Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee: Policy shift or bargaining chip with India?
By: Dr Avi Verma In a sweeping executive action signed Friday, President Donald Trump announced a new $100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas, a dramatic escalation in his administration’s long-running effort to reshape U.S. immigration and labor policies. The order, coupled with
Nasscom warns H-1B visa fee hike could disrupt US innovation and job market
The U.S. administration’s decision to impose a steep $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications with just a one-day implementation deadline has raised concerns across the global technology sector. India’s IT industry body Nasscom warned on Saturday that the move could create ripple
Trump threatens EU with new tariffs after Google slapped with $3.5 billion fine
US President Donald Trump warned of fresh tariffs on the European Union (EU) after Brussels imposed a €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion) fine on Google for antitrust violations. On Friday, the European Commission announced the penalty, ruling that Google abused its dominance in the
IT pact with US in 1997 crippled India’s hardware sector, say experts
Economists and strategic affairs experts argue that the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1997 between India and the United States prevented India from developing a world-class computer hardware industry like China and Taiwan. The agreement eliminated tariffs on IT-related goods and services, but
India-Japan ties strengthen with $13 billion investments, 170 MoUs signed in two years
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his two-day Japan visit (August 29–30) to attend the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, both nations have deepened their economic and strategic partnership with over 170 Memorandums of
Lee pledges support for US push to revitalise shipbuilding
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to back Washington’s efforts to revitalise the United States’ shipbuilding sector, highlighting Seoul’s commitment to strengthening bilateral industrial and security ties. During a visit to the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, which Korean shipbuilder Hanwha
SpaceX postpones 10th Starship test flight due to ground systems issue
SpaceX has postponed the highly anticipated 10th test flight of its Starship rocket, minutes before liftoff, citing a ground systems issue. The launch, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT Sunday from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas, was halted just 17 minutes before
Agra-born Arvinder Bahal to fly on Blue Origin’s next space mission
Arvinder Singh Bahal, an Indian-origin real estate investor born in Agra, is set to fly to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s next suborbital mission. Now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Bahal will be part of the six-member crew on Blue Origin’s 14th
India’s tier 2 cities now have 4,625 EV charging stations: Centre
India’s tier 2 cities now host 4,625 operational electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as of April 1, 2025, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, shared the data in a written
ISRO-NASA Earth observation satellite NISAR to launch today from Sriharikota
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA are set to launch their highly anticipated Earth observation satellite, NISAR, today at 5:40 p.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The $1.5 billion NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission is a
Naidu discusses green energy, data centres with Singapore minister
On the second day of his official visit to Singapore, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Dr. Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, to explore collaboration in key sectors including green energy,
India-UK FTA hailed as game-changer for trade and export growth
The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) has hailed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a transformative step that opens up major export opportunities for Indian businesses across multiple sectors. India’s bilateral trade with the UK reached a record $23.1 billion in
India’s role as digital hub spotlighted at Wavelength Forum
India’s rising prominence as a global digital hub was a key focus at the Wavelength Forum held in New Delhi on Wednesday, where Quad partners, government officials, and industry leaders convened to advance subsea cable connectivity across the Indo-Pacific. Organised under the US
Bangladesh crackdown: Yunus targets intellectuals, critics of radical Islam
The arrest of renowned economist Professor Abul Barkat has sparked outrage across Bangladesh, exposing a growing crackdown on intellectuals, minorities, and dissenters under Muhammad Yunus’s interim government. Barkat, 71, a former Chairman of Janata Bank and a vocal critic of radical Islam, was
India celebrates as astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS mission
As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth after an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), political leaders across party lines have hailed the achievement as a proud milestone in India’s space journey. Shukla, part of Axiom Mission 4
Trump urges trade partners to ‘keep working’ ahead of August 1 tariff deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged countries engaged in trade talks with his administration to “just keep working hard” ahead of the looming August 1 deadline for steep reciprocal tariffs. His comments come amid intensified negotiations with countries like South Korea and Japan.
Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU, Mexico starting August 1
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced 30 per cent tariffs on imports from the European Union and Mexico, effective August 1, intensifying global trade tensions. In separate letters released on Truth Social, Trump said the tariffs aim to push both partners into renegotiating
Apple names Indian-origin Sabih Khan as new Chief Operating Officer
Tech giant Apple has appointed Indian-origin executive Sabih Khan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a major leadership shift as the company faces slowing iPhone sales and tariff-related challenges. Khan will succeed Jeff Williams, who is stepping down from the COO
PM Modi urges BRICS to adopt responsible AI governance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on BRICS nations to jointly promote the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing ethical innovation and global equity in AI development. Speaking at the Outreach Session of the 17th BRICS Summit, focused on multilateralism, economic affairs,
India proves scale and speed can go together: FM Sitharaman in Rio
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking at the ‘Governors Seminar’ in Rio de Janeiro, highlighted India’s ability to combine rapid development with inclusive and sustainable growth. She emphasized that India is not only leading its own transformation but also serving as a model for