Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

White House says $1,00,000 H-1B visa fee to be one-time payment

The White House issued a major clarification Saturday (September 20, 2025) to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry, saying a $100,000 fee will be a “one-time” payment imposed only on new applicants. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in announcing the major fee increase on Friday (September 19), said it would be paid annually and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals.

Trump’s $100K H-1B fee spares current visa holders, hits new cases

The White House said that President Donald Trump’s new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications will apply only to new cases, not to existing holders reentering the United States. The clarification, conveyed to 5WH by a senior administration official, came after the order sparked panic among current H-1B workers worried they would be forced to pay to return. News of the proclamation set off a scramble across the Indian H-1B community, with workers rushing to airports in hopes of getting back into the United States before the measure took effect. Immigration lawyers reported a surge of frantic calls from clients fearing they would be locked out or saddled with the hefty new levy, underscoring the uncertainty that followed the announcement.

Nasscom says India’s tech companies to be impacted due to H-1B visa hike fee

Industry body Nasscom on Saturday (September 20, 2025) said the U.S.’ move to raise H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 will impact India’s technology services companies as business continuity will be disrupted for onshore projects that may require “adjustments”. The apex body also flagged concerns over September 21 timeline for implementation saying a one-day deadline creates considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.

H-1B visa fee hike: Visa order triggers surge in last-minute flight bookings to U.S.

Travel agents observed a surge in last-minute flight bookings to the U.S. on Saturday (September 20, 2025), following the Trump administration’s announcement of a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B work visas. However, Air India said there is no noticeable trend as yet. Reports said that several tech giants such as Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the announcement — which will come into effect on Sunday (September 21, 2025) — by advising H-1B visa-holding employees who are outside the U.S. to return before midnight on Saturday, and others to remain in the U.S..

Reforms have transformed bureaucracy, says PM’s Principal Secretary P.K. Mishra

Technical skill alone is not sufficient, and a student should have the qualities of attitude, teamwork, openness, mutual respect, humility, ethics, transparency, and objectivity to succeed both in career and life, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary P. K. Mishra said. Addressing the convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai on Saturday (September 20, 2025), Mr. Mishra said teamwork was probably a much more important than individual brilliance.

Ashwini Vaishnaw conducts breakthrough of bullet train tunnel; says first phase to start in 2027

A breakthrough was achieved for a 4.88 km-long tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project on Saturday (September 20, 2025) morning in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Calling it a “landmark achievement”, Mr. Vaishnaw, who initiated the breakthrough of the tunnel, said that the first phase of the high-speed corridor on the Surat-Bilimora section will start in December 2027.MHA calls next round of talks on Ladakh on October 6

Following renewed protests in Ladakh, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called for the next round of talks with civil society leaders in the Union Territory on October 6. A high-powered committee, led by Minister of State Nityanand Rai, held the last meeting on May 27. The committee is engaged in talks with Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) over the demand of the groupings for constitutional safeguards for the region. The two groups demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule (for tribal areas status) of the Constitution.

PM Modi lays foundation for three projects for Chennai and Kamarajar Ports

From coastal protection works at Chennai Port to upgrading firefighting facilities at Kamarajar Port, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for three crucial port projects in Tamil Nadu from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. At a cost of ₹33 crore, as part of coastal protection work, the existing revetment behind the coastal berth is going to be repaired and strengthened for a length of 850 metres at Chennai Port.

Maduro offers to engage in direct talks with Trump envoy Grenell

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump days after the first U.S. strike on a boat from the South American country that Mr. Trump says was carrying drug traffickers. In a letter to Mr. Trump that was viewed by Reuters, Mr. Maduro rejected U.S. claims that Venezuela played a big role in drug trafficking, noting that just 5% of drugs produced in Colombia are shipped through Venezuela, of which he said 70% were neutralized and destroyed by Venezuelan authorities.

Zelenskyy says will meet Trump next week as Russia intensifies attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would meet U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week as Russia intensified attacks across his country. Russia carried out one of its largest aerial attacks overnight, firing 40 missiles and some 580 drones at Ukraine in a barrage that killed at least three people and wounded dozens, Mr. Zelenskyy said Saturday (September 20, 2025).

Assam declares three-day State mourning over singer Zubeen Garg’s death

The Assam Government on Saturday (September 20, 2025) declared three days of state mourning over singer Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore. Chief Secretary Ravi Kota made the announcement in a post on X. “The Government of Assam expresses deep shock and sorrow at the passing of Shri Zubeen Garg, eminent singer, filmmaker and cultural icon,” he said.

Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas set to be next BCCI President

Mithun Manhas, a stalwart of domestic cricket, is set to be elected unopposed as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on September 28. The BCCI election is scheduled during its annual general meeting (AGM) at its headquarters on September 28. On Saturday, the first of the two-day window for filing nomination papers, top Indian cricket officials met in New Delhi. The Hindu understands that after consulting some of the top ministers in the government, the BCCI hierarchy zeroed in on Manhas as the consensus candidate.