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India suffered their first-ever T20I defeat at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium after losing to West Indies in the fourth T20I on Wednesday. Powered by captain Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, West Indies posted 247/3. They restricted India to 223 in 19.3 overs, with Keemo Paul taking five wickets. West Indies' win levelled the series at 2-2.

India opener Abhishek Sharma has broken former India captain Suryakumar Yadav's record for the most sixes in a calendar year in men's T20I cricket among Full Member nations. Abhishek hit his 69th six of 2026 during the fourth T20I against West Indies in Hyderabad, surpassing Suryakumar's tally of 68 sixes set in 2022.

Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 8, 2026, according to Drik Panchang. The Amavasya Tithi will begin at 11:27 am on November 8 and end at 12:31 pm on November 9. However, Lakshmi Puja is performed during Pradosh Kaal, which falls on November 8. The auspicious Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Delhi is 5:54 pm to 7:50 pm.

The IMD has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for several states/UTs for Thursday. It is very likely over parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Kerala, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Meanwhile, thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm is very likely over parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Gold prices fell for the third straight day in India, plunging ₹1,800 to ₹1,50,800/10 grams in Delhi on Wednesday, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver also extended its decline, tumbling ₹5,000 to ₹2.21 lakh per kg, from the previous close of ₹2.26 lakh per kg. Globally, spot gold fell $20.51, or 0.49%, to $4,140.69 per ounce.

Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced a fresh protest on October 16 at Central Park in Delhi's Connaught Place. He urged supporters to join "Lehra do Tiranga" campaign at 5 pm. This comes after CJP's Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody for entering the now-denotified Jantar Mantar protest site without permission.

Singer Falguni Pathak, known as the 'Garba Queen', charges ₹20-25 lakh per Navratri performance, with estimates reaching as high as ₹40 lakh, as per reports. At this rate, the singer would earn approximately ₹1.8 crore to ₹2.25 crore over the nine-day festive period. This year, Falguni will perform in Mumbai until October 19, with VIP packages priced at ₹2.04 lakh/night.

Railway employees will receive a productivity-linked bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages ahead of Diwali, benefiting nearly 11.5 lakh staff. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the bonus on Wednesday after the Cabinet meeting. The bonus will cost the government around ₹2,009 crore, with each eligible employee set to receive a maximum of ₹17,951.

Salaries in India are expected to rise by 9.1% in 2027 as employers maintain stable compensation budgets while balancing growth ambitions, rising workforce costs and intensifying competition for skilled talent, a report said. Sector-wise, NBFCs are expected to lead with 10.1% hikes, followed by the energy sector at 9.9%, and real estate and infrastructure at 9.8%.

Both Garba and Dandiya are traditional Gujarati folk dances performed during Navratri, but they differ as Garba symbolises the cycle of life, while Dandiya represents the battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura. Garba requires no props, whereas Dandiya involves two sticks. Garba is usually performed before midnight, while Dandiya follows later in the night.