The US Embassy in India issued an urgent advisory warning H-1B visa applicants after numerous appointments were rescheduled due to new social media vetting policies. Arriving on original appointment dates will result in entry denial. This follows the Trump administration's December 3 announcement of enhanced vetting for H-1B applicants, requiring consular officers to review LinkedIn profiles and resumes for work involving "censorship," content moderation, fact-checking, or online safety. The US has revoked 85,000 visas since January, including 8,000 student visas, citing DUI, theft, assault, and politically sensitive activities. The policy particularly targets tech sector workers from India and China, focusing on alleged suppression of conservative voices and free speech concerns.

An Indian couple's wedding video went viral for the wrong reasons as trolls attacked them over skin color differences. Rishabh Rajput and Sonali Chouksey, who met in college 11 years ago and married in November, faced intense online shaming. Rajput was mocked for his darker complexion while Chouksey was called a "gold-digger" marrying for money or government job benefits. The couple hit back, with Rajput clarifying he's not a government employee and Chouksey fell in love when he had nothing. They addressed India's colorism problem, noting 70-80% of Indians have darker skin tones yet fair skin remains idealized. The couple questioned why strangers judge their 11-year relationship based on a 30-second video.(PC: BBC)

India's women's cricket team announced their squad for the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, marking their return after winning the Women's Cricket World Cup in November. Star opener Smriti Mandhana was included alongside two uncapped players: 17-year-old wicket-keeper Gunalan Kamalini and 19-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, both U-19 World Cup winners. Kamalini, who played for Mumbai Indians in WPL, scored 143 runs in seven U-19 matches. Vaishnavi was the top wicket-taker in multiple domestic tournaments with impressive performances. The squad sees three changes from England series: injured Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, and Sayali Satghare miss out. The series begins December 21 in Visakhapatnam.(PC: Times Now & The Statesman)

US President Donald Trump signaled fresh tariffs on India after learning that American rice farmers face stiff competition from imports. During a White House roundtable with agriculture sector representatives, Louisiana rice mill owner Meryl Kennedy told Trump that India, Thailand, and China are "dumping" rice into US markets, devastating southern producers. Kennedy specifically noted Puerto Rico, formerly a major US rice market hasn't received American shipments in years due to foreign competition. When Trump asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about India's tariff exemptions, Bessent confirmed they're "still working on their trade deal." Trump emphasized tariffs would "solve the problem easily" and promised to "take care of it," while announcing $12 billion in federal aid for struggling American farmers.

Hardik Pandya delivered a match-winning all-round performance in his comeback game after three months, leading India to a crushing 101-run victory over South Africa in Cuttack. Scoring an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls when India struggled at 78/4, he propelled the team to 175/6 before claiming a wicket in South Africa's collapse to 74. Returning from injury sustained during the Asia Cup, Pandya revealed he spent 50 days at the National Cricket Academy, away from loved ones, working on his fitness. When asked about his bowling role, he emphasized his team-first mentality: "It's not about what Hardik Pandya wants; it matters what India wants. That's my biggest USP."(PC: NDTV Sports)

Australia has enacted the world's strictest online safety law, officially banning children under 16 from major social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measure took effect Wednesday, declaring Australia has "taken control back" from tech giants. The ban covers Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Kick, and Twitch, while WhatsApp, Roblox, and Pinterest remain allowed. Instagram alone reported 350,000 Australian users aged 13-15 losing access. Platforms face heavy fines for non-compliance and must verify ages for suspected underage users. Meta warned the ban could push youth toward less regulated sites, calling it "counterproductive." Elon Musk's X was the last platform to confirm compliance, stating it had no choice but to obey Australian law. (PC: Mashable)

Pakistan Army spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry sparked massive controversy after winking at journalist Absa Koman during a press briefing. The incident occurred when she questioned him about allegations against imprisoned former PM Imran Khan, including being a "national security threat" and "anti-state." Chaudhry responded by calling Khan a "mental patient," then smiled and winked at the reporter. Social media erupted with criticism, with users calling it proof "democracy is over in Pakistan." Chaudhry also accused Khan of being a "narcissist" orchestrating attacks on military installations and spreading "poison against the army." Khan had previously called Munir "mentally unstable," accusing him of collapsing Pakistan's constitutional rule.

India crushed South Africa by 101 runs in their T20 World Cup preparation match in Cuttack, but the dominant win masks a critical flaw. Shubman Gill's inclusion has significantly weakened India's aggressive top-order approach. Since his return during the Asia Cup, India has crossed 200 just once in 13 matches, compared to six 200+ scores in 12 matches with the Abhishek-Sanju Samson opening pair. Despite scoring three T20I centuries last year, Samson sits out while Gill, the vice-captain struggles to justify his spot. India collapsed to 17/2 before Hardik Pandya's late assault saved them. With the World Cup approaching, India must decide: Does Gill truly belong, or is hierarchy trumping performance? (PC: India Today)

Australia has become the first country to enforce a nationwide social-media ban for anyone under 16 — in effect from 10 December 2025. Major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kick and Threads must deactivate under-16 accounts and block new registrations — or face fines up to A$49.5–50 million. The ban aims to shield children from online harms like cyberbullying, addictive algorithms and harmful content. However, early checks show some platforms (notably Reddit, YouTube, Twitch) still allow 14-year-olds to register as of the ban’s first day — highlighting enforcement challenges. Supporters say the law protects youth well-being; critics argue it might push teens into less safe, unregulated online spaces.(PC: Reuters)

India’s largest airline — has been ordered by the government to cut its flight schedule by 10%, doubling an earlier 5% directive from the regulator. The cut affects over 2,300 daily flights (about 2,150 domestic), meaning scheduled domestic flights now drop to under 1,950 per day. The airline’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, has been summoned to explain the repeated disruptions and approved cut. The rollback is a response to widespread cancellations triggered by poor crew-rostering and tough new pilot rest rules, which IndiGo struggled to implement. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)