The United States has halted permanent employment-based immigration applications for eight major technology companies, including Microsoft, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and HCL Technologies, according to a recent policy update.

The suspension freezes new and pending applications under the Permanent Labor Certification Program, or PERM, which serves as the primary route for foreign workers to obtain green cards after securing temporary H-1B visas. Indian nationals, who hold the majority of H-1B visas, have historically relied on this pathway to achieve long-term residency and citizenship in the U.S.

The move aligns with broader restrictions on skilled-worker immigration under the current administration, though experts note that its direct impact on corporate staffing may be limited. Nasscom, India’s technology industry trade body, reported that Indian firms have increasingly shifted toward domestic hiring, reducing reliance on H-1B visas and the PERM process.

Company statements reflect this trend. Wipro confirmed that over 80% of its U.S. workforce is locally hired. Tata Consultancy Services noted only a handful of PERM applications in recent years, while Microsoft emphasized that its H-1B filings are primarily for retaining existing employees rather than recruiting new international talent.

Data from a Business Standard report, citing PERM Tracker, indicated a sharp decline in TCS’s PERM filings—from 513 in 2023–24 to just two in 2025–26. No filings were recorded for Infosys or Wipro in the current cycle. Attempts by BBC to solicit comment from all eight affected companies received no response.

HDFC Securities, a financial services firm, assessed that the suspension would have minimal financial consequences for tech firms, as PERM-linked roles represent a small fraction of their overall revenue. However, the executive-level impact may be more pronounced on individuals.

A senior U.S.-based manager from one of the suspended firms, speaking anonymously, noted that many long-term employees are caught in immigration limbo—having built careers in the U.S. but unable to advance toward permanent residency. Some are considering relocation to India, though their children, raised in America, may resist the move.

The policy shift has coincided with rising hostility toward Indian immigrants and H-1B holders. The nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate documented a surge in anti-South Asian online harassment following the 2024 U.S. election, with Indian professionals frequently targeted.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance previously referred to H-1B workers as “foreign indentured servants,” a phrase he later described as imperfect. The comment drew condemnation from India’s foreign ministry, which labeled it “deeply offensive” and rooted in colonial rhetoric.

Poorvi Chothani, an immigration attorney and founder of LawQuest, highlighted the financial and emotional toll on Indian professionals who invest heavily in education and early career development in the U.S. Tighter rules now limit their options and increase the cost of staying.

Alternative pathways to permanent residency exist but remain narrow. These include categories for individuals with exceptional achievements or those whose work serves national interests, as well as the EB-5 investor program, which requires a minimum investment of $800,000. Experts caution that even these routes may face future restrictions.

As of December 2025, nearly one million Indian nationals were awaiting employment-based green cards, accounting for 79% of all pending applications. The National Foundation for American Policy estimates wait times could range from five to 179 years depending on visa category and filing date.

The PERM suspension is expected to face legal challenges, but its implementation signals a tightening of U.S. immigration policy toward high-skilled foreign workers. Industry analysts suggest that while demand for Indian tech talent remains strong, the channels for accessing it may evolve.

Some firms are exploring offshore expansion and remote work models to maintain access to global talent pools. Post-pandemic normalization of distributed teams has increased acceptance of offshore staffing, particularly for cost-efficient operations.

For Indian professionals, the traditional narrative of building a career in the U.S. through H-1B and green card pathways may be shifting. Whether through relocation, alternative visas, or new immigration categories, the future of work between the U.S. and India continues to adapt to evolving policy and market dynamics.

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta Platforms to pay the state $25 billion after a jury concluded the company had misled consumers about the privacy of their data, marking one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed on a U.S. corporation.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez in 2021, following revelations that Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm, had harvested personal data from millions of Facebook users without consent during the 2016 presidential campaign. The state accused Meta of falsely informing users in New Mexico about who could access their information and how the platform handled hate speech and misinformation.

Judge Francis Mathew wrote in his order that Meta’s conduct over years, systematically broadcast to the public, struck at the core of its business practices. He initially calculated a penalty exceeding $219 billion under state law but reduced it to $25 billion. In a statement, Meta’s chief legal officer, C.J. Mahoney, said the company would appeal, calling the ruling an attempt to impose a tax on speech and enforce new rules about online expression.

Torrez described the judgment as a long-overdue hold on Big Tech accountable and a warning to the industry. He emphasized that the decision was a clear break from past inaction and a commitment to protecting consumers. The case is part of a broader wave of legal and regulatory pressure on Meta, including investigations into Instagram and Facebook’s impact on teen mental health.

Earlier in the year, Meta had settled similar claims with six other states for $459.2 million as part of a $17.1 billion multistate agreement addressing concerns about teen mental health. In 2019, the company had paid a $5 billion penalty to the Federal Trade Commission over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Jurors had previously found that Meta made 26 misleading statements on data privacy, hate speech, and related topics, with experts estimating over 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws. During a hearing on October 1, attorney Randi McGinn urged the court to award damages between $35 billion and $40 billion, arguing that financial penalties were the only language Meta understood.

Meta had countered in court filings that it does not sell user data and that New Mexico failed to prove any consumer was actually misled. Analysts, including Gil Luria of D.A. Davidson & Co, noted that while the penalty was significant, Meta’s market value of nearly $2 trillion would likely insulate it from long-term financial harm, as appeals were expected to prolong the legal battle.

The ruling comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms’ influence on public discourse and youth well-being, with another trial scheduled to begin the following week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is confronting political backlash after approving drilling operations at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, a move that has drawn both praise and condemnation. The approval, announced on Wednesday, has been highlighted by the Metro with the headline "Drill, Andy, Drill!", while US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the decision. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is reportedly evaluating whether to block the larger Rosebank oil field development, which officials describe as one of the most significant projects in the North Sea. The Daily Mail has published a critical headline targeting Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband over potential rejection of the project, framing it as part of broader concerns about climate policy. Meanwhile, the upcoming budget includes provisions to reduce regulatory burdens and support business profitability, a strategy outlined by the chancellor in interviews with the Times. The Telegraph has reported on Russian fishing vessels operating near critical undersea communication cables, identifying over 500 instances of such activity in recent months. Separately, school leaders have expressed concerns about funding requirements for a proposed 3.5% teacher pay increase, despite government assertions that the raise would be fully financed. The UK government has clarified that no official commitment to full funding has been made. The Financial Times has covered Elon Musk's potential consolidation of SpaceX and Tesla into a unified corporate structure, noting investor interest and a subsequent rise in SpaceX's stock value. The Daily Express has emphasized national security concerns related to Russian activities, while The Sun has featured commentary on sports governance following a legal ruling involving Manchester City's financial practices. Additional coverage includes discussions on defense spending amid rising geopolitical tensions and media reports on public figures addressing personal and professional developments.

Tesla announced on October 21 that it would lower its planned capital expenditures for 2026 to approximately $20 billion, down from a prior estimate of more than $25 billion. The company also reported a surprise free cash flow of $1.53 billion for the third quarter, which ended on September 30, contrasting with analyst expectations of a cash burn of $4.92 billion. The revised spending outlook comes as Chief Executive Elon Musk considers merging Tesla with his rocket company SpaceX, a move he described as a "good idea" and said special committees are reviewing the possibility.

The financial adjustments were disclosed during a conference call with analysts. Musk indicated that the merger discussions were ongoing but offered no further details. He emphasized that the combined entity would aim to integrate AI, energy, robotics, communications and transportation technologies both on Earth and in space.

Tesla’s shares initially rose about 2% in after‑hours trading following the earnings release, then slipped 2% later in the session. The stock has declined roughly 14% year‑to‑date. Analysts noted that the positive cash flow stemmed not from stronger profitability but from reduced investment in AI and robotics projects, which could affect the company’s long‑term growth trajectory.

Third‑quarter revenue remained flat compared with the previous year, yet it exceeded Wall Street estimates. Net income fell 43% year‑over‑year, while automotive gross margin — excluding regulatory credits — reached 18.1%, surpassing analyst expectations. Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles during the quarter, putting it on track to increase annual deliveries for the first time in three years. The company also reported that the adoption rate of its Full Self‑Driving feature among new North American vehicles rose to over 75%, up nearly 20 percentage points from the prior quarter.

Musk highlighted growing demand for Tesla’s vehicles, citing higher gasoline prices and strong interest in Europe. He projected that production could reach 5 million vehicles annually by around 2030, up from an anticipated 2.5 million this year. The company’s energy division has recently provided a counterbalance to its automotive business, which faces intensified competition from lower‑priced models introduced by global rivals.

Financial analysts offered differing interpretations of the results. Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, observed that the cash flow improvement did not arise from higher profits but from significant cost savings at a time when SpaceX is preparing to invest up to $40 billion in a single quarter. Ryan Lee, senior vice president of product and strategy at Direxion, noted that the reduced capex plan suggests a less aggressive commitment to the AI arms race than some investors had anticipated.

The potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, and no definitive agreement has been announced.