H-1B visa petitions by Indian companies fell sharply in FY 2025, dropping 37% from last year and nearly 70% over the past decade. Recent US data shows Indian IT firms are no longer among the top sponsors, with only TCS, LTIMindtree and HCL America appearing in the top 25. Experts say Indian companies are hiring more US workers, using new tech, and shifting work outside the US. Meanwhile, US tech giants dominated approvals: Amazon topped the list with 4,644 new petitions, followed by Meta, Microsoft and Google. Major approval hubs included California, Texas, New York and New Jersey. (PC: India Today)

The United States has deported 200 Indians, including wanted gangster Anmol Bishnoi. He is the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The flight, carrying two other Punjab fugitives and 197 illegal migrants, will land in Delhi on Wednesday morning. Anmol is wanted in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique and the firing outside Salman Khan’s home in April 2024. He had escaped India using a fake passport and moved between the US and Canada. Mumbai Police and national agencies are preparing to take him into custody. Officials say his forged travel documents will be key evidence.

The United States has deported Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of mob boss Lawrence Bishnoi. He was removed from the US on November 18, 2025, and is expected to arrive in India on November 19.   Bishnoi is a wanted conspirator in several high-profile crimes in India. These include the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui in October 2024. He is also connected to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and the firing outside Salman Khan's Mumbai home. Anmol Bishnoi was arrested last year for illegally entering the US. (PC: NDTV)

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has questioned the International Crimes Tribunal’s death sentence for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She asked why Hasina is branded a criminal while interim chief advisor Muhammad Yunus and his forces face no action. Nasreen said those who ordered firing on protesters last year should also be investigated. Hasina was found guilty of inciting violence and ordering the killing of protesters during the student uprising that removed her from power. Nasreen called the verdict biased, while Yunus praised it. The ruling has intensified political tensions ahead of Bangladesh’s election. (PC: India Today)

India and Russia held high-level interagency talks in New Delhi to review their full range of maritime cooperation. The meeting was led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Nikolai Patrushev, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both sides said the discussions reflected their strong and long-term strategic partnership. They explored new areas of cooperation in shipbuilding, port development, maritime trade, science and technology. The two countries also discussed Arctic operations, training and logistics. The talks ended with a commitment to build a stronger and more sustainable maritime partnership for future growth and regional connectivity. (PC: X)

The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a travel advisory after Iran suspended its visa-waiver facility for Indian passport holders. From November 22, all Indian travellers must take a visa to enter or transit through Iran. The move follows several cases of Indians being tricked with fake job offers and then kidnapped for ransom after arriving in Iran. The MEA said many were lured by agents who misused Iran’s visa-free entry. Recent cases include men from Delhi and Punjab who were held hostage until their families paid ransom. The MEA has urged Indians to stay alert and avoid such agents. (PC: X)

Six months after India's May 2025 Operation Sindoor strikes, satellite imagery reveals Pakistan continues repairing damaged military installations. OSINT analyst Damien Symon, who initially exposed India's targeting of Kirana Hills nuclear storage site, shared fresh visuals showing new construction at Rawalpindi's Nur Khan Airbase and ongoing repairs at Jacobabad Airbase in northern Sindh. The Jacobabad hangar's roof has been systematically removed for internal damage assessment before full restoration. Operation Sindoor involved coordinated long-range strikes on key Pakistani air power and strategic assets following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 innocents. Latest imagery confirms several critical military installations remain far from fully operational, demonstrating the precision strike campaign's lasting impact.

An Indian man in the United States went viral after helping a paralyzed elderly woman stranded in heavy rain. Noah, sharing the encounter on Instagram, stopped his car and offered the struggling woman a ride to her daughter's garage home, where she lives with nothing but love. The compassionate clip shows Noah gently asking how he could help as rain poured down, then personally driving her to safety. His caption emphasized "kindness is all it takes to change a moment... or a life." The video garnered widespread praise, with viewers commending his humanity, though some questioned filming the act. Noah encouraged people to listen before judging others' circumstances.

Foreign traveler Porter has declared Chandigarh India's most well-designed city in a viral Instagram video garnering nearly one lakh views. Visiting India twice this year, Porter praised the city's cleanliness, modern infrastructure, and Sukhna Lake's pristine waters while recommending travelers skip conventional tourist triangles like Delhi-Agra-Jaipur. He highlighted Chandigarh's unique Punjabi-Haryanvi cultural blend, exceptional food, minimal traffic, and absence of excessive honking. Designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s, the planned city features wide boulevards, tree-lined avenues, and organized sectors. Social media users appreciated Porter showcasing India's positive aspects, with some suggesting Chandigarh deserves European-standard tourism recognition alongside Kerala, Sikkim, and Kashmir.

Iran has suspended visa-free entry for Indian citizens holding ordinary passports effective November 22, ending a facility introduced in February 2024 for tourism promotion. India's Ministry of External Affairs revealed the suspension follows numerous job scam cases where Indians were lured by fake employment offers and false transit promises. Criminals exploited the 15-day visa waiver facility, originally meant exclusively for tourism once every six months. Upon arrival, many victims were kidnapped and held for ransom by criminal gangs working with unscrupulous agents. The MEA issued strong advisories warning citizens to avoid agents offering visa-free travel or onward transit through Iran, emphasizing the suspension aims to prevent further exploitation by criminal elements.(PC: Foreign Policy)