ShaktiSat All-Girls Space Mission: 108 Countries Unite to Build Satellite for Moon Mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Italy's post-war history. Prime Minister Modi stated that this milestone reflects the trust and confidence of the Italian people in her leadership. Hailing their friendship as instrumental in strengthening the India-Italy special strategic partnership, he expressed best wishes for her continued success and looked forward to sustained cooperation between the two nations. The relationship between India and Italy continues to expand across multiple areas, including defence collaboration, agriculture, digital connectivity infrastructure, and Italy's willingness to participate in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor project. Italy has also played a significant role regarding the free trade agreement between India and the European Union as bilateral ties and multilateral cooperation between India and European nations continue to deepen.

HarperCollins India has announced the publication of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', scheduled for release on November 10, 2026. The announcement follows a dispute after former publisher Penguin backed out of negotiations over disagreements concerning content revisions and verification demands. The Congress party had earlier alleged political pressure over sensitive subjects in the manuscript, while Penguin stated it had requested fact-checking prior to publication. Following the breakdown of negotiations with Penguin, HarperCollins acquired the publishing rights for India. The publishing house described the memoir as an account covering themes of love, identity, duty, and India's political journey. An official media embargo will remain in effect until the scheduled release date in November, when the book will hit bookstores.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a first-of-its-kind festival enforcement calendar to monitor food safety at festivals and community events. Under this initiative, all food served at community events will undergo scrutiny to prevent adulteration and the distribution of substandard food. The FDA will implement proactive supervision by inspecting factories, storage warehouses, and shops well in advance rather than conducting last-minute checks. The calendar covers major festivals including Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, and Eid. Caterers for community food distribution programmes such as Bhandara, Iftar, and Langar must now adhere to strict safety guidelines. The measures also entail increased inspections across hotels, restaurants, and food businesses throughout Maharashtra.

A protest was staged outside the Parliament Street Police Station demanding immediate action and the addition of stringent charges following a viral video concerning an assault incident. Demonstrators and representatives held discussions with police officials, calling for the immediate arrest of the accused involved in the altercation. The victim's family urged opposition leaders for support and legal assistance, while police authorities maintained that an investigation based on medical reports and registered sections under the law is currently underway. Meanwhile, political outreach intensified as student organization representatives met with political leadership in Uttar Pradesh to discuss issues concerning education and employment, alongside expressing gratitude for parliamentary support during recent demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.