Business
As Donald Trump Hikes H-1B Visa Fee, Internet Digs Out Bill Gates’ 2024 Video Praising Indian Techies
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An old video of the Microsoft founder praising Indian techies’ contribution to his company presented a stark contrast to the US President Donald Trump’s decision.
US companies must pay $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh) per H-1B application. (Representative Image)
Amidst US President Donald Trump’s controversial crackdown on the H-1B visa, an old clip of Microsoft founder Bill Gates praising his Indian employees is gaining attention. In the video, Gates showers a group of Indian techies with glowing praise and appreciates their efforts in raising his company to new heights.
Microsoft head’s words and encouragement to Indian techies working in the US were widely appreciated on the Indian internet. He presented an alternative approach to Trump’s much-criticised ways after he announced a massive hike in H-1B visa fees to $100,000 (approximately, Rs 88,61,500).
Trump’s move originated from his nationalistic ideals and the “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) vision to provide Americans with more job opportunities by discouraging U.S.-based companies from hiring foreign nationals, regardless of their capabilities.
Bill Gates’ Old Video Praising 15 IIT Grads
The old video of Gates acknowledging the efforts of his Indian employees is from the speech the tech giant delivered at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi in February 2024. During his speech, Gates recalled the early days of Microsoft, when the company was looking to boost its staff and eyeing world-class engineering talent. A senior colleague then came up with an unconventional idea: hire 15 IIT graduates from India, who would put their heart and soul into work if provided an opportunity.
“In a sense, my first connection with India came because of the IITs,” Gates says in the clip. “One of the great people who worked for me said that he would go over to India and hire about 15 people who had been students at IIT and that would strengthen Microsoft’s engineering capabilities.”
“At the time, we had only a few hundred people, but even so, it was so hard to find amazing engineers. I thought that was a good idea. At the time, the Indian press said it was a terrible thing because all these great people (engineers) were leaving their country. The US press said it was a terrible thing (with) all these people coming to another country. But I think now, over 25 years later, we can say that was a phenomenal thing.”
Bill Gates’ Speech Amid Immigration Debates On H-1B
In the revisited portion of his speech, Gates emphasised the criticism that came Microsoft’s way from US-based news platforms, who decried his team’s decision to hire skilled Indian engineers over American graduates. But the Microsoft founder is now glad he went ahead with the idea and calls it a turning point for his company.
Gates’ approach comes in stark contrast with that of Trump and the existing American regime, posing a major hurdle now for US-based companies in hiring India’s graduates and future working professionals. The move spread widespread disappointment among India’s tech students, who were hoping to fulfil their dream of securing a high-paying job in the US.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
September 25, 2025, 10:32 IST
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New Delhi: India’s real GDP growth is projected at 7.4 per cent for FY26, up from 6.5 per cent in FY25, a report has said, highlighting seasonal pick up in electricity, mining and construction sectors. The report from ICRA said that growth is expected to ease below 7 per cent in H2 FY26 from 8 per cent in H1 because of an unfavourable base effect and moderation in exports.
The report expects a pause in the February 2026 policy review by the RBI, with future decisions to be guided by the FY27 Union Budget and evolving inflation-growth dynamics. Meanwhile, economic activity remained healthy in Q3 FY26, aided by GST rate‑cut led festive demand and seasonal upticks in some sectors.
ICRA expects consumption volumes of goods and services as well as manufacturing volumes to have benefited from GST cuts and festival demand in Q3, though the export drag may intensify in H2 unless a US trade deal materialises.
The firm forecasts CPI inflation to plunge to 2 per cent in FY26 from 4.6 per cent in FY25, with WPI at 0.4 per cent. CPI rose to 0.7 per cent in November 2025 from 0.3 per cent in October, due to a narrower deflation in food and beverages.
Additionally, mining and construction activity as well as electricity demand are set to witness a seasonal pick up in the coming months, after the easing owing to rainfall-related disruptions, it said. “Cement production is expected to grow 6.5–7.5 per cent in FY26. Steel demand growth may moderate to 7–8 per cent after strong previous years. Electricity demand growth is muted at 1.5–2 per cent for FY26,” the report noted.
It also flagged external risks including delay in the US-India trade deal, and global policy changes affecting service exports. Domestic risks encompass subdued export growth, monsoon variability, fiscal constraints, and inflationary pressures from commodity prices.
Natalie Bellin Bransholme, Hull
BBCFamilies living on a council estate say a new “social supermarket” will help them make ends meet.
The shop at North Bransholme Community Centre sells surplus food, with packs of fruit, vegetables and bread costing as little as 20p a time.
It can be used by anyone who lives in the area, receives means-tested benefits and applies for a free membership.
On its opening day this month, hundreds of people visited the store to buy food at about a third of the cost charged by most supermarkets, with bosses estimating it could save a family more than £200 a month.
Kirsty Armstrong, a mother of two, said the store took the pressure off the worry of doing a weekly food shop.
“Even though you work, it can still be really hard just to buy the simplest of things like fruit.
“I’ve spent about £6 and I’ve got bread, fruit and I am thinking about stuff in my basket that can be kept frozen.”
James Trott, 67, was one of the first customers through the doors and plans to use the shop regularly.
“It helps me out being on a pension because you’ve got your gas and electricity, water, rent and council tax to pay for and it’s really hard for everyone on the estate who is on benefits,” he said.
“I’ve just got a tin of beans for 60p, they would have been double in another shop.”
The store is the 15th of its kind to be opened across the UK by the Community Shop Group, a social enterprise.
Products are donated by food industry partners from surplus stock due to overstocking or seasonal packaging. All are still in use date.
Gary Stott, the executive chairman, said as well as supporting people in the Bransholme area, it was helping to tackle food waste.
“Surplus food does occur and we can take that in and we can relabel it and get that on sale,” Mr Stott said.
“We’ve got a retail store with 600 product lines where the average basket spend is about 30% of the retail price, and so as a family you can save £212 a month on your shopping bills.
“Even though we are a small convenience store, 30% of our basket is fruit and vegetables. That means families can come and make really healthy choices at an affordable price.”
The group said profits from the shop would be reinvested into a community hub, which aims to support members to learn new skills.
Meanwhile, a community kitchen and cafe sells breakfasts and lunches for £1.50, along with free children’s meals all year round.
Carol Redfern and her mum were among those enjoying refreshments.
She said: “To be able to come here and get quality food cheaper, it means a lot.
“My mum lives with me, she is disabled, so we are not on a lot of money.
“You can come here and have something to eat and the kids eating free is brilliant.”
Figures from Trussel, the anti-poverty charity, suggest more than 700,000 people in Yorkshire and Humber faced hunger in the past year due to a lack of money, with one in 10 people in the region living in households classed as “food insecure”.
David Daniels, who is 73 and receives disability benefits, described the community store as “a needs must in this day and age”.
“I think financially it will help a lot of people,” he said. “It takes away from food banks as well.
“People can pay reduced prices and you can get quality goods.”
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Net office absorption in NCR jumped 61% year-on-year in 2024, the sharpest increase among major cities, to touch 9.5 million sq. ft.
Of the $8.87 billion in real estate investments that entered India in 2024, global investors accounted for nearly two-thirds.
Delhi-NCR has entered a phase of commercial real estate activity that is beginning to stand apart even in an otherwise buoyant Indian property cycle. Over the past few years, the region has experienced rapid real estate growth, infrastructure development, and corporate expansion, attracting global capital at an unprecedented speed and scale. Institutional investors, pension funds, sovereign wealth entities, and private equity platforms treat NCR as one of Asia’s more reliable commercial markets, rather than a speculative bet.
The change is visible in the numbers: net office absorption in NCR jumped 61% year-on-year in 2024, the sharpest increase among major cities, to touch 9.5 million sq. ft. Despite substantial new supply, vacancy levels have eased 2.6% to 22.6%, while rentals across key micro-markets have strengthened by about 5% on average, with pockets like Noida Expressway and Golf Course Extension Road seeing a far steeper climb over the past five years. Prime retail assets tell a similar story, with vacancy in premium malls having slipped to 8.3%, and trading densities continue to rise.
This resilience explains why NCR has become a preferred deployment zone for foreign institutional investors. Of the USD 8.87 billion in real estate investments that entered India in 2024, global investors accounted for nearly two-thirds, and a disproportionate share found its way into Delhi–NCR’s office, retail, and mixed-use portfolios. Their interest is not episodic. Capital managers view NCR as a deep, maturing market, large enough to absorb sustained inflows without the volatility that characterized earlier cycles.
Mohit Goel, managing director of Omaxe Limited, said, “Global capital is showing unprecedented confidence in NCR’s commercial real estate, and we see this reflected strongly in emerging hubs like Faridabad and Dwarka, Delhi. Over the last two years, institutional investments in NCR’s Grade-A commercial and retail assets have risen by an estimated 30–35%, driven by stronger connectivity, infrastructure upgrades, and sustained demand from organized retail and new-age businesses. Our developments in Dwarka and Faridabad are directly benefiting from this momentum. Investors are now prioritizing long-term, stable, income-generating assets, a shift that underscores the structural transformation taking place in the NCR market.”
The momentum is driven by a combination of structural and cyclical factors. Multi-national companies are scaling their Global Capability Centres, which have evolved from back-office support roles to high-value engineering and digital functions. This shift has materially changed the nature of demand. NCR’s strong engineering workforce, proximity to decision-making centres, and established social infrastructure make it a preferred base for complex, high-skill GCC operations.
Sandeep Chhillar, founder and chairman of Landmark Group, said, “NCR has reached a maturity level where global investors feel comfortable committing long-term capital. The region offers depth, diverse occupiers, a large GCC presence, and rental resilience across cycles. What stands out today is the consistency of demand in office and retail assets. Infrastructure upgrades have unlocked several micro-markets, reducing risk and widening opportunity. Institutional investors recognize this stability, and that is why we expect inflows into NCR’s commercial assets to accelerate over the next few years.”
Another easily recognizable trend is the predilection for “return-ready” commercial assets. This inherently places NCR in pole position, given its sheer stock of Grade A assets. At rentals averaging INR 340 per sq. ft. per month in prime pockets, Delhi NCR is the APAC region’s sixth most-expensive office market with clearer income visibility than many competing Asian cities.
Ishaan Singh, director of AIPL, said, “What differentiates NCR today is the depth of its demand base. From Grade-A office occupiers to global retail brands, the region attracts tenants looking at long-term consolidation. This stability, supported by strong consumption and infrastructure, has made NCR very attractive for global capital. Quality assets will continue to outperform, and institutional investors are increasingly seeking exposure in Grade A projects. Moreover, we expect this momentum to sustain for a long time period.”
Mohit Batra, regional director of Realistic Realtors, said, “NCR’s commercial landscape is going through a structural transformation backed by growth in consumption, expansion by corporates, and a preference for organized retail formats. The market has demonstrated resilience even when global conditions were uncertain. The investor community sees footfall, spending power, and high-quality mixed-use developments coming together. As retail-led destinations become community meeting points and offices increasingly see experiential spaces, NCR presents an interesting case for long-term yield-driven investment.”
As per industry estimates, GCCs alone may lease 50-55 million sq. ft. nationally by FY27, with NCR capturing a significant share. Due to this, NCR is no longer competing with domestic markets alone; it is competing with regional Asian cities for capital, and increasingly, it is winning. Global funds are convinced that India’s multi-decade growth cycle has enough momentum to support long-tenure commercial returns. NCR, with its expanding corporate footprint and maturing urban form, finds itself at the centre of this shift, and there is little sign of the momentum cooling.
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December 27, 2025, 15:42 IST
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