FDA inspected 38 food businesses in Mumbai and collected 47 samples. Outside Mumbai, officials seized over 4,000 kg of milk products and sweets, worth more than ₹15 lakh.  

Saudi Arabia is facing major challenges in exporting oil after a key pipeline was shut. The East-West pipeline, which connects oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was closed after attacks on Saudi energy facilities. The Strait of Hormuz is also blocked, limiting Saudi Arabia’s main export route. Houthi attacks have further reduced shipments through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Saudi Arabia can send some oil through Egypt using the Suez Canal and Sumed pipeline. However, this route takes longer, especially for Asian markets. The disruptions have pushed oil prices higher and increased pressure on global energy supplies.  

India has expressed concern over a drone intercepted near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences destroyed the drone south of the holy city on September 15. Saudi officials said it was a Houthi drone and claimed it was stopped before entering restricted airspace. However, the Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites. India condemned attacks on Saudi territory and actions that could endanger civilians and key infrastructure. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the incident was especially concerning because of Mecca’s importance to Muslims worldwide. India also called for peace and stability in the region.  

IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar has become the first woman to head the CRPF’s special CoBRA unit. The 47-year-old officer is from the 2006 Assam-Meghalaya cadre. She took charge as Inspector General of CoBRA after joining the CRPF on deputation in August. Parashar has led counter-insurgency operations in northeast India and was called the “Iron Lady” by the media. CoBRA was formed in 2008 to fight Maoist insurgents and conduct jungle operations. Two of its battalions were recently moved to violence-hit Manipur. Parashar has also served with Assam Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).  

The European Union has invited Canada to become its first-ever “associate member”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the offer during a speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday. She said the EU and Canada share democratic values and common views on issues like AI, climate change and the Ukraine war. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed closer ties with the EU. The two sides plan to strengthen cooperation in trade, defence, energy, technology and critical minerals. They will also work together on Arctic projects. The EU and Canada are expected to discuss the proposal at a summit in October.