The Centre has mocked Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her letter demanding discussion on various issues in the upcoming parliament session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi responded that Gandhi perhaps doesn't know parliamentary traditions, as the government discusses the agenda with opposition only after the session starts. Gandhi had written to PM Modi underscoring no agenda was announced for the September 18 special session and listed 9 subjects for discussion. Joshi asserted the session was called as per tradition and said issues are discussed with all parties before commencement. The sparring comes amid buzz over the country's name change to 'Bharat'.

Tata Group's consumer unit is in acquisition talks with popular Indian snack maker Haldiram's to buy at least 51% stake but faces resistance over the $10 billion valuation sought. If successful, the deal would see Tata directly compete with Pepsi and Reliance Retail. However, Tata feels Haldiram's valuation demand is very high. Family-run Haldiram's, renowned for its affordable snacks, has around 13% share of India's $6.2 billion savoury snack market and a significant overseas presence. Besides Tata, Haldiram's is also in talks with private equity firms including Bain Capital for a 10% stake sale. The potential deal with Tata represents an exciting consumer space opportunity, but the high valuation sought by Haldiram's poses a roadblock.

British PM Rishi Sunak has assured India that the UK government takes threats from pro-Khalistani extremism seriously and is working closely with Indian authorities to tackle it. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Sunak stated that no form of extremism is acceptable in the UK. His comments come ahead of his India visit for the G20 summit. This follows concerns in New Delhi over activities of Khalistani elements after the attack on the Indian High Commission in London. Sunak said UK police are empowered to deal with violent acts, and referred to increased cooperation such as the recent meeting between UK and Indian ministers focused on extremism. (Image courtesy: Rishi Sunak on X)

Several Bollywood celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut, have expressed their support for India's name change to Bharat. The President, Draupadi Murmu, recently invited G20 leaders using the name Bharat. Amitabh Bachchan tweeted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," while Kangana Ranaut shared her thoughts on Instagram, celebrating the name change and highlighting its historical significance. Jackie Shroff also commented, emphasizing that although the name may change, their identity as Indians remains the same. The name change from India to Bharat has sparked conversations about historical and cultural identity in the country.

China has supported India as the host of the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's decision not to attend. Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit, scheduled for September 9 and 10. Addressing concerns about the choice, China's foreign ministry emphasized on overall stability of China-India relations, with ongoing dialogue and communication at multiple levels. This statement comes against the backdrop of recent tensions, including China's issuance of a new map that included Indian territories. India dismissed the new map with strong words from the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

UK's Labour Party leader Keir Starmer undertook a major reshuffle of the party's shadow cabinet on Tuesday, demoting two senior Indian-origin MPs - Lisa Nandy and Preet Kaur Gill. Nandy was removed from her role as shadow foreign secretary and appointed to the levelling up brief, while Gill was demoted from shadow international development secretary to a backbench position. The reshuffle marks a shift in the diversity profile of Labour's top team under Starmer. Both Nandy and Gill accepted their demotions gracefully, reiterating support for the leader. The move is seen as Starmer stamping his authority and shaping the shadow cabinet to gear up for the next general election.

Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited film 'Jawan' landed in controversy a day before its release, with calls for boycott trending on social media. Backlash stems from the involvement of producer Udhayanidhi Stalin who recently made inflammatory remarks comparing Hinduism to mosquitoes. Despite record advance bookings, #BoycottJawan trended as some demanded boycott over Stalin's role as a key distributor. The multilingual film directed by Atlee stars SRK along with Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi. Stalin's controversial statement sparked outrage, though he remained unapologetic. The boycott calls have cast a shadow on the film's prospects despite strong buzz.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized his deep bonds with India and 'proud Hindu' heritage in an exclusive interview with PTI. Sunak, UK's first Indian-origin and Hindu PM, cited his Indian wife and pride in his Indian roots. On India relations, he discussed meeting PM Modi to address global challenges and realize the India-UK FTA's potential for job creation. Sunak expressed optimism for a mutually beneficial trade deal. He also reaffirmed Ukraine's right to sovereignty amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Earlier, Sunak took oath on the Bhagavad Gita and performed Hindu rituals publicly. By underscoring his personal faith and cultural identity, Sunak continues affirming his Indian heritage as PM.

During the Asia Cup match, Nepal's cricket fans had much to cheer about despite their team's loss to a stronger Indian side. Aasif Sheikh's impressive half-century and Nepal's competitive total of 230 were bright spots for the underdog team. Even more heartwarming was the post-match camaraderie when the Indian team paid a visit to the Nepalese dressing room. In a touching gesture, they interacted with the Nepali players and presented medals as a sign of appreciation. The exchange of goodwill and respect between the teams transcended the boundaries of competition, leaving a lasting impression on both sides.

NASA has unveiled a photograph capturing India's lunar lander, Vikram, on the Moon's surface. The image displays Vikram as a small speck at the image's center, casting a dark shadow against the bright surroundings. Chandrayaan-3's successful landing occurred near the lunar south pole on August 23. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped the photograph four days later. India joined an exclusive group of nations, including the US, the former Soviet Union, and China, to achieve a soft lunar landing. The lander and rover exceeded their mission objectives during their 10-day lunar exploration. They've now entered a sleep mode until September 22.