Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa on Thursday, after the young player made history by winning the silver medal at the FIDE World Cup. Modi hosted Praggnanandhaa and his parents at his residence, praising the 17-year-old for exemplifying passion and perseverance. Modi said Praggnanandhaa's accomplishment shows how India's youth can conquer any domain. Praggnanandhaa, who became the youngest international master at age 10, thanked Modi for the encouraging words. The PM's meeting comes after Praggnanandhaa clinched his first ever World Cup medal.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has released an endearing video of the Chandrayaan-3 rover rotating on the lunar surface. Captured on August 29 by the lander's camera, the clip shows the rover scout a safe path as the Vikram lander overlooks like a watchful mother. ISRO affectionately compared the visuals to a child playfully frolicking while their mother gazes on. The video comes a day after the Pragyan rover snapped an image of the Chandrayaan-3 lander, India's historic first spacecraft to soft land on the Moon's south pole on August 23.

Tel Aviv's iconic Tandoori restaurant has relocated after four decades to a new beachfront venue, renamed Tandoori Lands End. Inaugurated by the Mayor and Indian Ambassador, the iconic restaurant is owned by the Pushkarnas who pioneered Indian cuisine in Israel. Hosting figures like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zubin Mehta, Tandoori witnessed historic moments like the 1993 Oslo Israeli-Palestinian talks. Owner Reena Pushkarna, awarded India's highest diaspora honor, persevered since 1983 to share Indian culture when ties were limited. Dubbed Israel's "Cultural Ambassador", her nostalgia for the "Pushkarna legend" and fine dining promise an engaging new chapter.

Four Indian-origin students from the University of Houston: Aparajita Datta, Chirag Goel, Meghana Idamakanti, and Swapnil Sharma, are among the eight recipients of the inaugural 2023 Chevron Graduate Energy Fellowship. This fellowship, funded by Chevron, supports graduate students' energy-related research efforts through a year-long USD 12,000 grant. The program includes faculty mentoring and engagement with Chevron experts. The awardees, part of the UH-Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows, focus on innovative and scalable energy-related research, contributing to the energy industry's transformation. Their work spans topics like climate policies' impact, nuclear fusion reactions, renewable energy, and social impact initiatives like CovRelief for tracking hospital beds.

Indian-origin singers Lara Raj, 17, from LA, and 20-year-old Ezrela from Australia, have made the cut among 20 finalists vying for a novel global K-pop girl group, presented by Hybe and Geffen Records. Lara introduced herself at the event and said: "Hi, I am Lara Raj. I'm 17 and I'm Indian from LA." Ezrela, 20, introduced herself as an Indian from Australia. This innovative band, crafted in the esteemed K-pop training tradition, marks the first US-based girl group formed under this model. The auditions will unfold via YouTube from September 1, culminating in the final group selection on November 17 after a year-long training process. This dynamic journey is set to be documented in a Netflix series scheduled for 2024.

Despite short-term fluctuations in the prices of specific food items, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured that the country's inflation will remain steady in the coming months. Food price inflation rose to 11.5% in July, the highest in over three and a half years, coinciding with the anticipation of India's weakest monsoon rains in eight years. However, Sitharaman emphasized robust economic growth, particularly during the festive season, anticipating increased consumer spending. She also discussed the role of regulatory tools in enhancing corporate governance while addressing the recent Hindenburg report on the Adani group's impact on stock volatility.

Erratic climate conditions have driven food prices up over 11% in India, a major player in global agri-trade. Tomato prices cooled as onions rose 25% since June, and pulses, essential for dal, are 20% pricier than in January. With a regular vegetarian meal's cost rising by a third in July alone, the Indian government intervened to curb inflation. Bans on wheat and non-basmati white rice exports were imposed, and a 40% duty on onions. There's potential for further measures. India's food inflation could affect global markets, particularly rice, sugar, and onions, impacting food security in vulnerable areas.

Indian journalist Jinisha Bhanushali embarked on a captivating exploration of London's streets, delving into the heart of this cultural melting pot. Her journey uncovered the surge in popularity of Indian cuisine across the UK, with supermarkets now offering an array of Indian ingredients and products. Vibrant Foods and its iconic brands like East End, TRS, and FUDCO have played a significant role in this culinary revolution. Mukesh Ambani's visit to the Chaiiwala chain highlighted the global impact of Indian culture. Through her lens, Bhanushali showcased how these developments provide a taste of home for Indian expats and students, fostering a meaningful connection to their heritage.

Indian-American CEO Kishore Kethineni, based in California, received a two-year prison sentence for bank fraud and evading over $2 million in employment taxes. Kethineni pleaded guilty to orchestrating a scheme with his brothers to fraudulently secure over $3.1 million in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). While he owned and led four companies involved, his brothers managed three others. They submitted deceptive PPP applications with falsified data. Kethineni diverted substantial loan funds for personal use instead of authorized expenses. He also admitted to evading employment taxes, resulting in a $2 million liability over five years.

At the 'Jawan' promotional event in Chennai, Shah Rukh Khan expressed his admiration for Tamil cinema, recalling his collaborations with Mani Ratnam, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. He even sang a few lines from 'Dil Se's iconic 'Chaiyaa Chaiyaa' song, his first project with Ratnam. Khan's speech took a hilarious turn when co-star Vijay Sethupathi joked about having a schoolgirl crush who loved Shah Rukh instead, and now finally having his 'revenge' years later by playing the villain in 'Jawan'. SRK sportingly bantered back, much to the delight of the Chennai crowd. With his love for Tamil films and trademark wit on display, Shah Rukh Khan continued charming fans at the high-profile event. (Image courstery: ANI)