Many Indian professionals are left with no way to return to the US after Trump administration began strict social media checks of applicants. This has prompted many US firms to rethink travel and work out plans to bring back employees stranded in India due to prolonged delays in visa stamping. Immigration experts said that while some companies have approached consultants to secure earlier interview appointments, other employers have permitted affected staff to continue working remotely from India until the process is completed, ET reported. At the same time, employees whose visas are nearing expiry are being asked to fly back to the US immediately. Under US immigration rules, H-1B visa holders can legally live and work in the country even if the visa stamp in their passport has expired, provided they have a valid immigration status and I-94 arrival record. However, anyone travelling out of the US must obtain fresh visa stamping from a US embassy or consulate before re-entering. Indian professionals, many of whom are on H-1B visas, often schedule visa renewals alongside December holidays spent in India. That plan has been disrupted after the US began strictly enforcing social media reviews from December 15, according to ET. As a result, a large number of visa interviews have been deferred to next year, with available dates now ranging from March to June. Industry experts said the delays are affecting staffing decisions, project timelines and client obligations, particularly across the technology sector. “US employers are exploring possibilities of earlier appointments or giving them (employees) the option of remote working,” said Rajneesh Pathak, founder and chief executive of investment advisory firm Global North. He said several companies have reached out to his firm for assistance in managing employees stuck in India. The impact has been immediate in some cases. An immigration attorney described how one Indian H-1B holder, whose visa stamp was valid until December 18, 2025, and who had an approved extension through 2027, returned to the US just two days after arriving in India. “This was after he realised that his visa-stamping appointment was abruptly rescheduled to June 2026 and his employer advised an immediate return,” the attorney said. According to Sukanya Raman, country head at immigration firm Davies & Associates, companies are urging employees to re-enter the US before their existing visas lapse. “Employers are asking employees to urgently re-enter the US before their current visas expire, while others whose visas have already expired are unfortunately stranded abroad,” she said. Raman added that firms are now advising Indian employees currently in the US to avoid travelling to India altogether. “There is significant stress for H-1B visa holders as careers are placed on hold, families are separated, and financial planning is disrupted,” Raman said. The expert further highlighted a noticeable rise in interest around EB5 investor visas as uncertainty around the H-1B programme grows. Beyond visa stamping delays, travellers are also encountering tougher checks at US ports of entry. Immigration experts said additional questioning and inspections have become more common, particularly for Indian students on F-1 visas, especially first-time travellers and those enrolling in STEM programmes. Indian professionals on H-1B and L-1 visas, as well as frequent visitors travelling on B-1 and B-2 visas, are also facing increased scrutiny.Prachi Shah, who runs an eponymous law firm in the US told ET that most of these issues are not because of wrongdoing, “but because of careless, inconsistent, or misunderstood online activity.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes a sip of coffee during a year-end press conference at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday he hopes the massive free-trade deal between South American bloc Mercosur and the European Union will be signed in January. Protests on Friday by European farmers and opposition from France and Italy threatened to quash an agreement that has been under negotiation for more than 26 years. Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur deal in Brazil this weekend, but instead, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday after a tense EU summit that the signature will be delayed ”a few extra weeks to address some issues with member states.” Lula told other South American leaders attending a summit in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu, on the three-way border with fellow Mercosur members Argentina and Paraguay, that the meeting was only taking place because European negotiators had earlier signaled they would eventually sign the deal, and that did not happen. He added the delay was due to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni requesting more time. Von der Leyen needs the backing of at least two-thirds of EU nations to secure the deal. Italy’s opposition would give France enough votes to veto von der Leyen’s signature. “Without political will and courage from leaders, it won’t be possible to finish a negotiation that has dragged for 26 years,” Lula, who spoke to Meloni on the phone on Friday and received a letter from EU leadership aiming for a deal in January, told his peers. “Meanwhile, Mercosur will continue to work with other partners.” “The world is eager to make deals with Mercosur,” the Brazilian president added. “Many countries want that. And we certainly we will be able to finish the deals that were not finished during my presidency (of the bloc, due in the end of December).” If signed, the trade deal would cover a market of 780 million people and a quarter of the globe’s gross domestic product, and progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocs. France has led opposition to the deal between the EU and the five active Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday at an EU summit he wouldn’t commit to supporting the deal next month either. Macron added he has been in discussions with Italian, Polish, Belgian, Austrian and Irish colleagues among others about delaying it to address farmers’ concerns. Lula argued Macron alone can’t block an agreement. “Let’s hope that things happen for the good of our Mercosur, multilateralism and the development of our countries,” the Brazilian president said.

IT electronics refurbishing company EPW India on Saturday said it has raised Rs 9.04 crore from anchor investors ahead of the launch of its initial share-sale for public subscription. The company has allotted over 9.32 lakh equity shares to Resonance Opportunities Fund, Universal Golden Fund and Getfive Opportunity Fund – I at an anchor investor price of Rs 97 per share, aggregating to Rs 9.04 crore, the company said in a statement. The Rs 31.8 crore initial public offering (IPO) will open for public subscription on December 22 and will conclude on December 24. It has fixed a price band at Rs 95-97 per equity share, it added. The IPO is an entirely fresh issue of up to 32.79 lakh equity shares, valued at Rs 31.81 crore at the upper end of the price band. The net proceeds from the fresh issue worth Rs 15.85 crore will be used to meet the working capital requirements, Rs 8.50 crore for repayment of debt and the balance for general corporate purposes. The IPO represents an important corporate milestone and the fund raise is intended to support the company’s future growth and ongoing business operations,” Yousuf Uddin, Promoter, EPW India Ltd, said. Incorporated in April 2021, EPW India offers integrated services across collection, segregation, dismantling, recycling, and environmentally responsible disposal of electronic waste, catering to corporates, institutions, and authorised channel partners. On the financial front, the company reported a revenue of Rs 51.87 crore and profit after tax of Rs 4.13 crore in FY 25. The company’s shares are proposed to be listed on the NSE Emerge platform. GetFive Advisors Pvt Ltd is the book running lead manager for the IPO.

BENGALURU: As Karnataka readies for Christmas and New Year celebrations, winter has tightened its grip across the state. Despite variations in minimum temperature readings from KSNDMC and IMD, the cold is palpable, with dense early-morning fog reducing visibility and disrupting travel in parts of Bengaluru and its nearby districts.“Clear skies will continue over Bengaluru, with a dense blanket of fog and mist during mornings. While the city’s outskirts with thick vegetation are likely to record minimum temperatures below 10°C, areas in and around the central business district will see minimum temperatures between 12°C and 13°C,” an IMD scientist noted.According to KSNDMC data, Bengaluru Urban and Rural recorded minimum temperatures of 8.5°C and 8.7°C, respectively.In contrast, the IMD observatory on Palace Road reported a minimum of 14.4°C for Bengaluru, while HAL airport station recorded 14.1°C.However, there was unanimity between meteorologists from both the agencies that minimum temperatures had dipped 2-3°C below normal and was likely to fall by another one or two degrees during the weekend, with the chill expected to persist till month-end.Meanwhile, foggy conditions have already begun affecting routine life and holiday travel in southern interior districts. In Bengaluru Rural, dense fog between 4am and 9.30am has made driving difficult on several state and national highways, including NH-648, NH-48 and Yelahanka-Gauribidanur state highway.The cold has intensified across the state, with minimum temperatures plunging sharply in several districts, making this one of the coldest spells of the season.The sharpest dip has been recorded in north-interior Karnataka, where early mornings have turned biting cold. KSNDMC data show that Bidar recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 5.3°C Friday night, followed by Belagavi at 5.9°C and Dharwad at 6.4°C.Districts such as Vijayanagara, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Gadag, Haveri and Kalaburagi reported minimum temperatures between 6.5°C and 8°C, indicating that the cold spell is widespread rather than confined to a few pockets.

There appears to be no slowing down the extraordinary box office run of Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’. The Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna starrer has stormed into its third week after delivering a record-breaking second week. The film continues to outperform its opening weekend figures, indicating continued audience interest and robust word of mouth.

‘Dhurandhar’ box office collection Day 16

According to early estimates from Sacnilk, ‘Dhurandhar’ earned an impressive Rs 33.50 crore net on Saturday from 5,398 shows across multiple regions. As per the report, the film saw good growth after opening its third week at the box office on Friday with Rs 22.5 crore at the ticket windows.

‘Dhurandhar’ week 3 collections

The film had closed its first week with an impressive Rs 207.25 crore net collection and went on to surpass that figure in its second week, adding an estimated Rs 253.25 crore. This pushed the two-week total to approximately Rs 460.5 crore. With its strong third-week performance, the film’s total net collections have now shot past the Rs 516.5 crore mark, thus cementing its blockbuster status.

‘Dhurandhar’ becomes second-fastest film to hit Rs 500 crore mark

With this achievement, ‘Dhurandhar’ has emerged as the second-fastest Hindi film to cross the Rs 500 crore net milestone. The record is currently held by Allu Arjun-led Telugu blockbuster ‘Pushpa 2 – The Rule’, which achieved the feat in just 11 days. However, ‘Dhurandhar’ has beaten Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ which was previously the fastest film, taking just 18 days to reach the mark. It also beat this year’s blockbuster ‘Chhaava’ which hit the mark in 23 days.

‘Dhurandhar’ becomes Ranveer Singh’s highest grossing film

‘Dhurandhar’ has also become Ranveer Singh’s highest-grossing film to date and his first to enter the Rs 500 crore net club, surpassing his previous blockbusters by a significant margin.

‘Dhurandhar’ gross collection

On Day 16 alone, the film’s gross collections stood at an estimated Rs 40.20 crore. Overall, its India gross has now crossed the Rs 700 crore mark, with total domestic gross collections estimated at around Rs 780 crore. The film’s rapid climb has been fuelled by strong performances, an intense narrative and exceptional weekday holds, translating into repeat viewership nationwide.

‘Dhurandhar’ to enter Rs 1000 crore club

At the international box office, ‘Dhurandhar’ continues to register solid numbers, with overseas collections now estimated at approximately Rs 160 crore. As a result, the film’s total worldwide gross has climbed to around Rs 940 crore. Given the current trend, industry trackers believe it is only a matter of time before ‘Dhurandhar’ enters the coveted Rs 1,000 crore worldwide club.

Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, addressing the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi at Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday, said the nation would remember Sharif Osman Hadi forever and work to fulfil his dream.He noted that while millions had gathered at the venue in waves, crores of people across Bangladesh and Bangladeshis living abroad were waiting to hear about Hadi. “We have come to make a promise to you-that what you told us, we will fulfill,” Yunus said, as cited by the Daily Star. “You have given us such a mantra that this nation will never forget. It will echo in our ears forever.”The chief adviser noted the message would guide every Bangladeshi throughout life, instilling a sense of dignity and resilience, with a reminder that “our heads will never bow down.”Emphasising Hadi’s enduring legacy, he said Hadi would live on in the nation’s memory, continuing to inspire people through his ideals for generations to come.“Today, on behalf of all of us, we make a promise to you that we will move forward imbued with your mantra,” Yunus said while concluding his address. Hadi, a prominent youth leader, was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while attending an election campaign in the Bijoynagar area of central Dhaka. He was later taken abroad for advanced medical treatment but died from his injuries in Singapore on Thursday.Bangladesh held Hadi’s funeral earlier on Friday in Dhaka, with a large crowd attending under heightened security arrangements.Officials said investigations into the killing and the security lapse were ongoing, with law enforcement placed on high alert to prevent further violence. The murder sparked widespread protests in Dhaka, where thousands took to the streets late Thursday and early Friday, demanding justice. The unrest soon spread beyond the capital, with demonstrators attempting to march toward Indian diplomatic sites and vandalising properties linked to the former ruling Awami League.During the violence, offices of prominent media houses, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were targeted, while protesters also vented their anger at the partially demolished home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, Inquilab Monchi said, “Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand — 32 and 36 are not the same.”The government on Friday highlighted the importance of the upcoming elections and referendum, describing them as “not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment.” It added, “this promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred.”

NEW DELHI: Govt has ordered a probe into the case of an Air India Express pilot allegedly beating up a passenger at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1 on Friday. The two had a spat after which Captain Virender Sejwal allegedly assaulted passenger Ankit Dewan. Why no one, including CISF personnel posted at the entrance, intervened when the matter had escalated to such an extent, is being examined.“The ministry of civil aviation has taken serious cognisance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. A formal inquiry has been ordered. Detailed reports have been sought from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),” the ministry said on X Saturday. No police complaint has been lodged.The Air India Express pilot was “dead heading” to Bengaluru — travelling as a passenger to another place to operate a flight from there — on IndiGo. Dewan was travelling with his family on SpiceJet. After the fight, they went to their destinations. AI Express grounded Captain Sejwal and he didn’t operate the flight he was rostered to from Bengaluru.What allegedly happened: While Captain Sejwal was at the staff entry gate, CISF personnel directed Dewan to this gate as he was travelling with children. He was on one side of the entrance and the pilot was on the other. “Captain Sejwal was going ahead of his side of the queue being a crew member. Dewan started questioning this, but allegedly in not a decent language or tone. The CISF personal asked him not to speak like that. When he did not stop, the captain hit him. The personnel on duty separated them,” a CISF source said.“Our personnel asked Dewan if he wanted to file a police complaint so that they could take him to the airport police station. He gave in writing that he did not want to do so. Both the pilot and Dewan went to their destinations,” the CISF source added.On reaching the destination, Dewan said on X: “…one of (AI Express) pilots, Captain Virender Sejwal, assaulted me physically at T1, Delhi airport. Me & my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses, because we had a 4-month-old baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Captain Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff. A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to exercise restraint, the AI Express pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody.”Dewan added that he had to “see a doctor” and that his “7-year-old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted, is still traumatised & scared.” “I have no clue how DGCA and Air India Express can allow such pilots to fly. If they can’t keep their cool in a scuffle, can they be trusted with the lives of hundreds of people in the sky? How can Delhi airport get away with such mismanagement, combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants!”An AI Express spokesperson said: “We unequivocally condemn such behaviour. The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation.”Dewan added on X: “I was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter. It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakh holiday bookings down the drain. Delhi police, why can’t I file a complaint after coming back?”