Global Scans · Transhumanism · Weekly Summary

• [New] US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will add a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme for skilled foreign workers. BBC News
• [New] International brands like H&M and Adidas are committed to using recycled polyester or sustainably produced polyester by 2030, driving demand for high-quality recycled polymers. Emergen Research
• [New] H&M plans to sell a €500 Million 8-Year Bond. Cosmetic Executive Women
• [New] H&M has committed to using only recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030 and runs in-store clothing take-back schemes across many markets. Reconomy
• [New] H&M Group has substantiated its target to reduce GHG emissions by 56% by 2030 with a parallel commitment to achieve 100% renewable electricity procurement across its entire supply chain. NewClimate Institute
• Intel's potential Apple alliance could stabilize U.S. manufacturing, but it risks antitrust scrutiny - especially with senators grilling Big Tech on H-1B visas and layoffs. Peerlist
• NASA and Lockheed are now mapping every step of the planned first flight, saying that sortie will involve the aircraft completing a lower-altitude loop at 217 kt (402 km/h) for the purpose of systems-integration evaluations. Flight Global
• The Trump administration plans to overhaul the H-1B visa program to prioritize higher-wage foreign workers and revise the U.S. citizenship test to make it more difficult. Boundless
• Strong Wind Warnings are active for Taranaki south of the Maunga and Banks Peninsula, with severe gale northeasterlies forecast to reach gusts of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) in exposed areas. The Watchers
• Japan is constructing a Tokyo-Nagoya line spanning more than 280 km, with an expected operating speed of 500 km/h. TASS
• SpaceX announced it will acquire EchoStar's AWS-4 and H-Block spectrum licenses in a transaction valued at $17 billion, consisting of $8.5 billion in cash, $8.5 billion in SpaceX equity, and an additional $2 billion in interest payments on EchoStar's debt through 2027. TeckNexus
• SpaceX's proposed $17 billion acquisition of EchoStar's AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses to underpin an advanced direct-to-cell (DTC) offering has fueled speculation that Starlink might eventually morph into a global carrier of both broadband and terrestrial mobile services. Light Reading
• Japan plans to launch commercial maglev services operating at a maximum speed of 505 km/h on the Chuo Shinkansen line. Railway PRO
• A severe precipitation warning threshold of the German Weather Service is set at 25 mm / h. Nature
• The remittance tax impacts Indian students and H-1B workers who will now have to pay extra to send money back home. Latest News, Breaking News, LIVE News, Top News Headlin
• China ramps up domestic AI chips: Chinese firms plan to build three factories to triple AI-chip output, aiming to match or exceed capabilities of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and reduce dependence on Nvidia's H-series chips. digitalstrategy-ai.com
• Trains will operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h, with initial stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. RAILMARKET.com

Last updated: 27 October 2025