India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC- H-1B visa applications fell by more than 38% this year following changes introduced by the Trump administration that shifted selections toward applicants with advanced U.S. degrees and higher-paying job offers. According to data released on May 21 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, properly submitted registrations for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap dropped to 211,600 from 343,981 the previous year. USCIS said 71.5% of selected ap

WASHINGTON, DC- A new partnership between US anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength and India-focused humanitarian groups aims to expand school nutrition programmes across India and other developing nations, with leaders from both countries calling child hunger a “solvable problem” requiring greater collaboration. The initiative was highlighted during a “Purposeful Private Dinner” hosted in Washington by Share Our Strength and One World One Family Mission, where philant

HYDERABAD -Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 10 appealed to citizens to conserve fuel, use public transport, revive work-from-home practices, avoid non-essential purchases and overseas vacations, and reduce gold buying to help save foreign exchange amid the global crisis triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Addressing a public meeting organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Parade Grounds here, the Prime Minister called for collective public participati

ISLAMABAD- The Pakistan government has denied visas to 92 Indian devotees who were scheduled to visit the country for Khalsa Sajna Diwas celebrations at Gurdwara Panja Sahib, according to an article published by the Khalsa Vox news portal. The report said Pakistan had initially issued visas for the period from April 10 to 19, while the Indian government, based on recommendations from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Punjab government, had scheduled the devo

WASHINGTON, DC -India and the United States must rebuild “mutual respect, mutual sensitivity” and restore confidence in each other as their relationship faces a growing trust deficit amid geopolitical shocks, economic friction and global security crises, speakers said at the New India Conference hosted by the Hudson Institute, here. The New India Conference, held on April 23, brought together policymakers, strategists and analysts to assess India’s evolving global role and th

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH- Congress MP Manish Tewari and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on April 19 said the Opposition would support women’s reservation if implemented within the existing 543-seat Lok Sabha framework, while accusing the Centre of using the proposed legislation to advance delimitation and alter the country’s political balance. Their remarks came after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in Parlia

India -West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC -More than half of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults in the United States say they or someone in their community have been affected by anti-immigrant policies or sentiment over the past year, according to a January 2026 survey conducted by Stop AAPI Hate in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey of 1,378 AAPI adults nationwide, conducted through NORC’s Amplify AAPI panel, found that 53% of respondent

WASHINGTON, DC -In a move that could directly affect thousands of foreign graduates, the US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed it is re-evaluating the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, signaling possible regulatory changes to the post-study work route for F-1 visa holders. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a letter to Senator Eric Schmitt, said DHS is reviewing whether the current framework — including the scope and duration of practical training

WASHINGTON, DC – The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a new policy barring foreign nationals and non-citizens from accessing federally backed small business loans, saying the move is aimed at prioritizing American entrepreneurs amid rising demand for capital. The policy expands earlier restrictions and will apply across multiple SBA-guaranteed lending programs, including the agency’s Surety Bond and Microloan programs. Under the updated rule, applicants mu

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Feb. 12, 2026; source: Juice Consulting) — The Lunar Foundation is proud to announce that the 26th annual ustin Dragon Boat Festival will take place April 25, 2026 at Festival Beach, Lady Bird Lake (1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Rd, Austin, TX 78702), starting at 10 a.m. The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is one of Central Texas’s longest-running cultural celebrations, uniting hundreds of paddlers, performers, and families each spring. Established by Amy Wong Mok, F

NEW DELHI- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17 shared highlights of the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and said it was a powerful convergence of ideas, innovation and intent. “It showcased the extraordinary potential of Indian talent in shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence for global good. Above all, it reaffirmed our commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence responsibly, inclusively and at scale for human progress,” Modi said. Earlier on February 16, the P

AUSTIN, TX –Texas authorities have launched a wide-ranging investigation into suspected abuse of the H-1B visa program, placing three North Texas companies under scrutiny over alleged irregularities in foreign worker sponsorship. The probe, announced by the Texas Office of the Attorney General in a January 28 statement, marks increased state scrutiny of companies suspected of misusing the federal visa system. Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued Civil Investigative Demands

NEW DELHI- The India-EU summit scheduled for January 27 comes as part of the steady strengthening of economic relations between the two sides amid growing uncertainties in global markets triggered by the US tariff turmoil and dramatic geopolitical shifts in the world order. The summit, to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and co-chaired by European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will witness the adoption of a do

What was once a one-way pipeline drawing ambitious Indian engineers to Silicon Valley is now showing signs of reversal, with uncertainty around the H-1B visa program pushing professionals to look elsewhere, often back home, Bloomberg reported. Written by FE News Desk The US is increasingly losing highly skilled tech talent to India as tighter immigration policies under President Donald Trump reshape global talent flows. What was once a one-way pipeline drawing ambitious India

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC – During his political campaigns, President Donald Trump has often been seen on camera describing himself as “very greedy,” stating, “My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I can get.” Of course, making the pitch to his followers, he followed it with the idea he would be “greedy for the United States” when elected. In office, Donald Trump has erased the border between lobbying and bribery even as his admi

MUMBAI- Investors from more than 145 cities in India are now investing globally, with 47 per cent coming from Tier 2 and 3 cities, a report showed on December 15. The report by Vested Finance revealed that Indian investors are increasingly broadening their exposure beyond single-stock investments to include US equities, Index and thematic exchange-traded funds, private market opportunities, and global funds, including GIFT City–domiciled funds. This reflects a more structured

WASHINGTON, DC-The Trump Administration on December 23 announced sweeping changes to the H-1B work visa selection process, replacing the long-standing random lottery with a weighted system that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. The move, according to the Department of Homeland Security, is aimed at better protecting the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities of American workers while strengthening the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa

NEW DELHI-India on November 17 said that it has noted the verdict announced by the so-called ‘International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh’ concerning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and remains committed to the best interests of the people of the neighboring nation, including in peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability in the country. “As a close neighbor, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion

HONOLULU, HI- Senior military leaders of India and the United States are holding “productive discussions” focusing on strengthening bilateral defense engagements, enhancing interoperability, and promoting a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region, during the two-day India–US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting which got underway at Hawaii, earlier November 4. Chief of Integrated Defense Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit co-chaired the meeting with Lt. Gen. Joshua

WASHINGTON, D.C.– US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is “pretty close” to signing a trade agreement with India. The President made the remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of Sergio Gor, the next US ambassador to India. “We are making a deal with India, much different deal than we had in the past…We’re getting a fair deal, just a fair-trade deal. We’re getting close…I think we’re pretty close to doing a deal that’s good for everybody,” Trump said. Trum