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.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York today during the UN General Assembly session. The high-level meeting aims to advance recent improvements in India-US relations and bridge divides that emerged in recent months. This follows previous meetings in Washington in July and January. The meeting comes amid tensions over Trump administration's 50% tariffs on India and increased H-1B visa fees. Relations have since improved following diplomatic efforts, with both sides resuming stalled trade talks. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal simultaneously leads a delegation for trade discussions, aiming for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial agreement. The talks represent continued efforts to strengthen bilateral partnership despite recent challenges. (PC: The Hindu)

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, joining more than 140 countries worldwide. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.” Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin welcomed the recognition, calling it a historic step toward independence. Israel strongly condemned the decision, calling it a “reward for Hamas,” while the US expressed disagreement. The announcement comes before this week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, where more countries are expected to recognise Palestinian statehood. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan shocked fans with a bold celebration after scoring a fifty in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s match in Dubai. He smashed a six to reach his half-century and then used his bat as a gun, pretending to fire shots. The act quickly spread on social media, adding tension to the already heated India vs Pakistan clash. Farhan scored 58 runs off 45 balls before being dismissed by Shivam Dube. Earlier, he attacked Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya during the powerplay. This is the second India-Pakistan meeting in the tournament, increasing rivalry. (PC: HT)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has criticised the H-1B visa program, calling it “broken” after US President Donald Trump raised the annual fee to $100,000 for high-skilled workers. Musk’s stance has shifted over time: he previously defended the system, saying it helped build companies like Tesla and SpaceX. However, he later called for reforms, suggesting higher minimum salaries and annual fees to make hiring foreign workers more expensive than domestic talent. The visa hike affects many Indian tech professionals. Musk’s statements came as his old tweets defending and attacking the program went viral, sparking debate on H-1B reforms. (PC: India Today)

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced formal recognition of a Palestinian state. He said the move is meant to support peace and keep the two-state solution alive. Australia and Canada also recognised Palestine, while Portugal may follow. Israel strongly opposed the step, calling it a “reward for terrorism.” Families of Israeli hostages also criticised the decision. Starmer insisted Hamas would have no role in a future Palestinian government. The UK said recognition is based on 1967 borders with land swaps. The war in Gaza continues, with heavy strikes, mass displacement, and growing international alarm. (PC: Downing Street)

Peru's Machu Picchu faces potential loss of its New 7 Wonders status after receiving over 100 million votes in 2007's global competition. The New7Wonders organization warns the Inca sanctuary risks losing "credibility" due to overtourism, inadequate conservation policies, and social conflicts. The organization issued a weekend statement emphasizing everything depends on Peru's "key decision-makers," who have received proposals for implementing a strategic transformation plan. The designation requires shared commitment to conservation and responsible management meeting international standards. However, Machu Picchu's 1983 UNESCO World Heritage Site status remains unaffected, as it operates independently from the New7Wonders campaign. The warning highlights mounting pressure on Peru to address preservation challenges threatening the iconic archaeological site. (PC: Pinterest)

Britain's Deputy PM clarified Sunday that recognizing a Palestinian state would not bring one into existence "overnight," emphasizing recognition must be part of broader peace process. The statement comes as PM Starmer plans to announce new Hamas sanctions alongside Palestinian state recognition. Starmer faces massive Labour pressure to grant recognition before UN General Assembly, when France and others plan similar moves. The UK had set September deadline after Israel failed to make sufficient progress on Gaza humanitarian situation. Starmer recently welcomed Palestinian Authority President Abbas to Downing Street, discussing the "intolerable situation in Gaza". Recognition follows months of diplomatic ultimatum amid escalating Middle East tensions. (PC: The Guardian & Reuters)

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to declare UK recognition of Palestinian state on Sunday, following through on his July ultimatum. Starmer announced the UK would recognize Palestinian statehood by September 2025 unless Israel met certain conditions, including ending Gaza operations and committing to genuine peace processes. The deadline was set after Israel failed to agree to substantive steps including Gaza ceasefire, West Bank annexation halt, and increased humanitarian aid. Recent polling shows 44% of Britons support recognition versus 18% opposed. President Trump recently expressed disagreement with Starmer's decision during private talks. This marks a significant shift from decades of UK policy requiring negotiated settlement first.

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee targets program abuse as White House reveals alarming replacement patterns. One company received 5,189 H-1B approvals while laying off 16,000 US workers, another got 1,698 approvals but cut 2,400 Oregon jobs. A third company eliminated 27,000 US positions since 2022 despite 25,075 H-1B approvals. Some American IT workers were forced to train foreign replacements under NDAs. The administration says the program discourages Americans from pursuing STEM careers, threatening national security. The fee applies only to new petitions, not renewals or current holders. USCIS confirmed existing visa holders outside the US don't pay re-entry fees. (PC: Forbes & Hindustan Times)