First Thing: White House dinner suspect charged with attempted assassination

• CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia in late August 2026 aboard an Air Force C-17 “Globemaster III” heavy-lift transport plane. • During the visit, Ratcliffe reportedly met with Russian intelligence counterparts, though the specific nature and objectives of the meeting were not immediately disclosed.

• During a meeting in Kyrgyzstan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to transition from an "endless war" to the "end of war" for the sake of humanity. • The exchange highlights India's diplomatic pressure on Russia to halt its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

• The World Government Summit (WGS) Dialogue hosted a virtual event titled ‘The Future of Global Leadership,’ featuring seven candidates for UN Secretary-General, including former presidents and ambassadors. • Participants debated the future of multilateralism, with candidates urging the UN to rebuild global trust and increase agility when responding to geopolitical tensions.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine, stating the war should stop "for humanity's sake." • The meeting highlights India's complex diplomatic position, as it remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil despite ongoing Western sanctions.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. • The two leaders held extensive discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing critical global developments.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to transition from an "endless war" to an "end of war." • The appeal was made during a meeting between the two leaders as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues without a clear resolution.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to "stop this madness" and end all global conflicts during an interview with Euronews in Bishkek. • Guterres specifically highlighted the "never-ending" nature of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, noting that key actors involved in these conflicts were present with him.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that all global conflicts and wars should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue rather than on the battlefield. • Speaking at the SCO Summit in Bishkek on September 1, the Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to peaceful resolutions.

• The author argues that traditional, discreet diplomacy has been replaced by a performative and brash style of international relations. • This shift is attributed to a modern culture of short attention spans, likened to "TikTok-addled" behavior.

• Catastrophic flooding across Nepal and China has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, marking one of the region's deadliest weather events. • The disaster was triggered by intense monsoon rains that caused widespread landslides and flash floods, destroying critical infrastructure and displacing thousands.

Simon Galbraith says Rupert Lowe’s party can ‘spark a British renaissance’ if it gets into powerUK politics live – latest updatesThe hard-right Restore Britain party has got its first major donation of £500,000 from an IT entrepreneur in a sign it may continue to pose a threat to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.Rupert Lowe, an MP who left Reform UK before starting his own party, announced on Tuesday that the British businessman Simon Galbraith had contributed two donations of £250,000 this year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Two congressmembers respond to revelations of government snooping on journalists, non-profits and unionsTwo congressional Democrats asked a government watchdog Tuesday to investigate the Trump administration’s use of an obscure law to secretly collect records on journalists, non-profits and unions without judicial oversight.The request from the senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and the representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington seen by the Guardian comes amid mounting scrutiny over the way the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently used its power to issue administrative summonses related to customs matters to make extraordinary unilateral demands for information. They sent their request to the government accountability office (GAO), the nonpartisan congressional watchdog. Continue reading...