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.

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.

American tourist Mike, an international filmmaker, praised India’s healthcare system after receiving free treatment at a rural government hospital in Odisha. On his fifth day in India, Mike fell ill after overeating local food and said he was vomiting every 15 minutes for around 12 hours. Doctors treated him with IV fluids, anti-nausea medication and injections. Mike clarified he did not believe it was food poisoning, blaming overindulgence instead. He said similar treatment in the US could cost thousands of dollars, but the Odisha hospital charged him nothing. His humorous Instagram video drew praise online, with users highlighting free healthcare, offering recovery wishes and suggesting ways to adjust to Indian food. 

Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army by Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel at a ceremony in Kathmandu on Monday. The honour continues a tradition that began in 1950, with India and Nepal conferring honorary general ranks on each other’s army chiefs. During his 4-day visit, General Seth met Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel to discuss ways to strengthen military ties. He also received a guard of honour, handed over military and medical equipment to the Nepal Army and visited its headquarters. Officials said the visit would further strengthen trust and cooperation between the 2 armies. (PC: NDTV)

Public opinion of India is largely positive across Europe, with the United Kingdom ranking first at 71% favourable, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Germany follows at 63%, while Italy and Sweden record 56% and 55%. France stands at 50%, the Netherlands at 49%, Spain at 37%, Poland at 37%, Greece at 39% and Hungary at 40%. The findings come from Pew’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, which interviewed 42,092 adults across 36 countries between February 9 and May 13, 2026, with surveys designed to represent the adult population in each country. Pew said European views of India generally lean more positive than negative. Compared with 2025, favourable views rose 11 points in the UK and 6 points in Germany, while Sweden and the Netherlands also recorded increases. Since 2023, Germany’s favourable rating has climbed from 47% to 63%, while France’s rose from 39% to 50%. 

Indian-origin Flight Lieutenant Arshdeep Singh Dang, 28, has become the first Sikh to graduate as a fighter pilot in Britain’s Royal Air Force since World War II. Born in Chandigarh, Dang moved to the UK with his family at the age of 6. He graduated at RAF Valley in North Wales after completing fast-jet training. Dang said he felt privileged to represent his community and hoped he would not be the last Sikh to achieve the milestone. He will now undergo another year of intensive training before progressing to frontline fighter aircraft. His journey was supported by his family and Sikh upbringing. (PC: India Today)

US visa applicants will face revised USCIS forms from September 15, 2026, affecting H-1B families, international students, exchange visitors and other eligible non-immigrant visa holders. USCIS will introduce new versions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 for status and employment-related applications. Form I-765, used to apply for an Employment Authorization Document, will carry a September 15, 2026 edition date, replacing the August 21, 2025 version. USCIS has warned that there will be no grace period for using the older form after the deadline, and applicants using outdated versions could face rejection. The update makes checking the correct form edition especially important for applicants filing status or employment-related applications from September 15 onward. (PC: iStock)

A fabricated social-media claim about Iran’s nuclear programme travelled from an anonymous Indian X account to Israeli and US political circles, influencing rhetoric at the highest levels. On August 5, the account claimed Iranian commander Brig Gen Ahmad Vahidi said Tehran would pursue nuclear weapons while Israel and the US possessed them. The post included an AI-generated mushroom-cloud image, but there was no evidence Vahidi made the statement or that Iran had built a nuclear weapon. Israeli accounts amplified it before Israel’s Channel 14 aired the claim, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited it in a speech. Trump envoy Mike Waltz and Senator Rick Scott also shared it. Waltz later deleted his post, highlighting misinformation’s rapid geopolitical impact. (PC: Times Now)

Russia struck ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine’s largest steel producer and part of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal’s ArcelorMittal group, in a missile attack on August 16, killing two people and injuring 13 workers and contractors. The strike damaged energy systems and blast furnace facilities at the sprawling Kryvyi Rih plant, forcing a partial suspension of production. Firefighters, rescuers and medical teams responded as specialists assessed the damage and repair requirements. The company confirmed the facility is civilian industrial infrastructure and said the attack disrupted production. The plant had previously been hit by a Russian missile in 2022, destroying a rolling mill and killing one worker. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih remains a key Ukrainian steelmaking facility. (PC: X)

A global survey across 36 countries has revealed significant differences in public perceptions of India, with Sri Lanka recording the highest favourable rating at 79%. The United Kingdom and Kenya followed with 71% each, while Germany recorded 63%. Israel stood at 60%, and Italy at 56%. Sweden, Japan and Thailand each registered 55% favourable views. The findings indicate strong goodwill towards India across parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, attributed to factors including trade, investment, cultural ties, strategic cooperation, education and diaspora connections. Pakistan recorded the lowest favourable rating at just 7%, highlighting the impact of longstanding political tensions and security disputes. The survey underscores India’s varied global image across the 36 countries studied. (PC: AFP)