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October 9, 2026
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Nadella Thanks Trump for Top US Tech Honour

Microsoft chief Satya Nadella has thanked US President Donald Trump after receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation…reports Asian Lite News Desk

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has thanked US President Donald Trump for awarding him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, recognising his contribution to the technology industry and the transformation of the software giant.

The Indian-origin executive was among six technology leaders honoured by Trump at the New Golden Age Summit in Washington on Thursday. The awards recognised their contributions to scientific research, technological innovation and American economic leadership.

In a post on social media platform X, Nadella expressed gratitude for the recognition and said he was humbled to be honoured alongside leading figures in American technology.

“Thank you, @POTUS, for this incredible honor today. I’m humbled to stand alongside so many giants of American innovation and looking forward for what we can continue to do together to advance technology and drive American prosperity,” Nadella wrote.

Trump praised Nadella’s leadership at Microsoft, highlighting his role in reshaping the company’s business and strengthening its position in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

“For more than three decades, Satya Nadella has been a key figure in the transformation of Microsoft, revolutionizing the company and empowering businesses, students, and consumers from all over the world with some of the most capable software ever built or ever even conceived,” Trump said.

The President also referred to Nadella’s earlier contributions to Microsoft’s research, development and cloud computing operations before he became chief executive in 2014.

“Then he had the vision to make Microsoft an early leader in super intelligence,” Trump said.

“Satya, we are honored to give you the National Medal of Technology and innovation. It is so well deserved. Congratulations, Satya,” he added.

Recognition for Microsoft’s transformation

The official award citation highlighted Nadella’s transformative leadership of Microsoft, its revival during the expansion of cloud computing and the development of large-scale computing infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.

Since becoming chief executive in 2014, Nadella has overseen a major shift in Microsoft’s business towards cloud services and subscription-based software. The company has also expanded its investments in AI technologies and infrastructure, positioning itself among the major players in the rapidly developing sector.

Microsoft’s cloud computing business has become a central part of its operations, serving companies, public institutions, developers and individual users. Its AI initiatives have further strengthened the company’s role in the development and deployment of advanced computing systems.

The medal recognises contributions to technological innovation in the United States. Nadella’s selection places him among a group of prominent technology executives and entrepreneurs recognised at the Washington event.

Musk, Brin and Huang among other recipients

The ceremony also honoured Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, AMD chief executive Lisa Su and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell.

Musk, Brin, Huang and Su received the National Medal of Science, while Nadella and Dell were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Trump praised Musk’s work in space exploration, satellite communications and electric vehicles, describing him as a modern-day Thomas Edison.

The President also credited Huang with advancing Nvidia’s computing technology, which has become a key component of the infrastructure used to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems.

The awards brought together leaders from several major areas of the technology sector, including software, cloud computing, semiconductors, electric vehicles and space technology.

Trump outlines scientific priorities

The summit also provided an opportunity for Trump to outline his administration’s priorities for scientific research and technological development.

These included quantum computing, nuclear energy, space exploration and superintelligence. Trump said his administration had set a target of developing a quantum computer for scientific discovery by 2028.

Quantum computing is an emerging field that seeks to use principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain calculations in ways that differ from conventional computers. Researchers are exploring its potential applications in scientific modelling, materials research and other complex problems.

The recognition of Nadella comes as major technology companies continue to invest heavily in AI and the computing infrastructure required to support it.

For Microsoft, the award highlights the company’s transformation under Nadella’s leadership and its growing involvement in technologies expected to shape the next phase of the digital economy.

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US Green Card Freeze Hits Indian IT Giants

The Trump administration has suspended employment-based green card processing for eight major technology companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL, citing ongoing investigations…reports Asian Lite News Desk The Trump administration has suspended a key employment-based green card process for eight major technology and outsourcing companies, including Indian IT giants Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and HCL, as Vice President JD Vance announced a crackdown on alleged visa fraud. The suspension, announced on Thursday by US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling at a press conference led by Vance, also covers Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. It bars the companies from filing new permanent labour certification applications and halts the processing of pending applications under the programme. Sonderling said the decision followed ongoing criminal and federal investigations into the companies. “Due to ongoing criminal investigations led by the Department of Labour’s Inspector General Anthony DiEsposito, who will get into this shortly, I am hereby suspending from the Permanent Labour Certification Program some of the largest IT outsourcing firms in the world, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini,” Sonderling said. He added that Microsoft and Adobe were also being suspended because of multiple active federal investigations. “We will not accept or process any pending permanent labour certification applications involving these companies,” he said. The Permanent Labour Certification programme, commonly known as PERM, is a key step in the process through which employers sponsor foreign workers for employment-based permanent residence in the United States. According to figures presented by Sonderling, the eight companies had collectively requested nearly three million foreign workers since 2009. They had received more than 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and over 100,000 permanent labour certifications. The administration did not disclose company-specific findings or provide details of the alleged violations during the press conference. Vance accused employers of using the H-1B visa programme to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign employees. He said the programme was intended to help companies recruit highly skilled workers for positions that could not be filled by American employees. “The H-1B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring in really the best of the best from outside the United States of America for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers,” he said. Vance singled out Microsoft, alleging that the company had laid off 6,000 American workers while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. He said the administration wanted companies to change their hiring practices rather than withdraw from the American market. Asked whether the suspension would be temporary or permanent, Vance said, “The suspension of PERM is gonna last as long as it needs to.” He added that the administration had the tools to continue the suspension indefinitely but wanted the companies to improve their conduct. The US Justice Department also announced that it was actively investigating companies suspected of favouring foreign workers over American employees. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the authorities could pursue criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits as part of the enforcement measures. The decision could have significant implications for Indian technology professionals and outsourcing companies operating in the United States, where Indian firms have long relied on employment-based immigration programmes to deploy skilled workers to American clients. The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in qualifying specialised occupations on a temporary basis. PERM, meanwhile, is part of a separate process through which employers seek to sponsor eligible foreign workers for permanent residence. The suspension announced on Thursday specifically concerns permanent labour certification applications involving the eight named companies. It does not, by itself, establish the cancellation of existing H-1B visas or green cards. The impact on individual employees will depend on their immigration status and the stage of their applications. The administration did not provide a detailed timeline for the suspension or specify when processing might resume.

Nepal Floods Cause $1.66 Billion In Damage, Says World Bank

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