Indian H-1B visa holders who returned to India for work permit renewals are stranded after US consular offices abruptly cancelled and rescheduled their appointments by months, sometimes extending to 2027. The delays stem from new Trump administration vetting protocols requiring "online presence reviews" of social media accounts. Immigration lawyers report at least 100 clients affected, with workers facing job loss fears and family separations. India accounts for 71% of H-1B holders. The State Department states embassies now prioritize thorough vetting over quick processing. One engineer's December appointments were pushed to July 2026, creating panic over his expired visa. Companies scramble to accommodate stranded employees as tech workers remain stuck indefinitely. (PC: News 18)

Mira-Bhayandar–Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Crime Branch of the Maharashtra Police has successfully rescued seven Indian nationals held in cyber slavery at the notorious KK Park scam centre in Myawaddy, Myanmar and brought them back to India. The victims were reportedly lured with fake job offers in Bangkok during July–September 2025, then trafficked to Myanmar and forced into international financial fraud operations under threats and violence. Police coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Yangon and used passport, IP and mobile data to track and secure their release following a Myanmar Army raid on KK Park. Arrests have also been made in India in connection with the trafficking network as investigations continue. (PC: AP)

Lucknow has been recognized by Unesco as a Creative City of Gastronomy, becoming only the second Indian city after Hyderabad (2019) to join the coveted list of 70 cities globally. The northern Indian city, capital of Uttar Pradesh, is celebrated for its melt-in-the-mouth kebabs, distinctive biryani, and the Dum pukht slow-cooking technique developed in 18th-century royal kitchens. Famous dishes include mutton galouti kebabs, created for a toothless nawab, and seasonal delights like makkhan malai. Legacy establishments like Netram (established 1880) and Sharmaji Tea Stall (operating since 1949) preserve centuries-old traditions. The recognition honors Lucknow's culinary heritage, blending Persian and Indian styles, while opening avenues for international collaboration in sustainable urban development. (PC: BBC)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized America's peacemaking role in global conflicts, including India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, and Sudan. Rubio credited President Donald Trump for stopping the India-Pakistan conflict, a claim Trump previously made. During a press conference, Rubio highlighted US engagement in various disputes, stating Trump prioritized being a peacemaker. He defended the administration's strict immigration policies as sovereign rights ensuring national safety, while pointing to Venezuela's drug trafficking as a major threat. Rubio stressed Hamas must be disarmed for Middle East peace and emphasized the US's unique position to mediate the Russia-Ukraine war. He stated US foreign policy aims to serve national interests, making America safer, stronger, or more prosperous.

A 25-year-old Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob in Bangladesh's Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy amid ongoing unrest following anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death. Das was beaten outside his factory workplace, hanged from a tree, and set on fire. Indian politicians including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan condemned the incident, urging the Bangladesh government to protect minorities. Exiled writer Taslima Nasreen alleged a Muslim coworker falsely accused Das to settle a trivial dispute. Bangladesh's government condemned the lynching, promising perpetrators won't be spared. The incident highlights escalating violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities, with over 2,400 documented incidents between August 2024-July 2025. (PC: X)        

Indian-origin US diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui has alleged widespread fraud in the H-1B visa programme, claiming unqualified Indian applicants exploit bribery (“rishwat”) and fake credentials to enter the US. Writing for the Centre for Immigrant Studies, she cited her experience at the US Consulate in Chennai described as the “H-1B fraud capital” where applications surged from 1 lakh annually in 2005–07 to over 40 lakhs today. Siddiqui accused corrupt HR officials, fake degree markets in Hyderabad, and insular Indian hiring networks in the US of displacing qualified American workers. She urged a pause on new H-1B issuances, stricter verification, penalties for fraud, and expanded site inspections, warning the programme has become a de-facto immigration shortcut. (PC: India Today)

Indian-origin American diplomat Mahvash Siddiqui urged the US to pause its H-1B visa programme pending a full audit, alleging systematic fraud and bribery by unqualified Indian applicants. Writing for the Centre for Immigrant Studies, she claimed many applicants with computer science degrees lacked relevant skills and failed basic coding tests. Siddiqui, who served at the US Consulate in Chennai between 2005-2007, described the city as the "H-1B visa fraud capital," noting applications surged from 100,000 annually to over 4 million. She alleged corrupt HR officials enabled fake employment letters and cited industrialized fraud systems in Hyderabad's Ameerpet selling fake degrees. She recommended stricter verification, penalties for fraud, and prioritizing US STEM graduates. (PC: India Today)

Violence erupted across Bangladesh following student uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death in Singapore after being shot during his election campaign. Protesters attacked media offices, setting fire to Daily Star and Prothom Alo buildings, with 25 journalists rescued. Demonstrators hurled stones at Indian missions in Chattogram and Rajshahi, vandalized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house, and blocked Shahbagh Square demanding justice. India shut visa centers while confirming diplomats remain safe. Bangladesh's interim government appealed for calm, condemning both the violence and a separate Hindu man's lynching in Mymensingh. Security tightened at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. Hadi's family demanded a memorial at Shahbagh. A Shashi Tharoor-led panel called this India's most serious strategic test since 1971.

Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of Bangladesh's 2024 student uprising, died in Singapore on December 18 after being shot in the head by masked assailants during his election campaign in Dhaka on December 12. The 32-year-old was a spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha and was running as an independent candidate despite his party being barred from elections. Known for his anti-India stance and circulating maps of "Greater Bangladesh" including Indian territories, Hadi's death sparked massive protests across Bangladesh. Muhammad Yunus's interim government declared a national day of mourning, offered rewards for information on attackers, and heightened border security while Dhaka sought India's assistance in the investigation. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Indian-origin cab driver Simranjit Singh Sekhon, 35, was arrested for allegedly raping an unconscious 21-year-old passenger in California. Ventura County Sheriff's Office began investigating after November reports of assault in Camarillo. Sekhon picked up the intoxicated victim from a Thousand Oaks bar around 1:00 am on November 27. Despite marking the ride complete, investigators allege he continued driving the unconscious woman around Camarillo and sexually assaulted her. Arrested December 15, Sekhon was booked at pre-trial detention for rape with aggravating vulnerability factors. He pleaded not guilty; bail set at $500,000 with December 29 court date. Detectives suspect additional unreported victims. Police haven't disclosed his rideshare company affiliation. (PC: X)