Overseas Congress members are energized by the party's resurgence in Punjab's municipal elections, particularly in Amritsar and Phagwara. They cite growing public disenchantment with the AAP's governance, contrasting it with Congress's commitment to people-centric policies. Despite alleged AAP manipulation, Congress's strong showing fuels optimism for the 2027 assembly elections.

Indian professor Partha Pande leads in the US. He directs engineering at Washington State University. Pande champions the CHIPS Act. The act aims to boost US chip production. He stresses the need for industry and university partnerships. Pande highlights the strong presence of Indians in AI. He recruits students from IITs for his research.

In Singapore, a 28-year-old Indian-origin man, Visnu Suriamurthi, received a six-week jail sentence and a SGD 2,000 fine for assaulting a rival gang member and illegal gambling. This incident is connected to a fatal brawl outside Concorde hotel. Over ten men have been charged in connection with the brawl. Visnus sentencing took into account his history of violent offences.

Starting January 1, 2025, US nonimmigrant visa applicants can reschedule their interview once without charge. A second rescheduling or missed appointment requires a new booking and fee repayment. This change aims to improve appointment availability and reduce wait times, currently exceeding 400 days in major Indian cities.

The Biden administration has finalized new rules modernizing the H-1B visa program, just days before Trump's second inauguration. These changes aim to clarify specialty occupation criteria, offer flexibility to employers and beneficiaries, and enhance program integrity. Key revisions include relaxed degree requirements, deference to prior adjudications, and formalized site visits.

Tragedy struck a Georgian mountain resort. Eleven Indian restaurant workers were found dead. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide from a power generator. The generator was indoors, near sleeping quarters. A power outage likely triggered its use. The Indian mission is assisting. Georgian authorities are investigating.

A 26-year-old Indian student, Nagasri Vandana Parimala, pursuing a master's in data science in Memphis, Tennessee, died in a car accident on Friday. Two of her friends traveling with her were seriously injured. Vandana had moved to the US in December 2022 and also worked at the University of Memphis.

Thousands of undocumented Indians in the US face lengthy delays for asylum hearings, sometimes waiting until 2027. Detention, deportation threats, and arduous legal processes plague those seeking refuge, while human smugglers advise against claiming political persecution.