The visas issued to Chinese nationals by India has seen a sharp drop, with the number dropping from 200,000 visas issued in 2019-20 to just 2,000 in 2024. According to a Hindustan Times report, citing senior officials in the national security establishment and economic ministries, about 200,000 visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2019 before the pandemic struck and the June 15, 2020 Galwan clash, and that this number was brought down to just 2,000 in 2024 after a structural screening of Chinese investments in India. According to the report, the government, however, has granted around 1,500 visas to Chinese nationals over the past eight months. Of these, around 1,000 visas were issued to meet the requirements of the Indian electronics industry. Another 1,000 visas are currently being processed, primarily for the electronics sector, following rigorous screening procedures. Despite the Indian government's efforts, including reducing corporate income tax and introducing a Rs 2 lakh crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme across twelve sectors, the trade deficit with China widened to over $38.11 billion in the first five months of the current year. During January-May 2024, India managed to export only $8.93 billion worth of goods to China, while imports from Beijing totaled $47 billion.

Alkiviades “Alki” David, heir to the Coca-Cola bottling fortune, has been ordered to pay $900 million to a former employee in what stands as one of the largest sexual damages awards in US legal history. According to the victim’s attorney, a Los Angeles jury awarded the woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit against David, damages for sexual assault and harassment spanning from 2016 to 2019. The plaintiff accused David of subjecting her to severe sexual harassment and assault, including rape, over a three-year period. “It’s so despicable, the facts of this case. He raped my client while on trial in another case,” her attorney Gary Dordick told the Los Angeles Times. The jury award, which Dordick’s firm said is believed to be “one of the largest sexual assault verdicts in history,” adds to a series of legal defeats for David. He has previously lost multiple sexual misconduct cases, resulting in approximately $70 million in damages against him and his businesses.

A24-year-old man impersonating a senior citizen bound for Canada was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The passenger, identified as Guru Sewak Singh, was intercepted on Tuesday evening at Terminal-3. According to a senior CISF officer, Singh had dyed his hair and beard white and donned spectacles to appear significantly older. He presented a passport under the name Rashvindar Singh Sahota, which claimed he was 67. CISF personnel became suspicious due to discrepancies between Singh's appearance and the age stated on his passport. "The man’s appearance, voice, and skin texture seemed significantly younger than the details provided in the passport. Closer observation revealed that he had dyed his hair and beard white and was wearing glasses to appear older," said the officer. The revelation came after CISF officers found a photo of a passport bearing his real name on his mobile phone. Singh, who intended to board an Air Canada flight out of Delhi, was immediately handed over to the Delhi Police for further interrogation where he confessed. For forging his passport and impersonation, the passenger was handed over to Delhi Police for legal action.

Ninety-eight Indian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year, the government announced on Friday. The Hajj period, which extends from May 9 to July 22, saw 175,000 Indians travelling to Makkah. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that the deaths were primarily due to natural causes, including chronic illnesses and old age. Among the deceased, six pilgrims died on the Day of Arafat, a significant day in the Hajj pilgrimage, and four deaths were accident-related. In a statement, the government assured that every effort is being made to support the Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The Union Health Ministry also released a document outlining the health services available to pilgrims and the process for accessing these services. Globally, about 1,081 deaths have been reported among pilgrims from around ten different countries.

Indulging in whisky is a leisurely affair, quite distinct from the time-sensitive nature of wine consumption. Unlike wine, there’s no rush to finish an opened whisky bottle within a set timeframe. Yet, a pertinent question arises: Does whisky have an expiration date, especially after you’ve poured your first dram and returned it to the confines of your bar cabinet? In brief, yes, whisky does have a shelf life after being opened, contingent on the level of liquid remaining in the bottle. The interaction of whisky with oxygen triggers oxidation, ultimately leading to its expiration. The volume of whisky in the bottle plays a crucial role, with a fuller bottle minimizing the ingress of oxygen, and preserving the spirit, whereas an emptier bottle increases the risk of oxidation. The longevity of an opened bottle of whisky is intricately tied to its fill level. If the bottle is at least half-full, the whisky remains enjoyable for one or two years. However, as the liquid depletes, with only a quarter or less remaining, the expiration clock accelerates to around six months, as per insights from The Tasting Table. Upon unsealing, the alcohol content can decrease due to ethanol evaporation, altering the taste profile. For example, the extended exposure of rich, peated scotch whiskies to air diminishes their intensity over time.

Microsoft is rolling out a new update for its Windows 11 operating system that allows users to send files, links and more from their PCs directly to their Android devices, as per 9To5Google. With this new feature, Microsoft will add an Android smartphone as a shortcut named ‘My Phone’ to the Windows 11 share menu. To use this new feature, users need to download a Link to Windows App on their Android devices and a Phone Link App on their PCs. By using both the applications on Phone and PC, the user needs to pair both devices. After pairing, your device will appear as a “My Phone” icon in the Windows share menu, allowing you to share content. This makes file sharing more convenient and faster than previous approaches since it adds Android sharing directly to the Windows share menu. As of now, Microsoft has rolled out this feature only for its Beta users. It’s still unclear when this feature will be available for all users.

India hit back at China Friday, calling the Dalai Lama a “revered religious leader” who was free to conduct his “religious and spiritual activities” in the country, after Beijing called the Tibetan leader a “political exile”, and not a “pure religious figure”. “The government of India’s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been very clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular press briefing. Earlier this week, a high-power bipartisan seven-member delegation from the US House of Representatives visited India and met with the Tibetan religious leader at his home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. China opposed the visit and in a statement by its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian Tuesday, said, “It’s known by all that the 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion.”

A United Airlines flight bound for Denver returned to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, on Thursday after a piece of the engine's sound-dampening outer liner fell off during takeoff. The crew of the Airbus A320 heard an "abnormal noise" shortly after departure and decided to turn back, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airline said that the missing portion of the liner was found on the runway, and there were no reported injuries among the 124 passengers and five crew members on board. The FAA announced that it would investigate the incident.

Tory candidate Marco Longhi wrote in his campaigning leaflet inviting criticism. "First of all a very happy Eid-al-Adha to you and your entire family. Recently we have seen Modi's BJP being re-elected in India. This means it will be even tougher times for the people of Kashmir in the coming months. Narendra Modi made it clear recently that he is going for a full statehood for Kashmir which would mean full removal of any sovereign rights of the Kashmiris and their special status.," the campaign leaflet read. "I was elected as your MP in 2019 and since my election I have been at the forefront of speaking against the Indian Government atrocities towards the people of Kashmir. My involvement is well publicised and I have participated in several Kashmir events...On 4th July UK General Election, you will have to make a choice. Who will speak for Kashmir in Parliament? Will it be me, or Labour Party Parliamentary candidate Sonia Kumar? I leave this decision to you. However should you vote for me, I make a pledge to you that I will raise my voice for Kashmir in Parliament even more and will be at the forefront of standing up for Kashmiris in Parliament," it added.

China on Tuesday urged US President Joe Biden not to sign the Tibet policy bill, warning of "resolute measures", as it expressed “strong concern” over the visit of a high-level US Congress delegation to Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama. A bipartisan US congressional delegation, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaulis, is visiting India to strengthen bilateral ties and to meet the 88-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader. Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is part of the delegation that reached Dharamsala, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday. Dharamsala is the seat of power for Tibet’s government in exile since the spiritual leader stepped into India six decades ago. The US House of Representatives voted 391-26 last Wednesday to approve the Promoting and Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, which was passed by the Senate, a media report said, adding, that the bill would direct funds to counter what it calls “disinformation” from Beijing about Tibet’s history, people and institutions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, while reacting to the US delegation visit, told a media briefing here: “The 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion.”