US imposes $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ as overseas travel falls amid Trump’s policies
A $250 “visa integrity fee” for travelers from non-visa waiver countries—including Mexico, India, China, Brazil, and Argentina—will take effect on October 1, raising total US visa costs to $442. US arrivals fell 3.1 percent in July to 19.2m, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline in 2025, while international visitor spending is projected to drop to under $169bn, down from $181bn in 2024, Firstpost reported.
Travel experts warn higher fees and stricter visa rules, including shorter durations for students, cultural exchange participants, media, and potential bonds of up to $15,000, will further deter visitors. The measures, combined with Trump administration immigration policies, tariffs, and foreign aid cuts, are contributing to a sustained slump in inbound travel despite upcoming events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
After 7 years, Modi-Xi talks take centre stage as US tariffs shake global trade order
India and China are taking steps to restore ties after years of border tensions. Five years after deadly clashes in eastern Ladakh, both countries are easing trade and visa restrictions, resuming flights, and reviving high-level exchanges, Firstpost reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting China for the first time in over seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1. He will meet President Xi Jinping to strengthen economic cooperation and address lingering border issues.
According to Firstpost, the visit follows recent talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian leaders, resulting in a framework for a “stable, cooperative and forward-looking” relationship. Modi emphasized that stable India-China ties are crucial for regional and global economic stability.
Indonesia's president cancels China trip as protests continue
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has canceled his planned visit to China following nationwide protests over lawmakers’ salaries and a deadly police vehicle incident in Jakarta. Demonstrations have spread to multiple provinces, including Makassar, where fires at regional parliament buildings have caused deaths and injuries, Al Jazeera reported.
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said Prabowo will remain in Indonesia to address the unrest and oversee preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session. Authorities have also summoned social media companies, including TikTok and Meta, to improve content moderation, with TikTok temporarily suspending its live feature in the country.
Meta created flirty chatbots of Taylor Swift, other celebrities without permission
Meta generated AI chatbots impersonating celebrities—including Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, and Selena Gomez—on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp without their permission. Three bots, including two of Swift, recorded over 10m interactions before being removed, Reuters reported.
Some bots mimicked minors, like 16-year-old actor Walker Scobell, and produced inappropriate images when prompted. Adult bots also responded to flirtatious messages and requests for intimate content.
Meta acknowledged these violated company policy, citing enforcement failures. The firm deleted about a dozen such bots before the report and is introducing new safeguards to protect teens from inappropriate AI interactions, according to Reuters.
Legal experts warn that using celebrity likenesses without consent may violate California’s right-of-publicity laws, as the bots’ content appears non-transformative and commercially exploitative.
