I realized that time wasn’t rushing by, I was. This long lockdown has meant longer hours at home watching the birds, and they in turn have promptly obliged, writes Sneha Sudha Komath for South Asia Monitor
Stricter H-1B visa rules, OPT Termination Will Make US Less Attractive for Indian and South Asian Students
It is not just Indian professionals, but this bill could result in a further drop in Indian students - the largest foreign student cohort in the US - showing interest in higher studies in the US. It is not just the H-1B visa by itself, but the proposal for ending the OPT which prospective students would be paying attention to. OPT helps students in drawing employment, gaining experience and potentially transferring to H-1B Visa status. In 2024-2025, over 140,000 Indian students were participating in the OPT program.
Musical Bridge-Building: A Cultural Challenge to the Cross-border Political Dynamics of India–Pakistan Relations
Le-Huu calls the Red EP “a bright exemplar of world fusion music… -- a folk duo blending South Asian and American traditions” layering “original Urdu, Hindi, and English lyrics over classical Indian ragas and beats borrowed from rock, reggae, and American roots music.”
Bulldozing War Memory: South Asia’s Selective Silence Over Desecration of Gaza's Commonwealth Graves
In the end, the need to remember our war dead transcends borders, alliances, and eras. These disturbed graves — British, Australian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi in origin — call us to a solemn duty: To honour all who fell with dignity. Forgetting them, or allowing their memory to be selectively bulldozed, diminishes us all.
From Crisis Management to Crisis Prevention: South Asian Research Collective Working on AI-Driven Solutions
Together, the team conducts collaborative research and policy development initiatives across four South Asian countries - Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Their work aims to strengthen national preparedness, improve crisis response systems, and support governments in building resilient, technology-enabled public safety infrastructure. Together, these researchers represent a growing national capability in applying Artificial Intelligence to real-world challenges.
More on SOUTH ASIA ABROAD
Yoga helps 'confidently negotiate challenges': PM Modi
In what can be seen as a subtle message in the backdrop of the recent India-China face-off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the International Yoga Day on Sunday to send out a message by asserting that yoga allows "emotional stability to confidently negotiate the challenges before us"
Immerse yourself in melody, books this World Music Day
Remember the goosebumps you got when Indira Gandhi drove down Rajpath on Republic Day to the haunting strains of "Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon"? Or this homily from the late comedian and singer Robin Williams: "You know what music is? God's little reminder
Sri Lanka to allow more foreign universities to enter the country
Sri Lanka is amending its University Act to permit more foreign universities to set up shop on the island, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has told European Union Ambassadors in Colombo
Sri Lanka to reopen movie theaters on June 27
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Cultural Affairs says that all cinema halls in the country will be reopened from the 27th of this month
Sri Lanka orders probe into “match-fixing” of 2011 cricket World Cup final
Sri Lanka's Sports minister Dullas Alahapperuma has ordered a full-scale investigation into match-fixing claims involving the finals of the 2011 cricket World Cup
Malala celebrates completion of Oxford degree
Pakistani education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Friday took to social media to celebrate her recent graduation from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Cinema halls to re-open in Sri Lanka after three months
All cinema halls in Sri Lanka will be opened starting 27 June, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development, and Cultural Affairs said on Friday (June 19)
Pakistanis looking beyond Bollywood fixation, find Malayalam cinema 'secular'
The emergence of Netflix, Prime Video, and other web-based entertainment platforms have helped Pakistani viewers/writers to look beyond Bollywood and to other Indian regional cinema, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
Yoga gaining in popularity among Bhutanese
Yoga is increasingly gaining popularity among Bhutanese urbanites. Nehru Wangchuck Cultural Centre (NWCC) has more than 4,000 registered Bhutanese
Presence of women in Afghan military grows
Presence of female security forces in Afghanistan military has increased by 16 percent, according to the Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)
First 'observant' Sikh woman graduates from US military academy
Anmol Narang has become the first “observant” Sikh to graduate from the US Military Academy at a ceremony presided over by President Donald Trump
Akshaya Patra, world's largest non-profit, feeds 63 million needy during lockdown
With the profound message of Iskcon Founder-Acharya Shrila Prabhupada that "no one should go hungry" as its motto, the country's leading non-government organisation Akshaya Patra Foundation has served whopping 6.3 crores (63 million) meals to the needy since the lockdown was enforced across the country on March 25 to contain the coronavirus spread
India's A R Rahman to co-produce and compose in US-India-Bangladesh venture
Legendary Indian composer and Oscar-BAFTA-Grammy winner A R Rahman has joined Bangladesh's Mostofa Sarwar Farooki directorial No Land's Man as co-producer and composer
Pakistan 'Caliphal dream'? How a Turkish TV series has mesmerized a country and its prime minister
This 2014 Turkish TV series has set viewership records and is reportedly seen in 65 countries. Over 40 million have watched it in Pakistan alone since the holy Ramadan month, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor
