CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly made a secret trip to Moscow as the United States pushes for a possible end to the war in Ukraine. According to reports, Ratcliffe held talks with Russian officials amid renewed diplomatic efforts by Washington.   The visit comes as the US has reportedly asked Ukraine to stop certain long-range strikes on Russian territory to support peace negotiations. The move has raised concerns in Kyiv, where officials fear limits on military operations could benefit Russia.   The reported Moscow visit highlights the Trump administration's efforts to open direct channels with Russia while seeking a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine war.  

US President Donald Trump said the American Navy had informed him that all mines in the Strait of Hormuz had been removed or detonated. He warned Iran that any ship or boat found placing new mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed”. Trump said the US was closely monitoring the strategic waterway and Iranian nuclear sites, stressing that Washington had a zero-tolerance policy on mine placement. The warning came as the US increased economic pressure on Tehran through new sanctions, including expanded secondary sanctions targeting countries, companies and other entities doing business with Iran. (PC: HT)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has backed actor Kriti Sanon amid a row over her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying it was “her choice” what she wore. His remarks came a day after actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut criticised Sanon’s outfit in the advertisement. The campaign sparked debate online, with some users questioning Sanon’s clothing and a scene involving a rakhi. Sanon later responded to the criticism, defending her right to choose her outfit. Gandhi’s intervention added a political dimension to the controversy, as reactions continued to pour in over the advertisement and the wider debate around personal choice. (PC: India Today)

China has called for stronger “good-neighbourly” and mutually beneficial ties with India during talks between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. At the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks, Wang said stable India-China relations served both countries and had wider global significance. Doval said the two nations were “partners, not competitors” and that ties had returned to the “right track”. The two sides discussed the boundary dispute, border management and cooperation, while agreeing to continue efforts towards a fair settlement. The next round of talks will be held in India in 2027. (PC: India Today)

Delhi has reported more than 2,300 cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, prompting the Directorate of Education to issue a precautionary advisory for all government, government-aided and recognised private schools. Schools have been asked to watch for symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache and breathing difficulty. The advisory calls for regular handwashing, proper cough etiquette, cleaning frequently touched surfaces and adequate ventilation. Students and staff have also been warned against self-medication. The Directorate said there is no need for panic and asked officials to monitor compliance, with a consolidated report due by August 31, 2026. (PC: X)

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said India did not deliberately target Pakistan’s Kirana Hills nuclear facility during Operation Sindoor in 2025. He said an Indian loitering munition may have struck one of the hills inadvertently after failing to find a radar target near Sargodha. Chauhan said the munitions could loiter for around two hours before hitting an available location if no target was found. The remarks differ from earlier speculation that India had targeted the area, which is reportedly linked to underground nuclear facilities. The Indian Air Force had previously denied deliberately striking Kirana Hills. (PC: HT)

The controversy over Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement has triggered a wider debate online. While the actor defended her outfit and said culture and traditions should not be judged by a woman’s clothing, actor Abhijeet Dipke weighed in with a sharp comment. He said that while India debates clothes and such controversies, China is moving ahead by building robots. Dipke’s remark shifted the discussion towards India’s focus on innovation and technological progress. The ad had drawn criticism over Sanon’s outfit and a scene showing her tying a rakhi to a pet dog, while others defended the campaign’s modern interpretation of tradition. (PC: NDTV)

Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, has died aged 80. Her death was announced by her nephew, Brian Seaver. Parton wrote classics including *Jolene*, *I Will Always Love You* and *9 to 5*, and became one of country music's most successful artists. She recorded 25 US country No 1 singles and won 10 Grammy Awards. Beyond music and acting, Parton was widely admired for her charity work. Her Imagination Library donated more than 150 million books to children, while she also supported Covid-19 vaccine research and other causes. She leaves behind an extraordinary cultural legacy. (PC: The Guardian)

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a nationwide strike on September 11 over delays in implementing a five-day banking week, differences over performance-linked incentive schemes and other pending demands, including pension-related issues. If the strike goes ahead, banking services, particularly in public sector banks, could be affected for four days in several parts of the country. September 11 falls on a Friday, followed by two bank holidays on Saturday and Sunday. September 14 is also a holiday in some states for Ganesh Chaturthi. The strike threat comes amid continued demands from bank unions for a five-day working week and resolution of outstanding issues concerning employees’ incentives and pensions. (PC: X/@IndianTechGuide)

The Rajasthan High Court has banned the sale of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt (HFSS) food, including carbonated drinks, chips and trans-fat-containing bakery products, in school canteens and within 50 metres of school gates. A Jodhpur bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand also directed every school to establish a food safety and nutrition committee comprising teachers, parents and students within four weeks. Canteens must display calorie counts, ingredients and nutritional information within eight weeks and implement traffic-light labelling. The court directed the state to detail implementation of 2020 safe-food regulations and ensure balanced-diet standards for mid-day meals. It also flagged excessive screen time, paper leaks and inadequate rural school infrastructure. (PC: Money Control)