India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected lawsuits filed in a US court by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, head of the proscribed organisation Sikhs for Justice, describing them as “frivolous” and the allegations against Indian officials as “fabricated and malicious.” Speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said judicial documents intended for service in India must be routed through the country’s designated central authority, the Ministry of Law and Justice. His remarks came in response to a question about reports that the US State Department had served summonses on the Indian government in connection with a civil lawsuit filed by Pannun.

India has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to help end the Russia-Ukraine war as US-mediated peace talks between the two countries began in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. New Delhi confirmed that it is engaging with Moscow, Kyiv and other stakeholders at the highest level. India has proposed measures to protect Black Sea shipping, ensure the safe movement of grain and energy supplies, and explore a possible non-attack arrangement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the talks, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (PC: India Today)

The University of Oxford has returned the ancestral remains of 39 Naga people to representatives of Nagaland after they were held in its Pitt Rivers Museum for more than a century. The formal handover took place on Monday in Oxford, marking a historic step towards reconciliation and healing. The remains were taken during British colonial rule, mainly between 1910 and 1940, by colonial administrators. The return followed six years of discussions led by Naga community groups and tribal representatives. The remains will be taken to Nagaland and laid to rest at a designated site in Kohima, honouring their ancestors and heritage. (PC: The Hindu)

The Hanuman Chalisa was recited for the first time at the UK's House of Lords during a Diwali celebration organised by the Labour Asians Society.   Hosted by Lord Uday Nagaraju and led by Here&Now365 founder Manish Tiwari, the event brought together parliamentarians, business leaders and members of the British Asian community.   The evening began with a minute's silence honouring soldiers who died in conflicts, including those from the Indian subcontinent who served in both World Wars.   Tiwari described Diwali as a celebration of shared heritage, while Lord Nagaraju highlighted its message of unity, hope and light over darkness. 

Abhishek Awasthi, originally from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, has made history by becoming the first person of Indian origin to serve as Mayor of Greater Bendigo in Australia's Victoria state. The 43-year-old took oath on November 9 and will serve a one-year term for 2026-27. Awasthi moved to Australia in 2008 to pursue higher education and became an Australian citizen in 2015. His political journey began with his election as a councillor from Kennington Ward in 2024. He later became the city's first Indian-origin Deputy Mayor. Andrea Metcalf has been elected Deputy Mayor for the new term.

Five Indian-American lawmakers are among 19 US representatives backing the reintroduced Diwali Day Act, which seeks to designate Diwali a federal holiday. Introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng in the House of Representatives, the bipartisan proposal has received support from Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera. Meng said federal recognition would acknowledge the festival’s cultural and religious significance and signal inclusion for Hindu and other South Asian communities. She also cited concerns over anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate, including vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an attempted mass shooting at an Illinois temple and disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington State.

An Indian couple, Ruman and Tarun, earned CAD 1,447, approximately Rs 1.02 lakh, after working as Uber Eats delivery partners in Canada for seven days. They documented the experiment in a series of Instagram videos, explaining that they took up the challenge out of curiosity and that food delivery is not their regular occupation. The couple worked around 10 hours daily during the week. They reported spending an average of CAD 35 on fuel each day, amounting to CAD 245 across seven days. To reduce expenses, they carried meals from home instead of buying food. Their experience offered viewers a glimpse into the earnings and costs involved in gig work there.

Diwali celebrations in New Jersey have sparked online criticism after videos showed streets covered in discarded firecracker boxes, wrappers, ash and other rubbish. Footage from areas including Jersey City and India Street showed firefighters using powerful water jets to douse remaining flames and clear the debris, while police monitored the situation. The celebrations and subsequent clean-up reportedly disrupted normal traffic and movement. The viral clips have prompted debate over civic responsibility, public cleanliness, noise pollution and fireworks regulations among members of the Indian diaspora. Social media users have also questioned the impact of large-scale celebrations on local communities. Similar scenes had surfaced in New Jersey after earlier Diwali festivities.

British travel creator Jack Heaton has praised the Delhi Metro after paying approximately Rs 31 for a journey during his visit to New Delhi. Impressed by the stations’ cleanliness, modern facilities and passenger discipline, he said the network offered a better experience than several European systems, including London's. Heaton shared his experience on Instagram, noting that his first ride coincided with protests that caused delays. Despite the disruption, he described the metro as extensive and technologically advanced. Delhi Metro operates across 374.46 km, with 271 stations on nine main lines, including the Airport Express. Across the wider NCR, connected metro services extend the network to 519.50 km.

US Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced the Diwali Day Act, proposing to recognise Diwali as a federal holiday in the United States amid concerns over rising anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate. Meng said Hindu and South Asian communities were facing increasing intimidation, targeted violence and discrimination, arguing that federal recognition would affirm their place in American society. The bill has received co-sponsorship from 19 lawmakers, including Representatives Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rashida Tlaib. Meng cited vandalism at Hindu temples, an attempted mass shooting at a temple in Aurora, Illinois, and disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington State as examples of targeted incidents.