Amandeep Singh-Bola, a 34-year-old New Zealand-born man of Indian and Kiwi heritage, helped restrain an alleged shooter during the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14, Australia. He ran toward the gunfire, jumped on one of the attackers, and pinned him down with the aid of a police officer. Singh-Bola said he acted to help bring the assailant down and assist others in danger, despite initially mistaking the shots for fireworks. The attack, linked to an extremist motive, killed 15 people and injured dozens, including Indian students. (PC: AP)

The US visa crisis has worsened for Indian workers after H-1B and H-4 visa interviews were postponed to October 2026. Many appointments earlier fixed for early 2026 were suddenly rescheduled. US officials cited delays due to expanded social media checks and limited resources. Hundreds of Indian professionals are now stuck in India or abroad, with jobs and family plans at risk. Some are separated from spouses and children in the US. Immigration lawyers say legal options are limited. Applicants have been advised to seek remote work or extended leave while waiting for new interview dates. (PC: India Today)

More than nine lakh Indians have given up their citizenship in the last five years. Since 2022, over two lakh people have renounced Indian passports every year. The data was shared in Parliament by the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials said the reasons are personal and linked to life choices abroad. India does not allow dual citizenship, which forces many migrants to surrender their passport. Better jobs, rights, and long-term security in countries like the US, UK, and Canada also play a role. Experts say the post-Covid period and growing global mobility have increased the trend. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has announced major cuts in prescription drug prices. The move is under a new “Most Favoured Nation” policy. It links US drug prices to lower prices paid in other countries. Trump said the policy will sharply reduce healthcare costs in the US. He also said trade pressure and tariff threats were used on foreign nations. Indian drug companies supply many low-cost medicines to the US. The new policy may affect how much they earn. Experts say pricing pressure could rise on both branded and generic drugs. Indian firms may face challenges but remain key to US healthcare supply chains. (PC: NDTV)

India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to protest threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs raised concerns over rising security risks and anti-India remarks by Bangladeshi leaders. India said extremist groups were planning actions near its mission. It also rejected claims that India was involved in events inside Bangladesh. New Delhi said it supports peace, stability and fair elections in the country. India reminded Bangladesh of its duty to protect diplomatic missions. The move came after a Bangladeshi leader warned of sheltering anti-India groups. India said such statements were unacceptable. (PC: X)

India on Wednesday closed its Visa Application Centre in Dhaka due to serious security concerns. The centre, located at Jamuna Future Park, stopped work in the afternoon. Officials said the move followed threats from extremist groups and strong remarks by Bangladeshi leaders. India also summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi to raise concerns about the safety of Indian missions. The Ministry of External Affairs said India expects full protection for its embassy staff. All visa appointments were cancelled and will be rescheduled. India also rejected false claims being spread against it and said the security situation in Bangladesh has worsened in recent days. (PC: India Today)

A migratory seagull fitted with a GPS tracker was spotted near the INS Kadamba naval base in Karwar, Karnataka. Local residents noticed the bird resting near a garden close to the coastline. Forest Department officials were alerted and later captured the bird for inspection. Officials found that the GPS device was linked to an international research project. The tracker is believed to be used to study bird movement and migration patterns. Authorities said there is no immediate security concern. Efforts are underway to contact the research group linked to the tracker. The matter is still under review. (PC: Republic)

India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah over security concerns in Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs raised strong concerns about the safety of the Indian mission. This followed reports of planned protests by extremist groups near the embassy. India asked the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure full security for all diplomatic missions. The MEA said the security situation in Bangladesh has worsened in recent days. It also rejected false claims made by some leaders against India. Relations between the two countries have remained tense since political changes in Bangladesh last year. (PC: HT)

India's rupee has declined 6% against the US dollar in 2025, becoming one of the worst-performing global currencies amid widening trade deficits, punitive 50% US tariffs, and record $18 billion foreign equity outflows. Trading at a record low of 91.075 per dollar, the rupee's real effective exchange rate of 96 is the lowest in over a decade. Despite looking cheap, investors remain wary without a US trade deal. India's Chief Economic Advisor expects an agreement by March 2026, but analysts warn further weakness may be needed to offset tariffs. The rupee's depreciation has eroded dollar returns, with India's equity index rising just 2% compared to China's 30% gain this year. (PC: Reuters)

A 28-year-old Indian-origin man, Abhijit Patel, has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating his 67-year-old father, Anupam Patel, to death with a sledgehammer at their Schaumburg, Illinois home on November 29. Despite having an active protection order against him, Abhijit was living at home. His mother discovered Anupam unresponsive after noticing dropping glucose levels when he failed his usual 8 am check-in call. Abhijit told her he had "taken care of Dad." He surrendered to police, claiming a "religious obligation" to kill his father due to alleged childhood molestation. Medical professionals believe his claims are delusional, as he's under treatment for schizophrenia. (PC: X)