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.

Roberto Velasco Álvarez, Mexico's Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered Mexico's statement at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The address forms part of the annual gathering where member states set out their positions on international issues. No further details of the speech's content were provided.

Rising temperatures, humidity and extreme weather are being reported as growing threats to cultural treasures worldwide, with damage ranging from aging frescoes to the wood used in Stradivarius violins. The story highlights how climate change affects not only nature and infrastructure but also irreplaceable art, instruments and historic monuments.

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.

Political scientist Norman Finkelstein discussed Harvard's antisemitism inquiry in an interview, questioning the finding that Israeli and Jewish students "don't feel wanted at Harvard". He responded to the university's framing that inclusivity is the remedy, saying he supports being inclusive while disputing how the inquiry characterises antisemitism on campus. The interview is drawing attention amid ongoing US debate over antisemitism at elite universities.

France's Rassemblement National will form a parliamentary group in the Senate for the first time, having won at least 10 seats in the indirect senatorial elections. The party picked up a seat in Gironde, another in Var, and two in Bouches-du-Rhône. Observers are framing the milestone as a first step toward broader institutional presence for the far right, long marginalised in the upper house.

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.

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.

Jury selection is set to begin in the murder trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, accused of killing University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth, who was found dead in her Chapel Hill apartment in 2012. The case, unsolved for years before an arrest in 2021, remains closely followed in North Carolina, where many are watching for a long-awaited resolution.

Reports say a variable aperture camera system planned for the iPhone 18 Pro has passed testing, a feature that would let the lens adjust its aperture for better low-light shots and depth of field control. Coverage notes there is a catch, though details of that drawback remain unspecified in the reports circulating.

Faculty at Yale University differ over whether and how students should be allowed to use artificial intelligence in their coursework, the Yale Daily News reports. Some professors are embracing AI tools as teaching aids, while others are restricting or banning them, reflecting a broader debate in higher education about academic integrity and learning outcomes.

Santa Monica police have concluded that two deaths on Pico Boulevard were a murder-suicide. The announcement ends speculation about the incident, which drew attention in the area. Authorities have not released further details about the victims or circumstances in the initial reports.

Florida news outlets report that readers in Brevard County are most engaged by stories on Donald Trump, Flock safety cameras, and state politics. The topics reflect ongoing local debates over surveillance technology on public roads and Trump's continuing influence in Florida's political landscape. Letters and commentary from residents suggest these issues are top of mind across the region.

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.

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.

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.