The Trump administration on Thursday ordered an immediate suspension of the United States’ diversity visa lottery programme, citing national security concerns following deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The directive was issued by the Department of Homeland Security after authorities confirmed that the suspect in the attacks had entered the country through the diversity visa programme, also known as the green card lottery. Homeland Security

Meta is preparing a major comeback to the artificial intelligence industry with two new models named Mango and Avocado, expected to launch in the first half of 2026. These models are designed to challenge the dominance of OpenAI and Google, who currently lead the AI landscape. Mango will focus on generating high-quality images and videos, while Avocado will serve as Meta’s next large language model, built for text generation, complex reasoning, and coding capabilities. Both models are being

Fresh delays in H-1B visa interviews following expanded social media screening by the United States government have left hundreds of Indian professionals stranded outside the country, creating serious uncertainty around their employment and legal status. Immigration attorneys say the extended checks have slowed consular operations significantly, pushing interview appointments months into the future and placing workers at risk of losing their jobs while waiting abroad. The US Department of St

Despite stricter visa regimes, no-fly lists, and repeated warnings from both domestic and foreign authorities, thousands of Pakistani citizens continue to travel abroad or attempt to do so for the purpose of begging, particularly in Gulf nations. Recent disclosures to Pakistan’s National Assembly reveal the scale of the challenge, underscoring concerns about organised networks exploiting pilgrimage and tourist visas to reach foreign destinations. Saudi Arabia has deported approxim

Google has launched Gemini 3 Flash as its new default AI model across the Gemini app and Search, saying it delivers faster performance and stronger reasoning skills than previous releases. The company claims Gemini 3 Flash not only surpasses 2.5 Flash, but also comes close to matching its advanced Pro model. The move strengthens Google’s position in the competitive AI market, where OpenAI recently released GPT-5.2. With Gemini 3 Flash now becoming the primary experience for millions of user

Hundreds of Indian professionals holding H-1B work visas have found themselves unexpectedly stranded in India after US authorities postponed visa interviews that were originally scheduled for December, pushing them to March, April, or even later next year. The abrupt decision has disrupted travel plans, employment continuity and family stability for many skilled workers who were visiting India temporarily and expected to return to their jobs in the United States within weeks. The sudden uncertai

Recent calls by some US political activists to reduce or eliminate the presence of Indian professionals in American workplaces have reignited a long-running debate over immigration, national identity and economic growth. Mark Mitchell, a US pollster who has promoted what he describes as a “de-Indianisation” consultancy, has become a prominent voice in this discourse. His arguments reflect a broader strain of nativism that has surfaced periodically throughout American history, often at mom

The US Embassy in India has postponed temporary work visa interviews scheduled for mid-December, triggering widespread concern among Indian professionals awaiting H-1B visa processing. The affected interviews have now been rescheduled to March and April 2026, according to communications sent to applicants and legal experts familiar with the matter. The unexpected decision has disrupted travel and employment plans for thousands of workers who rely on timely visa stamping to continue their role

American authorities have unveiled a proposal that would require foreign tourists from dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom, to provide a five-year record of their social media activity before entering the United States. The measure, introduced by Customs and Border Protection, seeks to significantly expand the personal information collected from travellers who qualify for the visa waiver programme. Forty-two countries currently participate in the programme, which allows short-te

The United States government has revoked approximately 85,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, according to a statement shared by the State Department on X. The announcement described the cancellations as part of a sharpened national security agenda endorsed by both the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The message emphasized that the administration intends to continue its intensified oversight of foreign nationals as part of its broader commitment

Microsoft has announced a massive 17.5 billion dollar investment to help transform India into an AI-first nation, marking its largest investment in Asia so far. The commitment was confirmed after a meeting between CEO Satya Nadella and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, making it a milestone moment in India’s artificial intelligence growth path. Nadella expressed that the goal is to support India’s future by developing infrastructure, skills and sovereign technology capabilities f

Amazon has revealed one of its biggest commitments to India yet, announcing that it aims to help create 3.8 million job opportunities in the country by 2030. This comes at a time when the tech giant has laid off around 14,000 employees globally, highlighting a contrasting strategy between global restructuring and India-focused expansion. The announcement was made during the Smbhav Summit in New Delhi, where Amazon outlined its long-term roadmap for the Indian market. The company says it will

The United States embassy in India has issued a new advisory urging all visa applicants to strictly adhere to the updated appointment dates communicated through recent rescheduling emails. The mission clarified that individuals who arrive on their previously scheduled dates will not be granted entry into any embassy or consulate facility. The reminder follows a series of appointment modifications across multiple visa categories prompted by internal adjustments to scheduling systems, and aims

Tata Electronics has announced a milestone partnership with Intel to manufacture advanced semiconductor chips and AI-powered laptops in India. The collaboration marks a major leap in India’s semiconductor ambitions as the country seeks to become a global chip production hub. Tata is building two large semiconductor facilities worth nearly $14 billion, including a fabrication plant in Gujarat and an assembly-testing and packaging facility in Assam. The agreement brings Intel on board as Tata

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he expects to sign an executive order this week establishing a single nationwide standard for artificial intelligence, a move he argued is necessary to replace the growing web of state-level AI laws. The announcement marks a significant step in the administration’s effort to shape the national regulatory structure around rapidly advancing AI systems, and it comes amid intensifying debate over who should hold authority to set protections for co

The Occupational English Test, widely known as OET, has become one of the most recognised English-language examinations for healthcare professionals aiming to work, study or qualify in English-speaking countries. Designed specifically for the medical and health sectors, the test evaluates candidates on the type of language skills they will need in real clinical environments rather than in general communication. Managed by the Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust, a collaboration betwee

The Andhra Pradesh government is pushing forward with high-speed development to transform Vizag into one of India’s biggest AI and cloud-technology hubs. A major milestone in this journey is the AI-powered data centre project being led by Raiden Infotech, associated with Google, approved in October 2025. The initiative is expected to bring a massive USD 15 billion investment into the state over the coming years. Nearly 1 GW of data-centre capacity is planned across Vizag and Anakapalli, mak

Indian applicants planning travel to the United States for study, employment or tourism are experiencing notable changes in visa wait times, with several US consulates across the country reporting shorter delays. According to the latest data from the US State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times portal, appointment backlogs for student, work and visitor visas now vary widely by location but show meaningful improvement compared with previous months. Applicants are being encouraged to monitor