The US is considering ending the 60-day grace period that allows certain foreign workers to remain in the country after losing their jobs, according to a proposed immigration change under review by the White House. The plan has not yet become a rule, and full details have not been made public. If approved, affected workers and dependants could have to leave the US much sooner after employment ends. The current provision covers H-1B and several other visa categories, giving workers time to find new jobs or explore immigration options. The change could significantly affect Indian professionals, who make up the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US Vice President JD Vance by phone on Saturday, August 8, to discuss ways to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals, according to the government. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. During the call, Modi congratulated Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, on the birth of their son and conveyed his best wishes to the family. The US has not released details of the conversation. (PC: HT)

Portugal After Being Promised ₹1.5 Lakh Job   A 28-year-old woman from Nagpur was allegedly trafficked to Portugal after a Pune-based consultancy promised her a cashier’s job paying ₹1.5 lakh a month. The woman reportedly paid around ₹11 lakh in installments for visa and other paperwork after contacting ‘We Migrate’ through Instagram. After reaching Portugal, her passport was allegedly seized and she was held captive for 2 days before being sold to a beer shop owner. She was allegedly forced to work and subjected to physical and mental torture. After nearly a month, she escaped through Lisbon and Madrid and returned to India via Doha. Pune police have booked 8 accused. (PC: NDTV)

Russia is exploring a possible railway route to India through Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as it seeks alternative trade corridors amid risks to key shipping routes. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said a rail connection toward the Indian Ocean could help reduce dependence on routes affected by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus. The proposal could provide Russia with another route for reaching markets in South Asia. The plan remains at the exploration stage, with several countries potentially involved. The proposed corridor could also strengthen economic and transport ties between Russia and India. (PC: X)

The US Senate has passed a bill allowing tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil, gas and other exports. The bill was approved 86-11 on Friday. India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are named as possible targets. The actual tariff rate will be decided by the US Trade Representative. The bill also allows President Donald Trump to waive the tariffs under certain conditions. It now moves to the House of Representatives. The move comes as India and the US work on a trade deal. India has defended its Russian oil purchases, citing energy security needs.

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill authorising tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries continuing significant purchases of Russian energy, placing India among those potentially affected. The legislation aims to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war by expanding sanctions and targeting buyers of Russian crude. India, the world's second-largest importer of Russian oil after China, increased purchases following disruptions in Gulf supplies. The bill provides the legal framework for tariffs but does not mandate immediate implementation. Some US senators opposed the proposal, warning it could harm US interests and strategic ties with India. The legislation must complete further legislative steps before becoming law.

India on Friday clarified that it does not endorse remarks made by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her August 5 press conference that criticised Bangladesh's BNP-led government. Responding to questions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the event was organised by a private media entity and that the Government of India had no role in hosting or conducting it. He stressed that New Delhi does not support or endorse any comments made at the forum, particularly those concerning Bangladesh's duly constituted government.

India has officially mapped 27 locations and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh on the Survey of India’s maps, responding to China’s repeated attempts to rename places in the border state. Conducted in consultation with the Arunachal Pradesh government, the exercise aims to ensure accurate identification of these locations and improve public awareness. The move comes after Beijing repeatedly issued so-called standardised names for areas it claims as "Zangnan", a position India has consistently rejected, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country. By formally recording these places on official maps, India has reinforced its territorial position while strengthening geographic documentation and administrative recognition of key border-region landmarks. (PC: ITG)

India on Friday said it is "closely following the development" after Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a trilateral defence agreement aimed at strengthening collective security. According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, the pact treats an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all three and expands defence cooperation through joint military exercises, training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing. The agreement was signed during a meeting of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The MEA noted it was monitoring the development, while Saudi Arabia continues diversifying defence partnerships amid regional security challenges and tensions with Iran.  

India has dismissed criticism by US Congressman Riley Moore over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Ministry of External Affairs describing the legislation as an internal matter. Responding to Moore's claim that the Bill targets Christians and could affect India-US ties, the MEA said many countries, including the United States, regulate foreign funding through domestic laws. The government maintained that the proposed amendments are intended to strengthen oversight of foreign contributions while preserving the religious character of places of worship. The Bill also proposes empowering a government-designated authority to manage the assets and foreign contributions of NGOs whose FCRA registration has been cancelled.