Indo-Canadian MP Chandrasekhar Arya hosted a Diwali celebration at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and raised the Hindu flag with the sacred symbol 'Om'. Arya, who hails from Karnataka, said the event on Sunday saw a large turnout of Indians from cities across Canada. He expressed pleasure at hosting Diwali at Parliament Hill and using the opportunity to raise the Hindu flag on the federal government premises. The event was supported by 67 Hindu and Indo-Canadian organizations across Canada. It coincided with Diwali being celebrated as part of the Hindu Heritage Month across Canada this year. The celebrations come amid strained India-Canada ties following PM Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian agents' involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.

Amritsar's Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport will witness increased connectivity as four prominent airlines — Batik Air, Air Asia X, Malaysia Airlines, and Scoot — offer direct flights to the holy city from their hubs in Malaysia and Singapore. Starting from November 8, Malaysia Airlines will commence two weekly flights, connecting Punjab to various cities in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, and more. Scoot's adjusted schedule provides seamless connectivity, offering a total of 3,430 seats per week. The move aims to cater to the growing demand of the Punjabi diaspora residing in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries.

Philip Mathew, an Indian man residing in Florida, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the gruesome murder of his wife, Merin Joy, in 2020. Mathew stabbed Joy 17 times, ran over her body, and fled the scene. Joy, a nurse from Kerala's Kottayam, was attacked as she left her workplace. Despite revealing her attacker's identity before succumbing to her injuries, Mathew pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence without parole. Joy had planned to end her relationship with Mathew before the tragic incident. [ photo from X ]

Australia's Federal Court has ruled that Navdeep Singh Suri, India's ex-high commissioner to Canberra, must compensate former domestic employee Seema Sherghill with over 136,000 dollars plus interest. Sherghill, who worked at Suri's Canberra home, alleged unfair working conditions, detailing seven days a week and 17.5 hours per day. The court decision followed an ex-parte proceeding, raising questions about the timing of the case. Despite being issued an official passport, Sherghill defied Indian government orders, later acquiring Australian citizenship. The Ministry of External Affairs has not commented on the ruling. [photo courtesy Navdeep Suri/X ]

British PM Rishi Sunak and Indian PM Narendra Modi spoke on Friday about the need to de-escalate tensions and protect civilians amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. The leaders condemned Hamas attacks on Israel but agreed innocent lives in Gaza must be safeguarded and aid allowed. On India-UK ties, they discussed progress in free trade agreement negotiations and the importance of securing an ambitious deal benefitting both sides. Sunak also congratulated Modi on India's cricket World Cup performance and hoped England would have better luck in upcoming India tests. The two prime ministers underscored working together to reduce Middle East tensions and strengthen bilateral partnership.

India is set to establish its consulate in Seattle, USA, nearly seven years after the initial announcement. Following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in June, plans were confirmed for the consulate's operationalization by the end of this month. Indian Foreign Service officer Prakash Gupta will serve as the first Consulate-General in Seattle, a prominent technology hub. The move aligns with the Indo-US joint statement, reflecting the countries' commitment to enhancing diplomatic relations, fostering strategic partnerships, and facilitating increased travel between them.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen thanked his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar for India's support to Israel amid its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. In a telephonic conversation on Saturday, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to countering terrorism and observing international humanitarian law while backing a two-state solution. The discussion focused on finding a stable, peaceful resolution to the Gaza situation. Jaishankar underscored India's firm stance against terrorism but said civilian lives must be protected. He articulated India's steadfast support for a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict. Earlier, Jaishankar had called the Hamas attack an act of terrorism but said the Palestinian issue also needs resolution through dialogue.

India has raised concerns over threats issued by secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) against Air India flights to and from Canada. SFJ's general-counsel Gurpatwant Pannun warned Sikhs in Punjabi not to fly Air India after November 19, citing danger to their lives. India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, stated plans to address the threat with Canadian authorities, citing violations of the Chicago Convention. The incident echoes the tragic 1985 Air India flight 182 bombing by Khalistani terrorists, prompting India to seek enhanced security measures for its flights.

India's High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, reiterated New Delhi's rejection of Canada's allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking in an interview with Canadian platform The Globe and Mail, Mr. Verma called for concrete evidence, criticizing the impact of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's public statements on the ongoing police probe. He emphasized that diplomatic conversations are protected and questioned the lack of evidence. The Indian envoy highlighted the need for professional communication to repair diplomatic relations and urged Canada to address Khalistan supporters using its soil. A new poll shows most Canadians want the evidence behind Trudeau's accusations to be made public.      

Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit, released a video warning Sikh travelers against boarding Air India flights on November 19. Pannun threatened their lives, coinciding with the cricket World Cup final day. Security measures have been escalated following the threat, with authorities taking preventive action to ensure passengers' safety. Pannun, previously targeted by India's National Investigation Agency, continues to raise concerns, prompting heightened vigilance and precautions among the public and airport authorities.