The US Department of Labor has suspended Cognizant’s ability to file for new employment-based green cards amid an investigation into alleged visa fraud. Founded in Chennai in 1994, Cognizant is now headquartered in the United States and is one of the largest H-1B visa applicants in corporate America. Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said “threats to American workers” would not be tolerated and warned that “handcuffs await”. The department also suspended PERM filings for tech firm Cloudera. PERM certification is the first step toward obtaining an employment-based green card for foreign workers. The action comes amid the Trump administration’s “Project Firewall”, launched last year to target employers suspected of abusing the H-1B visa programme.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to meet Friday, a day before the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday. Speaking to India-based journalists in an online interaction organised by Sputnik India, Peskov described the relationship between the two leaders as one involving close personal contact and pragmatism. He said Modi and Putin can discuss sensitive global issues and bilateral relations in an open and constructive manner. Peskov also highlighted Russia’s financial engagement with BRICS members, saying 90 per cent of Russian payments with BRICS countries are conducted through national currencies. He described BRICS as a flexible club focused on policy, security, economics, finance, and humanitarian cooperation. (PC: Wikimedia Commons)

India and China held two senior military-level flag meetings in two days along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, amid efforts to maintain peace along the disputed boundary. The first meeting took place Sunday at Wacha, north of Kibithoo in Anjaw district, while the second was held Monday at Damai on the Chinese side. India was represented by 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Girish Kalia. The meetings followed a misunderstanding between the two militaries near Taksing in Upper Subhansiri district. The Ministry of External Affairs said they followed understandings reached by Special Representatives Ajit Doval and Wang Yi. The meetings came ahead of Xi Jinping’s expected BRICS visit. (PC: The Tribune)

Centre for Journalism founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the controversy over female Eiffel Tower employees being moved away from their workstations during a visit by a BAPS-linked Hindu delegation. “Don’t let regressive men run religion,” Dipke said, arguing that religious beliefs should not be used to restrict women. The controversy began after reports that the delegation had requested limited interaction with female staff. The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed amid the dispute. The tower’s operator later acknowledged that such conditions should not have been accepted. BAPS apologised for any “pain or inconvenience” caused and said it respected universal values. 

The Kremlin said it is preparing a list of Indian nationals still serving with the Russian Army and promised to send them home, as India pressed Moscow for their release. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was identifying Indians currently on the battlefield and maintained that Moscow was in “deep and profound contact” with New Delhi. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said around two dozen Indians remained in the Russian Army. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently said 51 Indians had died during the Ukraine war. At least 227 Indians have reportedly been recruited, with 139 released, 51 dead and the status of others unclear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on September 11.

The United Nations’ world map has drawn attention for depicting Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as separate regions between Indian and Chinese claims. The map, first published on July 1 during discussions on the UN General Assembly’s “Correct the Map” resolution, shows Arunachal Pradesh as an independent state bordering Assam and China, while Aksai Chin is depicted with India to its west and China to its east. The UN has not explained the changes. India backed the resolution but stressed it does not endorse any map or boundary depiction. New Delhi said India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, while reiterating its claims over Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (PC: NDTV)

India said reports about women employees at the Eiffel Tower being asked to avoid areas during a BAPS delegation’s visit were a “matter between the entities concerned”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was aware of a BAPS temple opening in Paris but maintained that the Eiffel Tower issue did not involve government. The Tower was closed Monday after employees struck over allegations that female staff were moved away during Saturday’s visit by 100 people linked to BAPS. The tower operator said the delegation had requested limited interactions with women and acknowledged such conditions should not have been accepted. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire called the conditions unacceptable and announced an investigation.

Indian-origin American author and entrepreneur Neal Bakshi has alleged that he was detained for questioning by US border officers after returning from Greenland. Bakshi said in an Instagram video that, despite using Global Entry, he was pulled aside for additional screening, with officials calling it a random check. He alleged officers later took him to rooms where they requested personal information and questioned his affiliations with groups. Bakshi also described witnessing an officer questioning an elderly Hispanic woman who did not speak English. He said the encounter made him question whether some Americans face greater scrutiny. US Customs and Border Protection has yet to issue an official statement on his claims.

In a major twist, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has dropped anti-terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against American mercenary Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals arrested in March. The group was accused of training anti-India ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. They were initially booked under the stringent anti-terror law following a secret operation by Indian agencies, with arrests made at various airports. The NIA chargesheet, filed seven months after their arrests, details how the accused entered India and their activities in Myanmar. However, the chargesheet does not invoke the anti-terror law against VanDyke and the Ukrainian nationals, marking a significant shift from the allegations made following their arrests. (PC: X)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said the controversy involving women staff at Paris’ Eiffel Tower and a visiting BAPS delegation was a matter “between the entities concerned.” The comments came after staff alleged that female employees were asked to leave certain areas during the delegation’s visit. The Eiffel Tower operator said the delegation had requested limited interaction with women, adding that such a request should not have been accepted. BAPS said its visit had been coordinated in advance and apologised to anyone hurt or inconvenienced. The Eiffel Tower reopened on Tuesday after briefly shutting down amid the controversy.