The US will expand visa fees for certain H-1B and L-1 extensions from September 9. Employers will pay $4,000 for each qualifying H-1B petition and $4,500 for an L-1 petition. The rule could affect major Indian IT companies that employ thousands of Indian professionals in the US. It applies to firms with at least 50 US employees, where over half the workforce holds H-1B or L-1 visas. Routine extensions were earlier generally exempt from this fee. The higher costs could make companies reconsider long-term assignments for Indian workers. Employers, not visa holders, will pay the additional fee.

Pranav Ilango, a student from Erode, Tamil Nadu, has secured a Rs 3.35 crore scholarship to study Applied Mathematics and Public Health at Brown University for the 2026-30 academic years. The scholarship will fully cover his academic and living expenses, which would otherwise have been beyond his family’s reach. He is expected to begin his studies in late August. Pranav was among the top-performing students at CS Academy School in Erode, where he pursued the international IGCSE Cambridge curriculum. He previously earned the “World Topper” title in IGCSE Mathematics and joined the “Outstanding Cambridge Learners” cohort. He credits choosing the Cambridge syllabus with helping him pursue his ambition of studying abroad. (PC: @IndianTechGuide)

The United States has expanded an existing immigration fee that will increase employment-related visa costs for some H-1B and L-1 petitions, affecting many Indian professionals working there. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to certain extension-of-stay petitions, including cases where workers continue with the same employer. The charge is $4,000 for H-1B petitions and $4,500 for L-1 petitions and is imposed on the petitioning employer, not directly on the employee. The rule applies only to employers that meet specified criteria under existing immigration law, meaning not every company or visa holder will be affected by the expanded fee. (PC: India Today)

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, with the talks described as “positive” amid tensions over former PM Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. According to Bangladesh’s PMO, Hasina’s extradition and the return of murder suspect Osman Hadi were among the issues discussed. Bangladesh urged India to expedite Hasina’s extradition. Trivedi said both countries have issues but share a common interest in good relations, adding that no issue is beyond dialogue. He conveyed New Delhi’s intent to work with Dhaka in a “positive, constructive, and forward-looking” manner. Trivedi is returning to Delhi to brief the PMO and foreign ministry and also met Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. (PC: NDTV)

Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station sent Independence Day wishes to India while holding the Indian tricolour. They wished Indians peace and prosperity and highlighted the long friendship between India and Russia in space exploration. The cosmonauts recalled the launch of Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, by the Soviet Union in 1975. They also mentioned Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space in 1984. The message highlighted new cooperation through India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Indian astronauts have trained in Russia for the mission. The cosmonauts ended their message by wishing continued success for India.

Bangladesh has urged India to speed up the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The request came during Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi’s meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Monday. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Dhaka hopes India will respond positively. Hasina has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024. Bangladesh also asked India to hand over two nationals arrested in West Bengal over the killing of politician Sharif Osman Hadi. Trivedi said India and Bangladesh can resolve all issues through talks. He said both countries want good relations and should focus on the future.

The Indian Navy is escorting two crude oil tankers, MT Compass and MT Thalata, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait amid heightened piracy and security concerns following the Hormuz crisis. INS Trishul and INS Aditya conducted the escort operation on August 9-10, with a naval helicopter monitoring the vessels, according to the Navy’s Western Command. India faces renewed maritime security challenges in the Red Sea as attacks and instability linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalate. The Indian-flagged commercial vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya recently sank in the Red Sea, 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah, Yemen, after being struck by a projectile. All 14 crew members were reportedly involved in the incident. (PC: Times Now)

Russia’s share of India’s crude oil imports has climbed to a record 48%, highlighting the growing importance of Russian supplies despite mounting pressure from the United States. The increase comes as Washington threatens to impose 100% tariffs on countries continuing significant trade with Russia. India has maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interests, including price and supply security. Russian crude became a major source for Indian refiners after Western sanctions disrupted traditional energy markets. The record share underscores India’s continued reliance on discounted Russian oil, while potentially increasing trade tensions with Washington over New Delhi’s energy policy. (PC: Reuters)

India has gifted five Indian peacocks to the United Nations Office in Geneva, including a rare white peacock, reviving a decades-old tradition. The donation comprises four blue peafowl and one white peacock and was formally handed over to UN officials. The gesture recalls a similar 1981 donation by India, when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent a breeding pair of peacocks to Geneva. The birds will be cared for by Geneva Bioparc and UN staff and initially kept in an enclosed habitat before being released in Ariana Park. The donation showcases India’s rich biodiversity, cultural heritage and commitment to international cooperation. (PC: X)

India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has rejected what he called misconceptions surrounding the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Responding to concerns raised by US Congressman Riley Moore, Kwatra said the legislation does not ban foreign funding or target any religion, community or ideology. He stated that regulating foreign financial flows is a sovereign function linked to national security. Kwatra also clarified that asset vesting after FCRA registration cancellation has existed since 2010. He said the proposed Bill would create a designated authority to safeguard such assets and ensure their return if registration is restored. (PC: India Today)