US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has hinted at significant reforms to the H-1B visa program, just days after the administration announced a controversial $100,000 annual fee from February 2026. He called the current lottery-based system “bizarre” and “wrong,” criticizing how low-paid consultants exploit it to enter the US job market. Lutnick stressed that the reforms will address fairness and efficiency, ensuring high-skilled workers, not underpaid labor, benefit. He assured that unanswered questions surrounding the lottery system and fee will be resolved before the policy takes effect, signaling a complete overhaul of H-1B rules.  

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unveiled a 20-point peace plan to end the Gaza conflict. The plan proposes an immediate ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, phased Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government overseen by an international body. While Israel has agreed, Hamas has yet to accept the terms. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called it a “historic opportunity” for peace but stressed the necessity of Hamas’s consent. The international community watches closely, as the plan’s success hinges on Hamas’s acceptance or continued military escalation. (PC: AFP)

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Tavistock Square, London, was vandalised with graffiti just days before Gandhi Jayanti and the UN’s International Day of Non-Violence. The Indian High Commission in the UK strongly condemned the act, describing it as a “violent attack on nonviolence.” Officials have contacted British authorities and urged a swift investigation and restoration. The bronze statue, sculpted by Fredda Brilliant and unveiled in 1968, has long stood as a symbol of Gandhi’s legacy of peace. The incident has sparked outrage among the Indian diaspora and global peace advocates.

At least three people were killed and dozens injured in sectarian clashes between aboriginal tribesmen and settler Bengali communities in Bangladesh's Khagrachhari hill district on Sunday. The violence erupted despite intensified security following the alleged gang rape of an eighth-grade tribal schoolgirl on Tuesday. Police confirmed three deaths without revealing identities. Both sides turned violent, setting ablaze businesses and households in the district located 270 kilometers northeast of Dhaka. Khagrachhari is one of three hill districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts bordering India and Myanmar. Residents and witnesses reported escalating tensions between the feuding communities. Authorities deployed additional security forces to contain the spreading violence.

The UK is considering stricter immigration rules requiring migrants to prove societal value for permanent residency. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood plans changes to "indefinite leave to remain" status, currently available after five years. New requirements may include social security contributions, clean criminal records, no benefit claims, high English proficiency, and community volunteering. A consultation launches later this year. This follows Reform UK's proposal to scrap indefinite leave, replacing it with renewable five-year work visas. The party, leading opinion polls, has intensified immigration debate. London recently witnessed its largest anti-immigration protest with 110,000 participants at Tommy Robinson's rally. Immigration remains a top voter concern amid ongoing English Channel migrant crossings controversy. (PC: AP & Al Jazeera)

Iran executed Bahman Choubi-asl on Monday, identified as one of Israel's most significant spies within the country. Authorities claim he worked for Mossad, attempting to breach Iranian data centers and obtain government databases. The Supreme Court upheld his death sentence on "corruption on earth" charges. This execution follows a pattern of increased crackdowns, with at least 10 similar executions in recent months. Earlier in September, Babak Shahbazi was hanged for espionage, having allegedly passed military and security intelligence to Mossad. In August, Roozbeh Vadi, an Atomic Energy Organisation employee, was executed for leaking nuclear facility information. These executions reflect heightened tensions since June's direct Israel-Iran confrontations involving Mossad operations inside Iranian territory. (PC: Al Jazeera)

In Khagra and Chhari, Bangladesh, Hindu and Buddhist communities protesting the alleged rape of a non-Muslim tribal schoolgirl and temple desecrations were met with gunfire from the army after defying a ban on public gatherings (Section 144). The crackdown follows multiple reports since August 2024 of 152 temples desecrated, 157 homes vandalised, and cases of sexual violence against Hindu women. Protesters demanded justice, a district-wide blockade, and accountability amid rising communal tensions.

Thousands of people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are protesting against the Shehbaz Sharif government. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) called for a “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike. Protesters demand cheaper flour, fair electricity rates, and the removal of 12 refugee assembly seats. Islamabad sent thousands of troops and cut internet access to stop the movement. Talks between the AAC and the government broke down after 13 hours. “Enough is enough. Deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people,” said AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir. The situation remains tense as both sides refuse to step back.

At least 4 people were killed and 8 injured in a violent attack at a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened fire, and set the building on fire. He was later shot dead by police. Hundreds were inside for Sunday service. Victims include people shot and others trapped in the fire. Authorities said gasoline was used as an accelerant. The FBI is leading the investigation. Michigan’s governor called the attack unacceptable, while church leaders urged prayers for peace and healing. (PC: BBC)

The Global Sumud aid flotilla, comprising 44 vessels, has reached waters north of Marsa Matrouh on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. Organizers announced plans to sail toward Alexandria within hours, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The lead vessels, OHWAYLA and ALL IN, are approximately 678 kilometers from Gaza, with an estimated arrival in 3 to 4 days. The International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza expressed concerns, stating, "We expect the Zionists to commit a war crime against us at any time as we are getting closer to Gaza." A boat carrying over 100 journalists and medical professionals is scheduled to depart on October 1 to join the mission. (PC: Reuters)