Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar criticised Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over his remarks about the country’s Hindu minority. Zardari said Pakistan “tolerates” its 3-4% Hindu population and claimed Hindus were free in the country. Reacting on X, Akhtar objected to the use of the word “tolerate” and took a dig at Zardari’s old “Mr 10 per cent” nickname, which became associated with past corruption allegations that Zardari has denied. Akhtar said Zardari had been “insensitive” to everything “less than 10 per cent”, drawing attention to the president’s controversial past nickname. (PC: India Today)

Israel’s military has admitted that its troops fired at a car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six of her family members in Gaza in January 2024. Hind, who pleaded for help during a phone call with the Palestinian Red Crescent, and her relatives were killed. The Israeli military had previously denied that its forces were present near the scene. It also acknowledged that troops fired on an ambulance sent to rescue Hind, killing two paramedics. The IDF has now ordered a criminal investigation, citing alleged failures in coordinating the ambulance’s movement. (PC: The Guardian)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, bringing together key leaders from southern states. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were among those present. The meeting was held at Taj Fisherman’s Cove in Kovalam, Chengalpet district. The council includes Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The council serves as a platform for the Centre, states and Union Territories to discuss regional issues. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump has cited India’s election system and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while backing the SAVE America Act. The proposed US bill seeks proof of citizenship for voter registration, mandatory photo identification and tighter rules for mail-in ballots. India’s nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR), led by the Election Commission, focuses on verifying and updating electoral rolls to identify eligible voters and remove ineligible entries. While both measures stress voter verification and election integrity, the SIR is a voter-roll revision exercise, whereas the SAVE America Act proposes changes to US federal election laws, including stricter voting and mail-ballot requirements. (PC: India Today)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has warned against using the term “Gen Z” as a threat, saying it could quickly erode public goodwill towards young people.   His remarks came after a video showed a young woman confronting police at a checkpoint near Minimarg in Ladakh. She reportedly complained about being stopped for hours and said, “We are Gen Z and we are not going to tolerate this.”   Reacting to the video, Abdullah compared the phrase to the attitude of saying, “Do you know who my father is?” The incident also drew criticism after the woman reportedly blocked an Army convoy. (PC: X)

The chances of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visiting India before the BRICS Summit are “very slim”, his foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir has said. Kabir said a visit would depend on a change in the Indian leadership's approach towards Bangladesh.   India has reportedly invited Rahman for a bilateral visit and the BRICS Summit outreach session in New Delhi on September 12-13. Kabir said media reports about a confirmed visit were based on assumptions.   He said Bangladesh would take a positive view of attending the summit if both countries create a suitable environment through consensus on key issues. (PC: HT)

Moderna and Merck's personalised mRNA cancer vaccine has shown promising results in a late-stage trial involving patients with high-risk melanoma. The treatment, called intismeran autogene, was tested with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda after patients underwent surgery.   The Phase 3 trial included 1,137 patients with stage IIB to IV melanoma. The combination met its main goal of improving recurrence-free survival and also reduced the risk of the cancer spreading compared with Keytruda alone.   No new safety concerns were reported. Detailed results are expected at a medical meeting, while the companies prepare to discuss possible regulatory approval. (PC: India Today)

India is planning a cricket stadium near Thiksey in Ladakh at an altitude of around 11,800 feet. The proposed project, estimated to cost about ₹100 crore, could become the world's highest cricket stadium if completed as planned.   The stadium is expected to boost sports infrastructure and create new opportunities for young athletes in Ladakh. Its high-altitude location could also make it a unique venue for cricket and help attract tourists.   However, official confirmation and detailed project information were not immediately available in the sources reviewed. Ladakh has been expanding sports infrastructure, including stadium projects in Leh.  

Abhijeet Dipke has raised concerns over poor facilities at a government school in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district during his ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign. He highlighted filthy washrooms, missing water taps, broken windows and inadequate infrastructure, questioning how children can study in such conditions. Reports said Dipke’s campaign, launched on August 15, aims to draw attention to the lack of basic facilities in rural government schools and push authorities to improve them. He also alleged that students were being made to sweep classrooms despite the availability of cleaning staff. 

US government debt has crossed the $40 trillion mark for the first time, raising fresh concerns over the country’s growing fiscal burden. Treasury Department data showed total public debt reached $40.047 trillion. The debt has more than doubled since Donald Trump first took office in 2017, rising by $11.6 trillion across his two terms, while it increased by $8.4 trillion during Joe Biden’s presidency. Rising spending on Social Security, Medicare and interest payments, along with lower revenues linked to tax cuts, have added pressure. Budget experts have warned that urgent action is needed to address the growing debt. (PC: X)