The BCCI will unveil India's 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 today, the deadline for all teams to submit their final rosters. The World Cup squad is expected to closely resemble the current Asia Cup team, with few changes. Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna and Sanju Samson may face exclusion but could be named reserves. This World Cup on home soil represents a golden opportunity for India to lift the 50-over trophy after falling short in the last two editions. With a roster now free of injury issues, India heads into the tournament ready to battle for the ultimate prize in cricket. As hosts, history beckons for India at this landmark event. (Image courtesy: BCCI on X)

Ahead of Teachers' Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 75 teachers who won the National Teachers' Award 2023 for their exceptional contributions to education. The meeting was held with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before an awards ceremony where President Droupadi Murmu will confer the honors on September 5. PM Modi praised the "exemplary educators" for their dedication to shaping young minds and commitment to excellence. The awardees include 50 school teachers, 13 college teachers and 12 from the Skill Development Ministry. Their work scripts a brighter future for India's youth, said the Prime Minister.

The Modi government is reportedly considering a proposal to officially rename the country from 'India' to 'Bharat'. A 'President of Bharat' invite from President House for a G20 dinner fueled speculation about the name change plan. Sources say the renaming could be introduced through a parliament resolution during the special session. The BJP has long pushed for the move, claiming 'India' represents colonial slavery, as per reports. MP Mitesh Patel recently raised the issue in Lok Sabha, noting 'Bharat' was preferred by the Constituent Assembly. As the government stresses freeing India from a 'slave mentality', it may remove 'India' from the constitution per reports. Congress criticised the potential move, saying it jeopardizes India's 'Union of States'.

India could participate in an upcoming trilateral summit between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He said Greece is interested in partnering with India on natural gas exports and that India may be invited to the summit expected next year. The Israel-Greece-Cyprus alliance expressed commitment to expanding the 3+1 format to include other countries like India. A Cyprus government statement said the nations remain open to welcoming like-minded parties to create synergies benefitting the region. The leaders are keen to promote energy cooperation with India through projects linking electrical and gas infrastructure. (Image courtesy: ANI)

According to a report by The Guardian, UK PM Rishi Sunak has dismissed the possibility of a swift trade agreement with India, dashing hopes of reaching a deal in time for the G20 summit in Delhi. The rejection of an "early harvest" deal, primarily focusing on lowering tariffs on goods like whisky while excluding complex areas like professional services, has complicated negotiations. This implies that the likelihood of a UK-India free trade agreement, previously touted as a prime post-Brexit opportunity for Britain, still remains elusive. Despite earlier promises, substantial disagreements still impede progress, leaving the deal's fate uncertain. [file photo: Reuters]

Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming action thriller 'Jawan' has seen robust advance bookings, selling over 6 lakh tickets worth around ₹17.5 crores for opening day as of Monday. Over 5.7 lakh tickets have been sold in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions combined. National multiplex chains like PVR, INOX and Cinepolis accounted for 2.46 lakh tickets. With 3 days left for release, 'Jawan' has set an all-time Bollywood record with 2 lakh tickets sold in the first 24 hours. The film is poised to overtake Sunny Deol's 'Gadar 2' which had ₹18.5 crore advance bookings.

Police in England probing the murder of Indian-origin delivery driver Aurman in Shrewsbury have charged a fifth man of Indian descent, Sukhmandeep Singh. The 23-year-old was arrested in Peterborough and charged with the murder. Earlier, four Indian-origin men– Arshdeep Singh, 24, Jagdeep Singh, 22, Shivdeep Singh, 26, and Manjot Singh, 24 were charged over the fatal attack. Police said the killing was not a robbery gone wrong as the suspects and victim knew each other. The victim Aurman's family issued a statement saying no words could explain the tragedy's impact.

The Indian High Commission team gained some redemption on the cricket pitch by defeating their Australian counterparts on Sunday at the Indian Gymkhana Club in London. While Australia may have gotten the better of India in recent Test matchups, including the World Test Championship, it was India's day in this friendly diplomatic face-off. High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami congratulated Team India on their 88-run victory, scoring 288 in their innings to Australia's 207. Though the stakes were lower than the World Cup, the Indian diplomats will relish beating the Aussies, even if only briefly, as the two teams came together for some sporting camaraderie.

India crushed Nepal by 10 wickets in their final Asia Cup 2023 Group A match to qualify for the Super 4 stage. Chasing 190, openers Rohit Sharma (74* off 53) and Shubman Gill (67* off 56) steered India home comfortably with 17 balls left. The dominant win seals India's spot behind group toppers Pakistan with 3 points. Nepal put up a brave fight batting first but fell well short as Indian bowlers excelled. Rohit and Gill then tore into the chase with aggressive strokeplay to overwhelm their opponent. India's thumping victory sets up an exciting Super 4 campaign starting on Sunday. [photo: BCCI]

Bollywood classic "Sholay" lit up Wembley's BoxPark on September 3, 2023 in London. A large gathering of the diaspora eagerly attended the free screening. The screening was introduced by Sunrise Radio host Shabnam Sahi, who hosted the proceedings. The iconic film, released on Indian Independence Day in 1975, left an indelible mark, becoming one of India's highest-grossing films. It propelled Amitabh Bachchan to superstardom and introduced the legendary villain Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan. "Sholay" also raised the bar in cinematography and action sequences, leaving an enduring legacy in Hindi cinema.