India wants to lure its best minds back from the US - but it won't be easy
US President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to hike H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has prompted policymakers in Delhi to woo skilled Indians back home.
A bureaucrat, who works closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently said that the government was actively encouraging overseas Indians to return and contribute to nation-building. Yet, another member of the PM's economic advisory council told a media conclave that H-1B visas have always served the interests of the host nation, and so the hike in fee boded well for India's ability to attract global talent.
The crux of these arguments is that the time is ripe for India to engineer a reverse brain drain and lure some of the world's most talented professionals in technology, medicine and other innovative industries, who'd left the country in the past 30 years, back to the homeland.
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US President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to hike H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has prompted policymakers in Delhi to woo skilled Indians back home.
A bureaucrat, who works closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently said that the government was actively encouraging overseas Indians to return and contribute to nation-building. Yet, another member of the PM's economic advisory council told a media conclave that H-1B visas have always served the interests of the host nation, and so the hike in fee boded well for India's ability to attract global talent.
The crux of these arguments is that the time is ripe for India to engineer a reverse brain drain and lure some of the world's most talented professionals in technology, medicine and other innovative industries, who'd left the country in the past 30 years, back to the homeland.
read more
Macron should step down early and call presidential vote, says his first PM
Emmanuel Macron should name a prime minister to push through a budget and then call early presidential elections to solve France's political crisis, his first prime minister has said.
Édouard Philippe's comments come after France's third prime minister in a year, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned on Monday after his bid to form a government fell apart.
Macron has asked him to make a last-ditch plan for stability by the end of Wednesday - but support for the French president appears to be waning even among his allies. read more
Emmanuel Macron should name a prime minister to push through a budget and then call early presidential elections to solve France's political crisis, his first prime minister has said.
Édouard Philippe's comments come after France's third prime minister in a year, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned on Monday after his bid to form a government fell apart.
Macron has asked him to make a last-ditch plan for stability by the end of Wednesday - but support for the French president appears to be waning even among his allies. read more
Key US and regional mediators join talks in push to end Gaza war
Top US envoys and regional figures are taking part in the third day of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.
Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday along with Qatar's prime minister and Turkey's intelligence chief for what is expected to be a key day indicating whether progress can be made.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC it had shown "the necessary positivity" in the negotiations and submitted a list of the Palestinian prisoners it wanted Israel to release in exchange for the hostages held in Gaza.
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Top US envoys and regional figures are taking part in the third day of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.
Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday along with Qatar's prime minister and Turkey's intelligence chief for what is expected to be a key day indicating whether progress can be made.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC it had shown "the necessary positivity" in the negotiations and submitted a list of the Palestinian prisoners it wanted Israel to release in exchange for the hostages held in Gaza.
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Trump says Israel and Hamas 'sign off' on first phase of Gaza peace plan
US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have "both signed off" on the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza.
"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement comes after three days of indirect talks in Egypt - mediated by officials from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US - aimed at bringing an end to the two-year conflict. read more
US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have "both signed off" on the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza.
"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement comes after three days of indirect talks in Egypt - mediated by officials from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US - aimed at bringing an end to the two-year conflict. read more
Palestinians celebrate return of detainees freed by Israel
Hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been welcomed with tears and screams of joy as they were released by Israel to be reunited with their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The release involved about 250 prisoners who had been convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis - and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel without charge.
As prisoners exited a Red Cross bus in Ramallah, many draped in traditional Keffiyeh scarves, they looked pale and gaunt, with some struggling to walk. read more
Hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been welcomed with tears and screams of joy as they were released by Israel to be reunited with their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The release involved about 250 prisoners who had been convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis - and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel without charge.
As prisoners exited a Red Cross bus in Ramallah, many draped in traditional Keffiyeh scarves, they looked pale and gaunt, with some struggling to walk. read more
Hostage families confirm identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas
Israeli hostage families have confirmed the identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday.
The bodies of Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, were part of the latest return, the Hostages Families Forum said. The fourth body does not match any of the known hostages, Israel said.
So far seven hostages' bodies are confirmed to have been sent back from Gaza. Hamas has yet to return the other bodies as agreed under a ceasefire deal brokered by the US. read more
Israeli hostage families have confirmed the identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday.
The bodies of Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, were part of the latest return, the Hostages Families Forum said. The fourth body does not match any of the known hostages, Israel said.
So far seven hostages' bodies are confirmed to have been sent back from Gaza. Hamas has yet to return the other bodies as agreed under a ceasefire deal brokered by the US. read more
At least 55 dead and hundreds missing after fire engulfs Hong Kong tower blocks
At least 55 people have been killed in a huge fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong - the city's deadliest blaze in more than 70 years.
Some residents remain trapped inside the buildings, with more than 270 people unaccounted for.
Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling the blaze, which is now largely under control at all of the affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court. The housing complex had been undergoing extensive renovations when the fire began. read more
At least 55 people have been killed in a huge fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong - the city's deadliest blaze in more than 70 years.
Some residents remain trapped inside the buildings, with more than 270 people unaccounted for.
Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling the blaze, which is now largely under control at all of the affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court. The housing complex had been undergoing extensive renovations when the fire began. read more
Iran supreme leader admits thousands killed during recent protests
Iran's supreme leader has for the first time publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed, "some in an inhuman, savage manner", during recent protests.
A violent response to protests in Iran has claimed 3,090 lives, according to US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), following unrest that started over the economy on 28 December. An internet blackout has made it extremely difficult to get clear information.
In a speech on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said thousands had been killed during the unrest, blaming the deaths on "seditionists". read more
Iran's supreme leader has for the first time publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed, "some in an inhuman, savage manner", during recent protests.
A violent response to protests in Iran has claimed 3,090 lives, according to US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), following unrest that started over the economy on 28 December. An internet blackout has made it extremely difficult to get clear information.
In a speech on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said thousands had been killed during the unrest, blaming the deaths on "seditionists". read more
Trump tells Iran to drop nuclear aims and stop killing protesters to avoid military action
Donald Trump says he has told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action, as the US builds up its forces in the Gulf.
"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," the US president said, adding that "they are killing them by the thousands".
"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."
His latest remarks follow weeks of pressure on Iran to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. read more
Donald Trump says he has told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action, as the US builds up its forces in the Gulf.
"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," the US president said, adding that "they are killing them by the thousands".
"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."
His latest remarks follow weeks of pressure on Iran to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. read more
South Africa and Israel expel each other's envoys in diplomatic row
South Africa has expelled Israel's top diplomat in the country for "violating diplomatic norms", a move that prompted Israel to kick out a South African envoy in retaliation.
The diplomatic row started when South Africa's foreign affairs ministry declared Ariel Seidman, chargé d'affaires at the Israeli embassy, persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
Hours later, Israel announced similar action against South Africa's ambassador to Palestine Shaun Edward Byneveldt. read more
South Africa has expelled Israel's top diplomat in the country for "violating diplomatic norms", a move that prompted Israel to kick out a South African envoy in retaliation.
The diplomatic row started when South Africa's foreign affairs ministry declared Ariel Seidman, chargé d'affaires at the Israeli embassy, persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
Hours later, Israel announced similar action against South Africa's ambassador to Palestine Shaun Edward Byneveldt. read more
Clintons agree to testify on Epstein as vote looms to hold them in contempt of Congress
Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes days before a vote on whether to hold the couple in criminal contempt for refusing to appear before the House Oversight Committee after a months-long standoff.
Bill Clinton was acquainted with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, but has denied knowledge of his sex offending and says he cut off contact two decades ago. read more
Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes days before a vote on whether to hold the couple in criminal contempt for refusing to appear before the House Oversight Committee after a months-long standoff.
Bill Clinton was acquainted with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, but has denied knowledge of his sex offending and says he cut off contact two decades ago. read more
We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands
One night in 2023, Eric was scrolling on a social media channel he regularly browsed for porn. Seconds into a video, he froze.
He realised the couple he was watching - entering the room, setting down their bags, and later, having sex - was himself and his girlfriend. Three weeks earlier, they had spent the night in a hotel in Shenzhen, southern China, unaware that they were not alone.
Their most intimate moments had been captured by a camera hidden in their hotel room, and the footage made available to thousands of strangers who had logged in to the channel Eric himself used to access pornography.
Eric (not his real name) was no longer just a consumer of China's spy-cam porn industry, but a victim. read more
One night in 2023, Eric was scrolling on a social media channel he regularly browsed for porn. Seconds into a video, he froze.
He realised the couple he was watching - entering the room, setting down their bags, and later, having sex - was himself and his girlfriend. Three weeks earlier, they had spent the night in a hotel in Shenzhen, southern China, unaware that they were not alone.
Their most intimate moments had been captured by a camera hidden in their hotel room, and the footage made available to thousands of strangers who had logged in to the channel Eric himself used to access pornography.
Eric (not his real name) was no longer just a consumer of China's spy-cam porn industry, but a victim. read more