‘Increase in last-minute bookings’: India-US last-minute flights spike after H-1B fee news, reports MakeMyTrip; US says existing visas unaffected

India-US last-minute flights spike after H-1B fee news, reports MakeMyTrip Last-minute India-US travel bookings surged on Sunday after the Trump administration announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, according to MakeMyTrip.US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing the fee, aimed at allowing only “extraordinarily skilled” workers into the country and discouraging firms…

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India-Azerbaijan energy ties: Crude oil shipments to New Delhi restart after 10-month halt; pricing dispute settled

Azerbaijan has resumed crude oil exports to India after a 10-month break, resolving the pricing issue that had led to the halt in supplies, according to people familiar with the matter. In August, Azerbaijan exported 1,747.07 tonnes of crude oil to India, valued at $781,520, according to its customs data, as cited by ET.Energy cooperation…

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$100,000 H-1B fees higher than salaries of many professionals! Cost too high for companies to sponsor; L-1 visas an alternative?

Trump’s proclamation has established a new one-time fee of $100,000 (approximately Rs 88 lakh) for bringing qualified overseas workers into the United States. The Donald Trump administration’s move to hike the one-time fee for H-1B visas to a whopping $100,000 is expected to hit the Indian IT sector hard. The approximately Rs 88 lakh cost…

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European airports cyber attack: Indian airports remain unaffected; Heathrow, Berlin & others face delays

Indian airports have so far remained safe from the cyber attack that has swept across many airports in Europe, a senior government official told PTI on Saturday.London Heathrow, Berlin and several other European airports are facing operational disruptions after a cyber-attack on Collins Aerospace systems, used at the airports.Following the incident in Europe, Indian authorities…

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NTPC forays into atomic energy: PM Modi to lay foundation stone for nuclear plant in Banswara; part of 100 GW nuclear target

PM Modi on Thursday will be laying the foundation stone for the Mahi-Banswara nuclear power project in Rajasthan. The project will mark the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) entry into India’s atomic energy sector.The Mahi-Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP) will feature four indigenously developed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), each with a capacity of…

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$100k for H-1B: ‘American workers being replaced with lower-paid foreign labour’ – How US justified visa move

White House justified its $100k for H-1B visa move citing concerns over cheap “foreign labour” replacing American workers in the United States. It noted the rise in unemployment rates among computer science graduates, doubling of foreign STEM workers in the States.“Unemployment among recent computer science graduates has reached 6.1 per cent and 7.5 per cent…

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$100k fees imposed to obtain H1-B visa: Indian tech stocks take hit in US

Indian IT firm’s US-listed shares fell overnight following American President Donald Trump’s executive order slapping an additional fee on H-1B visa holders. Infosys ADRs dropped 4%, while Wipro slipped 2% on Friday.Nasdaq-listed Cognizant declined 4.7% on Friday, reflecting investor concerns over stricter immigration policies. Experts warn of an immediate impact on profit margins. “The immediate…

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White House clarifies $100,000 fee does not apply to current H1B visa holders or renewals. Safe to travel. Also, its not annual fee

TOI correspondent from Washington: The Trump White House has walked back a more stringent interpretation of the enhanced $ 100,000 H1B visa fee, clarifying it does not impact current visa holders and applies only to visa applicants in the next lottery cycle which starts around March 2026. Directly contradicting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s statement…

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