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Washington, Sep 19: In a bid to tighten oversight of the H‑1B visa programme while reinforcing protections for American workers, President Donald Trump has renewed a $100,000 application fee and ordered federal agencies to scrutinize employers’ layoff practices more closely. Agencies must now consider recent and planned layoffs when assessing applications under the skilled ‑ worker visa programme. The order instructs the secretaries of state, labour, and homeland security to examine whether employers directly or indirectly carried out layoffs in the past year or plan future cuts affecting similarly situated US workers. Also read: Donald Trump Signs Act Expanding Russia, Iran Sanctions This requirement applies to labour condition applications, petitions, visas, and entry into the United States. However, the order clarifies that applications will not be automatically rejected solely because layoffs were announced. “I have determined that continued efforts must be made to protect and prioritize the American workforce,” Trump stated in the order. A separate proclamation renewed the $100,000 fee first imposed on September 19, 2025. The White House fact sheet described the charge as applying to certain H ‑ 1B applications but did not specify its duration or exemptions. The order sets a 30 ‑ day deadline for the labour secretary, through the Wage and Hour Division, to begin reviewing data from previously submitted labour condition applications. That review will determine whether further action against sponsoring employers is warranted. Coordination across federal agencies will support these checks, with the departments of state, labour, and homeland security consulting commerce, education, and the Small Business Administration to supply wage, employment, academic, and industrial data. The administration framed the measures as a response to alleged displacement of American workers and misuse of the programme. The order claimed technology employers collectively sought hundreds of thousands of H ‑ 1B visas while laying off between 800,000 and 1.3 million US employees from 2022 through 2026. It also alleged misrepresentation of job duties, working conditions, or applicants’ qualifications. Neither the order nor the fact sheet included employer responses. According to the White House, registrations from major outsourcing firms fell 92 per cent since the 2025 proclamation, while consular processing requests dropped nearly 97 per cent. The measures follow a December 2025 Department of Homeland Security rule replacing random selection with a wage ‑ weighted system. Fiscal year 2027 marked its first use, with registrations declining by almost 40 per cent. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19: Scrub typhus, a bacterial infection spread by larval mites, has expanded its reach in Sundaragada district, raising concern as cases are increasingly reported from urban areas rather than villages. The district health department has stepped up surveillance and awareness campaigns to contain the spread. So far, 5,545 blood samples have been tested, with 848 confirmed scrub typhus patients. While no deaths have been reported, the growing number of urban cases has prompted the health department to issue alerts and intensify preventive measures. Also read: Odisha Youth Burnt Alive after Brutal Assault Health workers are advising residents to wear full ‑ cover clothing when visiting forests or fields and to seek immediate medical attention if fever or related symptoms appear. “Do not ignore fever; visit medical facilities promptly,” health staff have urged. To tackle the outbreak, the district health department has deployed anganwadi workers, ASHA staff, and medical teams across villages and towns to spread awareness. A 24 ‑ hour control room has been set up, and testing facilities are available at Sundaragada District Headquarters Hospital and Rourkela Government Hospital. Scrub typhus is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted through bites of infected larval mites found in grasslands, bushes, forests, and agricultural fields. It does not spread directly from person to person. Symptoms and Risks Sudden fever is the most common symptom, often accompanied by headache, muscle pain, chills, weakness, and sometimes rashes. In some cases, a black sore known as eschar appears at the bite site. If untreated, the disease can affect vital organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, or brain, making early diagnosis and treatment essential. Prevention Health experts recommend covering arms and legs with full clothing, wearing shoes, and avoiding unnecessary sitting or lying in grass or bushes. Since scrub typhus symptoms resemble other febrile illnesses, doctors rely on blood tests for accurate diagnosis.