New Delhi, Oct 21: In a major relief for existing H-1B visa holders and recent international graduates in the United States, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the newly imposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not apply to individuals changing their visa status within the country or extending their stay.

According to NDTV, the clarification — issued by Team Trump on October 20 — states that the fee will apply only to new petitions for workers outside the United States or for those who must leave the country before their application is processed.

“The proclamation applies to new H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025, on behalf of beneficiaries who are outside the United States and do not have a valid H-1B visa,” the USCIS said in its statement. It added that current H-1B holders will continue to be allowed to leave and re-enter the US without restrictions. The clarification comes after weeks of confusion following President Donald Trump’s September 19 proclamation introducing the steep fee, which drew criticism from US employers and visa holders — particularly from India — for its potential to disrupt the tech and education sectors. The new guidance also covers college graduates on F-1 student visas and employees on L-1 work visas, confirming that those already residing in the US will not be subject to the additional charge. While the administration has not announced any blanket exemptions, employers can still request waivers if they can demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker serves the national interest and no qualified American is available for the role. NDTV reported that the Trump administration has also launched an online portal for payment of the new petition fee. The controversial policy — aimed, according to officials, at curbing “abuse” of the H-1B program — faces legal challenges amid warnings it could harm industries that depend heavily on skilled foreign labour.

New Delhi, Oct 21: India on Tuesday announced upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy as part of broader efforts to deepen its bilateral engagement with Kabul.

The announcement came over a week-and-a-half after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his meeting with Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi that India will upgrade its diplomatic presence in Kabul.

India had withdrawn its officials from its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in the Afghan capital by deploying a “technical team”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian embassy in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.

“In keeping with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan foreign minister to India, the government is restoring the status of the technical mission of India in Kabul to that of the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect,” it said.

The MEA said the decision underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in “all spheres of mutual interest”.

“The Embassy of India in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, in keeping with the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society,” it said in a statement.

The mission will be headed by a diplomat in the rank of Charge d’affaires, it is learnt.

Muttaqi was in India this month for six days that signalled a new approach in New Delhi’s ties with Kabul though it has not yet recognised the Taliban set up.

The foreign minister of the Taliban set-up had said Afghanistan will not allow any elements to use its territory against New Delhi’s interests.

Muttaqi told a select group of journalists that Kabul will also send diplomats to India as part of step-by-step efforts to improve the bilateral ties.

“We will not allow any (element) to threaten anyone else or use the territory of Afghanistan against others. Daesh is a challenge for the region and Afghanistan is at the frontlines of this struggle,” he had said.

New Delhi, Oct 21: People eating more junk food can counteract its ill effects on mental health by cardio exercises such as running, according to an animal study on Tuesday.

Researchers at University College Cork in Ireland identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioural effects of consuming a Western-style diet.

The research demonstrated that voluntary running exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviours induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets associated with both circulating hormones and gut-derived metabolites.

“The findings provide crucial insights into how lifestyle interventions might be optimised to support mental health in an era of widespread ultra-processed food consumption,” said Professor Yvonne Nolan from the varsity.

In the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain Medicine, the team exposed adult male rats to either standard chow or a rotating cafeteria diet consisting of various high-fat and high-sugar foods for seven and a half weeks, with half of each dietary group having access to running wheels.

The study revealed that voluntary wheel running exerted an antidepressant-like behavioural effect in poor diet quality, suggesting that physical activity may benefit individuals consuming Western-style diets.

Professor Nolan and team found that the diet dramatically altered the gut metabolome, affecting 100 out of 175 measured metabolites in sedentary animals.

“Exercise showed more selective effects, modulating only a subset of these changes. Three metabolites previously linked to mood regulation stood out for their response pattern: anserine, indole-3-carboxylate, and deoxyinosine were all decreased by the cafeteria diet but partially restored by exercise,” Nolan said.

Further, the research utilised comprehensive behavioural testing batteries to assess multiple domains of brain function.

While the junk food alone did not significantly impair spatial learning or recognition memory in these adult rats, exercise produced modest improvements in spatial navigation.

The team also examined anxiety-like behaviours, finding subtle anxiolytic effects of exercise independent of dietary composition.

The findings suggest that while exercise can provide mood benefits regardless of diet quality, achieving full neuroplastic benefits may require attention to nutritional status. This has implications for designing interventions that maximise both feasibility and biological impact, the researchers said.

New Delhi, Oct 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday penned a letter to the citizens of the country on Deepavali, highlighting the successes of Operation Sindoor and the fight against Naxalism and asserting that Bharat has emerged as a symbol of stability at a time when the world is beset with crises.

The prime minister listed the decision to lower Goods and Services Tax rates among the historic achievements of his government and said that citizens are saving thousands of crores of rupees during the ‘GST Bachat Utsav’.

He also urged citizens to adopt swadeshi to promote the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, to respect all languages, prioritise health and embrace yoga.

“All these efforts will rapidly take us towards a Viksit Bharat,” Modi said in his letter, which he wrote a day after he celebrated Diwali with Navy personnel onboard the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

“I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali, a festival filled with energy and enthusiasm. This is the second Deepavali after the grand construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya,” he said.

“Lord Shri Ram teaches us to uphold righteousness and also gives us the courage to fight injustice. We have seen a living example of this a few months ago during Operation Sindoor. During Operation Sindoor, Bharat not only upheld righteousness but also avenged injustice,” the PM said.

He said that this Deepavali is particularly special because for the first time, lamps will be lit in many districts across the country, including remote areas.

“These are the districts where Naxalism and Maoist terrorism have been eradicated from the root. In recent times, we have seen many individuals abandoning the path of violence and joining the mainstream of development, expressing faith in the Constitution of our country. This is a major achievement for the nation,” Modi said.

The prime minister said amid these historic achievements, the country has also embarked on next-generation reforms in recent days.

“On the first day of Navratri, lower GST rates were implemented. During this ‘GST Bachat Utsav’, citizens are saving thousands of crores of rupees,” Modi said.

He said in a world going through multiple crises, Bharat has emerged as a symbol of both stability and sensitivity.

“We are also on track to become the third-largest economy in the world in the near future,” he said.

The prime minister also underscored that the primary responsibility of the citizens is to fulfil their duties towards the nation.

Modi also urged citizens to adopt swadeshi and proudly say, “This is swadeshi.”

“Let us promote the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Let us respect all languages. Let us maintain cleanliness.

“Let us prioritise our health. Let us reduce the use of oil in our food by 10 per cent and embrace yoga. All these efforts will rapidly move us towards a Viksit Bharat,” he said.

“Deepavali also teaches us that when one lamp lights another, its light doesn’t diminish but it grows further. With the same spirit, let us light lamps of harmony, cooperation and positivity in our society and surroundings this Deepavali,” the PM said.