The world's tallest Nataraja statue, standing at 28 feet and weighing 20 tonnes, has been erected at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the upcoming G20 summit in Delhi. Sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapathy and his team in Tamil Nadu's Swamimalai completed this monumental work in an astonishing seven months, using the traditional casting method with Ashtadhatu (8 metals). The statue's transportation to the capital took just four days, with the creation of a dedicated green corridor for its safe and efficient journey. This awe-inspiring artwork adds a majestic touch to the G20 summit's setting, celebrating India's rich cultural heritage.

A complete business shutdown occurred in Sindh Province's Shikarpur and Kashmore districts in Pakistan as a protest against the increasing kidnappings of Hindu businessmen and their families. Muslim businessmen also joined the shutdown in solidarity. Hindu and Muslim business owners organized a significant protest rally in Kashmore to condemn these abductions and the authorities' failure to apprehend the culprits. JeI Chief Sirajul Haq also protested against such kidnappings of minority community members and called for immediate action. Hindu Panchayat and Youth Alliance of Kashmore also demanded increased security presence to tackle the bandit problem. [photo: ANI]

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ continues to dominate the UK film market, with his latest release "Jawan" already leading in advance bookings compared to "Pathaan." The film has amassed around £220K in advance bookings and is poised for a historic opening day, potentially exceeding £400K. "Jawan" also boasts healthy ticket sales for its extended opening weekend in national chains in India, with approximately 7,25,000 tickets sold across PVRInox and Cinepolis. Just one day ahead of the big release, Shah Rukh Khan said on social media handle X, “Let’s ‘Chaleya’ to the theatre tomorrow!”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday left for an almost week-long Europe visit during which he will hold meetings with EU lawyers, students and the Indian diaspora. Gandhi will meet EU lawyers in Brussels on September 7 and The Hague. He will also address students in Paris on September 8 and participate in a Labour Union event on September 9. Thereafter, Gandhi will visit Norway to address the Indian diaspora in Oslo on September 10 before returning the next day. Gandhi's meetings with European leaders and Indian community members aim to boost Congress' international outreach amidst domestic political developments.

Amidst the 'India' versus 'Bharat' debate ahead of the G20 summit, an ANI video of PM Modi explaining the meaning of Bharat by citing the Vishnu Puran in 2019 is gaining traction. The controversy erupted as 'India' was replaced with 'Bharat' on G20 dinner invites, triggering a row between the BJP and the opposition bloc. In the video, the PM states BJP never makes hasty decisions, before reading the scripture excerpt equating Bharat with India. The video underscores the PM's erudition and provides insight into the philosophical underpinnings behind BJP's 'Bharat' emphasis, clarifying the rationale amidst political heat over the terminology.

The annual Shobha Yatra procession for Krishna Janmashtami, organised by Shri Ram Mandir took place in Southall on Sunday. The procession was led by a chariot and folk dancers. High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami visited the Ram Mandir during the event and observed the festivities. He interacted with organisers and participants of the procession celebrating Lord Krishna's birth. In a speech, the High Commissioner shared an inspiring message on unity, saying "The notion that we may have journeys that start in different places but the journey is one, is common to all our religions." MP Virendra Sharma also attended the event, highlighting its role in bringing together the community. The message of harmony was conveyed on Shree Krishna's appearance day.

The recent usage of 'Bharat' in President Murmu's G20 dinner invite has fueled speculation of India being renamed. However, this is not the first official use of the term 'Bharat'. In August, the government notifications for PM Modi's visits to South Africa for the BRICS Summit and to Greece referred to him as 'Prime Minister of Bharat'. Ahead of his September 6-7 visit to Indonesia for ASEAN-India Summit, the function notes also used 'Bharat'. The identity cards of Indian officials for the upcoming G20 Summit in Delhi will also read 'Bharat official'. While the 'Bharat' reference has sparked debate, its official usage is not new, having been seen in PM's August travel notifications.

With buzz growing over India potentially being renamed 'Bharat', this Firstpost explainer traces the origins and historical usage of the two terms. While 'India' emerged from foreign references to the Indus river, 'Bharat' has roots in ancient Indian texts. The Constitution uses both names interchangeably. The recent 'Bharat' reference in President Murmu's G20 dinner invites has fueled speculation that the government may initiate a formal name change to move away from the "slavery mentality" as per PM Modi. While a single name could emphasize national identity, India's global brand recognition and integration across languages, regions and diverse groups hangs in the balance if the renaming moves forward.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a brief visit to Indonesia on September 7 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit in Jakarta. Modi will return to Delhi the same evening. This will be the first ASEAN-India Summit since relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. The focus will be on reviewing cooperation in areas like maritime security, cyber security and digital economy. Launching a new maritime security initiative is expected to be a key outcome. The summits have been rescheduled to facilitate Modi's early return ahead of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Modi won't hold bilateral meetings due to his tight schedule. The visit highlights India's Act East policy and shared vision with ASEAN for the Indo-Pacific.

Two construction workers have been detained in China for allegedly damaging a portion of the iconic Great Wall in Shanxi province. Local media reports say the workers used an excavator to severely damage a segment of the 32nd Great Wall in an attempt to create a shortcut. Police say the 38-year-old man and 55-year-old woman dug a big gap in the Ming dynasty-era wall to reduce their travel distance. Police stressed that they caused irreversible damage to the cultural heritage site. The suspects were arrested on August 24 and the case is under investigation. Much of the over 2000-year-old Great Wall has been damaged over time, with only 8% considered well-preserved currently. The detained workers' actions have drawn criticism for harming the iconic monument. (Image courtesy: Youyu Public Security Bureau)