Dharma in Digital Age Conference in Houston, Texas

In Search of Dharma in the Indian Diaspora

We have become an aggressive and divisive society which is becoming intolerant of others' ideas and points of view. For a pluralistic society like India, all the people who live there are important and we need to work together to take the country forward and to great heights. Unless we change our present thinking, we have the danger of becoming an extremist state

Beyond the Remittance: How Bangladesh's Overseas Workers Are Reshaping Post-Uprising Politics

For decades, Bangladeshi governments referred to their overseas workers as remittance warriors—a formulation that was generous in one respect and quietly limiting in another. It honored their economic contribution while bracketing their political identity. The July Uprising may have ended that bracketing for good. What is now taking shape, imperfectly and without clear resolution, is a constituency that earns its living abroad but has not surrendered its stake in what Bangladesh becomes.

US Immigration Policy Change Could Adversely Affect Indians, South Asians Seeking Employment-Based Green Cards

The policy could have particularly significant consequences for employment-based Green Card applicants, many of whom have traditionally relied on adjustment of status (AOS) while continuing to live and work legally in the U.S. There is a large number of Indian immigrants who stand to face significant disruption and delay because of this policy shift.

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.

More on South Asia Diaspora and Global Indians

Indian Americans making US stronger, says Biden; Modi praises 'talent' of Indian Americans

The four million strong Indian diaspora, billed as the most educated and most affluent of all ethnic communities in America and recognized for their phenomenal "rise" in all spheres of American society and public life, came in for fulsome mention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had meetings in Washington with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a person of Indian descent (her mother came to the US from Chennai) who has ascended to the second highest office in the nation

US VP Kamala Harris asking Pakistan to act against terrorism, says India

US Vice President Kamala Harris has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that she was asking Pakistan to act on terrorism and ensure that terror groups do not target India or the US, according to India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla

US 'strongly supports' Paris-New Delhi strategic ties; India relationships to be strengthened

The US strongly supports France strengthening ties with India, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said amid a diplomatic row between Washington and Paris over their roles and alliances in the Indo-Pacific region

Our diaspora is our strength: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Washington for a three-day visit, Thursday received a warm welcome from the members of the Indian community at Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC

US VP Kamala Harris will be Modi's host in Washington

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not the head of state like President Joe Biden but head of government his equivalent in protocol is Vice President Kamala Harris, who is partly of Indian origin, and she will be the formal host

Four Bangladeshis charged with abduction of compatriot in Malaysia

Five persons, including four Bangladeshis, were charged at Malaysia's Magistrate's Court with abducting a Bangladeshi male and demanding Taka one million ( USD 11,986.10) ransom in August

Prof. Dr Harun-Or-Rashid is Bangladesh Chair at South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany

Bangladeshi political scientist Professor Harun-or-Rashid, University of Dhaka,  has joined the South Asia Institute (SAI), Heidelberg University, Germany as Bangabandhu Professorial Fellow. The Bangladesh government recently revived the chair after two decades of closure

Bangladeshi couple sentenced in US for supporting IS

A Bangladeshi couple was sentenced in the United States for providing support to the Islamic State, a banned foreign terrorist group in the US

Four Indian-origin people, three Nepalis among South Asians killed in New York floods

Four people of Indian origin and a Nepali family of three have died in New York region from the flooding caused by Hurricane Ida that battered the US

AAPI launches Adopt-A-Village Rural Health Initiative In India

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), which represents the interests of more than 80,000 practicing physicians in the United States and over 40,000 medical students, residents, and fellows of Indian origin in the country,  launched a novel Adopt-A-Village Rural Health Initiative in India at a virtual event attended by Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu and joined by Consul Generals of Chicago, New York, Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco

Bangladeshis in Malaysia: 12 Bangladeshis arrested for illegal stay as problems rise

Twelve Bangladeshi nationals are among 26 people arrested in Malaysia in different operations conducted by authorities as part of a larger crackdown on the foreigners staying illegally in the Southeast Asian country, media reports said. Authorities conducted raids in several cities earlier this week

Afghan diaspora protests against Taliban in London, elsewhere

Thousands of Afghans took to the streets in Central Landon, protesting against the Taliban which seized power in Afghanistan militarily, toppling the US-backed Afghan government in Kabul

Narrow escape for 160 Afghan Sikhs, Hindus at Kabul airport

Around 160 Sikh and Hindu citizens of Afghanistan may have narrowly escaped Thursday's twin bombings near the Kabul airport that killed several people

Former Maldivian minister, accused of sexual harassment, arrested in UK

Ali Waheed, Maldives former tourism minister, accused in multiple counts of sexual assaults charges, has been arrested in the United Kingdom after an Interpol notice was issued against him, media reports said

Indian Air Force's special flight evacuates over 85 Indians from Kabul

An Indian Air Force transport plane took off from Kabul Saturday morning with approximately 85 Indian nationals on board, NDTV said, as the government continued efforts to evacuate its remaining citizens stranded in Afghanistan