Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas emerges as frontrunner for BCCI president following Saturday's key stakeholders meeting in Delhi. The gathering aimed to finalize candidates for vacant positions ahead of September 28 AGM. Manhas, who scored 9,714 first-class runs averaging over 45 with 27 centuries, previously served as JKCA director of cricket operations. Karnataka's Raghuram Bhatt and former wicketkeeper Kiran More are also in contention for various posts. The BCCI seeks successors for president Roger Binny and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, who faces mandatory cool-off after six years. Additionally, Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh will join Ajit Agarkar's selection committee from September 28, replacing departing members ahead of West Indies Test series. (PC: IANS LIVE)

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee targets program abuse as White House reveals alarming replacement patterns. One company received 5,189 H-1B approvals while laying off 16,000 US workers, another got 1,698 approvals but cut 2,400 Oregon jobs. A third company eliminated 27,000 US positions since 2022 despite 25,075 H-1B approvals. Some American IT workers were forced to train foreign replacements under NDAs. The administration says the program discourages Americans from pursuing STEM careers, threatening national security. The fee applies only to new petitions, not renewals or current holders. USCIS confirmed existing visa holders outside the US don't pay re-entry fees. (PC: Forbes & Hindustan Times)

Following Trump's executive order imposing a $100,000 H-1B visa fee, US-India flight prices doubled within hours as tech companies instructed employees to return immediately. Fares jumped from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000 as Indians, constituting the largest H-1B holder group, rushed bookings. Meanwhile, 4Chan users launched "Operation Clog the Toilet," deliberately reserving flight seats without purchasing to inflate prices and block Indian H-1B workers from returning. Users were instructed to hold seats for 15 minutes without completing transactions. One participant claimed locking 100 seats. The White House later clarified the fee applies only to future applicants, not current holders abroad, but confusion had already triggered mass travel panic among tech workers. (PC: India Today)

On September 20, 2025, in Wayanad, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Narendra Modi engaged in vote theft to win elections. He claimed Congress possesses irrefutable “hydrogen bomb” evidence exposing electoral malpractice. Gandhi criticized the Election Commission for withholding information requested by Karnataka CID related to voter manipulation, citing Mahadevapura and Aland constituencies. In response, Karnataka formed a Special Investigation Team to probe deletion of 5,994 voter names in Aland. BJP dismissed Gandhi’s claims as baseless, while the Election Commission denied any wrongful deletions. The controversy raises concerns over electoral integrity and commission independence.

A sudden U.S. policy change imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions has caused widespread panic among Indian tech professionals. At San Francisco International Airport, passengers disembarked from flights upon hearing the news, fearing re-entry issues. Videos of the chaos circulated on social media, showing passengers pleading to deboard. Major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and JP Morgan advised H-1B holders to return to the U.S. before the September 21 deadline or avoid international travel to prevent complications. The steep fee hike has raised concerns about its impact on the Indian tech community.   

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Afghanistan of "bad things" if it does not return control of the Bagram Air Base to the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the base, located near China's nuclear facilities. He stated that the U.S. is in discussions with Afghan authorities to reclaim the base, which was abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal. Experts caution that re-occupying Bagram would require significant military resources and could lead to increased tensions in the region. (PC: AP)    

At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, 25-year-old Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav secured fourth place with a personal best of 86.27 meters, surpassing Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who finished eighth. Yadav's performance has drawn comparisons to javelin legend Jan Železný, with Uwe Hohn—Chopra's former coach and the only athlete to have thrown over 100 meters—predicting that Yadav could achieve throws exceeding 95 meters. Hohn emphasized the need for Yadav to refine his technique, rhythm, and body position to reach his full potential.     

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, asserted that India’s biggest adversary is its dependence on other nations, urging self-reliance in critical sectors from semiconductors to shipbuilding. His remarks come after the U.S. imposed steep tariffs and announced a USD 100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants starting September 21, arguing misuse of the visa program and low wages for American workers. Modi criticised past governmental dependence—on imports, foreign licensing regimes, and limited domestic manufacturing. He stressed that true national strength lies in reducing reliance and boosting domestic capacity in strategic industries. (PC: ANI)

Amid confusion, the White House clarified that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee announced under President Trump is a one-time payment, applicable only to new applicants. It does not apply to renewals or current visa holders, including those re-entering the U.S. Earlier remarks by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting an annual fee caused chaos among Indian professionals and U.S. tech firms. The clarification aims to calm fears of widespread disruption in the IT sector. The new rule, effective Sunday 12:01 am ET, is part of Trump’s effort to reform visa policies and prioritize U.S. workers. (PC: AP)

The White House clarified that the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee announced under President Trump will apply only to new applicants in upcoming lottery cycles, not existing visa holders or renewals. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed it is not an annual fee, easing concerns among Indian IT professionals and companies. The rule, aimed at curbing visa misuse and protecting U.S. workers, allows case-by-case exemptions if applications serve the national interest. Existing H-1B holders, whose visas take effect on October 1, 2025, remain unaffected by this order. (PC: Mint)