On Tuesday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally departed from India after an extended stay caused by a glitch in his official aircraft. Trudeau's official aircraft faced an embarrassing malfunction, leaving him and his delegation stranded in Delhi for nearly two days. This incident occurred amidst strained relations with India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Trudeau for not addressing Khalistani elements in Canada. Trudeau's request for a bilateral meeting during the G20 summit was only met with a pull-aside. Canada has recently suspended free trade agreement negotiations with India. [photo: @Rajeev_GoI X handle]

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.

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.

At the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the partnership between the two countries is crucial for stability and welfare in the region and world. He called Saudi Arabia one of India's most important strategic partners and thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his role in the successful G20 summit hosted by India. The Saudi Crown Prince, who is on a state visit to India after the G20 meet, agreed there is great cooperation between the two countries to build opportunities for the future. He congratulated PM Modi on the G20 summit outcomes including the proposed Middle East-India-Europe economic corridor. The two leaders discussed boosting bilateral ties across areas like energy, trade, defense and healthcare.

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.

Ahead of the G20 summit, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India has "done the right thing" by prioritizing its interests while appealing for peace amid the Russia-Ukraine war. In an interview, Singh stated that foreign policy has become more important in domestic politics now versus his tenure. However, he cautioned against using diplomacy for party gains. On China ties, Singh hoped PM Modi would protect India's sovereignty. He praised India's G20 presidency and Chandrayaan's moon landing. Overall, Singh backed India's balanced stance on Ukraine. (Image courtesy: ANI)

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.

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 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.