US President Donald Trump has announced a visa overhaul that could be a game-changer for wealthy immigrants, including Indians. His new $5 million "Trump Gold Visa" is set to replace the EB-5 investor program, making it easier for the ultra-rich to fast-track their US citizenship. But what does this mean for Indians stuck in long visa backlogs?
This episode of World Today explores this and more.
This episode of World Today explores this and more.
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00:00Hello and welcome to today's edition of World Today.
00:19Donald Trump is once again making headlines, this time for a visa overhaul that could change
00:24the game for wealthy immigrants, including Indians.
00:28With his new $5 million gold card of what is being called the Trump Gold Visa is set
00:34to replace the EB-5 Investor Program, making it easier for the ultra-rich to fast-track
00:41their U.S. citizenship.
00:43But what does this mean for Indians waiting in long visa backlogs?
00:47First, we have a list of pardons and connotations relating to what has occurred on January 6th.
00:55U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a brand new immigration plan.
01:00It's being called the ultimate VIP ticket to U.S. citizenship.
01:07A so-called gold card visa that grants a fast track to citizenship for a hefty price tag
01:15of $5 million.
01:18This new visa will replace the 35-year-old EB-5 Investor Visa created by Congress in
01:251990, which required immigrants to invest in job-creating businesses in the U.S.
01:32We're going to be doing something else that's going to be very good.
01:37We're going to be selling a gold card.
01:43You have a green card.
01:44This is a gold card.
01:45We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that's going
01:49to give you green card privileges plus.
01:52It's going to be a route to citizenship, and wealthy people will be coming into our country
01:57by buying this card.
01:59They'll be wealthy, and they'll be successful, and they'll be spending a lot of money and
02:03paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people.
02:06And we think it's going to be extremely successful.
02:09And never been done before anything like this, but it's something that we're going to be
02:12putting out over the next, would you say, two weeks out?
02:16So what's the difference?
02:18The EB-5 visa required an $800,000 to $1 million investment and proof of creating at least
02:2710 U.S. jobs.
02:29Trump's gold card, no job creation needed, just a straight $5 million payment, and you
02:37get a green card on the spot.
02:42For wealthy Indians, this could be a game changer.
02:47No more waiting in long visa backlogs or struggling with H-1B renewals.
02:54But there's a catch.
02:56This visa is only for the ultra-rich.
02:58For most Indian nationals in the green card backlog, it's simply out of reach.
03:06And expert Tejinder Pal Singh says this may actually push more Indians towards Canada
03:12instead.
03:13$1 million, you can straight away be in Canada.
03:22So you are competing with your next door neighbor, where if you become Canadian citizen, you
03:31can work in U.S.
03:33So why would I go to U.S.?
03:41And there's another concern.
03:42With no limit on how many gold cards can be sold, Trump has floated the idea of selling
03:4910 million visas to cut the U.S. deficit.
03:54That raises a big question.
03:56Is this about attracting the best and brightest, or just selling American citizenship to the
04:03highest bidder?
04:05Whether this plan takes off or faces backlash remains to be seen.
04:12For now, Trump's gold card visa is set to launch in two weeks.
04:19Bureau report, India Today.
04:22Okay, a lot of executive orders.
04:28Let's compare how Trump and Biden then fared in polls during their respective presidencies
04:32around the same time.
04:34U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating held steady over the past week.
04:39According to a Reuters Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, 44% of respondents approved of
04:45his performance over his first month in office.
04:48The survey found that Americans' attitudes toward Trump were essentially unchanged as
04:54he fired tens of thousands of federal workers and upended the U.S. approach to Russia-Ukraine
05:00war.
05:01The poll also found 50% disapproved of the job he was doing, down from 51% last week,
05:07a change well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
05:14Public approval of Trump's job performance so far has remained higher than it was for
05:18most part of his 2017-2021 first term in office, and higher than his predecessor Joe Biden
05:26enjoyed during his four-year term.
05:29The poll of 1,029 U.S. adults conducted online on Friday through Sunday also found that 50%
05:36of respondents supported Trump's approach on immigration, up from 47% last week.
05:42Another 42% said they did not support his immigration policy.
05:48Now shifting focus to another very important news coming in from the United States of America.
05:54Can consumers really make Wall Street feel the squeeze?
05:58A viral protest is urging Americans to shut their wallets for 24 hours on the 28th of
06:03February to take a stand against corporate greed.
06:07But will this economic blackout move the needle or fade as just another hashtag?
06:20A nationwide economic protest is gaining momentum online.
06:25A grassroots movement called the People's Union USA is urging Americans to stop spending
06:32for 24 hours on February 28.
06:36No shopping, no fast food, no gas.
06:40Their message, hit corporations where it hurts, their profits.
06:46But will this economic blackout make a real impact?
06:51From TikTok to Instagram, the February 28 economic blackout is gaining fraction.
06:59The movement, spearheaded by activist John Squass, known online as the One Call Jay,
07:05is calling for a complete halt in spending for one day.
07:10The goal?
07:11To push back against rising prices, corporate greed, and billionaire tax breaks.
07:19Big corporations like Walmart, Target, and McDonald's are key targets of the protest.
07:27Some online supporters are calling for boycotts of companies that recently ended diversity,
07:33equity, and inclusion programs after a Trump executive order.
07:40But at its core, organizers say the blackout is about economic justice.
07:47A one-day boycott may not shake the stock market, but if enough people participate,
07:54it sends a clear message to corporations that consumers are fed up.
08:01With inflation squeezing wallets, many Americans are voicing frustration over rising costs.
08:09Supporters of the movement say even a single day of collective action could prove that
08:14consumers have power.
08:17The question now is, will enough people take part to make a dent?
08:24So will February 28 be a wake-up call for corporate America or just a social media trend?
08:32That answer depends on whether Americans are willing to keep their wallets closed.
08:41The acrimonious approach of U.S. President Donald Trump and his ambition to make Canada
08:46the 51st state of the United States of America has not only been a matter of debate in the
08:51upcoming Canadian elections, but also has earned the ire of the Canadians themselves.
08:57Canadian citizens have signed a parliamentary petition now urging Prime Minister Trudeau
09:02to revoke the citizenship of Donald Trump's close buddy and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
09:11Musk has attacked Trudeau on various occasions, calling him a girl, and how he was confident
09:16that Trudeau will lose the upcoming elections.
09:20Two-lakh-fifty-thousand Canadian citizens and residents have signed a parliamentary
09:27petition urging Canada to revoke Elon Musk's citizenship and passport.
09:33Musk has been associated with the U.S. President Donald Trump, who has proposed annexing the
09:39country as the 51st state of the United States.
09:44Musk is a citizen of South Africa, Canada and the U.S.
09:48The petition to revoke Musk's citizenship has been addressed to the Canadian Prime Minister
09:53Justin Trudeau.
09:56Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa and had previously obtained a Canadian passport
10:02as a teenager through his mother who was born in Canada.
10:06He later got U.S. citizenship after arriving in the U.S. on a student visa.
10:14The petition to revoke Musk's citizenship is open until June 20, 2025, after which the
10:21clerk of petitions will have to certify that at least 500 of its signatures are legitimate.
10:28Then it must wait until a new session of Parliament opens before it can be presented to the House
10:34of Commons for debate.
10:38A 2014 law called the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act previously included provisions
10:44to revoke citizenship if a dual-national Canadian was convicted of national security offences.
10:52Trudeau had promised to repeal the law when he ran for Prime Minister.
10:56By 2017, the denaturalization provisions were removed and a new law re-nationalized
11:03any Canadian stripped of their citizenship on national security grounds.
11:09But with an acrimonious relationship between Trudeau and Musk, the Canadian Prime Minister's
11:14decision to revoke denationalization has backfired.
11:19Will the petitions strip Musk of his Canadian citizenship?
11:24Bureau Report, India Today.
11:31India's neighborhood is in trouble on the eastern and the western front.
11:35Pakistan's ambitious plan to turn Gwadar into a global trade hub is facing yet another major
11:41setback.
11:42The highly anticipated new Gwadar International Airport, funded by China and envisioned as
11:47a key piece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which also is a part of the Belt
11:52and Road Initiative, was supposed to be operational by 2023.
11:58But two years on, it is still far from being operational in the rest of region of Balochistan.
12:04Delays, cost overruns and political tensions have turned what was supposed to be a symbol
12:09of economic progress for Pakistan into a cautionary tale.
12:18The $246 million new Gwadar International Airport was meant to be Pakistan's largest
12:25airport and a gateway to trade under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
12:33But today it stands eerily silent, the runway waiting for aircraft that may never come.
12:42Satellite images reveal stalled construction, missing infrastructure and growing frustration.
12:51So what's causing the delay?
12:55Security concerns loom large.
12:59Baloch freedom fighters claim Chinese-led projects exploit local resources, fueling
13:06insurgent attacks.
13:09In response, China has delayed financial commitments.
13:15Then there is the Pakistani red tape, mismanagement, bureaucratic hurdles and financial constraints
13:22that have further slowed the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
13:31For Gwadar's residents, the delay isn't just about the airport, it's about broken
13:35promises.
13:36Jobs, infrastructure and economic growth were all pledged, but little has materialised.
13:44Not a single local was hired at the airport, not even as a security guard.
13:55The port has been around for 20 years and now the international airport has been constructed.
14:00But not one person from Gwadar has been employed there, not even as a watchman.
14:05Forget the other jobs, how many Baloch people are at this port that was built for CPEC?
14:11How many of these people are natives?
14:18Basic necessities like water and electricity remain scarce, sparking protests.
14:25Many question whether Gwadar's development benefits locals or just the Chinese investors.
14:33The delay raises bigger concerns about the China-Pakistan relations and the sustainability
14:40of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
14:42Beijing has invested over $60 billion in Pakistan, but economic instability has led China to
14:50rethink its priorities.
14:53Some believe the airport isn't for Pakistan, but for China, to secure direct access to
15:00Balochistan.
15:03Balochistan is extremely rich in resources and has long been a battleground.
15:10Separatist insurgents accuse the government of exploiting their land while leaving locals
15:16in poverty.
15:18Attacks on Chinese workers have surged and security concerns even forced the airport's
15:23inauguration to be held virtually.
15:27Despite these tensions, people in Gwadar haven't given up.
15:32The government promised reforms, but so far, nothing has changed.
15:38So what is the future of this billion-dollar gamble?
15:42Will New Gwadar International Airport ever serve the people of Balochistan, or will it
15:48remain an expensive monument to unfulfilled promises?
15:54One thing is clear, as long as the people of Gwadar feel left behind, no amount of runways
16:02will take them where they need to go.
16:05Bureau report, India Today.
16:14And on India's eastern front, Bangladesh is finally feeling the strain of a continued
16:19interim government in control of the country with no elections in sight.
16:24In an unprecedented move, Bangladesh's army chief, General Vakharu Zaman, warned that
16:29the UNIS government should not undermine law and order machinery.
16:33Warning Muhammad Yunus of major disruption and emphasizing the serious threat of internal
16:39political conflicts posing national security concerns, General Zaman said, Bangladesh will
16:45fall apart if the authority of the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies
16:52are undermined.
17:23Well, there are concerns when it comes to security, and what's the future of Bangladesh
17:42going to look like?
17:43To discuss all this and more, I'm being joined by senior journalist, Salahuddin Shoaib Chaudhry.
17:48He's Editor Blitz, joining me from Dhaka.
17:50This is Salahuddin Shoaib Chaudhry.
17:52Thank you so much for joining us over here.
17:54It is a major concern now.
17:55There is pressure mounting.
17:57Earlier, it seemed like democracy was, according to the West, flourishing.
18:02But now it does seem like democracy and freedoms are being undermined in Bangladesh.
18:08Thank you very much.
18:11You see, since August 5th, the democracy has died in Bangladesh.
18:17And now what we're seeing, the mob justice, the persecution of religious minorities, Hindus,
18:23and the declining foreign investment, shutting down of the factories and increasing the rates
18:31of unemployment.
18:32I mean, it's a complete chaotic situation.
18:36So Bangladesh is, under the current regime of Mohammed Yunus, it is actually joining
18:43towards the destination of a caliphate.
18:47And under such scenarios, what General Walker is about to say, that he has seen enough in
18:56the last seven and eight months.
18:57So when a general gives this kind of message, I'm sure that everyone understands what that
19:03means.
19:04Well, Shoaib, again, you know, this is the same army chief who was known to be family
19:10to Sheikh Hasina, almost seemed like a betrayal, that he did not secure her and the government's
19:18interests, and that Sheikh Hasina had to flee, of course, a very, very difficult situation
19:22and circumstance.
19:23But today he's now turning around and asking Yunus to be accountable and be held accountable.
19:30You see, I should not say that he has betrayed Sheikh Hasina, but I should say he had no
19:36other option at that moment, because millions of jihadis and Islamists were on the street
19:41and also demonstrators.
19:43But he hoped that with this so-called global image, he hoped that you will organize an
19:53election, hold an election, within maximum 18 months from that, August 2024.
19:59And now more than seven months has passed.
20:01There is no sign of any election.
20:03In fact, Yunus is trying to prolong the election and push it to a certain uncertain timing,
20:10I mean, maybe 2027, 2028, something like this.
20:13So under such situation, as I say, the country is collapsing.
20:18Economy has completely collapsed.
20:20And there is no law and order in the country, absolutely no law and order.
20:24So as the chief of the army, he also understands that such situation, which is also causing
20:32some security threat to our largest neighbor, India.
20:37So maybe for that reason, and the Pakistanis increasing activities in this country, I mean,
20:42when I say Pakistanis in Pakistani army and Pakistani ISI.
20:46So these are very bad sign for the sovereignty of my country and independence.
20:51And Pakistanis are openly saying that they are looking for reuniting, Bangladesh reuniting.
20:59That's a real concern, because a lot of people don't understand what's happening in Bangladesh,
21:05the kind of influence that we're seeing of Pakistan now in Bangladesh, and the fact that
21:11with the change in government in the United States of America, Trump coming in, it does
21:16seem like things are going to get difficult for Yunus.
21:19But Pakistan is trying to make hay while the sun shines.
21:24Yes, Pakistan is clearly trying to turn Bangladesh into, again, to the previous identity of East Pakistan.
21:33So this is Bangladesh army.
21:35This is not Pakistan army.
21:37And for Bangladesh army, it is their responsibility now to save the country from the evil clutches
21:43of Pakistanis.
21:44And I can only tell you that people are anticipating, speculating coup, whatever.
21:50But I don't think there will be a coup.
21:51That army will act for protecting our sovereignty, and for that cause, they will have to take
21:56some stern measures, maybe.
21:59Right.
22:00You're saying that you don't think there's going to be a coup, because it does seem like
22:03the general was very clear that Yunus better get his act together, hold elections, or else
22:10the army is going to step in.
22:12So what's the option for the army over here?
22:15What's the option for Bangladesh?
22:18This is actually why I am not calling it coup, because Yunus is on the side of Pakistanis.
22:24And he's actually a foreign mercenary.
22:27And our army, and we Bengalis, our army represents us.
22:31So you can call it war, a war to protect our sovereignty.
22:36And this is a war.
22:37Okay.
22:38Semantics over here.
22:39This is a war, not coup.
22:41So I'm sure that our army, I wish all the success to our army, and they will be successful.
22:46And soon my country will be liberated from these mercenaries.
22:50Okay.
22:51Just briefly, will Awami League be able to fight elections, or is it just going to be
22:56BNP and then a boycott by Awami League, as was the case when Awami League was fighting
23:01elections and BNP boycotted because there was no interim government?
23:04Gita, our chief of army staff has clearly mentioned inclusive.
23:10He wants an inclusive election.
23:12So it means with Awami League.
23:13And secondly, a very important thing people are not talking, that the caretaker government
23:18system has been revived by our high court a few months ago.
23:21So once it was revived, this so-called interim government has already become illegal.
23:26So I think that army will remove this unis and have some caretaker government, which
23:33will hold a free, fair, and inclusive election.
23:36And of course, Awami League is one of the two largest parties, and they will participate
23:41in the election.
23:42Right.
23:43We can see the visuals over there.
23:44It clearly is a very, very dire situation in Bangladesh in terms of how things are looking
23:50on the ground.
23:51Salahuddin Shoaib Chaudhry, thank you so much for joining us here on the India Today Network.
23:55We'll keep coming back to you because Dhaka certainly is of great importance to India
24:00and Indian interests have to remain secure in that country till the time there are elections
24:06that are going to be held.
24:07Thank you so much.
24:08And with that, we'll shift focus to other international stories during the rounds today.
24:20An unknown enlist first discovered in three children who ate a bat has killed more than
24:2550 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past few weeks, according to
24:31health workers.
24:32Samples from 13 cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg.
24:37But the WHO said that health teams were locally investigating other potential causes, including
24:43malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other fevers.
24:51Puppy Mountain in China has become a social media sensation.
24:54The mountain resembles a puppy's head and has become a popular tourist destination.
25:00The mountain is set along the Yangtze River in Yichang, a city in Hubei province in central
25:05China.
25:06A photo of the mountain was shared by a designer on Valentine's Day.
25:13South Korea's fertility rate rose in 2024 for the first time in nine years, supported
25:19by an increase in marriages.
25:21The country's fertility rate, the average number of babies a woman is expected to have
25:25during her reproductive life, stood at 0.75 in 2024, according to Statistics Korea.
25:36That's all in this edition of World Today, but before we end the show, I'll leave you
25:39with President Donald Trump's latest stunt.
25:43After repeatedly talking about it, the American president projected his dream of turning Gaza
25:48into a Riviera manifested through an AI-generated video.
25:52Trump posted the video on his social account, promoting the transformation of Gaza into
25:58a Gulf state-like resort, leaving many stunned and overjoyed.
26:03Goodbye and take care!