Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol unveiled a life-size bronze statue of their DDLJ characters, Raj and Simran, at London’s Leicester Square. The statue marks 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Aditya Chopra’s iconic film. This is the first time an Indian movie has been honoured with a statue in the UK’s Scenes in the Square trail. SRK and Kajol flew to London for the event, where photos and videos went viral. Released in 1995, DDLJ remains one of India’s most loved films and continues to shape Bollywood’s idea of romance even after three decades.

India has announced a free 30-day e-visa for Russian tourists to boost travel and deepen ties with Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement after talks with President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. The new facility will include e-tourist visas and group tourist visas, processed within 30 days and free of cost. Both leaders also launched the Vision 2030 document to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and technology. Modi said the plan will open new business opportunities. Putin thanked India for the warm welcome and highlighted his strong working relationship with Modi.

The UK has introduced stricter student visa rules, leading at least nine universities to stop accepting applicants from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The move follows rising visa refusals, which now exceed the Home Office’s new 5% limit. Universities like Chester, East London, Sunderland, Hertfordshire, and Oxford Brookes have paused admissions from these countries until 2026. Many institutions blame long visa processing times and tougher compliance checks. The Home Office said the rules aim to stop “visa abuse” and ensure only genuine students arrive. Pakistan and Bangladesh had refusal rates of 18% and 22%, far above the new threshold.

A new study by the Esya Centre shows most Indians feel safer because of street dogs in their neighbourhoods. The survey covered 1,063 people across 10 cities. It found that 73.5% see community dogs as friendly, and only 10.8% find them aggressive. The report also shows a sharp drop in rabies deaths, from 534 in 2004 to 54 in 2024. Many respondents said dogs help deter crime and keep women and children safe. The study urges better reporting of dog-bite cases, improved sterilisation, and stronger cooperation between municipalities and community feeders. (PC: The Print)

Simone Tata, step-mother of Ratan Tata and a major force in India’s beauty and retail sectors, passed away at 95 in Mumbai. She had been battling Parkinson’s symptoms and was airlifted from Dubai earlier this year for treatment. Born in Geneva, she moved to India after marrying Naval Tata in 1955. Simone helped build Lakmé into a leading Indian cosmetics brand and later founded Trent Ltd., which launched Westside. She led both companies for decades, shaping India’s consumer market. After retiring in 2006, she stayed away from public life and was last seen at Ratan Tata’s funeral in 2024.

A newlywed techie couple from Bhubaneswar was forced to attend their own wedding reception online after IndiGo cancelled their flight to Hubballi. The couple had planned to fly to Karnataka on Friday morning. But their flight was cancelled at the last moment due to the ongoing nationwide disruption in IndiGo’s operations. With no alternative flights available, they joined the reception through a video call while their families managed the event in person. Many passengers across India faced similar problems, with long queues, delays, and confusion at airports. The couple said they felt sad but tried to stay positive. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their bilateral talks at Hyderabad House on Friday. During the meeting, PM Modi said he believes Russia and Ukraine will “soon be on the path to peace”. He added that India is not neutral, but stands firmly on the side of peace. Earlier in the day, Putin received a grand ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before beginning his packed schedule. His meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House is expected to focus on India-Russia trade, defence ties, and global security issues. Both leaders will issue joint statements after the talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began his busy Friday with a grand ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted him as he received a 21-gun salute. After the ceremony, Putin left for Rajghat, where he signed the visitors’ book and paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He then travelled to Hyderabad House for his bilateral meeting with PM Modi. The two leaders will address a joint press conference later in the day. President Murmu will host a state dinner for Putin at 7 pm, rounding off his official engagements in Delhi.

Pakistan has appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as its first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). President Asif Ali Zardari approved the five-year appointment after a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The new post was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed last month to bring all military branches under one command and improve decision-making. With this change, the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been removed. Munir already serves as Army Chief and received a five-year extension in 2024. The government also extended Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu’s tenure by two years.

India has abstained from a UN General Assembly vote that urges Russia to return Ukrainian children taken during the war. The resolution was passed with 91 nations in favour, 12 against and 57 abstaining. It calls for the “immediate, safe and unconditional” return of all children who were deported or moved from Ukraine. The text warns of deep concern for children separated from families since 2014. Ukraine said more than 6,300 children have been taken, with thousands more under review. Russia rejected the charges and said the claims were false. The UN said the issue cannot be separated from Russia’s invasion. (PC: India Today)