The vibrant 2024 London Ram Leela captivated thousands on October 26th and 27th at the Tolworth Recreation Centre, where performances of the Ramayana brought the Diwali spirit alive for attendees. Organized by Sutton Friends, the event blended storytelling, music, and visuals to portray key moments from the Ramayana, such as Sita Swayamvar and the epic battle between Lord Ram and Ravan.   Event Director Parveen Kumar highlighted the cultural impact of the event, stating, “London ki Ram Leela unites our community, fosters cultural understanding, and celebrates Diwali.” A dedicated team of volunteers, including leaders like Ashish Jain and Amol Chaudhary, ensured every aspect of the production was seamless, from costume design to stage management.   Distinguished guests attended, including Kuldeep Shekhawat, President of Overseas Friends of BJP UK and Europe, and MPs Bobby Dean and Virendra Sharma, reinforcing the celebration's significance within London’s Indian diaspora.   Beyond performances, attendees enjoyed food stalls, a Diwali-themed market, and fireworks. The event was live-streamed globally via MATV and PraveenSpeaksUK’s YouTube channel. Sutton Friends, representing 3,000 Indian-origin families, hopes to make next year’s Ram Leela even more spectacular, celebrating Indian culture and uniting communities in London and beyond.

North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un observing the test. State media claimed the missile’s flight record surpassed previous tests. Kim declared the launch a “counteraction” aimed at informing adversaries. The UN, EU, and Germany condemned the launch as a violation of international law, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noting its defiance of Security Council resolutions. Japan’s Defense Minister reported the missile reached a high altitude and traveled around 1,000 kilometers. This launch follows U.S. and South Korean claims of North Korean troop deployment in Russia near Ukraine.

The IPL 2025 retentions have been revealed, with Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul set for the auction next month. Pant's departure marks the end of his eight-year tenure with Delhi Capitals, while Iyer, KKR's former captain, is released after guiding the team to victory. Virat Kohli was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 21 crore, making him the most expensive Indian player. Notably, MS Dhoni was retained as an 'uncapped player' by Chennai Super Kings. Punjab Kings heads into the auction with the largest purse of INR 110.5 crore, while Rajasthan released Jos Buttler.

Patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) resumed in eastern Ladakh at Depsang and Demchok following the completion of the disengagement and verification process. On Thursday, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point to mark the occasion. Despite this gesture, cultural programs remain suspended. A senior defence official noted, "We are moving towards normalcy but haven’t achieved it." Following the Galwan clash in 2020, patrols had been blocked, prompting extensive diplomatic negotiations. Future patrols will involve prior notifications to prevent confrontations, with no late evening or night patrols planned.

The death toll from flash floods in Spain has reached 158, with 155 fatalities reported in Valencia. The region experienced devastating flooding that residents described as a "nightmare." Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes of people being swept away by torrents of water. Emergency response teams, including hundreds of soldiers, are actively searching for missing individuals amid blocked roads and mud. Many locals expressed frustration over delayed flood warnings and inadequate government response. As the search continues, authorities face growing pressure to provide assistance and ensure better preparedness for future disasters in the affected communities.

On Halloween, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a playful trick-or-treat event at the White House, his final Halloween celebration of his term. With First Lady Jill Biden dressed as a panda, the couple interacted with children, distributing treats and entertaining up to 8,000 visitors. In contrast, former President Donald Trump addressed Latino voters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, promoting his immigration policies. Despite the state’s Democratic-leaning demographics, Trump aims to gain support among conservative Latino voters. The campaign focuses on immigration and energy issues, though critics argue his claims on energy under Biden's administration are misleading.

In Nepal, dogs received special recognition during the annual Kukur Puja festival, celebrated on the second day of Tihar, or Diwali. Nepali pet owners and Armed Police Force members adorned dogs with flower garlands, vermillion marks, and treats to honor their service. At Kathmandu’s canine center, eight dogs participated in the ritual, later showcasing skills such as jumping through fire rings and retrieving objects. "We honor these dogs for their invaluable contributions, from detecting explosives to aiding in rescues," said Ram Narayan KC, deputy canine division chief. Dogs are revered in Nepal as messengers of Yamraj, the Hindu god of death.

In a major update ahead of IPL 2025, all ten franchises have released their player retention lists. Virat Kohli has been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 21 crore, though Heinrich Klaasen set a new IPL record by being retained by SunRisers Hyderabad for Rs 23 crore. MS Dhoni was retained by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 4 crore. Notably, top captains like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer will head to the auction. In a surprising move, Mumbai Indians released Ishan Kishan. The auction promises to be highly competitive with major players available.

The US has sanctioned 19 Indian private firms and 2 nationals for allegedly aiding Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. The firms, along with individuals Vivek Kumar Mishra and Sudhir Kumar of Ascend Aviation India, reportedly provided Russia with restricted items, including US-origin aircraft parts. This move is part of a broader action involving nearly 400 entities across several countries, aiming to disrupt Russia’s military supply chains. These sanctions come amid heightened US-India tensions over recent allegations involving an Indian national’s role in a plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.

A Russian court has fined Google an unprecedented two undecillion roubles ($20 undecillion) for restricting 17 Russian state media channels on YouTube. The fine, doubling daily if unpaid, is vastly larger than Google’s entire value of $2 trillion, exceeding even the world’s total GDP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he "cannot even pronounce this number," urging Google to consider the penalty. This fine follows escalating tensions between Russia and Google since 2021 when Moscow accused the tech giant of limiting Russian media and supporting protests. Google has yet to comment on the massive fine.