Beyond Layoff

 US President Donald Trump announced plans to permanently pause migration from all "Third World countries" to allow the US immigration system to recover. This follows a shooting near the White House where an Afghan national wounded two National Guard members. Trump also vowed to end federal benefits for non-citizens and deport those deemed security risks or incompatible with Western values. Following a shooting incident near White House on Wednesday, US President Trump emphasised his administration's intent to pause migration from Third World countries. He also warned that he would overturn the 'millions' of admissions approved under Joe Biden's administration. Prior Travel Restrictions In June 2025, Trump's administration restricted entry from 12 countries including Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen due to national security issues. Partial restrictions appli...

A recent CBS article grabbed attention with its clickbait title: " AI can already do the work of 12% of America's workforce, MIT researchers find. " While eye-catching, this framing oversimplifies a groundbreaking study from MIT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Their Iceberg Index reveals that current AI tools can technically handle tasks worth about 11.7% of U.S. wages—roughly $1.2 trillion—across the $9.4 trillion labor market. ​ What the Iceberg Index Reveals Imagine the U.S. workforce as an iceberg: the visible "tip" is AI's disruption in tech jobs, like software coding, where adoption is already underway. This Surface Index covers just 2.2% of wages ($211 billion) and clusters in coastal states such as Washington (4.2%) and California (3.0%). Below the surface lies the real story—a fivefold larger hidden mass in everyday cognitive work: administrative paperwork, financial analysis, and professional services. These tasks span all 50 states, with surpr...

For over 16 years, Malaysian mother M. Indira Gandhi has endured a relentless and painful struggle to reunite with her youngest daughter, Prasana Diksa. In 2009, Prasana was taken from her by her ex-husband after he converted to Islam. What began as a custody dispute has spiralled into one of Malaysia’s most distressing human rights crises.  March for Justice: A Symbolic Plea This intense battle reignited nationwide attention after Indira’s symbolic 1.8 km march to Bukit Aman, home to Malaysia’s federal police headquarters. Clutching her missing daughter’s old teddy bear, Indira sought to hand it to the Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Ismail—who notably did not appear to receive her. More than 200 supporters dressed in black accompanied her, bearing signs that cried out: “Return my child” and “Stop these 16 years of pain.” Indira pushed Prasana’s old stroller, surrounded by her older children Tevi, 27, and Karan, 26, turning the march into a poignant family plea for justice....

An IT Industry Veteran’s Deep Dive into Amazon’s Massive Layoff Announcement and Broader Market Implications As an IT veteran who has witnessed numerous corporate transformations and waves of layoffs over the years, the recent announcement by Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs right before the holiday season caught my attention—and it deserves a deeper look beyond the headline number. The 30,000 Figure: A Starting Point, Not the Full Story While 30,000 is a significant count, it likely does not capture the full scale of workforce reductions. Industry insiders know that many reductions happen quietly through voluntary exits or “soft” layoffs disguised as resignations accompanied by severance packages. This practice, especially prevalent in regions like India, means that thousands more employees may be impacted without appearing in official layoff statistics. In Amazon India’s case, rather than formal layoffs, affected workers are often asked to resign voluntarily with severance — a form of Re...

As a GCC veteran who has spent years navigating the evolving landscape of global capability centers in India, I often come across similar questions from professionals eyeing opportunities in this domain. From how these centers hire to the best ways to get noticed early, there are a few patterns I’ve consistently observed across organizations and industries. How Do GCCs Typically Hire? Most global capability centres use a blend of direct applications through platforms like LinkedIn or their own ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), consulting firms, and an often-overlooked yet powerful channel — referrals. While formal postings account for a noticeable chunk of hires, the truth is that a large proportion of great roles get filled through internal recommendations. A referral from someone already on the inside can fast-track the process, helping your resume stand out in a sea of applicants before the job is even public. The Role of Recruiters and Job Boards There isn’t a secret or exclusi...

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a gazette notification stating that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card registrations can now be cancelled if the holder is convicted or charged with serious criminal offences. The notification clarifies that OCI status will be revoked if the cardholder is sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, or if they are named in a charge sheet for an offence carrying a punishment of seven years or more. This provision has been introduced under clause (da) of Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The notification states: “In exercise of the powers conferred by the clause (da) of section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the central government hereby states that an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration shall be liable to get cancelled when a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for term of not less than two years or has been charge-sheeted for an offence entailing punishment of imprisonment for seven years or more.” New c...