Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, marking his first India visit since October 2019. Beijing has already sent an advance team for security and protocol preparations, while Xi is expected to arrive with a large delegation of officials, businessmen and state-backed media representatives. His participation could further efforts to restore India-China ties strained by the 2020 border standoff. Since 2024, relations have improved through troop disengagement, resumed direct flights and visas, eased curbs on Chinese firms and the revival of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. However, over 50,000 troops remain deployed on both sides of the LAC, while visa issues and Arunachal Pradesh tensions persist. (PC: The Indian Express)

Delhi has reported 2,308 cases of H1N1 and other variants, along with 650 flu cases, as authorities step up monitoring of the situation. Health Minister Pankaj Singh said there was “no reason to panic” and described the situation as completely under control. He said around 3,000 patients, including those infected with H1N1 A and B strains, had received treatment, recovered and returned home. Government hospitals have adequate beds, doctors and medicines, he added. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also held a comprehensive review meeting. Meanwhile, around 2,200 dengue cases had been detected as of Monday. Officials from civic bodies and Delhi Cantonment were involved in assessing the situation and measures to prevent further spread.

India’s push for prominent, color-coded health warnings on packaged foods has faced resistance from major food companies, Reuters reported. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) abandoned its proposed colorful front-of-pack warnings after a tense March meeting with industry executives, instead proposing a black-and-white table showing sugar, fat and salt levels. Coca-Cola and industry groups argued such labels could confuse consumers and would not change eating habits. Health activists have challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, which is scrutinizing the regulator’s approach. The dispute comes as nearly 80% of India’s packaged food and beverage products are estimated to be high in fat, sugar or salt, while consumers increasingly demand healthier products and greater transparency from global food brands. (PC: Reuters)

India has emerged as the most attractive data centre market among 10 Asia-Pacific markets outside China, with live IT capacity quadrupling in six years to 1.7 GW, according to BloombergNEF. Another 1.3 GW is under construction, while 3.2 GW of projects have secured land, power and permits. Reliance Industries and the Adani Group have committed $210 billion, while Google, Amazon and Microsoft have announced $84 billion. Maharashtra accounts for 55% of live capacity, with expansion expected across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. AI-focused campuses are driving investment, but rising electricity demand, transmission constraints and water-intensive cooling could challenge future growth, particularly in water-stressed cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai. (PC: The Economic Times)

India has eased duty-free raw sugar import rules, replacing an October 31 deadline with a two-month processing window from the date of filing the Bill of Entry. The move comes as sugar prices rise ahead of the festive season and the government steps up efforts to curb hoarding. Under the original August 20 notification, up to 1 million tonnes could be imported under a tariff-rate quota. Prices rose from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 63.05 on August 24. The government cited lower production, weather-related crop damage, global supply concerns and hoarding. Domestic stocks stand at 3.5-3.9 million tonnes. From September 1, bulk sugar consumers face a 15-day stockholding limit. (PC: News18)

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi backed actor Kriti Sanon after her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement drew social media criticism. Sharing Sanon’s response on Instagram Stories, Gandhi said what a woman wears, does and where she goes is her choice, urging people to stop trolling women for exercising their freedom. Sanon questioned why women’s respect for culture and traditions continues to be judged by their clothes, saying culture resides in the heart, not the neckline. The advertisement showed her tying a rakhi to her brother and later to their pet dog, prompting criticism. BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut also criticised Sanon’s look, calling it “intentionally creepy”.

Jaggery prices have surged 25-30% across India in August, with Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, two key producing states, witnessing a sharp increase over the past fortnight. Manufacturers and traders attribute the rise to tightening supplies, following a government crackdown on units in Maharashtra producing adulterated jaggery. Prices are expected to remain firm until October, when fresh jaggery production begins. Industry executives said lower sugarcane availability expected next year could keep jaggery prices elevated through 2027. Since jaggery prices typically move in tandem with sugar prices, the increase is likely to raise costs for sweet makers and consumers ahead of the festive season. The supply squeeze has already pushed prices up by 25-30% nationwide this month. (PC: X)

A US military aircraft landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday, triggering speculation amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. Flight-tracking data reportedly indicated that the aircraft was likely a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a US Air Force transport plane designed to carry personnel, military equipment and cargo over long distances. The unusual arrival in Russia has prompted widespread theories about its possible purpose, although no official explanation for the flight has been provided in the report. The C-17 is primarily used for military logistics and strategic transport, making its reported presence at a Russian airport particularly notable. The aircraft’s identity and mission remain the focus of ongoing speculation. (PC: India Today)

The mystery surrounding the Kirana Hills incident during Operation Sindoor has been explained by former CDS General Anil Chauhan. He said an Indian loitering munition, believed to be a Harop drone, accidentally struck the Pakistani military’s nuclear-linked Kirana Hills area after running low on fuel. The drone had been sent to locate radars around Sargodha and Kirana Hills and was designed to loiter while searching for targets. When it failed to find one within its operational window, it eventually hit the hills. Chauhan reiterated that India had not deliberately targeted Kirana Hills. He also disclosed that the IAF had approval to strike Skardu, but bad weather forced commanders to switch the planned target to Bholari.

A bottle of Fanta in India may not be nutritionally equivalent to the same brand sold in the UK. According to a Reuters comparison, the UK version contains about 63 calories per can, while the Indian version delivers nearly three times the energy because of its higher sugar content. Britain’s 2018 Soft Drinks Industry Levy encouraged beverage companies to reformulate drinks with less sugar and more low-calorie sweeteners. India’s formulation, meanwhile, reflects stronger demand for sweeter flavours. The difference demonstrates how multinational food and beverage companies modify recipes according to local regulations, consumer preferences and ingredient supply chains. With health awareness increasing, Indian consumers are also seeing a wider range of low- and zero-sugar options. (PC: Reuters)