Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met reporters in Brussels on Friday morning [CLICK the link to watch the press conference]. Earlier on Thursday, he held closed-door meetings with some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Brussels. This marked the start of his three-nation European tour. During the meetings, the human rights situation in Manipur was one of the topics of discussion. This follows a July resolution adopted by the European Parliament entitled 'India, the situation in Manipur.' Gandhi's visit to Brussels was not listed on the official parliamentary agenda. Sources from the Opposition party described the discussions as successful.

The High Commission of India in London hosted the first ever UK Defence Alumni of India Meet on September 6, 2023. High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami praised the efforts of the alumni group, who announced the formation of the UK Defence Alumni of India Association at the event. The Alumni association aims to bring together British officers who have studied, trained, or worked in India over the years. By forming an alumni network, they hope to strengthen defence ties and cooperation between the two countries as a part of the 'Living Bridge'. [Photo courtesy: HCI London]

Billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his family visited the Hindu Temple in Slough on Wednesday to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami. Ambani, his son Anant, daughter Isha, and mother Kokilaben waited in queue with other devotees to offer puja and darshan. Slough resident Chitta Paikray spotted the Ambanis around during puja and approached them for photos. Paikray described the family as gracious, he said: "I was both surprised and overwhelmed to see the Ambani family standing in a queue like everyone else." (Image courtesy: Chitta Paikray)

In an interview with The Times, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami argues that Prime Minister Modi is advocating for constructive cooperation on global challenges, not punitive restrictions. He contends India's low per capita emissions warrant different climate obligations than developed nations. Doraiswami denies India is seeking more UK visas under a trade deal, just easier transfers for cross-investing companies. He maintains India still has major development needs. Overall, Doraiswami calls for balancing equity with global cooperation. Listen to the interview, or read the full transcript on Shorts91 Blog. Click on the link below. 

Ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi penned a blog laying out India's vision as the host nation. Underscoring human-centered progress, he called for bringing developing nations' aspirations into the mainstream. PM wrote about the importance of shared prosperity and India's role in fostering global cooperation during its presidency. The blog sets the stage for the summit of 20 wealthiest countries to address pressing international issues. The PM emphasized uplifting marginalized voices, particularly the Global South and Africa. His clarion call signals India's commitment to an inclusive global order. 

India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft, en route to study the Sun at Lagrange Point 1, has shared stunning images of Earth and the Moon. Launched on September 2, Aditya-L1 is India's inaugural solar observatory mission. It has completed Earth-bound maneuvers and is heading nearly 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth to continuously observe the Sun without interruptions, offering real-time solar activity data. The primary payload, Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), will send 1,440 images daily for analysis. This mission aims to deepen understanding of solar eruptive events and their impact on space weather.

This Janmashtami, explore a unique dimension of Lord Krishna beyond the ritualistic observances. Join Sadhguru as he unravels Krishna not as a mythological figure but as a living possibility and spiritual possibility. Through Sadhguru's insight and mystic wisdom, discover Krishna's teachings as a gateway to ultimate liberation and how to turn inwards to experience the same boundless sense of life embodied by the playful cosmic dancer. Become Krishna not just in costume but in consciousness, and taste the bliss of his divine song with Sadhguru's guidance on this Janmashtami.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took a dig at the government over the India-Bharat naming controversy, quipping the opposition bloc could call itself 'BHARAT' - Alliance for Betterment, Harmony And Responsible Advancement for Tomorrow. His remark came after President Murmu's G20 invite addressed her as President of 'Bharat' instead of 'India', sparking furore. Tharoor jibed that perhaps then the ruling party might stop the "fatuous game of changing names". Earlier, he had said there's no constitutional objection to 'Bharat' but hoped government won't dispense with 'India'. His latest quip refers to opposition alliance 'INDIA'.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar tweaked the title of his upcoming film, Mission Raniganj, amidst discussions about renaming India to Bharat. The initial tagline for the film, "The Great Indian Rescue," was changed to "The Great Bharat Rescue." Akshay wrote, "Watch the story of India's true hero" but later adjusted it to "Bharat's true hero" in the caption of his Instagram post. The alteration coincided with ongoing debates about India's name change to Bharat, and fans noticed and commented on the changes. Mission Raniganj, a rescue drama starring Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra, is set to release in theatres on October 6.

Nine retired Indian judges, including former Supreme Court justices, have written a letter to G20 leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging them to consider repatriating Indian children separated from their parents by state child agencies in Western Europe, the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand. The judges argue that isolating these children from their families and kin leads to identity loss and advocate for a more compassionate solution, emphasizing the need for cultural understanding and good-quality translators in child protection proceedings. The letter references cases in Norway, the US, Germany, and Australia.