Digest for 21 September, 2025
US Imposes $100,000 Annual Fee on H-1B Visas, Impacting Indian Tech Sector
The US administration has imposed a staggering $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B visa applications, a move set to severely impact Indian tech professionals and companies. Indians comprise over 70% of H-1B holders. The Indian government expressed concern over potential "humanitarian consequences" for families, while industry body Nasscom warned of business disruptions. The Indian Embassy in the US has issued an emergency helpline. The policy change has sent shockwaves through the global IT industry and among Indian workers in the US.
US President Threatens Afghanistan with "Bad Things" Over Bagram Air Base
US President Donald Trump has issued a threat to Afghanistan, demanding the return of the Bagram Air Base and warning of unspecified severe consequences if the Taliban-controlled country does not comply. Trump stated he is actively "trying to get it back," citing its strategic proximity to China. The threat, made on his Truth Social platform, escalates rhetoric surrounding the former linchpin of the US war effort in Afghanistan, which was evacuated during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal.
US Administration Cancels Annual Food Insecurity Survey
The Trump administration has cancelled the US Department of Agriculture's annual Household Food Security Report, a survey conducted for three decades to measure hunger and food insecurity. The administration claimed the report had become "overly politicised" and its data was "rife with inaccuracies." The move follows the 2023 report which showed the highest level of food insecurity since 2014 and comes amid major reforms to the US food assistance program, which critics say will cut off access for millions.
Allahabad High Court Bans Mention of Caste in Uttar Pradesh Police Records
In a landmark ruling, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to stop the practice of recording caste in police investigation documents and other public records. The court called the practice a form of identity profiling that reinforces prejudice and violates fundamental rights. It also ordered a ban on caste-based slogans on vehicles. The bench stated that modern identification tools like Aadhaar make caste-based identification obsolete and that investigative impartiality must be cultivated to combat societal biases.
Russia Launches Large-Scale Missile and Drone Attack Across Ukraine
Russia has unleashed a massive wave of missile and drone attacks across nine regions of Ukraine, killing at least three people and injuring dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the strikes deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas, including a multi-story building in Dnipro hit by a cluster munition. Ukraine's air force reported that it intercepted the majority of the 619 projectiles launched, crediting Western-supplied air defence systems, including F-16s, for their effectiveness in the engagement.