Rohit Godara claimed responsibility for shooting Lawrence Bishnoi's close aide Hari Boxer in California, USA. In a purported Facebook post, Godara said he and Goldy Brar orchestrated the Highway 41 attack near Fresno, where one associate died instantly and another was hospitalized. Boxer reportedly fled, hiding under a car seat. Godara warned, "He may hide in any corner of earth, but we will not spare him," calling Boxer a "coward" and "biggest traitor." Godara left Bishnoi's gang months ago, now operating independently with Brar. Both are wanted by NIA and state police. Their rivalry escalated after Godara accused Bishnoi of colluding with American agencies.

India's unprecedented silver demand during Dhanteras and Diwali triggered a global crisis, shocking London markets. MMTC-Pamp India, the country's largest refinery, depleted stocks for the first time in history as buyers shifted from record-high gold to silver. Social media influencers promoted silver's favorable 100-to-1 gold ratio, sparking viral buying frenzy. London vaults ran dry as ETF investors held $36 billion in silver. JPMorgan informed clients it couldn't deliver October silver to India. Prices surged above $54 per ounce before plunging 6.7%. Indian premiums skyrocketed from cents to $5 per ounce. Kotak, UTI, and SBI halted silver fund subscriptions. Major banks stopped quoting prices amid extreme market stress. (PC: APN News) 

Walt Disney World Resort celebrated the spirit of Diwali through the third annual Diwali Dance Fest, featuring over 500 dancers from across the globe. The spectacular event was organized by Jashn Productions and produced by Jeanie Beri, bringing together diverse performers to honor the festival of lights at the iconic Florida theme park. The celebration showcased cultural unity and the growing recognition of Diwali on international platforms. This marks the third consecutive year Disney has hosted the festival, demonstrating the entertainment giant's commitment to celebrating diverse cultural traditions. The vibrant performances illuminated the resort with traditional Indian dance forms, creating a fusion of Eastern festivities within Western entertainment spaces.

US President Donald Trump claimed Sunday he spoke with PM Narendra Modi about halting Russian oil imports, warning "massive" tariffs would continue until India complies. "I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he's not going to be doing the Russian oil thing," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. When informed India denied any such conversation, Trump responded, "But if they want to say that, then they'll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don't want to do that." Russian oil purchases remain a key tension point in Washington-New Delhi trade talks. India's External Affairs Ministry earlier stated no recent phone call occurred between the leaders.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced plans for a "strategic alliance" with India, strengthening cooperation across political, economic, and technological domains. Following Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's recent India visit, Lula called India "an exceptional market" for collaboration in space, entrepreneurship, and economics. Major announcements include Embraer opening an Indian office and electronic visa introduction for business travel. Alckmin emphasized "economic complementarity" rather than competition amid US tariff hikes. The initiative aligns with BRICS' agenda promoting multipolarity and reducing Western market dependency. During PM Modi's July Brazil visit, leaders targeted $20 billion bilateral trade within five years. Current India-Brazil trade stands at $12.19 billion annually. (PC: X) 

Delhi's Diwali celebrations turned toxic as AQI hit 335 in "very poor" category by Monday 7:30 am, with most monitoring stations exceeding 300. Anand Vihar recorded the worst at 417 in "severe" category. The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage II of Graded Response Action Plan on Sunday after Supreme Court permitted green crackers within restricted timeframes (6-7 am, 8-10 pm). Twenty-four of Delhi's 38 monitoring stations reported "very poor" air quality Sunday night. IMD forecasts further deterioration to "severe" category Tuesday. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged residents to use only green crackers per Supreme Court orders, celebrating traditionally with diyas and rangoli while authorities maintain strict vigilance on dust mitigation measures.

An Emirates SkyCargo cargo plane from Dubai crashed at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, killing two ground staff. Flight EK9788, operated by Turkish carrier Air ACT, skidded off runway 07R at 3:53 am local time. The Boeing 747-481 veered left mid-landing, struck a ground-service vehicle, and stopped with its nose over the seawall, partially plunging into the sea. Four crew members escaped unharmed. Two men in the ground vehicle, aged 30 and 41, were confirmed dead. Rescue operations involved fire services, marine police, and helicopters. Flight-tracking data showed sudden leftward trajectory shift after touchdown. The north runway remains closed pending debris clearance and safety inspections.

Bollywood stars joined PM Modi's "Vocal for Local" initiative, promoting local businesses this Diwali through a special video campaign. Prominent celebrities including Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Varun Dhawan, and Shankar Mahadevan encouraged citizens to shop locally and celebrate Indian entrepreneurship. Triptii promoted a Jodhpur footwear shop, stating "every small shop has a big heart," while Madhuri highlighted a Dehradun lights business, emphasizing spreading "light of togetherness." Comedian Sunil Grover and singer Shankar Mahadevan also participated, thanking small vendors for their essential societal role during festive season. The initiative received significant attention, encouraging citizens to support local artisans, weavers, and small businesses, strengthening India's self-reliant economic vision.

A passenger at Jabalpur railway station lost his watch over a failed UPI payment for samosas on October 17. The vendor, Sandeep Gupta, grabbed the passenger's collar when his train began departing. After unsuccessful digital payment attempts, the passenger surrendered his watch. The viral video sparked online debate after some condemned the act as "shameful" while others defended the vendor's right to payment. West Central Railway identified and arrested Gupta under Railway Act, cancelling his license. However, many questioned the harsh action against the poor vendor, noting the video showed him giving additional samosas after receiving the watch, suggesting he only sought legitimate payment, not theft.

Delhi-NCR woke to toxic air on Diwali morning as air quality plummeted to "very poor" category. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded an AQI of 335 at 8 am after overnight firecracker bursting caused severe noise pollution and blanketed the capital in smoke. The Board's forecast warns of further deterioration into "severe" category on Tuesday and Wednesday. Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court permitted sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR with specific conditions, restricting usage to 6-7 pm the day before Diwali and 8-10 pm on festival day itself. Despite regulations, widespread cracker usage severely impacted air quality in the national capital region. (PC: Business Standard & Moneycontrol)