Higher H-1B wages, Kash trolled, and 7 dogs and a lie

Today’s edition tracks a proposed reset in US H-1B wages, a viral swipe at Kash Patel that has sparked a diaspora debate, and a feel-good dog video that isn’t quite what it seems.

THE BIG STORY

US proposes higher prevailing wages for H-1B workers

The US has proposed a rule to significantly raise prevailing wage levels for H-1B visa holders, effectively increasing the minimum salaries employers must pay foreign skilled workers. The move targets how wages are benchmarked across roles and experience levels.

Why it matters:

For Indian professionals, who dominate the H-1B programme, the proposal reshapes both opportunity and competition. Higher mandated wages could lift pay for those already in the system, but they also raise the hiring threshold, making it harder for fresh entrants and mid-level applicants to secure roles. The rule reinforces a shift towards fewer, higher-paid visas.

Driving the news:

The proposal seeks to revise the wage calculation system by pushing employers to offer salaries closer to the upper bands of market rates rather than entry-level benchmarks. US authorities argue that this will prevent misuse of the visa programme to access cheaper labour and ensure foreign hires do not undercut domestic workers.

The big picture:

• The H-1B programme is being recalibrated towards top-tier talent
• Entry-level hiring could shrink as cost pressures rise
• Indian IT firms may accelerate offshore hiring models
• The policy reflects sustained political focus on protecting US wages

Read full article.

NRI WATCH

Kash trolled

An Indian-origin surgeon’s viral video taking aim at Kash Patel has struck a nerve for what it says about diaspora identity as much as for what it says about him.

In the clip, Dr Dhivya Srinivasa bluntly says the Indian-American community does not “claim” Patel, delivering a stream of sharp, often mocking remarks that quickly found an audience online. The tone is biting, but the subtext is familiar.

Diaspora pride has always been selective.

Success stories are embraced, amplified, and held up as proof of collective achievement. But when a figure becomes controversial or awkward to defend, the instinct is to distance rather than engage. The video simply makes that instinct visible, and viral.

Read article.

OFFBEAT

7 dogs and a lie

Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas in the Indian epic The Mahabharata, lived an almost sin-free life. After the battle, with old age approaching, he, along with his brothers, set off for heaven. En route, all others shuffled off their mortal coil except the eldest brother and one dog who accompanied him on the journey. At the gates of swarga, Indra, the king of gods, told him he could enter, but he would have to leave his stray companion behind.

Yudhisthira, also called Dharmaputra, refused to abandon his canine companion. It turned out to be a test. The dog was Dharma (Yama), testing Yudhisthira’s moral resolve.

The dog story is fascinating because it recalls the only time in life when the eldest Pandava prince was found morally wanting. That was on the battlefield, when he told a white lie by omission to Dronacharya: “Ashwatthama hata iti… narova kunjarova.” (Ashwatthama is dead… whether man or elephant, I do not know.)

The smallest of lies changed the tide of battle and, as Dronacharya laid down his arms, Dhrishtadyumna, son of Drupad and brother of Draupadi, slew the warrior teacher.

Much like Yudhisthira’s white lie, the tale of the seven dogs returning home — a viral video the internet fell in love with — is only partially true. The video is not AI; it is not fake, but the narrative is.

Read article.