H-1B Visa Applications Drop 38%. Trump Administration Says Days Of Abuse Over

The Donald Trump administration on Thursday said applications for H-1B visas had dropped significantly this year after major changes were introduced to the work visa selection process. Calling it a crackdown on misuse of the system, the administration said "the days of abusing the programme with mass, low-wage registrations are over."

Data released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showed that properly submitted H-1B registrations fell by 38.5 per cent compared to last year, from 343,981 in fiscal year 2026 to 211,600 for fiscal year 2027.

The H-1B visa programme, widely used by Indian professionals seeking jobs in the United States, has come under tighter scrutiny in recent years. The White House had earlier rolled out stricter wage requirements and raised application fees, saying the aim was to curb widespread abuse of the system.

This year's H-1B season is wrapping up, and we're seeing great results from @POTUS' new policies that prioritize America First!

Stay tuned for more updates, but here's what we're seeing so far:

✅More top talent: We're approving more applicants with advanced degrees and higher…

— USCIS (@USCIS) May 21, 2026

In a post on X, USCIS said, "This data is a clear sign that the days of abusing the program with mass, low-wage registrations are over, and that the programme is better serving its intended purpose of attracting highly skilled foreign workers and protecting the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities of American workers."

The immigration agency also said the profile of selected applicants appeared to be changing. The H-1B programme has long faced criticism from those who argue that some companies rely on it to hire cheaper foreign labour instead of recruiting highly skilled workers.

According to USCIS, a larger share of selected candidates now hold advanced academic qualifications and command higher salaries. The agency said 71.5 per cent of selected applicants had US master's degrees or higher, compared to 57 per cent the previous year. The figures suggest that more foreign students graduating from American universities are securing H-1B visas.

USCIS also stressed that it was tightening standards around wage levels linked to H-1B jobs. It said it was "closing the door" on low-skilled and low-wage workers, adding that only 17.7 per cent of approved applications fell in the lowest wage category.

Even as some lawmakers continue to push for scrapping the H-1B programme altogether, USCIS has given no indication that such a move is under consideration. The visa allocation process for the coming year has already concluded, while the next round of registrations is expected to begin early next year.

The administration said the latest numbers reflected the impact of its policy changes, with the system now favouring applicants with stronger qualifications and higher-paying job offers.
 

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Ganguly Turns Back The Clock, Slams Century In Viral Video. Internet Reacts

Former Indian cricket team batter Sourav Ganguly rolled back the years as he played some beautiful shots to score 132 runs off just 68 balls in a viral gully cricket clip. Ganguly, who was well known for his elegant off-side shots, showed off his batting prowess and even slammed few trademark sixes straight down the group during the informal match. Internet was left stunned as the 53-year-old looked completely at ease and social media users were all praise for his batting. Ganguly scored 131 in his debut Test match against England and during this knock, he decided to score 1 more.

During the video, Ganguly was given two 'lives' which meant he could afford to get dismissed once. He reached his half-century in 33 balls and ended up losing his first 'life' at 75. However, there was no stopping as he raced to the century in 58 deliveries.

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Following his century, the wicket-keeper urged Ganguly to recreate his iconic Lord's celebration. However, he remained in high sprits and ended his knock on 132.

Earlier, during his appearance on Raj Shamani's podcast, Ganguly said that he had no idea Indian players were approached to do 'match-fixing'. 

He spoke to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, asking them if any of them had been approached by someone to do such a thing. 

"The issues that the Indian team faced just before I became captain - betting, match-fixing - I didn't even know about these things. I kept asking Sachin [Tendulkar] and Rahul [Dravid] 'Does it actually happen? Has anyone approached you?' Because no one had approached me. So, I spoke to Sachin, 'Tujhe kisi ne poocha?' He said no. We all used to play both formats - Tests and one-dayers. Asked Anil [Kumble] too, he said 'No. Nobody asked me'. So, I wasn't too sure what it even was. That [captaincy] was the job in hand. So, I didn't have these things in mind," Ganguly opened up on the Raj Shamani podcast.

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Twisha Sharma's Mother-In-Law Goes To Court, Says Clips, Chats Fabricated

Giribala Singh -- former judge and mother-in-law of Twisha Sharma -- has gone to court, claiming that an audio clip and WhatsApp chats that are being widely reported on by the media is fabricated. She has sought that the court ensure that the "original source" of these audio clips and WhatsApp chats be investigated. She also alleged that proper procedure was not followed during the seizure of the Digital Video Recorders or DVRs of the CCTV cameras. The court has been requested to re-examine the DVR and to conduct a fresh verification of the sealed recordings.

The audio clip - purportedly a conversation between Giribala Singh and Twisha's brother Major Harshit Sharma - became highly controversial, with questions apparently being raised in it about Twisha's relationships and private life. Reports said there were questions on whether Twisha had entered relationships with men for "personal gain". One line from the recording reportedly said, "Some people earn by selling their intellect, others earn by selling their bodies".

Read: 'Unfathomable Cruelty': Twisha Sharma's Brother On Her Mother-In-Law

Giribala Singh has also sought that the cellphones belonging to Twisha Sharma's family -- her father Navinidhi Sharma, mother Rekha Sharma, brother Harshit Sharma, and sister-in-law Rashi Sharma -- be seized and sent for forensic investigation. 

Twisha Sharma's family has met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to seek justice.

The petition asserted that the facts of the case could be detected if a thorough examination be made of mobile data, chat logs, and digital records. She has requested the court to order that the electronic evidence be preserved and investigated.

The application -- filed in a court in Bhopal Court today - also alleged that the DVR for the eight CCTV cameras installed in the house was not seized in accordance with proper legal procedure. The DVR displayed a time and date approximately 2 days, 2 hours, and 20 minutes prior to the actual time of the incident, she has claimed. Singh has sought that the CCTV footage be viewed again in presence of the "panchas" (witnesses) and the applicant, the individuals visible in the footage be identified.

Read: Age, Height Mismatch: The Unanswered Questions In Twisha Sharma Case

Twisha Sharma, 33, a model and an actor, died under suspicious circumstances within months  of her wedding to Giribala Singh's son. While the police claim she died by suicide, her family members alleged she was murdered by her in-laws and have demanded a second postmortem examination.

Her husband Samarth Singh, a lawyer, is on the run. His mother has accused Twisha of being a drug addict who had a mental disorder. The police have said they had found no evidence of drug abuse in the post-mortem report.

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Tom Selleck Returns To Crime TV With New History Channel Docuseries

Tom Selleck is returning to a crime show after a break from acting following the end of Blue Bloods. The actor, known for playing New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in the long running drama from 2010 to 2024, has not appeared on screen since the series wrapped up. Now, he is stepping into a new role that keeps him close to the crime genre but in a different format.

Selleck will host, narrate and serve as executive producer of a new History Channel docuseries titled Crime and Justice. The show will feature 10 episodes and will focus on real life criminal cases from American history. After Blue Bloods ended, CBS carried the story forward with a spinoff titled Boston Blue, starring Donnie Wahlberg.

Through each episode, the series will be “tracing the enduring battle between law and lawlessness and the lawmen who ultimately brought some of the nation's most dangerous criminals to justice”.

Speaking about Crime and Justice, Tom Selleck said, “Throughout my career, I've been drawn to stories about consequences and the pursuit of justice. This series looks at real cases from across American history and the people tasked with seeing them through—moments when the pressure was intense, the outcome uncertain, and the decisions carried lasting consequences.”

After Blue Bloods ended, CBS carried the story forward with a spinoff titled Boston Blue, starring Donnie Wahlberg. Even with the new series continuing the world of the original show, fans of the original show still missed seeing Tom Selleck in his role as a crime solving detective.

Along with Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck, the History Channel has also revealed four other new shows to attract viewers. The lineup includes History's Strange Fortunes, hosted by Kevin Bacon, along with Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson, Dolph Lundgren will lead History's Greatest Machines and 102 Minutes Inside the Towers, which revisits the events of September 11.

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Rhea Chakraborty Announces Social Media Break: 'I Miss Simply Being'

Actor Rhea Chakraborty said she has been missing herself as she announced a break from social media to "reconnect with what feels real".

Chakraborty shared a post on her Instagram handle on Tuesday and said online noise feels heavy.

"Lately, I've been missing myself a little. The constant noise, the scrolling, the keeping up - it's all started to feel heavier than I expected. I miss being present without thinking about capturing the moment. I miss quiet. I miss simply being," she wrote.

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"So, I'm taking a step back for a while - to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and reconnect with what feels real. Choosing lived moments over posted ones, for now. See you soon," she added.

Chakraborty will next feature in the Netflix series Family Business, which will also mark her return to the screen after a seven-year hiatus. The series also features Anil Kapoor and Vijay Varma in pivotal roles. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Sooryavanshi Shatters Sensational IPL Record, Scripts History With Fiery 50

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to shatter records as the Rajasthan Royals batter added another major accolade to his name during the IPL 2026 encounter against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. Sooryavanshi became the youngest batter to score 500 runs in an IPL season during his fiery knock at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The record previously belonged to Rishabh Pant who achieved the massive feat while playing for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) back in 2018. Sooryavanshi went on to slam a half-century off just 23 deliveries with the help of 6 fours and 4 sixes.

It has been a brilliant season for the 15-year-old sensation till now and his performances for the franchise has even led to a section of fans as well as experts asking for his inclusion in the senior team.

He was recently included in the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka and a number of ex-cricketers have urged the BCCI to hand him an India debut in the near future. 

Rajasthan Royals went on to clinch the match by 7 wickets.

"I was just thinking because I was sitting outside during the bowling innings and the wicket looked good. I was thinking that today I shouldn't rush too much at the start, I should take some time and if I bat for a longer period, it's going to help the batter at the other end as well. (on starting slowly but still reaching fifty quickly) That was the mindset."

"I know I can hit two or three boundaries or sixes anytime, so I can take a little more time and not rush too much and try to take the game till the end. (on dealing with all the attention and praise at a young age) Nothing much. I don't really see too much, I don't read newspapers and all, so I don't think too much about it. I just think that this is only the start. If my career becomes long and I play for a long time, people will say many more things. My focus should just remain on the game and I should complete my journey," Sooryavanshi said after the match.

(With PTI inputs)

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GOAT Director Venkat Prabhu Gifts Vijay The Iconic 'TN07 CM 2026' Number Plate

Director Venkat Prabhu has sent fans into a frenzy after gifting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay the iconic TN07 CM 2026 number plate from The Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

The special number plate was seen on the car driven by Vijay's character in the 2024 blockbuster, but what once looked like an interesting cinematic detail is now being revisited as a possible prediction of his political journey.

Venkat Prabhu recently met Vijay and presented him with the memorable prop, sharing pictures from the meeting on X. Alongside the photos, he wrote, "A history is made. From a thought to a vision to this moment. Happy to have met our honourable CM @TVKVijayHQ na today and present the very first manifestation of #GOAT. This is only the beginning. TN07CM2026."

For many, the number plate has become more than just a movie prop. In GOAT, Vijay's character is seen driving a vehicle carrying the registration TN07 CM 2026 - a detail that caught fans' eyes during the film's release. But following Vijay's recent political rise, the scene has taken on a whole new meaning.

Many on social media now believe the number plate was an uncanny nod to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with some joking that Venkat Prabhu may have predicted the future.

A history is made..

From a thought… to a vision… to this moment.

Happy to have met our honourable CM @TVKVijayHQ na today and present the very first manifestation of #GOAT. ❤️❤️❤️

This is only the beginning.
TN07CM2026 pic.twitter.com/VxwvFOKTo4

— venkat prabhu (@vp_offl) May 18, 2026

About GOAT

Apart from Vijay, GOAT also features Prabhu Deva, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Prashanth, Ajmal Ameer, and Jayaram. The music of the film is by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Vijay plays a double role in the movie. 

ALSO READ: Rajinikanth Says He Is 'Not Jealous' Of Vijay': "I Would Have Won Elections If I Contested In 2021'

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