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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
August 2025 immigration changes: UK fee hike, Re 1 visas, Saudi work permit
From rising student costs in England to visa sales and new permit systems abroad, several rule changes come into effect in August 2025. Take a look at some of the changes: University fees in England to rise from August 1 Students in England, including Indians with permanent residency, will now pay up to £9,535 a year for undergraduate courses. The increase of £285 comes after tuition fees were frozen at £9,250 since 2017. 'For those worried about affordability, we're also increasing maintenance loans to support students with the cost of living,' said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in Parliament in November 2024. The new fee cap applies to courses offered by 'approved (fee cap)' providers depending on their Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) status and access plans. The changes take effect from August 1, 2025. Here's what full-time students will now pay annually: £9,275: Providers without TEF but with an APP £6,355: Providers with TEF but without an APP £6,185: Providers with neither TEF nor APP Accelerated and part-time course fees have been raised proportionately. Students doing final-year courses under 15 weeks, sandwich placements, or a study-abroad year will pay reduced percentages—50 per cent, 20 per cent, and 15 per cent of the standard fee, respectively. International fees are set independently by universities. India's first-ever ₹1 visa sale on August 4–5 Travellers applying for visas to over a dozen destinations—including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, and Indonesia—can now do so for just ₹1 during a two-day campaign by visa platform Atlys. 'If you book through Atlys, for select Schengen countries like Greece, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, we have slashed both our service fee and the appointment fees,' said Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO of Atlys. He gave an example: 'In France, the appointment fee is about ₹2,047 and our usual service fee is ₹2,950. As part of this offer, both are reduced to just ₹1.' The same offer applies to US visa applicants, where the standard Atlys service fee of ₹19,940 will drop to ₹1. 'For the UK, we are charging just ₹1 total—there are no extra fees, hidden charges, or visa costs during the campaign,' Nahta said. Countries covered include the UAE, UK, Vietnam, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kenya, Morocco, Taiwan, and more. UK to train 60,000 construction workers Starting August, new construction foundation apprenticeships will open in England, backed by £40 million. It is part of a broader £600 million investment over four years to tackle construction skill shortages. The scheme, which falls under the government's Youth Guarantee, could be a chance for Indian-origin youth settled in the UK to access training and enter skilled trades. August 2025 US Visa Bulletin: Small gains for India In the latest update by the US State Department: India's EB-2 green card dates remain unchanged. EB-3 (Skilled & Other Workers) categories have moved forward by one month. EB-5 unreserved investor visas advanced by 6.5 months for India. EB-1 remains current for most countries, but cut-off dates for India and China are still 15 February 2022 and 2 November 2022 respectively. These dates decide who can file green card applications (Form I-485) using the Final Action Dates chart. Saudi Arabia enforces skill-based permit rules from August 3 Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources has made it mandatory from August 3 for all new foreign workers, including Indians, to be classified under a skill-based work permit system. Three categories have been introduced: high-skill, skilled, and basic. The classification is based on education, experience, technical capabilities, wages, and age. Assessments will be carried out digitally via the Qiwa platform. Employers and workers are expected to complete classification or reassessment requests through it. Foreigners already in the country were brought under the new system from 18 June. What counts for classification: Educational qualifications Years of relevant experience Practical or technical training Current wages Age Occupations are mapped to nine groups, including professionals, clerks, sales workers, agricultural workers, and machine operators. For example, a basic-skill worker will typically be under 60 and in a lower occupational group, while a high-skill worker will need to meet stricter wage and qualification criteria. Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for Indians, with 2.65 million Indian nationals working there, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. New US form fees from 22 July: August deadline to comply Starting 22 July, USCIS introduced new mandatory immigration fees under law H.R. 1. Applications postmarked after 21 August 2025 without correct payment will be rejected. The fee increases apply across asylum applications, work permits, and temporary protection cases, and cannot be waived.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Telefonica: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
MADRID (AP) — MADRID (AP) — Telefonica SA (TEF) on Wednesday reported a loss of $57.9 million in its second quarter. The Madrid-based company said it had a loss of 2 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, were 8 cents per share. The telecommunications company posted revenue of $10.16 billion in the period.
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
TEF Kuwait hosts its 5th technical seminar
The Tamilnadu Engineers Forum (TEF) Kuwait successfully hosted its 5th Technical Seminar at Park Inn Hotel, Mahboula on July 22, 2025, with an evening packed with innovation, knowledge sharing and key announcements. A key highlight of the evening was the launch of the InnoEX 2025 flyer, officially announcing TEF Kuwait's flagship science and technology fair in association with Indians in Kuwait (IIK). The event flyer was jointly released by President Eng Raja and past presidents Eng AN Natrarajan and Eng Krishna Jegan. Also revealed that the esteemed Nigar Shaji, Project Director of Aditya-L1, India's pioneering solar mission under ISRO, will be the Chief Guest at the upcoming InnoEX 2025, scheduled for November 7, 2025 at Al-Zumerida Hall, Salwa. Highlights of the 5th technical seminar The evening commenced at 6 pm with the reverent rendition of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, followed by a Safety Moment presented by Eng Vadivelan and a Thirukkural recitation by Eng Subbu. The event was gracefully anchored by Eng Suresh Anand and Eng Middleton, who guided the proceedings with professionalism and enthusiasm. In his welcome address, Eng Gem Prasanna greeted attendees and set a vibrant tone for the evening. The seminar then proceeded with three highly engaging technical sessions: The seminar featured three distinguished technical sessions: 1 'How Acoustic Emission and AI Can Reduce Seat Leakage in Valves' Delivered by Michael Hetteger, CEO of Senseven GmbH, this session highlighted how AI-driven acoustic analysis can revolutionize valve monitoring and predictive maintenance. 2 'Smart Strategies for Mutual Fund Investment in Turbulent Times' Financial expert Lalitha Thamaraipandi, Managing Director of Panaimaram Fintech Pvt Ltd, shared valuable insights into navigating investment strategies during economic uncertainties. 3. 'Ensuring Valve Reliability Through Precision Actuation – The Kinetrol Advantage' Jointly presented by Akshay Anand, GM, and Gopiram Krishnaraj, Area Manager of Kinetrol Middle East, this session focused on the importance of actuation precision in enhancing industrial valve reliability. Each session speakers were introduced by TEF members Eng Middleton, Eng Maniyarasu, and Eng Reckston, respectively. Each session was followed by an interactive Q&A segment, enabling participants to engage directly with the speakers and deepen their understanding. The event concluded on a high note with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Vice President Eng Subramanian, followed by a delicious dinner, fostering networking and camaraderie among attendees. TEF Kuwait continues to be a vibrant platform for engineering professionals, students, and innovators - promoting technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and community development. The upcoming InnoEX 2025 promises to be a landmark event that will further TEF's mission of inspiring the next generation of tech leaders.
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Spanish firm sued for €7.4m over glazing in Exo Building
Bennett (Construction) Ltd, with a registered address in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has brought proceedings against Spanish firm Tvitec System Glass SL and its Irish subsidiary sub contractor, Technical Envelope Facades (TEF) Ltd, formerly Tvitec System Ireland Ltd,, with a registered address in Mountainview Park, Tallaght, Dublin. It is claimed there was very bad leaking arising out of the works completed by TEF, and that the glazing supplied was defective. The workmanship of the installation of the glazing was of sub-standard quality, it is also alleged. The defendants deny the claims. An application was made by Thomas Hogan SC, for Bennett, to have the case admitted to the fast track Commercial Court. This was opposed by Michael Cush SC, for Tvitec, on grounds of delay in bringing the proceedings. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey refused to admit the case as he considered there had been culpable delay by Bennett in bringing the proceedings. It means the case will now be dealt with through the normal High Court list. In an affidavit Paul Bruton, managing director of Bennett, said his firm and TEF entered into an agreement in March 2018 for the supply and installation of glazing. TEF also entered into a collateral warranty with The Platform ICAV (formerly Davy Platform ICAV) which was the beneficiary of the project. The Spanish firm also executed a parent-company guarantee with The Platform whereby it guaranteed the obligations and liabilities of the Irish sub contractor, Mr Burton said. The benefit of the collateral warranty and guarantee was assigned to Bennett in August 2024. Mr Bruton said TEF began works in January 2018 and various issues arose, including cash-flow issues that TEF appeared to have on a regular basis, he said. In January 2022, following the Christmas break, TEF failed to return to site even though works were already significantly delayed, he claimed. A meeting between the parties followed and TEF advised that it had financial difficulties and that the works were not profitable. TEF said it would only return to site if a further €850,000 was paid. Bennett says it has paid €10.1m to TEF and another €625,000 "under duress" to get them back on site, Mr Bruton said. The company returned but failed to complete the works and once again left the site, he alleged. Under the terms of the collateral warranty, the dispute could be referred to a conciliator but TEF refused to nominate a conciliator and refused to accept one nominated by Bennett who, as a result, had to resign in December 2024. Bennett says it has embarked on extensive remedial works with different sub-contractors. Mr Bruton said the total sum being claimed against the defendants for the cost of remediating the works is €7.4m.
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Millions spent, jobs lost as Tourism Equity Fund scandal exposed
The meeting, led by Minister Patricia de Lille, exposed a web of implementation challenges, transparency failures, and accountability concerns that have plagued the fund since its inception. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media IN a tense and revealing session recently, the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade convened to hear testimony from the Department of Tourism regarding the beleaguered Tourism Equity Fund (TEF). The meeting, led by Minister Patricia de Lille, exposed a web of implementation challenges, transparency failures, and accountability concerns that have plagued the fund since its inception. The TEF, launched in 2021 with the aim of driving transformation and inclusive growth in South Africa's tourism sector, has been mired in legal battles, administrative delays, and allegations of mismanagement. A court challenge brought by AfriForum and Solidarity initially halted the fund, which was only revived after an out-of-court settlement in mid-2023. Despite this, the fund's rollout has continued to face serious hurdles — most notably, the refusal of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa), now known as Sedfa, to release critical beneficiary information to the Department of Tourism. De Lille opened the meeting by acknowledging the complexity of the situation: 'We appreciate the opportunity to present on the TEF, and we request the Committee's support in helping us move the process forward.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ She explained how her predecessor had initially set the fund's black economic empowerment threshold at 51%, exceeding the legislated 30% requirement under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes. This decision was challenged in court by AfriForum and Solidarity, and the government lost the case on jurisdictional grounds. Following her appointment in 2023, de Lille engaged directly with the litigants and brokered a settlement to unblock the R2.1 billion fund. She described the decision-making process in candid terms: 'I made a deliberate decision to set aside political pride to serve the interests of the sector and the country… I proposed a settlement in the spirit of recovery and collaboration, given the urgency of economic reconstruction following the pandemic.' The revised framework, approved by Cabinet in August 2023, allocates 80% of funding to existing SMMEs and 20% to new entrants, a policy shift that drew sharp criticism from several committee members. The Department outlined how Sefa, appointed as the implementing agent for the TEF, had failed to meet expectations: 'Due to ongoing challenges with Sefa's performance, the Department informed them in early 2025 of our decision to terminate the agreement,' De Lille said. Despite terminating the service-level agreement, the Department is still awaiting a full close-out report from Sefa. More troublingly, Sefa has refused to disclose details of beneficiaries, citing the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia). 'They refuse to disclose the names of applicants who benefited from the TEF,' the Minister said. 'We disagree with their position and have sought legal opinion confirming that the Department is entitled to receive this information.' Legal advice obtained by the Department supports this view, reinforcing that Parliament, as an oversight body, also has a right to access such data. The legal opinion, circulated during the meeting, recommended including confidentiality clauses in future agreements to ensure Popia compliance while maintaining transparency. 'Parliament must be able to exercise its oversight function,' said Mmaditonki Setwaba, the deputy director-general of Tourism Sector Support Services. Committee members raised urgent questions about the cost per job created through the TEF. The DA's Nicolaas Pienaar expressed alarm: 'Based on the figures presented, nearly R1 million has been spent per job created. In my view, R1m should result in at least four jobs.' His sentiment was echoed by the FF+'s Hendrik van den Berg, who pointed to staggering disparities: 'In the Northern Cape, two jobs were created at a cost of R4.4m each. In the North West, ten jobs came at a cost of over R8m per job.' Setwaba responded that while some projects were capital-intensive, particularly in the accommodation and travel sectors, the Department was aware of the need for better value-for-money outcomes. 'We are learning from the rollout and working on enhanced pre-investment support and streamlined compliance processes,' she said. The lack of detailed breakdowns on the nature of these jobs — whether part-time, seasonal, or permanent — further deepened scepticism among members. The PA's Bino Farmer questioned the regional distribution of funds and the effectiveness of outreach campaigns in rural areas: 'How many applications came from the Western Cape? How many were rejected and why? If the fund is meant to drive transformation, why allocate 80% to existing businesses when new entrants are the ones most in need?' He highlighted the case of Lamberts Bay, where tourism remains racially exclusive and ownership opportunities for black entrepreneurs are limited. 'Communities like mine want to know how people are informed about such funding opportunities. Tourism is spoken about in terms of job creation, but not ownership.' The ANC's Patrick Mabilo lamented the minimal investment in his province despite its rich natural and cultural assets: 'Only one project received funding in the Northern Cape, valued at R8.8 million. Given the scenic richness of the province, including Unesco sites, why hasn't there been more meaningful participation?' He called for clarity on outreach efforts and asked whether the Department could quantify results in rural townships. The chairperson, Sonja Boshoff, from the DA, acknowledged the severity of the situation: 'This is not just about administration, it affects the lives of ordinary South Africans. We cannot allow SEFA to hold the Department or Parliament to ransom.' The Committee resolved to summon Sefa before Parliament, even if it required convening outside normal hours. It also agreed to send a letter to the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, requesting her urgent engagement with Sefa ahead of their scheduled meeting the following week. 'We expect feedback from her then so that we can determine how best to support the Department going forward,' said the chairperson. The ANC's Mpho Modise supported the idea of a joint session involving both Ministers and Sefa: 'All relevant stakeholders need to be in the same room so we can ask direct questions and get comprehensive answers.' The Minister welcomed the suggestion: 'I welcome the Committee's oversight and support any parliamentary investigation into the administration and outcomes of the Fund.' De Lille did not shy away from the legal and reputational risks involved: 'As the accounting authority, I am fully aware of the possibility of personal liability. But I remain committed to preserving my integrity and resolving this matter as quickly as possible.' Director-general Victor Vele confirmed that no fruitless or wasteful expenditure had yet been recorded, though he admitted that the full financial picture would only emerge once SEFA released its complete records. 'From the perspective of an accounting officer, there is currently no record of fruitless or wasteful expenditure associated with the Fund,' he said. Meanwhile, the Department has identified the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) as the new implementing agent, aligning with the TEF's objective of promoting transformation in the tourism sector. 'We are working on a formal handover process to a new implementing agency, which will be announced following legal and operational finalisation,' said Setwaba. The TEF was conceived as a vehicle for economic transformation and inclusion. Yet five years after its launch, it stands as a cautionary tale of poor governance, legal entanglements, and institutional dysfunction. With Sefa refusing to share basic information, the Department hamstrung by outdated contracts, and Parliament demanding accountability, the TEF has become emblematic of the broader crisis in public administration. Unless swift and decisive action is taken — including full disclosure of beneficiaries, independent auditing, and reform of implementation frameworks — the TEF may well go down as another failed attempt at redress in post-apartheid South Africa. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming joint meeting between the Departments of Tourism and Small Business Development, and on whether SEFA will finally answer the call for transparency. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
