External affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar celebrated Diwali at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple) in London during his recent UK visit. The Hindu temple, Europe's first authentic and traditional built Hindu temple, was Jaishankar's stop on November 12th as part of his 4-day trip aimed at boosting India-UK ties. Jaishankar will meet UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and other leaders to give momentum to the growing strategic partnership between the nations. The ministers will hold discussion on the ways to deliver on the India-UK Roadmap 2030. Jaishankar's visit to the Neasden Temple on the auspicious occasion highlighted the importance of cultural connections as part of bilateral relations. The trip advanced shared political and economic interests.

In a commanding display, India secured an undefeated record in the Cricket World Cup 2023 group stage, overpowering Netherlands by 160 runs in Bengaluru. On the day of Diwali, Shreyas and Rahul lit up the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with dazzling fireworks, stitching a marathon 208-run stand before the latter got out in the final over. Stunning centuries from Shreyas Iyer (128*) and KL Rahul (102) powered India's total to a formidable 410/4. Earlier, Gill (51), Rohit (61) and Kohli (62) all notched fifties as the Dutch bowlers struggled. Despite a strong start by Netherlands, India's bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja, dismantled their batting lineup, restricting them to 250. India's clinical performance sets a strong tone as they head into the knockout stage of the tournament.

A crew member of the popular TV and Netflix series “Fauda” has died during Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant outfit Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Matan Meir, a 38-year-old Sergeant Major General (Reservist) from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), died in the line of duty in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reported. The show's creators expressed condolences, calling Meir "an integral crew member" whose loss has left cast and crew "heartbroken". Meir fought in the IDF's 697th Battalion. 'Fauda', lauded as one of Israel's most popular shows, was created by former IDF soldiers Lior Raz and Avi Isaacharoff and picked up by Netflix in 2016. Isaacharoff paid tribute to Meir on social media, noting he was killed in battle in northern Gaza. Meir hailed from Odem and served in the IDF's 551st Brigade. (Image Source: @FaudaOfficial on X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with troops in Himachal Pradesh's Lepcha. Addressing the soldiers, he lauded the Army's role in securing India's borders amid global conflicts. PM Modi said India is safe as long as the Army stands firm like the Himalayas. He remarked that expectations from India are increasing and it's important its borders remain secure. PM Modi highlighted the Army's contributions to nation-building. He applauded the soldiers for celebrating Diwali away from families, calling their service the pinnacle of devotion. PM Modi said India is now a global defence player, with exports rising eightfold since 2016. He affirmed India's security with the Army guarding its borders.

Salman Khan returns as Tiger in the entertaining but inconsistent actioner Tiger 3. The film sees Tiger recharged for a new mission, packed with over-the-top action and mind-boggling twists. Director Maneesh Sharma delivers decent performances and an intriguing, if unevenly paced, plot. The first half underwhelms despite the complex story. The second half picks up momentum with top-notch fights and whistle-worthy moments. At 1.5 hours, it feels stretched until Shah Rukh Khan's much-touted 15-minute cameo energizes it as the highlight. Tiger 3 ultimately delivers a fulfilling climax but underutilizes Salman's stardom with an inconsistent pace. Entertaining for fans, just don't expect subtlety.

Dilip Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Mayor’s office, praised the historic decision to observe Diwali as a public school holiday for the first time. He attributed this achievement to years of dedicated advocacy by the Indian diaspora and Indian-American community. Chauhan said the community worked tirelessly to make this a reality. He highlighted the significance of Diwali as a festival of light over darkness. With the holiday, children can spend time with family and celebrate without missing school. Chauhan called it a great initiative and wished everyone a happy Diwali. The decision came after legislation designating Diwali a school holiday, a major win for local families.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reiterated allegations of India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Trudeau said he reached out to allies to investigate the claims and that Canada will always uphold the rule of law. He criticized India's expulsion of 40 Canadian diplomats in response, calling it a violation of the Vienna Convention that endangers international relations. Trudeau maintained Canada has tried to work constructively with India but will stand firm on the rule of law. "This is not a fight we want to be having right now. But we will unequivocally always stand up for the rule of law because that's who Canada is," Trudeau further said.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti celebrated Diwali at the US Embassy in New Delhi. He shared a video on X of himself and embassy officials dancing enthusiastically to Bollywood songs during the festivities. Garcetti, dressed in a blue kurta, grooved to the popular song 'Chhaiya Chhaiya'. Previously, a video of American women embassy staff dancing to 'Dilbar' had gone viral on social media. Users praised the fun dance performance and festive spirit of the US diplomats. The Bollywood-style celebrations with lights, rangoli and sweets showcase the Embassy's embrace of Indian culture and festivals.

The Indian cricket team celebrated Diwali on Saturday in Bengaluru, unwinding together before their final World Cup group match against Netherlands. Players including captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami marked the auspicious festival by wearing traditional outfits, enjoying food, and spending time with family. Rohit and others shared photos of the celebrations on social media. The team will look to continue their unbeaten run when they face the Dutch today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Himachal Pradesh's Lepcha on Saturday to celebrate Diwali with security personnel stationed there. Wearing military fatigues, Modi interacted with the troops and celebrated the festival of lights with them. The Prime Minister makes it a tradition every year to spend Diwali with soldiers deployed on the borders. Since taking office in 2014, he has visited troops in border areas including Siachen, Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan to celebrate with them on Diwali. The visits are meant to boost the morale of the forces and highlight their service and sacrifice.