US federal court has ruled that the $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa applications by President Donald Trump was unlawful. US District Judge Leo Sorokin made the decision in a case brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The fee was introduced in September as part of efforts to reduce the hiring of foreign workers. The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to employ skilled foreign professionals, many of whom are from India. The court's ruling means the fee must be invalidated. The decision is expected to benefit employers and skilled workers seeking H-1B visas. (PC: Bloomberg)

India and the United States are moving closer to finalising the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement, but an Indian trade official said the deal can only be concluded after Washington completes its Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation. India is seeking assurances that it will not face additional US tariffs after the agreement is signed. The issue is significant because the temporary 10% US tariffs expire on July 24, after which MFN tariffs would apply. The Trump administration has also proposed 12.5% tariffs on India and 53 other countries following a USTR probe. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations are progressing rapidly, with both sides targeting a mid-July implementation timeline. (PC: X)

At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Authorities reported widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings, landslides and damaged infrastructure, while nearly two dozen people remain missing. Around 10,000 residents were evacuated as tsunami alerts were issued across the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia, though several warnings were later lifted. General Santos City and Sarangani province were among the hardest-hit areas. More than 130 aftershocks followed the main quake. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered an emergency response and suspended classes in affected regions as rescue operations continued.

At least seven people were killed and nine others injured after a minibus carrying Indian workers collided with a truck on Emirates Road in Dubai. According to Dubai Police, the truck had reportedly stopped in the middle of the road due to a technical fault when the bus crashed into it from behind. Authorities said five of the injured sustained serious injuries, while four suffered moderate wounds and were shifted to hospital for treatment. The Indian Consulate in Dubai expressed grief over the tragedy, confirmed assistance for affected nationals, and said officials had visited the injured. Investigators are examining the exact circumstances that led to the crash. (PC: Reuters)

India has issued a fresh travel advisory urging citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and advising those already in the country to leave immediately through available transport options. The advisory follows renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel, marked by missile exchanges and retaliatory strikes. The Indian Embassy in Tehran reiterated its earlier warning, citing the deteriorating regional security situation. The escalation saw Iran launch ballistic missiles toward Israel, followed by Israeli strikes on military targets in western and central Iran. Explosions were also reported in Beirut, while the United States issued security alerts in Jordan. The developments have heightened concerns over stability and civilian safety across the region.

A Germany-based engineer, Sushant, sparked an online discussion after sharing five aspects of German workplace culture that surprised him. He noted that employees address everyone, including CEOs, by their first names instead of using titles like “sir” or “madam.” Meetings typically end once the agenda is completed, while lunch breaks are treated as protected personal time. Vacations are respected, with employees considered fully unavailable and not expected to respond to work messages. Sick leave is also taken seriously, without guilt or repeated questioning. Reflecting on his adjustment, Sushant said he still occasionally says “sir” out of habit. The post triggered wider comparisons between Indian and European workplace norms. (PC: HT)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains committed to both diplomacy and national defense after halting its latest military operation against Israel. His remarks followed the first direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel since a fragile April ceasefire. Iran’s military described its missile barrage as a “painful response” and warned of harsher action if attacks continue, particularly in southern Lebanon. The escalation began after Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs reportedly killed two people and injured 20. Israel responded by targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Despite the exchange involving dozens of missiles, officials reported no casualties in either Iran or Israel as tensions remained high.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay felicitated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in Chennai after his historic victory at Norway Chess 2026, awarding him Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the state government. During the ceremony, Vijay surprised Praggnanandhaa by playing an impromptu game of chess, earning praise from the champion for his unexpected skill. Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win Norway Chess after a remarkable comeback, overturning a 5.5-point deficit and defeating elite opponents including Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh and Alireza Firouzja. The triumph has further cemented his place among the world's top chess players.

India's current account surplus narrowed to $7.1 billion, or 0.7 per cent of GDP, in the January-March quarter of 2025-26, according to Reserve Bank of India data. The surplus was lower than $13.7 billion recorded a year earlier. The decline was mainly due to a wider merchandise trade deficit, which rose to $83.4 billion from $59.3 billion. However, strong growth in services exports and higher remittances from Indians working abroad helped support the economy. During the quarter, foreign direct investment inflows increased to $4.2 billion, while foreign portfolio investors recorded net outflows of $12 billion. (PC: ANI)

India and the United States are moving closer to a bilateral trade agreement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. He expressed confidence that the deal would be finalised despite the US launching a Section 301 investigation into alleged unfair trade practices by several countries, including India. “We will protect India’s interests, and I am very confident that the deal will come through,” Goyal said. He added that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India within two weeks for further talks. The minister said negotiations are in the final stage and remained hopeful that a mutually beneficial agreement would be reached soon. (PC: PTI)