UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK and NATO would confront Russian planes operating in NATO airspace without permission. Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York, she called Russia’s actions “dangerous and reckless” and warned they could lead to direct armed conflict. “We stand ready to take all steps necessary to defend NATO’s skies and territory,” Cooper said. She expressed full solidarity with allies and warned President Putin of the risks. France, Slovakia, and other nations echoed her condemnation. As a UN Security Council permanent member, Russia can veto resolutions, limiting formal action against it. (PC: Reuters)

British pop star Dua Lipa has reportedly fired her agent, David Levy, after he signed a letter calling for Irish rap group Kneecap to be removed from the Glastonbury Festival. The letter, leaked before the event, urged festival founder Michael Eavis to drop the pro-Palestine band but was criticised in the music industry. Kneecap later performed as planned. Sources said Lipa viewed Levy’s action as support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which clashed with her pro-Palestine stance. The move comes as over 400 musicians signed the “No Music for Genocide” campaign, pulling their work from Israel in protest. (PC: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images via AFP)

France is preparing to recognise a Palestinian state, joining the UK, Canada, and Australia. The announcement is expected at the UN General Assembly in New York with support from other European nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the move, calling it “a huge reward to terrorism” and saying a Palestinian state “will not happen.” UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also urged Israel not to annex parts of the West Bank in response. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported 61 deaths from Israeli airstrikes in the last 24 hours, raising the total toll since October 2023 to 65,344. (PC: X)

At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed after the Pakistan Air Force carried out airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday. Reports said eight LS-6 bombs hit Matre Dara village in Tirah Valley around 2am, targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Police claimed the Taliban stored explosives in a compound, which worsened the blasts. Opposition leaders condemned the attack, accusing the government of killing its own citizens. “This is an open crime against humanity,” PTI’s Abdul Ghani Afridi said. Locals shared videos showing injured children on makeshift beds. The Pakistan government has not issued a statement yet. (PC: HT)

Elon Musk's position on the H-1B visa program reflects a complex interplay of personal experience, corporate imperatives, and public statements that often appear contradictory. Musk himself entered the United States on an H-1B visa, a fact he credits with enabling his entrepreneurial journey and the growth of companies such as Tesla and SpaceX. While he openly praises the program for attracting critical talent from across the globe, he has also criticised its systemic flaws, calling it “broken” and advocating for reforms such as higher salary thresholds to prevent misuse and protect domestic workers. This nuanced stance places Musk at the center of a broader debate over immigration policy and its impact on the tech industry. (PC: AP)

A 3,000-year-old gold bracelet once belonging to Pharaoh Amenemope was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum on September 9. The artifact, featuring a lapis lazuli bead, was taken from a restoration lab lacking security cameras. It was sold for approximately $4,000, passed through multiple dealers, and ultimately melted down into new gold jewelry. Four individuals, including a museum restoration specialist, were arrested and have confessed to their involvement. The incident has ignited public outrage in Egypt, with calls for enhanced security measures at museums and a suspension of overseas exhibitions until better safeguards are implemented. (PC: AP)  

King Charles has firmly rejected Prince Harry's potential return to royal duties, maintaining the late Queen's strict "half-in, half-out" prohibition. Following a brief 54-minute meeting at Clarence House, the King made clear that royal responsibilities and commercial ventures cannot coexist. Harry reportedly desires increased UK presence and public appearances, but only as a private citizen without royal privileges. This decisive stance upholds Queen Elizabeth II's established precedent that working royals cannot simultaneously pursue private commercial deals. The decision marks a definitive new chapter for the Sussex relationship with the monarchy, where family connections may persist but official royal status and associated privileges remain permanently severed.

In the early hours of September 22, 2025, Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets bombed the Matre Dara village in Tirah Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, dropping eight Chinese-made LS-6 precision guided bombs. The strike, around 2 a.m., reportedly targeted hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). All confirmed dead—at least 30 individuals—were civilians, including women and children. Many more are injured; rescue teams are searching through the rubble for survivors.   

The UK will push for a Middle East peace plan at the UN General Assembly after recognising Palestine as an independent state. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will address civilian suffering in Gaza and strengthen international consensus on peace pathways. Australia, Canada and Portugal made similar announcements, with France expected to follow suit. Israeli PM Netanyahu called the move "absurd" and vowed Palestine "will not happen," while an Israeli official said West Bank annexation is now under consideration. The UK recognises Palestine based on 1967 borders, led by a reformed Palestinian Authority. Gaza death toll has risen above 65,000 according to Hamas-run health authorities. (PC: Wall Street Journal , Britannica & Sky News)

US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk reunited at a memorial event for right-wing leader Charlie Kirk on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. This marked their first public encounter since Musk resigned from his government position under tense circumstances. Videos showed the pair chatting in a friendly manner at the stadium where tens of thousands gathered to pay tribute to Kirk, who was shot dead on September 10 at a Utah university campus. The memorial represents a notable thaw in their strained relationship following Musk's departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk posted an image captioned "For Charlie" on X, which the White House reposted.