The Eagle · Evening Edition

Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini of fraud in using the H-1B visa program. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the government will not process new or pending PERM applications from the eight companies. PERM is a step toward permanent residency. Vance cited about 6,000 Microsoft layoffs and 6,800 H-1B filings. Microsoft says most of its U.S. employees are American, 80% of its recent filings covered current employees, and visa holders get equal pay. Amazon, Google, Meta and Apple also use H-1B visas and were not named. Microsoft says it will give the administration more information.

A live-update report says Vance announced penalties on Microsoft, Adobe and other firms over alleged H-1B fraud. The companies will no longer be allowed to apply for green cards for workers. The Republican National Committee also said Trump will travel on Tuesday. The headline points to a campaign stop in Alaska, but the summary is cut off before giving details.

Human Rights Watch says that since early 2025 the US has sent more than 500 non-citizens to African countries. The group calls the policy unlawful and says it is meant to deter migration. Its report cites interviews with 24 deportees in six countries, some of whom described being chained for about 18 hours. Several were allegedly detained or sent on to home countries where they could face harm. DHS says the removals target dangerous criminals and that destination countries give assurances of safety. The White House says those sent are people whose home countries refuse them or who have court orders blocking return. None of the African governments named has commented.

Zambia signed a five-year health financing memorandum with the US in Lusaka on Thursday, along with a separate data-sharing agreement. The US will provide about $1.5bn, and Zambia will also contribute. Critics had objected to a leaked draft over data sharing and reported links to mineral access, which the then-US ambassador denied. Health Minister Roma Chilengi says the specimen-sharing clauses were removed and individual patient records will not be shared. Officials put the combined 2026–2030 package at roughly $3.6bn, though Zambian-share figures have varied. Ghana and Zimbabwe rejected similar agreements.

A Just In News item raises the question of whether ICE tried to use Palantir to review voter roll information. Its summary also says ICE is investigating people who help Americans register to vote. The material available gives no details on scope, legal basis or who is being investigated. Neither agency's response is included.

President Trump said Thursday that the US military will not launch strikes on Iran before the midterm elections. He said the administration is having "productive discussions" with Iran. He also described Iran as in bad condition economically and militarily. His statement indicates the blockade will remain in place, but the available text is cut off before giving more detail.