A 25-year-old Indian-origin man named Vaibhav has been arrested in Canada for exposing himself to female doctors and clinic staff in Mississauga. Police say he visited several clinics for months in 2025, pretending to have medical problems to force inappropriate contact. He also used a fake name, Akashdeep Singh, during some visits. Peel Regional Police charged him with indecent acts, identity fraud, possession of identity documents, and identity theft. He was arrested on December 4 and is still in custody. Investigators believe more victims may exist and have asked the public to share any information about similar incidents. (PC: NDTV)

As new round of trade talks began in Delhi, United States Trade Representative (USTR) said India has tabled its “strongest proposals yet” for a bilateral trade deal — calling them the “best-ever” received from any country. However, USTR also described India as a “tough nut to crack,” noting Delhi remains resistant to allowing U.S. imports of row crops, meat, and dairy. Still, American negotiators called India a “viable alternative market,” signaling willingness to advance talks. On India’s part, top officials reiterated that any deal will protect interests of farmers, dairying and small-scale producers. (PC: India Today)

Starting December 15, the US Department of State will expand its online presence review to all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, previously limited to student and exchange visitor visas. The review will scrutinize applicants’ social media, resumes, and online activity to ensure eligibility and security compliance. Many Indian applicants face rescheduled or delayed interviews, with some pushed into 2026. Inconsistencies between online profiles and visa applications may trigger additional scrutiny. The Embassy warns that arriving on old appointment dates will result in denial of entry. Experts caution delays could impact jobs, relocations, family reunifications, and school admissions for Indian professionals and dependents.

Akshaye Khanna's portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar has become a viral sensation, with his line "Rehman dakait ki di hui maut badi kasainuma hoti hai" dominating social media. However, the late SP Chaudhry Aslam's wife, Noreen, disputes the film's portrayal, saying Rehman "was nothing in front of Aslam" and only controlled a specific area. The real Rehman Dakait, born 1975, murdered his mother at 19 and ordered opponents' severed heads used as footballs. He was killed at 34 in a 2009 police shootout. Noreen criticized the film's use of terms like "son of the devil" for her husband, calling them disrespectful to Muslims and his honest mother.(PC: India Today)

Goa nightclub fire owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra booked Thailand flight tickets at 1:17 AM on December 7 while rescue operations were underway at their burning club that killed 25 people. They boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket from Delhi at 5:30 AM. Co-owner Ajay Gupta was detained in Delhi after being declared missing, while British national Surinder Kumar Khosla remains under Look Out Circular. Investigators discovered the brothers' SIM card was registered under their former driver Ram Hari Singh's name without his knowledge. Four luxury vehicles owned by the family have vanished. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice remains active. Their newly-built crore-rupee Goa house stands deserted.(PC: Moneycontrol & The Economic Times)

US trade delegation led by Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer arrived in India for crucial bilateral talks, meeting Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and negotiating teams. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed optimism, stating discussions are "progressing well" with "many dots connected." US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer praised India's "strongest trade proposals in years," calling New Delhi "quite forward-leaning." However, Trump's 50% cumulative tariffs on Indian goods complicate negotiations, causing Indian exports to decline 8.58% to $6.3 billion in October. Both nations pursue parallel tracks: a comprehensive trade agreement aiming to boost bilateral trade from $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030, and a framework deal addressing tariff challenges. Officials hope for resolution this calendar year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu held a strategic telephone conversation Wednesday, reviewing their growing bilateral partnership and regional challenges. Both leaders strongly condemned terrorism, reiterating zero-tolerance toward all forms of terror. They discussed the evolving West Asia situation, with Modi reaffirming India's support for just and durable peace, including early implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan. The conversation follows their October call when Netanyahu paused a cabinet meeting to speak with Modi, who had congratulated him on Gaza peace progress. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the continued momentum in India-Israel ties and committed to strengthening the partnership for mutual benefit. They agreed to remain in regular contact.(PC: The Hindu)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Netanyahu called Modi to discuss ways to strengthen the India-Israel strategic partnership. Both leaders said they are happy with the current progress in ties between the two nations. They also repeated their shared zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. According to an official statement, Modi and Netanyahu agreed to keep working together for security and mutual benefit. The conversation highlighted the growing cooperation between India and Israel in defence, technology, and other key areas. (PC: Reuters)

The United States said India has given its “best offer ever” in the current trade talks. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called India a “tough nut to crack” but also “forward-leaning”. A US team led by Deputy USTR Rick Switzer is in New Delhi for negotiations on farm goods and other products. Greer said India’s new proposals look promising as the US tries to expand its export markets. He added that the US will keep trade ties with China as well. Another US official, Allison Hooker, met India’s foreign secretary to push progress on the broader strategic partnership. (PC: AP)

A new US rule asking H-1B and H-4 visa applicants to make their social media profiles public has caused panic among Indians. The rule starts on December 15 and lets consular officers check posts on X, Instagram and LinkedIn. Many fear extra delays and tough scrutiny. Visa interviews in Indian consulates, including Hyderabad and Chennai, have been suddenly cancelled and moved to March 2026. This has disrupted jobs, travel and family plans. The US Embassy warned applicants to follow their new dates. The State Department said the rule is needed for security checks and applies to all applicants. (PC: India Today)