India

Hindu Business Line | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Corporate Corruption or Fraud

State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) have received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish a new company called the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC). This entity will be set up as a Section 8 company, which is a non-profit organization under the Companies Act, 2013.

The primary purpose of IDPIC is to develop a "Digital Payments Intelligence Platform" aimed at detecting and preventing fraudulent digital transactions specifically in public sector banks. The approval includes an exemption from the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, allowing the banks to hold more than 30 percent of the paid-up share capital in the company until October 16, 2026, despite the typical restrictions under Section 19(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Hindu | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

Thousands of H-1B visa interviews scheduled in India from mid-December onwards have been abruptly postponed by several months to allow for enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media and online profiles. Applicants who had interviews set as early as December 15 are now being rescheduled to dates as late as March 2026 or May 2026, causing significant delays in their return to the U.S. Many affected individuals are currently in India and cannot travel back without a valid visa.

The U.S. embassy in India has advised applicants not to attend consulate offices on their original interview dates, warning that admittance will be denied. The cancellations impact not only H-1B applicants but also other visa categories under new social media vetting norms. The exact number of affected applicants remains unknown. Numerous applicants have expressed frustration on social media about the sudden and lengthy rescheduling.

Immigration attorney Emily Neumann criticized the unpredictable nature of the visa appointment process, highlighting the difficulties created for businesses and employees who need to travel urgently. This move aligns with the Trump administration's prior tightenings of the H-1B visa program, including increased fees and intensified immigration vigilance. Indians constitute about 71% of approved H-1B applications in recent years, underlining the scale of the impact.

The Economic Times | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Chinese companies are significantly increasing their presence in Vietnam, driving record investment inflows and export shipments despite U.S. efforts to reduce economic dependence on China. Hanoi, historically cautious of China due to past conflicts and territorial disputes, is now approving Chinese telecom contracts, loans for infrastructure, and the use of Chinese aircraft, reflecting a strategic balancing act amid strained U.S.-Vietnam relations and U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Vietnam's imports from China have surged to about $168 billion through November, a nearly 30% increase from the previous year, with electronic parts making up almost a third. This growth is fueled by fading anti-China sentiment among younger Vietnamese and China's broader strategy to find new markets. Chinese brands like Yadea and BYD are competing in Vietnam's electric vehicle market, while Chinese retailers and tech giants such as KKV, TikTok, Lazada, and Tencent have expanded their footprint in the retail sector.

Chinese investment in Vietnam is shifting from simple tariff avoidance to longer-term commitments involving technology transfers and joint ventures with local partners. In 2025 alone, over $6.7 billion was pledged by Chinese and Hong Kong firms, making them the largest investors in Vietnam. Chinese manufacturers now occupy a growing share of industrial clusters like the DEEP C industrial park, indicating a broad reshaping of Vietnam’s industrial and economic landscape driven by Chinese involvement.