Immigration attorneys urgently warn H-1B visa holders against traveling to India following mass postponement of visa interviews from December to March-April 2026. The US Embassy's last-minute rescheduling has stranded hundreds who traveled for December appointments. Experts caution that traveling risks job loss, as employers cannot maintain vacant positions for months, and many companies prohibit extended remote work from outside the US due to export-control, payroll, and tax restrictions. Those already in India awaiting visa stamping must wait indefinitely. The postponements follow the State Department's new social media screening requirements for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. Attorneys advise staying in the US unless holding valid visa stamps, warning delayed returns could mean unemployment and family separation. (PC: News18 & Business Standard)

A Delhi court on Thursday granted activist and former JNU student leader Umar Khalid interim bail in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case from December 16 to December 29 so he can attend his sister’s wedding. The order by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai requires Khalid to furnish a personal bond and sureties, and restricts him from using social media or contacting any witnesses during this period. He is allowed to meet only family and must stay at home or wedding venues, surrendering on the evening of December 29. Khalid has been incarcerated for over five years under UAPA and related charges. (PC: PTI)

A 70-foot iron statue of football legend Lionel Messi has been unveiled at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club, with work finishing touches underway. The towering sculpture depicts Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy and was completed in just 40 days, club president and West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose said, claiming it’s the biggest Messi statue in the world. Organisers say Messi will virtually inaugurate the statue on December 13 during his India visit, due to security concerns, while fans eagerly await the tribute ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (PC: X)

IndiGo Airlines has announced travel vouchers worth ₹10,000 for passengers who were severely stranded between December 5 and 7 due to widespread flight disruptions and cancellations, the airline said in a statement. The vouchers, valid for 12 months, can be used on any future IndiGo flights and are in addition to refunds and government-mandated compensation. This comes as IndiGo works to stabilize operations after mass cancellations that left many travellers stuck at airports. Most refunds have reportedly been processed, and the carrier aims to address passenger inconvenience amid ongoing operational recovery. (PC: HT)

The Election Commission of India has revised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) timetable, extending the deadline for electoral roll updates in seven states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, following requests from chief electoral officers. New deadlines for voter enumeration and draft roll publications have been set to later December dates. However, West Bengal’s SIR schedule remains unchanged, with no extension granted despite political calls for relief. The decision highlights the poll body’s attempt to balance administrative needs with procedural timelines ahead of upcoming elections. (PC: NDTV)

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appeared in Oslo to collect her Nobel Peace Prize after months in hiding. She travelled secretly despite a travel ban and threats from the Maduro government, which warned she would be treated as a fugitive. Machado greeted cheering supporters from a hotel balcony before meeting her family for the first time in nearly two years. She said she understands the risks but believes her work for democracy must continue. Her escape from Venezuela reportedly involved disguises and passing several military checkpoints. Machado said many people helped her make the dangerous journey to Norway. (PC: BBC)

Mexico has approved a new tariff plan that increases import duties on more than 1,400 products from countries without trade deals, including India. Some goods will face tariffs as high as 50%, while most will fall under the 35% range. The new rates will start next year and expand through 2026. India exports items like textiles, auto parts, steel and engineering goods to Mexico, and these will now become costlier. Experts say the move may be linked to pressure from the US before the USMCA review. Indian exporters may face higher costs and reduced access to the Mexican market. (PC: HT)

Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said that IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers was “apologising to the people of India” in the viral photo where he is seen folding his hands. The minister said the gesture was not directed at him alone but at all passengers who faced trouble due to IndiGo’s major flight disruptions this week. Thousands of travellers were stuck at airports across the country after the airline cancelled many flights. The minister said the government has asked IndiGo to fix the situation quickly. He also warned that airlines must not cause such problems for passengers again. (PC: X)

Lionel Messi will arrive in Kolkata on December 13 to begin his GOAT India Tour 2025. This will be his first visit to India since 2011, and the city is preparing for a huge welcome. Messi is scheduled for a meet-and-greet, the virtual unveiling of his statue, and a friendly match at Yuva Bharati Stadium. He will then fly to Hyderabad later in the day. Kolkata is expected to see large crowds as fans gather to see the football legend. Former Barcelona star Luis Suárez and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul will join Messi for parts of the tour. (PC: X)

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, linked to the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people, flew to Thailand soon after the blaze. With growing criticism, the Centre used Section 10A of the Passport Act to suspend their passports, making their stay in Thailand illegal. The CBI also issued a Blue Corner notice. Thai authorities then detained the brothers, and Indian officials are now travelling to bring them back. The fire began during a musical event where electric firecrackers were used. Heavy flammable decor and poor safety measures turned the club into a death trap. The brothers have sought anticipatory bail in Delhi.  (PC: X)