Scotland is launching pilot programs across select government agencies to test a transition to a four-day workweek for civil servants. The initiative is outlined in Scotland's 2023-24 Programme for Government as a way to assess the potential well-being, environmental, and productivity benefits of reduced working hours. The year-long trials may involve government enterprise bodies rather than ministries. This follows the UK's largest-ever four-day week trial last year involving 3,000 employees, which most companies chose to retain citing increased revenues, lower turnover, and less burnout. Scotland aims to similarly evaluate the feasibility and advantages of a shortened workweek.

'Jawan' has smashed records with over ₹321 crore in 5 days, prompting congratulations and praise from fellow Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar. Akshay wrote on social media "…Congratulations my Jawan Pathaan Shah Rukh Khan.” He called the film's performance "massive" and added, “Our films are back and how." SRK graciously replied, thanking the ‘Khiladi’ for his good wishes. Beyond Bollywood, south star Mahesh Babu and RRR director SS Rajamouli also congratulated Khan, with Rajamouli calling Jawan's opening "earth-shattering." Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh has coined the film as “phenomenal.”

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as "major news" that will greatly benefit Israel and the globe. The ambitious economic corridor, unveiled Saturday in New Delhi, links infrastructure from Asia to Europe as an alternative to China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative. Netanyahu said IMEC realizes a vision for the Middle East and that Israel is at the center of this "unprecedented international project." He welcomed the joint announcement by the U.S., India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and E.U. Netanyahu made the remarks while addressing protests in Israel over proposed judicial reforms. [photo courtesy: @netanyahu]

The National Army Museum in London is hosting the exhibition: "British Indian Army: Soldiers of the First World War" which highlights the vital role of Indian soldiers during World War I. Featuring items from the museum's collections, it shows how 1.4 million Indian men served across fronts like the Western Front and Gallipoli, making up the largest volunteer force ever assembled at the time. As museum liaison Julian Farrance stated, though “overlooked” in the UK's memory, Indian troops were "absolutely vital" and their "huge contribution" played a pivotal role in the outcome of the war. The exhibition runs through till November 5, spotlighting this critical part of history.

An Indian-origin London police officer, Constable Mandeep Dharni, has been fired for gross misconduct after using excessive force during an arrest in north London earlier this month. The video showed Dharni employing unreasonable restraint on a man later charged with criminal damage, failing to exercise appropriate authority and courtesy. Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles said Dharni exceeded acceptable force limits considering other officers present could help detain the suspect. The incident sparked an investigation after the video was shared online. A misconduct panel concluded Dharni breached professional behaviour standards and was dismissed without notice.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau remains stranded in India after his plane broke down after the G20 summit. A backup aircraft and spare parts are en route to retrieve Trudeau and his delegation. Trudeau will either flay back on the backup plane or wait for the original plane to be repaired, reports Bloomberg. The snag adds to Trudeau's troubles, who was criticised by PM Modi over alleged Canadian tolerance of Khalistani groups in Canada before the G20 summit started. The leaders did not hold a formal G20 bilateral meeting. Meanwhile, the delays also stirred domestic debate about Canada's crumbling infrastructure.

India inflicted a crushing 228-run defeat on arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup match, their biggest ever win against the neighbours. Riding on scintillating centuries from Virat Kohli (122*) and KL Rahul (111*), India posted a daunting 356. In response, Pakistan's chase never got going as Kuldeep Yadav's 5-wicket haul punctured their innings. The huge margin of victory underscores India's total domination after the batters' gallant exploits. Despite the rain interruptions causing delays, Kohli and Rahul's brilliant hundreds set the platform before Yadav ran through Pakistan's batting. The comprehensive win marks a significant boost for India heading into the World Cup. [photo courtesy: BCCI]

The UK government has welcomed the strong cooperation so far through the UK-India Infrastructure Partnership, recalling last year's agreement to support India's National Infrastructure Pipeline. Announcing the launch of the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge, the UK stated this joint initiative co-led by India's NITI Aayog and City of London Corporation will leverage expertise to unlock infrastructure investments in India. The collaborative bridge aims to phase and structure major infrastructure projects to boost financing, including via the City of London. This builds on the 2021 commitment to mobilize infrastructure investment for India. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tweeted he was proud of the progress and called India exploring London Stock Exchange listings a big step forward.

On September 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the enduring relevance of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech delivered exactly 130 years ago at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. In a social media post, PM Modi said Vivekananda's address emphasizing universal brotherhood and global unity continues to resonate and inspire even today as a guiding light. Swami Vivekananda's iconic 1893 speech is etched in history where he referred to the audience as 'Brothers and Sisters of America'. The speech articulated key life principles including patriotism, respect for all faiths, understanding religion, grasping science, recognizing ritual value, comprehending Hinduism's roots, awareness of science's aims, insight into India's decline and opposing religious conflict.

The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Super-4 clash witnessed the surprising sight of empty stands as steep ticket pricing and a rain forecast kept fans away. Critics associated this unusual sight at an India-Pakistan high-voltage encounter with ticket rates starting from $10 up to $200, much higher than other matches. The controversy around pricing and venue, combined with predictions of rain, resulted in an unprecedented lack of crowds for the heated tie. While the on-field action sizzled, missing sadly, was the electrifying onground atmosphere as cameras panned across vacant seats. (Video courtesy: Nikhil Bhambure)