Egypt opens 22,000-acre Octagon HQ, surpassing Pentagon as world's largest defence base

India Orders Meta to Remove Child Abuse Ads on Instagram Immediately

The Indian government has issued a strict directive to Meta demanding the immediate takedown of paid advertisements on Instagram that promote child sexual abuse material. Authorities have given the company a seven-day deadline to explain how such advertisements were allowed to appear on the platform. The government has also asked Meta to detail the safeguards it plans to put in place to prevent similar violations in the future. The action was triggered by reports that Instagram ads were being used to redirect users to illegal content.

Only 28% of FCRA-registered NGOs remain active as licences lapse or get cancelled

A large majority of NGOs and associations registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, are no longer operational under the law. Since 2012, India granted FCRA licences to 52,159 organisations, but only 14,455 of them currently hold active status. This means over 72% have had their licences either cancelled or allowed to expire. Active FCRA registration is required for any organisation to legally receive foreign funding. The shrinking pool of registered entities reflects a broader push by authorities to improve accountability and transparency in the sector.

Foundation laid for Rs 2,500-crore defence plant in Madhya Pradesh

India Plans Mandatory Retests for Traffic Offenders, Faster Crash Victim Compensation

The Indian government is preparing amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act aimed at improving road safety. Repeat traffic offenders will be required to pass a mandatory driving test before renewing their licenses. Tribunals may also be empowered to award interim compensation to road accident victims, expediting financial relief. These proposals have been approved by a Group of Ministers and are expected to be introduced in Parliament shortly.