President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House Thursday, underscoring improved ties between Washington and Islamabad. Relations have warmed as Trump’s once close partnership with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cooled, largely over India’s discounted Russian oil purchases after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump has responded by raising […]
Electric vehicles, once viewed as luxury novelties, are steadily making their way onto Dhaka’s crowded streets. More than 500 EVs have been registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority since September 2022, when official registration began. Annual registrations have jumped from about 70 in 2023 to well over 300 this year, officials said. Global carmakers […]
A mosquito coil sparked a blaze that destroyed at least eight houses in Lalmonirhat district Thursday night, officials said. The fire began in a cowshed in Aditmari upazila, where farmer Ukileshwar had lit the coil. Flames quickly spread, engulfing homes belonging to him and another farmer, Onil. Residents reported the blaze to authorities, and firefighters […]
South Asia is among the regions most affected by President Trump’s new policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. In FY2024, South Asian countries together accounted for over 290,000 H-1B visas, with India alone representing 71% of all approvals. While India’s dominance in the program makes it the most exposed, smaller countries […]
With 530 H-1B approvals in FY2024, Sri Lanka’s share of U.S. high-skilled migration is small but growing. Most Sri Lankans entering on H-1B visas are in IT or academic fields. The new $100,000 fee could disproportionately impact Sri Lankan applicants, given the country’s relatively lower volume and lack of corporate representation in the U.S. The […]
Pakistan had 3,055 citizens approved for H-1B visas in FY2024, a modest but significant number, largely concentrated in tech, finance, and healthcare. With many Pakistani professionals entering the U.S. via graduate education, the high fee may discourage employers from converting student visas to work visas. Experts warn that smaller firms may avoid sponsoring Pakistani candidates […]
India, accounting for a staggering 283,755 H-1B approvals in FY2024 — over 70% of the total — stands to lose the most under President Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee. The country has long dominated the program, particularly through its vast tech and outsourcing sectors. Indian firms such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro […]
The United States’ new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications has raised concerns in Bangladesh, which saw 1,173 of its citizens approved for the visa in FY2024. While far behind India, Bangladesh has steadily built a pipeline of IT and engineering professionals seeking opportunities abroad. Many Bangladeshi workers pursue U.S. jobs through outsourcing firms or […]
Bangladesh is experiencing a troubling increase in HIV cases and deaths even as global numbers continue to decline, health officials said. The country recorded 1,438 new HIV infections and 326 deaths last year, up from 1,276 infections and 266 deaths in 2023, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. In the first six months […]
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 100% tariffs on branded and patented drug imports starting Oct. 1 could hit India’s pharmaceutical industry hard. The U.S. is India’s largest market, accounting for $8.7 billion of exports in FY24, or 31% of total shipments. Indian firms supply more than 45% of America’s generics and 15% of […]
