An Indian woman on an H-1B visa had her passport stamped "Cancelled and Withdrawn" at Abu Dhabi's US preclearance facility after officials flagged her for working remotely from India without explicit Labour Condition Application (LCA) authorization. Having traveled to India in November for her daughter's first birthday, she spend two months for partly vacation & partly remote work. While her husband cleared preclearance without issues, she faced secondary inspection and was told receiving US payment while working from India violated US law. With no visa appointment slots currently available, she remains stranded. Her case highlights growing legal ambiguity around remote work arrangements amid broader H-1B visa disruptions under the Trump administration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history as the first Indian leader to address Israel's Knesset, receiving lavish praise from Speaker Amir Ohana, who called him a "steadfast ally" who has "transformed India." Ohana highlighted Modi's 2017 Israel visit the first by an Indian PM as a landmark moment in bilateral ties. However, the session was briefly overshadowed when opposition lawmakers walked out, protesting Speaker Ohana's decision to exclude Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, though several vowed to return for Modi's address. Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu declared that he and Modi had performed "miracles" together doubling trade, tripling cooperation, and quadrupling mutual understanding since their last meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day state visit at the invitation of PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Upon landing at Ben Gurion International Airport, Modi held an "excellent" bilateral meeting with Netanyahu, calling it "a delight to be back in Israel after 9 years." Discussions covered technology, water management, agriculture, talent partnerships, and regional developments. Modi later addressed the Knesset, Israel's parliament marking a significant diplomatic milestone. An upgraded security pact and a potential free trade agreement headline the agenda. On Thursday, Modi will visit Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem and hold delegation-level talks before departing for Delhi.

An Indian entrepreneur has said he sold his company in Sweden and is leaving the country due to issues with the immigration system. Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya, founder and CEO of Hydro Space Sweden AB, shared his decision in a LinkedIn post.   “Today, I am officially stepping down… This isn’t an exit by choice. It is an eviction,” he wrote. He described the migration process as “incompetent” and “hostile.”   He said officials changed the grounds for rejection and did not give clear guidance. Balasubramanya added he would return to India to focus on his mental health. His post drew mixed reactions online. (PC: NDTV)

Following viral claims by Indian travel influencer Sachin Awasthi that he was denied entry and detained for 38 hours upon arrival at Jeju Island, the Indian Embassy in Seoul released a detailed travel advisory for Indians visiting under the visa-waiver scheme. The embassy clarified that visa-free entry does not guarantee admission, as South Korean immigration authorities make final decisions. Travellers have been advised to carry confirmed return tickets, hotel bookings, proof of sufficient funds, travel insurance and clear itineraries to avoid inconvenience or denial of entry. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 2026 visit to Israel underscores the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. Defence cooperation remains central, with India among the largest importers of Israeli military technology. Bilateral trade, currently around $3.75 billion, is set to expand further with ongoing talks on a Free Trade Agreement and investment frameworks. The visit also focuses on collaboration in technology, water management and agriculture. Regionally, discussions touch upon West Asia stability and connectivity initiatives, reflecting India’s calibrated diplomatic engagement in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. (PC: AP)

A 57-year-old Sikh man, Avtar Singh, who served as a volunteer and head cook at a gurdwara in Tracy, California, was kidnapped on February 17 and later found dead near Lake Berryessa on February 20. Authorities from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance footage showed three unidentified individuals forcing him into a white SUV. Investigators believe Singh was not the intended target of the abduction and homicide, suggesting the perpetrators were pursuing someone else. Officials stressed it appears to be an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community, and detectives are working to identify those responsible. (PC: PTI)

An air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district had no black box and had remained unused for four years, officials said. The Beechcraft C90 King Air was flying from Ranchi to Delhi on Monday night. All seven people on board died.   Officials said cockpit voice and flight data recorders were not required for this aircraft. Investigators will use air traffic control records and study the wreckage. Bad weather and a thunderstorm are being examined as possible causes. Air India and IndiGo had earlier reported rough weather on the same route. The victim’s family has sought compensation, saying the flight cost them ₹8 lakh. (PC: HT)

An Indian restaurant in London will shut next month after 16 years in business. Owner Harman Singh Kapoor said rising costs and safety fears forced the decision. He runs Rangrez in Hammersmith with his wife.   In a post on X, Kapoor said “repeated disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis” and “a lack of proper support from the Met Police” made it impossible to continue. He earlier said he and his family received death threats after he posted a video criticising the Khalistan movement. Police said officers attended the scene and reviewed CCTV. Kapoor said he will now focus on activism. (PC: India Today)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a strategic “Hexagon of Alliances” just days before PM Narendra Modi’s State visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026. The proposed bloc aims to counter what Netanyahu described as “radical Shia and emerging radical Sunni axes,” positioning India as a key partner alongside Israel, Greece and Cyprus, with other Arab, African and Asian states expected to join. The alliance seeks enhanced cooperation on security, diplomacy and regional stability amid rising tensions with Iran and shifting Middle East dynamics. Modi will discuss mutual regional and global interests during the visit. (PC: PTI)