India remains ineligible for the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) lottery until at least 2029 due to high immigration volumes exceeding the program's threshold of 50,000 immigrants over five years. In 2022, India sent 127,010 immigrants, surpassing the combined totals of South America, Africa, and Europe. Consequently, India is disqualified from the DV-2026 lottery, with no eligibility through 2029. Alternative pathways, such as H-1B visa conversions, family sponsorships, EB visas, and asylum, are hindered by long backlogs and policy uncertainties, leaving Indian applicants with limited options for permanent U.S. residency. 

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, signalling a possible easing of trade tensions. Trump admitted that the 100% tariffs he announced on all Chinese imports last week were “not sustainable.” The meeting is expected to take place during the APEC summit in South Korea. Trump said he believes things “will be fine” with China, despite recent sharp exchanges over trade and rare earth export controls. China has warned that the US move harms bilateral ties but said it remains open to talks to resolve differences. (PC: India Today)

Three male students were arrested in Madhya Pradesh for secretly filming women while they were changing clothes during a youth festival at Bhanpura Government College in Mandsaur district. Police said CCTV footage showed the accused peeping through a window and taking videos. The men, aged between 20 and 22, are members of the ABVP, the student wing of the RSS. One suspect is still missing. Their phones have been seized for forensic tests. The college principal filed a complaint after noticing suspicious activity. The ABVP has removed one accused from his post. Police are continuing the investigation. (PC: NDTV)

Fresh clashes broke out in Bangladesh on Friday as protesters opposed the interim government’s new political charter. Hundreds gathered outside the National Parliament complex in Dhaka, accusing the government of ignoring their concerns. Police fired tear gas, stun grenades, and used batons to disperse the crowd. Several people were injured. The protesters were part of the movement that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. The new “July National Charter,” signed by major political parties, aims to guide reforms under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s government. However, several groups refused to sign, calling the charter incomplete and unfair.

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Friday evening, causing strong tremors across parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The quake hit near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border at a depth of 10 kilometres around 5:45 pm. People in Srinagar and nearby areas rushed out of their homes as buildings shook for several seconds. No damage or casualties have been reported so far. This comes just a month after a powerful 6.2 magnitude quake killed over 1,400 people in Afghanistan. Authorities are monitoring the situation and have urged residents to stay alert for aftershocks.

Venezuelan fishermen are living in fear after recent US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean. The attacks, aimed at suspected drug traffickers, have killed at least 27 people. The US says the boats carried drugs linked to networks backed by President Nicolás Maduro, but no proof has been shown. Fishermen near Lake Maracaibo say they now fear being mistaken targets. Many have stopped going to sea, while others vow to defend their country. Venezuela’s defence minister has warned citizens to prepare “for the worst” as tensions rise between Washington and Caracas.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sparked controversy claiming India "could play dirty at the border," asserting Pakistan is prepared for a "two-front war" amid Afghanistan tensions. Responding to provocations questions, Asif stated, "There are strong possibilities," confirming strategies exist but remaining secretive about details. Previously, he accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of "fighting a proxy war" for India, alleging "Kabul is fighting a proxy war for Delhi." His remarks followed a 48-hour ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and Kabul after deadly cross-border skirmishes killed dozens. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring Pakistani Taliban (TTP) terrorists claims Kabul denies. The statements ignore Pakistan's documented history of sponsoring terrorism regionally.

Russian President Putin told Trump during Thursday's phone call that Russia remains open to Ukraine settlement, with Kremlin confirming a summit could occur within two weeks in Budapest, Hungary. The announcement precedes Trump's Friday Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, where Tomahawk cruise missile supply discussions are expected. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Foreign Minister Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio must arrange preliminary talks resolving several issues before the summit. Putin faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant but will travel to Hungary regardless. Trump posted on Truth Social suggesting Middle East success could aid Russia-Ukraine negotiations, calling the conflict "inglorious."

In a dramatic late-night incident at Mumbai’s Ram Mandir railway station, a man named Vikas Bendre delivered a baby on the platform with remote guidance from a female doctor via video call. After a hospital refused the woman earlier, she went into labour aboard the train. Bendre pulled the emergency chain to stop the train, called a doctor, and followed her instructions step-by-step to assist the birth. Social media users have praised his courage, drawing parallels with “Rancho,” the inspirational character from 3 Idiots. 

Vikas Kohli, brother of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, dismissed recent media reports alleging that Virat and his wife Anushka Sharma handed him a General Power of Attorney to manage their Gurugram property. Taking to Instagram, Vikas condemned the “misinformation and fake news,” sarcastically wishing “good luck” to those spreading it. The reports had suggested that Virat authorized Vikas to oversee maintenance or potential sale of the residence, fueling speculation about the couple’s move to the UK. Vikas clarified that no such legal transfer or decision had occurred. (PC: X)