A broad coalition of professionals, including healthcare workers, educators, and religious leaders, has filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the Trump administration’s newly introduced $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

Filed on Friday in San Francisco, the lawsuit argues that the steep fee is unlawful and threatens to cripple critical sectors of the U.S. economy by restricting access to global talent.

“Without relief, hospitals will lose medical staff, churches will lose pastors, classrooms will lose teachers, and industries across the country risk losing key innovators,” the group said in a statement.

The coalition is urging the court to immediately block the policy, warning that the fee undermines the long-standing H-1B visa system relied on by employers across fields, from tech to healthcare.

The new visa fee, announced by President Donald Trump’s administration just last month, was implemented with only 36 hours’ notice, sparking widespread confusion among companies and immigration attorneys.

Many businesses were unsure how the rule would be applied or whether they would be affected.

The H-1B visa, which allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, is particularly critical to Silicon Valley, which has long depended on international talent to drive innovation.

Despite Trump’s hardline immigration stance since returning to the White House, the H-1B program had largely remained untouched—until now.

The fee is part of President Trump’s renewed and intensified crackdown on immigration.

The administration argues that the H-1B system has been misused, claiming it allows companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.

The United States issues about 85,000 H-1B visas annually through a lottery system, with India accounting for roughly 75% of all recipients.

The policy has drawn criticism from tech leaders and entrepreneurs, including former Trump ally Elon Musk, who have long warned that curbing skilled immigration would damage the U.S. economy.

They argue that there simply isn’t enough domestic talent to meet the needs of the tech industry and that high-skilled visa holders play a vital role in maintaining the country’s global leadership in innovation.

As the lawsuit unfolds, employers and workers remain in limbo.

The coalition’s legal action seeks to restore predictability and fairness to the visa system and prevent disruptions that could affect vital sectors of the U.S economy.

“The suit asks the court to immediately block the order and restore predictability for employers and workers,” the coalition emphasized.

Hamas on Friday expressed willingness to begin immediate negotiations on releasing Israeli hostages and ending the nearly two-year-long Gaza war, following the announcement of a 20-point peace plan by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The plan was unveiled on Monday at the White House, where Trump appeared alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who offered cautious support for the proposal.

According to the White House, the initiative outlines a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire, hostage exchange, humanitarian relief, and the eventual reconstruction and governance of Gaza.

Below are the key points of the plan as released by the White House:

Demilitarized Gaza: Gaza will become a deradicalized, terror-free zone that poses no threat to its neighbors.

Reconstruction Effort: The territory will be redeveloped to benefit the people of Gaza, who have “suffered more than enough.”

Immediate Ceasefire: Once both sides accept the proposal, hostilities will end, and Israeli forces will withdraw to an agreed line to allow for hostage exchanges. All military operations will be frozen during this phase.

Hostage Release: Within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance, all Israeli hostages, living and deceased, will be returned.

Prisoner Swap: Israel will free 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023, including all women and children. For every deceased Israeli hostage returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 Gazans.

Amnesty for Hamas Members: Hamas members who renounce violence and surrender their weapons will receive amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza will be granted safe passage to host countries.

Humanitarian Aid: Full-scale humanitarian assistance will resume immediately, focusing on restoring water, electricity, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Aid Delivery Oversight: Distribution will be handled independently through the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other neutral organizations, following existing January 2025 aid mechanisms.

Transitional Government: Gaza will be administered by a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee supervised by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump, with other global figures including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The board will oversee governance and redevelopment until the reformed Palestinian Authority can reassume control.

Economic Redevelopment: A Trump-led economic initiative will attract global investors and urban development experts to rebuild Gaza’s economy and infrastructure.

Special Economic Zone: A designated area with preferential trade and tariff policies will be created to boost investment.

Freedom of Movement: No resident will be forced to leave Gaza; those who wish to depart or return may do so freely.

Demilitarization: Hamas and other factions will play no role in Gaza’s governance. All weapons, tunnels, and military infrastructure will be destroyed under international monitoring and a buy-back program.

Regional Guarantees: Neighboring Arab states will help ensure compliance and maintain regional stability.

International Stabilization Force: A temporary multinational force will deploy to Gaza to train local police and secure borders in collaboration with Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

Israeli Withdrawal: Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. Its forces will withdraw in stages as security milestones are achieved.

Implementation in Phases: If Hamas delays or rejects the plan, reconstruction and aid operations will proceed in secured “terror-free” zones.

Interfaith Dialogue: Religious leaders will launch a dialogue initiative promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Path to Statehood: Once Gaza is rebuilt and the Palestinian Authority’s reforms are completed, conditions will be ripe for discussions on Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood.

Permanent Dialogue: The U.S. will facilitate continued talks between Israel and the Palestinians to establish a lasting framework for peace and prosperity.

The White House described the plan as “a bold and practical pathway to lasting peace,” while regional reactions remain cautious. Hamas’s initial response, expressing readiness for talks, marks a potentially significant shift after years of bloodshed.

Japan is set to make history as Sanae Takaichi, a veteran conservative politician, emerges as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the country’s first woman prime minister.

Takaichi, 64, clinched victory in Saturday’s runoff election against Shinjiro Koizumi, the youthful and charismatic son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Her win places her firmly on track to be confirmed by parliament, where the LDP holds a majority.

Once sworn in, she will become Japan’s fifth prime minister in five years, succeeding outgoing leader Shigeru Ishiba.

While her rise marks a symbolic milestone for women in Japanese politics, analysts caution that Takaichi’s leadership is unlikely to usher in sweeping gender reforms.

A staunch conservative and longtime ally of the late Shinzo Abe, she is better known for her hardline views on defence, national identity, and economic security than for feminist advocacy.

During her campaign, Takaichi pledged to strengthen Japan’s military posture and tighten immigration rules, reflecting growing voter anxiety over national security and economic challenges.

Her tough stance helped rally conservative factions within the LDP and win over voters disillusioned by recent corruption scandals and rising inflation.

Shifting Tone Amid Political Realities
Takaichi, who once served as Minister for Economic Security, has been a vocal critic of China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific.

However, she tempered her rhetoric during this campaign, adopting a more pragmatic tone than in past contests when her pledge to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine cost her electoral support.

A regular visitor to the shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals, Takaichi’s stance has often strained Tokyo’s relations with China and South Korea. Her softer tone this time around signals an effort to project stability and broaden her appeal.

A former college drummer inspired by Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long cultivated an image of discipline and determination.

Admirers see her as a symbol of resilience in a male-dominated political landscape, while critics argue her conservative views on family and gender equality remain outdated.

She opposes revising Japan’s 19th-century civil code that forces married couples to share the same surname, a policy that overwhelmingly affects women and has shown little interest in challenging entrenched patriarchal norms.

Still, Takaichi has promised to improve gender representation in her cabinet to “Nordic” standards, acknowledging Japan’s poor ranking of 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Report.

Echoing her mentor Abe’s “Abenomics” blueprint, Takaichi supports expansive fiscal spending and aggressive monetary easing to stimulate Japan’s sluggish economy.

She has also raised concerns about the economic influence of foreign investors and called for stricter rules to protect domestic industries.

On trade, she has expressed willingness to renegotiate certain deals with the United States if they are perceived as disadvantaging Japan , signalling a more assertive approach to foreign economic policy.

As she prepares to take office, Takaichi faces the dual challenge of reviving voter confidence in the scandal-hit LDP and steering Japan through economic headwinds, demographic decline, and regional security tensions.

Her election marks a breakthrough for Japanese politics, but whether she will transform the system or reinforce its conservative traditions remains to be seen.