Major tech giants Meta and Microsoft on Saturday urged their H-1B visa holders not to leave the United States for at least 14 days, following President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. The directive, revealed in internal company emails, comes after the White House imposed new restrictions on legal immigration. Employees outside the US were asked to return within 24 hours to avoid denial of re-entry. Both companies instructed their foreign staff to follow the guidelines for the foreseeable future, reflecting growing uncertainty for skilled workers in America’s tech sector.
Saudi to Defend Pakistan if India Declares War?
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Friday that Saudi Arabia will defend Pakistan if India declares war, underlining the “strategic mutual assistance” clause of the new defence pact signed this week. Speaking to Geo TV, Asif compared the agreement to NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. He clarified, however, that the deal is “defensive, not offensive”, stressing joint defence only in case of aggression. The pact comes amid heightened regional tensions, giving Riyadh a deeper stake in South Asia’s security dynamics.
Trump Slaps $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visa Applicants
US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants, in his latest crackdown on immigration. The move is expected to hit the tech sector, which depends heavily on skilled workers from India and China.
Trump said the new rule will ensure only the “most highly skilled” workers are admitted, arguing that H-1B visas have been misused to replace American employees. White House staff secretary Will Scharf called the program one of the “most abused” in the system, saying the steep fee will act as a filter.
Susan Rice: Trump Pushed India Closer to Russia, China
Former US National Security Advisor Susan Rice has warned that India, a “proud and strong nation,” may “go in a different direction” due to Trump’s policies. She called the growing distance a “huge loss” for Washington. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event, Rice said Trump’s approach has pushed India closer to Russia and China, especially through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). She also blamed Trump for damaging ties with New Delhi by taking undue credit for easing India-Pakistan hostilities while simultaneously straining relations.
NATO Jets Intercept Russian Fighters Over Estonia
NATO scrambled jets on Friday after three Russian MiG-31s violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The Estonian Foreign Ministry confirmed the jets stayed for 12 minutes without clearance, sparking immediate response. Italian F-35s, stationed under NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation, intercepted the Russian fighters alongside Swedish and Finnish aircraft. NATO’s Allied Command Operations called the violation a serious breach, amid rising concerns over Moscow’s military maneuvers near the alliance’s eastern flank.
