The Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky issued a proclamation declaring September 3rd as 'Sanatan Dharma Day' in the city during a major Hindu temple event. Spiritual leaders like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar attended along with officials like the Deputy Mayor. The proclamation recognizes the positive impact of the Hindu community in Louisville and beyond. Swami Chidanand emphasized the importance of bringing spirituality into daily life. Sadhvi Bhagawati highlighted the intersection of science and spirituality in Hinduism. The Deputy Mayor presented honorary citizenship certificates to Sri Sri and Swami Chidanand. Also 2024 onwards,NYC will have Diwali as public school holiday, it is noted that there are more than 600,000 Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists across New York City who celebrate Diwali. (Image courtesy: New India Abroad)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed encouragement regarding enhanced collaboration between India and the UK in financial services. She stated the UK conveyed willingness to expand its presence in GIFT City IFSC and build a robust FinTech partnership. Sitharaman said she is pleased with the tangible progress made through the India-UK financial partnership forum for public and private sector dialogue. She highlighted the forum's evolution into a leading platform across the financial sector. Sitharaman's remarks indicate deepening financial ties between the two countries, with the UK aiming to increase investment in India's finance hub and collaborate on emerging technologies like FinTech. The strengthening cooperation is a boost for India's financial sector.

Shah Rukh Khan's latest film 'Jawan' has crossed Rs 500 crore globally, becoming 2022's second biggest worldwide weekend grosser. It earned Rs 125 crore on day 1, Rs 109 crore on day 2, Rs 140 crore on day 3 and Rs 157 crore on day 4. This makes SRK the only Indian actor with two Rs 500 crore global grossers in a single year after 'Pathaan'. 'Jawan' also ranked no.1 in international markets like New Zealand and no.2 in Australia. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh called it a "box office monster" that created history for the highest 3-day collection ever for a Hindi film. With its meteoric earnings, 'Jawan' has cemented SRK's star power globally.

ACG Prem Sagar, the Consul General of India in Durban, attended a medical camp organized by the Ramakrishna Mission of South Africa on September 10, 2023 in Phoenix. He appreciated the humanitarian mission of providing free medical care and assistance to underprivileged people in the community. The medical camp embodied the spirit of 'One World One Health' and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the ideals of universal brotherhood and welfare embraced by India.

An Indian-origin man, Sayak Mukhopadhyay, disrupted the US Open tennis match between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova for 50 minutes by gluing his feet to the court in a dramatic climate change protest. Mukhopadhyay was with the group Extinction Rebellion NYC. He stood up shouting slogans before sticking his feet down. He was arrested for trespassing but said it conveyed the message directly. Gauff said she couldn't get too mad since it was peaceful. Mukhopadhyay felt public disruptions are effective communication. He was safely freed by police emergency personnel and charged. The high-profile stunt aimed to spur climate action through public arenas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for India gaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. At the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Erdogan stated "we would be proud" if India joined the powerful global body. However, he advocated for rotational membership for all 195 UN states, saying the world is bigger than just the 5 permanent members. Erdogan highlighted the need to reform UNSC representation beyond the US, UK, France, China and Russia. His backing indicates Turkey's approval of India's rising international stature. Erdogan pitched giving every member state a turn to serve on and influence the Security Council.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted a video recap of his "important trip to India" for the G20 Summit, summarizing his agenda and meetings. In the clip, Sunak emphasized standing up for British interests and values on the world stage at the gathering. He highlighted meetings with leaders like Prime Minister Modi to boost ties with growing Indo-Pacific powers. In the video, Sunak contrasted Putin's absence at the gathering with world leaders facing issues together. The video shows Sunak announcing deals with India, interacting with leaders, and advocating British interests.Sunak characterized the visit as productive diplomacy, strengthening bonds with India and asserting UK priorities internationally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India, co-chairing a Strategic Partnership Council meeting. They discussed advancing cooperation in trade, economy, defense, culture and connectivity. This second state visit comes after the Prince attended the G20 Summit where Saudi Arabia signed onto Modi's proposed India-Middle East-Europe corridor, seen as an alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative. With over $52 billion in bilateral trade, India and Saudi Arabia are major economic partners. The leaders aim to further security, political and energy ties. The high-profile visit underscores deepening strategic bonds.

At the recent G20 summit, Margaret MacLeod, spokesperson for the US State Department, made headlines by eloquently addressing audiences in fluent Hindi. MacLeod serves as the spokesperson for Hindi and Urdu-speaking communities worldwide, effectively communicating US foreign policy priorities. A seasoned diplomat, she has served in India, Pakistan, Japan and domestic roles. Her overseas experience includes non-proliferation, international organizations, and Capitol Hill. MacLeod's proficiency in Hindi underscores the US commitment to strengthening ties with India. Her language skills build cultural bridges and personify growing strategic cooperation.

The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4 match is set to resume on the reserve day after rain interrupted play on Sunday in Colombo. India were 147/2 in 24.1 overs when showers forced an early stoppage. However, heavy rains are forecast again on Monday evening, putting the contest in doubt. Multiple inspections failed to get play restarted Sunday despite ground efforts. If a full 50-over match is completed Monday, it will be tough for India's bowlers to play Sri Lanka the next day. The reserve day was controversially added just for this fixture after their previous washout. With more rain likely, the prospect of a result remains uncertain. (Image courtesy: BCCI)