H-1B Visa Overhaul From January 17: What It Means For Indian Professionals

The United States is introducing significant changes to its H-1B visa programme starting Friday, January 17. The updated regulations, to allow highly skilled workers to stay in the US based on their employment status, form one of the final immigration policy reforms under the outgoing President Joe Biden administration.

The H-1B visa programme, which has been instrumental in attracting global talent, will undergo a series of updates designed to modernise its framework and address current issues.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated on its website, “The H-1B final rule modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to allow better employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program.”

With Indian professionals comprising over 70 percent of H-1B visa holders in 2023, these changes could substantially benefit them.

Key Changes To H-1B Visa Rules

‘Specialty occupation' definition: The new rule updates the definition of “speciality occupation” by revising the criteria for eligible positions. It clarifies that a degree requirement is “normally” needed, not “always,” and allows a broader range of qualifying degrees, as long as they are directly related to the job.

Fairer lottery process: Stricter measures will curb organisations submitting multiple bulk applications, ensuring a more equitable system.

Simplified transition for F-1 visa holders: Students with F-1 visas will experience fewer challenges when moving to H-1B status.

Faster processing: USCIS will expedite H-1B extension applications, reducing delays for workers and employers.

More flexibility for employers: Companies can hire H-1B workers based on their specific workforce needs, supporting dynamic workforce planning.

Opportunities for entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs owning a majority stake in their company can now self-petition for H-1B visas, provided they meet stricter conditions.

Stronger compliance safeguards: Enhanced site visit authority for USCIS, including inspections at worksites, remote locations, and third-party sites aim to deter misuse. Failure to verify information during inspections may lead to denial or revocation of H-1B petitions.

New petition form: A newly updated Form I-129 will be mandatory starting January 17, 2025, for improved compliance. This form aims to simplify the petition process.

Expanded cap-exempt criteria: Research-focused organisations qualify as cap-exempt under a clearer definition, replacing vague earlier guidelines.

Additionally, a significant change is on the horizon — H-1B visa holders will soon be able to renew their visas without travelling back to their home country. This is likely to help Indian techies who are H-1B visa holders in the US.

Will H-1B Visa Policies Shift Under Donald Trump's Administration?

While certain factions of the Republican Party have advocated for tighter immigration controls, including limiting programs like H-1B, US-President elect Donald Trump has in recent times expressed support for high-skilled immigration. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great programme,” Trump told The New York Times in December 2024.

In the past, though, during his first presidency, Trump restricted access to foreign worker visas and was even critical of the programme.

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Trump Says Israel-Hamas Ceasefire 'Would've Never Happened' Without His Team

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas would have never been reached without pressure from him and his incoming administration. 

The agreement, which would exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, awaits approval by Israel's security cabinet before taking effect, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be negotiated.

Four days away from being inaugurated for a second term, Trump told the Dan Bongino Show that negotiations would have never finalized without pressure from his team, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

"If we weren't involved in this deal, the deal would've never happened," Trump said.

"We changed the course of it, and we changed it fast, and frankly, it better be done before I take the oath of office," he added. 

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday to discuss the terms of the ceasefire, which would go into effect Sunday at the earliest, just before Trump's presidential inauguration on Monday.

Trump also blasted outgoing President Joe Biden for taking credit for the ceasefire agreement, calling him "ungracious" and saying: "He didn't do anything! If I didn't do this, if we didn't get involved, the hostages would never be out." 

Biden had proposed a ceasefire agreement last May with terms that mirrored the deal reached this week.

The ceasefire agreement under discussion proposes an initial 42-day ceasefire that would see the release of 33 hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza's populations centers.

The second phase of the agreement could bring a "permanent end to the war," Biden said.

In an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, Biden said that he had not had any recent discussions with Trump about the ceasefire negotiations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Who Were Crooked Puppets?" Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai On Hindenburg News

Jai Anant Dehadrai, the lawyer who last year accused a Trinamool MP of accepting bribes to 'target' the Adani Group, reacted Thursday to news Hindenburg Research - the United States-based short seller that alleged, with no apparent evidence, financial impropriety by the business giant - will be disbanded.

In a lengthy post on X this morning, Mr Dehadrai also linked Hindenburg shutting down to the return of Donald Trump as the US President on January 20; earlier an influential member of Mr Trump's party had called out a decision by the outgoing government, led by Joe Biden, to probe certain Adani firms.

Mr Dehadrai also hit out at the Trinamool leader - labelling the person a "crooked puppet who tried spinning a conspiracy-theory (around Hindenburg's allegations), particularly against the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)", and demanded the MP be "subjected to rigorous custodial inquiry".

"With Hindenburg shutting down mere days before Trump takes office, the message couldn't be clearer: the attacks on Prime Minister Modi, the Adani Group, and India's stock market regulator (the Securities and Exchange Board of India) were not just about profit - they were part of a calculated and synchronised effort to sow instability in India," Mr Dehadrai alleged.

"But here's where it gets truly interesting. With (Hindenburg founder) Nate Anderson now fully exposed and in retreat - who were the crooked puppets in India who tried spinning a conspiracy-theory around the above mentioned entities?"

With Hindenburg shutting down mere days before Trump takes office, the message couldn't be clearer: the attacks on Prime Minister Modi @narendramodi, the Adani Group @gautam_adani, and India's stock market regulator @SEBI_India were not just about profit—they were part of a…

— Jai Anant Dehadrai (@jai_a_dehadrai) January 16, 2025

"Will the former MP who orchestrated many of these attacks in India, particularly against the Prime Minister, be fully investigated and subjected to a rigorous custodial inquiry and global financial audit?" he continued, claiming, "The money-trail from this individual will lead to some of the most notorious criminal entities to have ever existed - worldwide."

Earlier today, Mr Anderson, in a note on Hindenburg's website, said the company would be shut down after completion of pending projects. The announcement comes days before Mr Trump is to take office. However, Mr Anderson claimed no threat in the decision to close his firm.

READ | US Short Seller Hindenburg, Which Targeted Adani Group, To Shut

In 2022, Hindenburg Research made multiple allegations of financial impropriety by the Adani Group. The charges were firmly and completely denied by the company, which trashed them as "nothing but lies" and called them "calculated attacks on India and the Indian economy".

READ | Adani Group Refutes Hindenburg Allegations, Calls It "Attack On India"

Later the Supreme Court gave both the Adani Group and SEBI a clean chit.

READ | Supreme Court Backs Clean Chit To Adani Group In Hindenburg Row

The allegations were recycled in August last year.

They were once again firmly dismissed; the business behemoth's chairman, Gautam Adani, slammed the "dual assault targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political storm". "It was a calculated move," he said.

READ | Adani Group, SEBI Chief, Industry Leaders Slam "Discredited" Hindenburg

Hindenburg also targeted SEBI chief Madhavi Puri Buch and her husband, both of whom called the allegations an "attempt at character assassination". This was after the markets' regulator flagged what it said were violations by Hindenburg and its sole owner, Mr Anderson.

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(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Shows 3D Structure Of Dust And Gas

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured highly detailed images showing the complex layers of interstellar dust and gas. These observations, collected through light echoes from a supernova explosion, "are allowing astronomers to map the true 3D structure of this interstellar dust and gas (known as the interstellar medium) for the first time," stated NASA in a release.

The light echoes, originating from a star's collapse over 350 years ago, have travelled across vast distances to illuminate surrounding gas and dust. The explosion caused intense X-rays and ultraviolet light, which reached interstellar material, causing it to glow in the infrared. These cosmic remnants are now visible in stunning detail due to Webb's advanced infrared technology.

"We were pretty shocked to see this level of detail," said Jacob Jencson, principal investigator from Caltech.

The images reveal layers of interstellar material, some resembling the structure of an "onion". Josh Peek of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, said, "We see layers like an onion. We think every dense, dusty region that we see, and most of the ones we don't see, look like this on the inside. We just have never been able to look inside them before."

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The Webb images show dense sheets of gas and dust stretching across hundreds of astronomical units. These sheet-like structures were not previously observed, challenging previous understanding of the interstellar medium.

"We did not know that the interstellar medium had structures on that small of a scale, let alone that it was sheet-like," Peek said.

In addition to the sheet-like structures, Webb's images reveal intricate magnetic features, suggesting interstellar magnetic fields influence these formations. Some areas appear as magnetic "islands" within the more uniform fields that dominate the interstellar medium, stated NASA.

The light echoes were first detected by NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope, but Webb's high-resolution imaging has provided clearer views of these cosmic phenomena. The echoes result from a supernova explosion, where light interacts with clumps of gas and dust, heating and illuminating them in an expanding pattern.

Armin Rest from the Space Telescope Science Institute likened the 3D mapping of the interstellar material to "the astronomical equivalent of a medical CT scan."

"We have three slices taken at three different times, which will allow us to study the true 3D structure. It will completely change the way we study the interstellar medium," Rest said.

Webb's future observations will include spectroscopic observations of the light echoes using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). This will allow scientists to study changes in the composition of the dust before, during, and after it is illuminated by the light echoes.

The discovery of these intricate details is a major milestone in space exploration. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reflected on the mission's success, saying, "Every image, every discovery, shows a portrait not only of the majesty of the universe but the power of the NASA team and the promise of international partnerships."

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BCCI Grills Gambhir, Rohit On Test Slump, Gets 'IPL Salaries' As Answer

New revelations from the recent meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Test captain Rohit Sharma continue to rock the Indian cricketing fraternity. As the BCCI looks to chart the way forward for Indian cricket, an explanation was sought from the team management over recent results, especially in Test cricket. As India stare at one of the lowest points in the nation's recent Test history, the defeats against Australia and New Zealand ask several questions.

In a report by Dainik Jagran, it has been said that one of the members of the Indian team management labelled fat IPL pay cheques as one of the factors behind certain players' inability to excel in Test cricket.

As per the report, when team management was asked about the reason behind Team India's recent performances, a member referred to the bumper IPL contacts as one of the factors. It was said that because of such huge IPL salaries, some players aren't giving Test cricket the importance it needs.

A few changes are reportedly being brought in by the BCCI to help the team overcome this slump. 

It has been said that the BCCI will limit the players spending time with their families on tours. The players will also be barred from taking independent transport to commute during practice and matches.

For a tour of 45 days, the family members of the players can only be with them for not more than 14 days. Meanwhile, during shorter tours in foreign countries, the immediate family members of a play can stay up to a week.

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar met the BCCI officials in Mumbai last Saturday and were informed of the new protocols.

With ANI Inputs

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China Tests Strategies To Counter Starlink Satellites Amid Taiwan Tensions

Starlink, SpaceX's satellite network designed to deliver affordable internet to remote areas, may not be as secure as believed. A group of renowned Chinese scientists recently simulated a space mission aimed at targeting the massive satellite constellation, according to the South China Morning Post.

Results from the computer simulation showed that China could effectively approach nearly 1,400 Starlink satellites within 12 hours using just 99 Chinese satellites. These could be equipped with lasers, microwaves, and other devices to conduct reconnaissance, tracking, or other operations.

Also Read | Ivanka Trump Opens Up About Family's Jiu-Jitsu Journey In Rare Podcast Interview

"The potential military application value of the Starlink megaconstellation has been highlighted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In recent years, the militarisation of space has intensified, posing a significant threat to China's space security. It is particularly important to track and monitor its operational status," wrote the project team led by Wu Yunhua, director of the aerospace control department at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Their peer-reviewed paper was published on January 3 in the Chinese academic journal Systems Engineering and Electronics.

Also Read | IIT Bhilai Unveils Anti-Fraud Device, Aiming To Secure UPI, E-Commerce, And Banking

According to SCMP, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has launched more than 6,700 Starlink satellites and is expected to increase that number into the tens of thousands in the coming years.

According to Space.com, Starlink satellites have a lifespan of approximately five years, and SpaceX eventually hopes to have as many as 42,000 satellites in this so-called megaconstellation.

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What Is Pink Powder Dropped By Planes That's Helping Fight LA Wildfires

A bright pink powder blanketing rooftops, vehicles and streets has become a familiar sight in Los Angeles where air tankers continue to drop the substance to combat raging wildfires. Authorities have confirmed that thousands of gallons of this powder have been used in the past week to prevent the flames from spreading further. But what exactly is this pink powder, and how does it help contain wildfires?

What is the pink fire retardant?

The substance is Phos-Chek, a fire retardant, widely used across the US since the 1960s. Manufactured by a company called Perimeter Solutions, it is the most-used fire retardant in the world, according to an AP report.

The bright pink hue may look unusual, but it serves an important purpose.

Red flame retardant is seen on a car in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles
Photo Credit: AFP

A Perimeter spokesperson told BBC that the dye added to Phos-Chek acts as a visual marker for pilots and firefighters, helping them see where the retardant has been deployed.

The colour fades after several days of exposure to sunlight, blending into natural earth tones.

How does the fire retardant work?

Rather than dousing flames directly, Phos-Chek is sprayed in advance of a fire, coating vegetation and other flammable surfaces, according to a report in The New York Times.

This prevents oxygen from fuelling the fire, effectively creating a barrier to slow the spread of flames.

Photo Credit: AFP

The retardant's core components are salts such as ammonium polyphosphate.

The retardant can endure harsh conditions and last longer than water, “doesn't evaporate like dropping water,” Stanton Florea, a spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center, told The New York Times.

The substance is particularly useful in areas where ground crews face challenges reaching rugged terrain.

Phos-Chek is not without its limitations. High winds can make aerial drops dangerous, and strong gusts may scatter the powder before it reaches its target, reducing its effectiveness.

Are there risks associated with the retardant?

While the pink powder is a powerful tool in combating wildfires, environmental experts have raised concerns about its impact on ecosystems and human health. Emerging research suggests the chemicals in fire retardants, including heavy metals, pose a toxic threat to the environment, according to an NYT report.

Millions of gallons of the substance are dropped every year, potentially harming wildlife, polluting waterways and posing risks to human health, it added.

Photo Credit: AFP

Fire retardants are important for controlling deadly blazes, yet their increasing use, driven by more frequent wildfires linked to climate change, is introducing more chemicals into the environment.

A lawsuit filed in 2022 by Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, a group of current and former US Forest Service staff, alleged that aerial drops of fire retardants violated clean water laws, BBC reported.

A US District Court judge acknowledged these concerns but allowed the Forest Service to continue using fire retardants while it works to secure a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In response to the growing scrutiny, the Forest Service has phased out one formulation of Phos-Chek in favour of a less toxic version. The agency also enforces restrictions on dropping retardants near sensitive environmental areas, including waterways and endangered species habitats.

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