Var

Indian applicants for US visitor visas are facing long interview waits, with Hyderabad at around 12 months, Mumbai 11.5 months, New Delhi 10 months, Chennai 7.5 months and Kolkata 6.5 months. The figures are drawing attention as families planning travel for tourism, business or family visits face delays stretching close to a year before they can secure an interview appointment.

Opinion polls ahead of Israel's upcoming Knesset election are showing widely divergent results, leaving the likely outcome uncertain. With surveys differing on party support and potential coalition scenarios, analysts and voters are watching closely as campaigning intensifies and the vote approaches.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.

The Rassemblement National will form a parliamentary group in the French Senate for the first time, with at least 10 senators following indirect elections. The party won a seat in Gironde, another in Var, and two seats in Bouches-du-Rhône. Commentators describe the milestone as a first step in the far-right party's institutional expansion, long dominated by mainstream parties.

Norman Finkelstein, in an interview, takes issue with Harvard's antisemitism inquiry, which stated that Israeli Jewish students "don't feel wanted" on campus and that Harvard must be inclusive to correct for antisemitism. Finkelstein responds that he supports inclusivity but challenges the framing of the inquiry's findings. The remarks touch on the ongoing controversy over antisemitism, campus climate and the treatment of Jewish students at elite US universities.

Harvard scientists report detecting a radio signal apparently coming directly from a planet outside the solar system. If confirmed, it would be a rare example of a radio emission traced to an exoplanet, possibly generated by the planet's magnetic field interacting with its star. Astronomers say such detections could open a new way to study distant planets, though further observations are needed to verify the signal's origin.

Costa Rica President Laura Fernández is defending her decision to fire Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar over a meeting with Donald Trump, declaring "I am the president" as criticism mounts. She has also warned her ministers that major decisions will require her personal approval, signalling a tighter grip on her cabinet amid the controversy.

Reports say Apple has successfully tested a variable aperture camera system for the iPhone 18 Pro, a feature long used by Android rivals to adjust light intake for better photos. Coverage notes there is a catch, though the specifics remain unstated, possibly relating to cost, complexity or timing. Apple has not confirmed the plans, and the handset is not expected until 2026.

Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG has entered the Philippine market, debuting with a lineup of six variants across two models: the X9, a premium electric MPV, and the L03 sedan. The move marks another step in XPENG's international expansion as Chinese EV brands push into Southeast Asian markets.

During a professional golf round, a fan yelled as Nico Echavarria began his backswing, disrupting his shot. Scottie Scheffler responded by conceding the putt, allowing Echavarria to take par without completing the stroke. The sportsmanship moment between the two players is drawing attention from golf fans, who are discussing both the spectator's behavior and Scheffler's gesture.

A Nature publication describes a rational framework for choosing between SpCas9 and variant-derived adenine base editors when editing the human genome. The work aims to help researchers match editor choice to specific target sites and desired edits, improving precision in gene-editing applications. The paper is being circulated among readers following advances in CRISPR-based genome editing tools.

Santa Monica police have concluded that the deaths on Pico Boulevard were a murder-suicide. Authorities say one person killed the other before taking their own life, resolving questions around the incident. The determination closes an active investigation into the case, which had drawn local attention.

Reports are circulating that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro could include a variable aperture camera system, a feature that would let the lens adjust how much light it captures and potentially improve photo quality in different conditions. Commentators are weighing the expected camera results, noting that such hardware would mark a notable step beyond current fixed-aperture iPhones, though Apple has not confirmed any details.