New Delhi, July 18 -- The Trump administration has announced sweeping changes to visa rules for foreign journalists working in the United States, significantly reducing the duration of their stay and drawing criticism from press freedom groups and China.

Under the new policy unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, visas for foreign journalists will be limited to 240 days (around eight months) instead of allowing them to remain in the country for years under the existing "duration of status" system.

Chinese journalists will face even stricter limits, with visas capped at 90 days, a move that has heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The new rules are scheduled to take effect 60 days after publica...