Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has warned that the US administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee could drive skilled workers and jobs overseas. He said the high cost may discourage companies from hiring foreign professionals in specialised fields. Instead, firms could choose to move some work outside the US. Krishnamoorthi said H-1B workers from India, China and other countries play an important role in the US economy. He also noted that some foreign workers later start companies and create jobs. The fee is facing a legal challenge. A US appeals court has refused to pause a ruling that blocked the charge.

The Indian government has said X must follow the law in India after Elon Musk announced a new rule on content takedown requests. X will now make government orders to remove or restrict content more visible to users. The platform may show which government department sent the request and the legal reason behind it. Musk said the change would make government censorship more transparent. An Indian government official told PTI that X will have to follow the law of the land. The new policy is expected to help users understand why their posts or accounts were restricted or removed.

Nandan Thakur, a Microsoft Research postdoctoral researcher, has returned to India after completing his PhD in Canada. He said the decision was based on personal and professional reasons. Thakur missed his family, friends, Indian food and important events back home. He also faced loneliness and stress linked to immigration and visa rules. Despite Canada offering higher salaries and a clear path to permanent residency, he chose to return. Thakur said India’s growing AI sector also influenced his decision. He joined Microsoft Research India in Bengaluru. He said he and his wife wanted to build their future closer to family and contribute to India’s AI ecosystem.

India’s Ayush Shetty pulled off a stunning win over world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi at the BWF World Championships. The 21-year-old beat the defending champion in a thrilling three-game match. Ayush led 17-7 in the deciding game but faced a strong comeback from Shi. He also suffered an injury and needed treatment during the game. Despite the pressure, Ayush stayed calm and won the match after 73 minutes. He had lost to Shi in all three of their previous meetings. Ayush will next face Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama. He said he wants to stay focused and go further in the tournament.

Vande Bharat trains are becoming a key part of Indian Railways’ premium travel network. The trains carried nearly 3.98 crore passengers in FY26, a 34% rise from the previous year. Indian Railways is expanding the network as demand for faster and more comfortable travel grows. AC 3-tier and AC Chair Car were the only passenger categories to make profits in FY25. AC 3-tier earned ₹3,645 crore, while Chair Car made ₹377 crore. Vande Bharat Sleeper services also showed strong demand. They carried 1.21 lakh passengers in their first three months. The network now has 162 services.

PV Sindhu made a strong start at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. She beat Ireland’s Sophia Noble 21-7, 21-11 in the first round. Sindhu is now aiming for a record sixth World Championships medal. She will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang next. Other Indian players also had a good day. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won their women’s doubles match. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan also advanced after their opponents retired. Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi won their match too. Ayush Shetty also upset defending champion Shi Yuqi, boosting India’s hopes. (PC: PTI)

Two more Air India pilots have failed to clear a first drug test, sources said. The tests were ordered after the Phuket-Delhi flight incident that left several people injured. The final test results are still awaited. The two pilots have been removed from flight duties until the results arrive. Air India ordered all pilots to undergo drug tests under new safety rules. More than 300 pilots have completed the tests so far. The move came after the pilot of the Phuket-Delhi flight failed two urine tests. Marijuana was reportedly found in his system. The flight had earlier suffered a sudden 300-foot drop.

Iran has given the United States a timeline to implement a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Tehran warned that tensions could grow in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy fails. Iran said it will not accept the US naval blockade of its ports for long. It is also working with Oman on a plan to manage shipping through the strait. US President Donald Trump warned Oman against interfering with the blockade and said Iran must surrender its nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. Washington said stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons remains its top goal.

Pakistan has issued a strict advisory to citizens travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah, warning them against begging, unauthorised money collection and violations of Saudi visa rules. The Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia urged pilgrims and workers to follow local laws and visa conditions, warning that violations could lead to arrest, detention and deportation. The embassy also shared an AI-generated video depicting a man being arrested by Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards begging and unauthorised solicitation, particularly around Mecca and Medina. Pakistani visitors were advised to use only authorised services, conduct financial assistance through legal channels, avoid overstaying visas and follow permitted activities under their visa categories.

Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty produced the biggest upset of the BWF World Championships, defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China in his tournament debut. Shetty, making his World Championships debut, stunned the top seed in a thrilling men’s singles encounter in Delhi to advance to the second round. His coach Vimal Kumar had prepared him for the challenge by asking him to write down the motivational line, “August 17 is a bad day for Shi Yuqi,” during his preparations in Bengaluru. Shetty delivered exactly that on Monday, overcoming the reigning champion and turning his debut into a memorable victory against the world’s top-ranked player.