Canada Slashes Immigrant Intake Amid Public Worry October 25, 2024 06:27
Canada has announced a significant reduction in its immigration targets, a major shift for a country known for its welcoming approach to immigrants, including economic migrants seeking better opportunities. The country's population saw a substantial 3.2% increase from 2023 to 2024, the highest annual rise since 1957, now reaching 41 million. This surge was largely driven by an unprecedented wave of new arrivals. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that while the influx helped boost the Canadian economy's recovery from the Covid-19 disruptions, the time has come to make "adjustments." Trudeau said Canada needs to stabilize its population growth to allow the government to catch up and make necessary investments in healthcare, housing, and social services to accommodate future population growth. The government plans to reduce the number of new permanent residents allowed to settle in Canada in the coming years, from 500,000 in 2025-2026 to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026. The target for 2027 is set at 365,000. The Immigration Minister called this a unique plan to control population growth in Canada. According to the 2021 census, 23% of the population was born abroad, with increasing numbers coming from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. A recent survey found that a majority of Canadians believe there is too much immigration, a significant increase from 2023. Additionally, half of Canadians say immigration is harming the country. Immigration is primarily associated with concerns about a perceived shortage of critical resources, particularly affordable housing. Miller specifically emphasized the new plan's efforts to address what many Canadians describe as a housing crisis. He anticipated that reducing immigration targets would address the housing supply gap, leading to a decrease of 670,000 in the number of homes Canada needs to construct by 2027.
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Indian man jailed in Singapore for a Mistaken Transaction October 16, 2024 15:06
A Singaporean court has sentenced a 47-year-old Indian citizen to nine weeks in prison for using money he mistakenly received in his bank account to pay off debts and sending some of the money to his family in India. PTI reported. It was reported. The man, identified as Periyasamy Mathiyazhagan, worked for a plumbing and engineering company from 2021 to 2022. On April 6, 2023, the company director deposited S$25,000 (approximately Rs. 1.6 million) into the man's bank account based on the following assumptions: It was a company account. Public Prosecutor (SPO) Lim Yeo Leong said the manager intended to repay the personal loan taken by the company. “After the incorrect transfer, the complainant was informed by the (managing director) on the same day that the account did not belong to the company and the company had not received the money,” the SPO said. The manager then informed the male bank about the incorrect transfer and asked them to cooperate in recovering the money. On April 10, 2023, the bank sent a letter to the man's address explaining the transfer and asking him to repay the money. However, the letter was delivered to the company itself as the man's last address on file with the bank was that of the company. When the letter was not delivered to the man's address, the bank informed management that his request to recover the money had failed. He then filed a police report on May 23, 2023. The police investigation revealed that the man recognized that a large amount of money had been deposited into his account in early May 2023. The SPO informed the district court that the criminals were aware that the large amount of money did not belong to them and had been wrongly transferred. Nevertheless, on May 21 and 22, he transferred the entire amount to another bank account in four installments. Later that month, company employees learned that the company itself had received a letter from a bank asking the man to send money. After that, the company called me and asked me to pay back the money, but I replied that I used all the money to pay off the debt. During police interrogation, the suspect also revealed that he had sent some of the money to his family in India and asked for time to return the money in exchange for a monthly payment of S$1,500. However, The Straits Times reported that the money has not been recovered to date.
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India summons Canadian diplomat after Ottawa's move October 15, 2024 12:26
The Indian government summoned a Canadian diplomat shortly after rejecting Ottawa's claim that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were 'persons of interest' in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly denied these allegations, accusing the Trudeau government of engaging in vote-bank politics and not doing enough to address separatist elements within Canada. The Indian government stated that the Canadian government had not provided any evidence of India's involvement in Nijjar's killing, despite repeated requests. The Canadian government has not provided any proof to the Indian government, despite many requests, regarding the allegations made by Prime Minister Trudeau in September 2023. This latest action follows a pattern of making claims without any supporting evidence. This strongly suggests that the investigation is being used as a pretext to intentionally damage India's reputation for political gains. The relationship between India and Canada deteriorated in September last year when Prime Minister Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. New Delhi dismissed these charges as "motivated and absurd".
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Canada To Implement Revised Work Permit for PG Courses October 08, 2024 13:57
Canada will introduce a revised graduate work permit program starting November 1, 2024. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has modified the Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) program. Changes have been made to the language requirements, language certificate and PGWP training requirements. On September 19, the Government of Canada announced that it will further reduce the entry limit for students with international study permits until 2025. The government has announced that they will reduce the number of study permits by 10 percent by 2025, compared to the 2024 target of 485,000. After processing the revised work permit, applicants must demonstrate their language skills to meet the language requirements of the PGWP. The Canadian Language Tests (CLB) English test and the Ebenex de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) French test. According to the release, IRCC accepts Canadian English Language Proficiency Project (CELPIP), IELTS and PTE Core English scores. TEF Canada: Test d'évaluation de français and TCF Canada: Test de Connaissance du français accepted in French. The candidate must have reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Apart from the revised norms, candidates have to follow some old norms as well. For example, to be eligible for the PGWP, an applicant must still meet general and physical residency requirements (even after November 1, 2024) and be enrolled in a program of study at a PGWP-eligible institution.
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Indian Origin Ex-Minister In Singapore Gets One Year Jail October 03, 2024 09:55
The former Singaporean transport minister of Indian descent, S Iswaran, was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to five charges related to corruption and obstructing justice in the High Court on September 24. The sentence was higher than the six to seven months requested by the prosecution, which the judge, Justice Hoong, considered "manifestly inadequate". The judge stated that the higher the public office held by the offender, the greater their level of responsibility. Iswaran is the first person to be prosecuted under Section 165 in post-independent Singapore, as reported by The Straits Times. The judge acknowledged the mitigating factors presented by the defense, including Iswaran's public service to Singapore, his voluntary repayment of benefits, and his early guilty plea. However, the judge also noted that the additional 30 charges taken into consideration were similar to the proceeded charges, where Iswaran received gifts, indicating the scale and repetition of his offenses over a significant period. The judge considered this a factor that increased Iswaran's culpability, while his public service and contributions to Singapore were seen as neutral factors at most. Based on the defendant's public statements denying the charges, the judge believed Iswaran was regretful. However, the judge stated he could not agree with the defense's arguments. The accused is only eligible for a maximum reduction of 10% in their sentence.
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Top 10 Business Schools Based On QS Global MBA Rankings 2025 September 26, 2024 10:26
The QS Global MBA and Masters Business Rankings 2025 were released on Wednesday, evaluating programs in 58 countries and regions across a range of in-demand professional master's degree programs, including management, finance, marketing, business analytics and supply chain management. This year, US institutions dominate the ranking of the 340 business schools evaluated. Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) maintained its No. 1 ranking for the fifth year in a row. The institute provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills while promoting a positive attitude and a strong network of high-performing colleagues that extends beyond the academic world. The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School placed second with a score of 99.8, recognizing its extensive global network and highly respected faculty. Harvard Business School ranks third with a score of 99.4, cementing its reputation as a leader in business education. Fourth place goes to the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Admission to this institution requires a GMAT score of 700 or higher, a GRE score of 312 or higher, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. London Business School ranks fifth and is considered the best business school for an MBA outside the US. We offer a diverse range of programs including Masters, MBA and EMBA degrees, covering areas such as accounting, finance and entrepreneurship. Over 90% of our doctoral students are international students with over 110 nationalities. To attract top talent, London Business School offers a range of scholarships including the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Global Management. Universities that remain in the top 10 include: HEC Paris in sixth place, Cambridge Judge Business School in seventh place, Columbia Business School in eighth place, IE Business School in ninth place and IESE Work in the tenth place. The QS Global MBA Rankings are out now! @StanfordGSB leads the way followed by @Wharton and @HarvardHBS in the top three. Want to find the best global MBA for you this year? Visit https://t.co/0IKXxvNcDy to view the full ranking! #GlobalMBARankings #QSWUR #StudyAbroad pic.twitter.com/LBVx8a0bsU — QS Top MBA (@TopMBA) September 25, 2024 Additionally, three Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad are among the top 100 universities in the world for MBA programs. The IIMs include IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta, all of which are in the top 50 in terms of employability. A total of 14 Indian full-time MBA programs are included in the 2025 global list, including three new entries. The 14 institutions in India consist of seven IIMs: Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Indore, Lucknow, Udaipur and Kozhikode. Other well-known institutes include Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Ghaziabad, Management Development Institute (MDI) in Gurgaon, Xavier Institute of Management, International Institute of Management in Delhi and Kolkata and Somaya Vidya in Mumbai etc.
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Indian-Born Businessman Rinson Jose Linked to Lebanon Blasts September 21, 2024 16:24
An Indian-Norwegian entrepreneur has been linked to the pager explosion in Lebanon that killed at least 12 people and injured thousands. Rinson Jose was born in Kerala, hails from Wayanad and lives with his wife in Oslo, Norway. He holds a Norwegian passport. Jose reportedly owns Norta Global, a company registered in Bulgaria that is believed to have supplied explosive pagers to Lebanon. The pagers were manufactured by Hungarian company BAC Consulting under the brand of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, which was reportedly acquired through Norta Global. According to the Daily Mail, there were indications that Jose knew of a secret plan to rig the pagers with explosives and that the end buyer was cooperating with Israeli security services. The shell company Norta Global Ltd. is registered in a residential building in Budapest where almost 200 other companies are located, the newspaper continues. Following reports linking Jose to the Lebanon bombings, Jose's relatives said Friday that they trusted Jose and would not take part in the pager attacks in Lebanon. “We talk on the phone every day. But for the last three days I haven't been able to reach Jose. He is an honest person and we trust him completely. I will not engage in any wrongdoing. Maybe he did. “In this explosion.” fell.” Mr. Sankachen said he had not spoken to Joe's wife for several days. A few years ago Jose went to Norway to continue his higher education. He worked briefly in London before returning to Oslo. In addition to owning his own business, Jose also works in Oslo and has a twin brother in London. Meanwhile, Jose's neighbors in Wayanad also say that they have known Jose for a long time and think he is a very good person. On Friday, authorities in Taiwan and Bulgaria denied any involvement in the supply chain of the thousands of pagers that attacked Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday. A total of 37 people were killed and about 3,000 injured in Lebanon in the attack on Tuesday and another on Wednesday in which a portable radio used by Hezbollah exploded. How and when the pagers were weaponized and detonated remotely remains a public mystery, and Taiwan, Bulgaria, Norway and Romania are searching for answers. Israel was responsible for the pager explosion, increasing the risk of an escalation of the conflict between the two countries. Israel has not directly commented on the attack. Taiwan-based Gold Apollo said this week that the equipment used in the attack was not manufactured by the company and that Hungary-based BAC, which tracks the pagers, had licensed the use of its brand. "The components are (mainly) low-end ICs (integrated circuits) and batteries," Taiwan's Economy Minister Ko Ji-hui told reporters. Bulgaria also became the focus of an investigation on Thursday after local media reported that Sofia-based Norta Global was involved in selling pagers. However, Bulgaria's national security agency DANS said on Friday that it had "conclusively proven" that the pagers used in the attack on Lebanon were neither imported, exported nor manufactured.
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Canada Tightens Restrictions on International Students September 20, 2024 08:05
Canada announced Wednesday that it will further reduce the number of study permits it grants to international students to reduce the number of temporary residents in the country and introduce stricter rules for foreign workers, a move that concerns many people in Canada will affect affects Indians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "This year we are cutting international student permits by 35% and next year that number will be cut by another 10%.""Immigration is good for our economy, but when actors behave badly, immigration is good for our economy. When people abuse the system and our students, we crack down,” he added. According to immigration data, Canada approved 5,900 in 2023 and 1,75,920 in the first seven months of 2024, and the new measures will reduce the number of study permits issued to four. 37,000 in 2025. This shift will also limit employment. Some students and spouses of temporary foreign workers are also eligible. We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 18, 2024 The announcement comes as polls show the Trudeau Liberal government is seeking to reduce the number of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, ahead of next year's federal election. In January, Canada also imposed a two-year limit on international students. According to Statistics Canada, the largest increase in immigration will come from temporary residents, particularly students and workers, whose numbers will rise from 1.4 million in the second quarter of 2022 to the 2.8 million previously promised by the country by the second quarter of 2024 the number of temporary residents fell from 6.8% in April to 5% of the total population. Immigration is often blamed for social problems in Canada, including the lack of affordable housing and rising costs of living. Canada is one of the most popular destinations for Indian students. According to Indian government data released last month, about 13.35 million Indian students study abroad, including about 4.27 million in Canada. Between 2013 and 2022, the number of Indian students studying in Canada increased by 260 percent. According to a Reuters report earlier this year, around 40 percent of Canada's international students came from India. The Canadian government's move to reduce the number of international students is forcing Indian students to choose other options such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
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Inappropriate Relationship: Indian origin Lawyer Fired in USA September 12, 2024 14:39
An Indian-origin lawyer has been dismissed from her job in the United States due to an alleged "inappropriate workplace relationship" with the CEO of her company. Nabanita Nag, the Chief Legal Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation in Atlanta, was terminated from her position after an investigation into claims that she had a consensual relationship with her boss, Alan Shaw, who was also fired as CEO. Despite the relationship being consensual, the two officials violated company policies and ethical standards by engaging in it, according to Norfolk Southern Corporation. The company stated that Shaw's departure was unrelated to the company's performance, financial reporting, or operations. Nabanita Nag has described herself as a "seasoned leader" who has worked with three Fortune 300 public companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs and joined Norfolk Southern in 2020 as the General Counsel, before being appointed as the Chief Legal Officer in 2022 and the Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs in 2023. Mark R George, the company's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as the new president and CEO following the dismissal of the previous leadership.
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Canada's study visa approvals for Indian students to drop by 50% in 2024 September 10, 2024 14:36
Indian students wishing to study in Canada face major challenges as study permit applications are expected to drop by nearly 50% this year. While student visa approvals are expected to return to recent levels in 2018 and 2019, the number of approvals has declined due to measures by the Canadian federal government to reduce the number of international students. This information comes from the ApplyBoard report. The Globe and Mail reported Tuesday. "In the first half of this year, the number of study permits issued in India has halved," the report said. This can be an indication of what the whole year will look like. ApplyBoard, a company that connects international students with universities and colleges around the world, reports that by the end of 2024, the number of new study permits will exceed 231,000, a sharp contrast to 436,000 in 2023. The number of study permit applications in Canada increased by 39% in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2022, of Canada's 5.5 million international students, 2.26 million are of Indian origin, and 3.2 million Indians remain in Canada on student visas and contribute to the economy as casual workers. The Canadian government's decision to increase financial requirements for international students and proposals to tighten immigration policies are putting off many potential students, said Meti Basiri, CEO and co-founder of ApplyBoard. “In recent months, Canada has not been seen as a host country for international students,” Pasiri said, according to The Globe and Mail. Germany and France. In December 2023, Immigration Minister Mark Miller introduced new financial requirements for students applying for a study permit. They should set the minimum amount at $20,635, replacing the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for two decades. This policy change is intended to slow the growth of international student numbers and address the rising cost of living in Canada. In January 2024, Mr. Miller announced a cap on international student growth over the next two years, which would result in a 35 percent decline in student numbers in 2024 compared to 2023. Canada's international student population is particularly dire. According to the Globe and Mail, study permits for Indian students halved in the first half of this year. If the current process continues, the government's target of approving 364,000 study permits in 2024 based on the cap of 606,000 applications will not be achieved, the applications committee report said. Taking into account factors such as about 20% of students applying for renewals each year, 97,000 approvals fell short of the target, resulting in a revised goal of 364,000 study permit approvals. The original target was 485,000 new international students in 2024. "This projected number of admissions is approximately 47 percent lower than the 436,000 new admissions approved in 2023," the report said, according to the Globe and Mail. In addition, applications for graduate programs such as master's and doctoral programs that do not fall under the state cap have also dropped significantly. From January to June 2024, only 114,000 study permits were approved, a decrease of 48 percent compared to the same period last year. The number of requests processed in the second quarter of 2024 (April to June) also fell by 54% compared to the previous year. IRCC spokesman Geoffrey MacDonald acknowledged that early indications suggest that the cap introduced in January has had an impact on the amount of study permits issued. “Early indications are that the cap announced on January 22, 2024 will impact study permit numbers,” MacDonald was quoted as saying by the Globe and Mail. He said: “Approvals and applications fell significantly in the first half of this year, but considering that the busiest times for processing study permits are in the summer and early autumn, it is still too early to fully assess the impact of this cap".
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Four Indians Die In Road Accident September 04, 2024 15:56
In a devastating incident, four Indians were killed in a road accident on August 30th on Highway 75 in Anna, Texas. The victims died in an SUV by a speeding truck, which left the vehicle burnt into ashes. The four deceased were identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampati, his friend Farooq Shaik and Lokesh Palacharla, all three are from Hyderabad and one more Darshini Vasudevan is from Tamil Nadu. The accident took place on Friday afternoon at around 3:30 PM. The impact was severe, and the car caught on fire. The deceased were trapped inside the car and unable to come out. As per Texas media, four individuals were in a carpool connected via app and were heading to Bentonville. Aryan and Farooq were returning from a trip to Dallas, and the residents of Bentonville. Lokesh Palacharla was travelling to Bentonville to meet his wife and Darshini Vasudevan was on her way to visit her uncle. Darshini Vasudevan was a Master’s degree graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington. The identification of the victims also became difficult because they were burnt completely. Authorities depending on the carpooling app details identified the victims. After the incident, vehicles on highway 75 were standing still and the traffic was heavily slowed down. The speeding truck collided with the vehicle, leading to this fatal accident. Several Indians, who went to the USA for their education or for jobs, died in vehicular road accidents. Recently, three members of an Indian-origin family were killed in a car crash in Texas, Houston. Not only this, On May 14th three Indian students in Alpharetta, Georgia died in a road accident in a major car crash. The Indian diaspora has been left in shock, they are planning to send the bodies to India. But sadly the bodies were completely burnt.
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Indian students are facing deportation and are struggling in Canada August 28, 2024 14:35
More than 70,000 graduate students across Canada are at risk of deportation due to recent changes in federal immigration policy. Protests are spreading across Canadian cities as international students and skilled workers stand up for their rights and demand changes to immigration policies that determine whether they face deportation in the countries they call home. From the busy streets of Ontario to the beautiful countryside of Prince Edward Island (PEI), these protesters came to Canada with the promise of a better future, but found themselves caught in a web of bureaucracy. The situation is particularly exacerbated by the state's new policy of reducing green card recommendations by 25 percent. This was the case in PEI, where several Indian students were forced to return home. Indian student protests spread to four Canadian provinces: Ontario, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and British Columbia (BC). The unrest first began in May in P.E.I. It's no secret that in Canada, many students have enrolled in private universities due to the easy naturalization process. Hundreds of thousands of Indian students dreaming of immigrating to North America or Europe have chosen the student visa route. The Canadian government has always been aware of this but allowed large-scale immigration as students also contributed to the gig economy. According to India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are currently about 2.8 million Indians living in Canada, including 1.8 million people of Indian descent. According to Statista, the number of Indians in Canada has increased from about 670,000 in 2000 to over a million in 2020. The growing number of international students is putting significant pressure on Canada's housing, healthcare and other services. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government launched a sudden crackdown as Canadians protested pressure on housing and hospitals caused by an influx of immigrants. To accommodate this growth, we have set a two-year limit. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the cap is expected to result in the approval of approximately 360,000 study permits in 2024, a 35 per cent decrease from last year. From June 21, foreigners will no longer be able to apply for Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWP) at the border, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Mark Miller announced. The decision targets “flag voting,” where temporary residents leave and re-enter Canada to facilitate their work or study permit applications. PGWP is very important for international students looking for work or permanent residence. Demonstrations are taking place all over the United States and students are protesting. Just two days ago, on August 26, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced that the number of temporary foreign workers employed in Canada would decrease. The Government of Canada will stop processing Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage workers in areas with an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher, excluding occupations in agriculture, food processing, construction and agriculture. and health care. Employers can now hire up to 10 percent of their workforce through the low-wage Temporary Foreign Worker Program, below previous limits. In addition, the maximum period of employment for these workers will be reduced from the current two years to one year. According to Statista, India will provide 26,495 temporary foreign workers to Canada in 2023 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), making it the second largest supplier of foreign workers after Mexico. According to Statistics Canada, Canada's population in 2023 exceeded the 41 million mark in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 41,012,563 on April 1, 2024. “I came to Canada for six years, worked, paid taxes and scored enough CRS points,” Mahakdeep Singh, an international student, told Toronto City News that they were facing deportation. Singh, who funded his education with his family's savings, now faces a daunting deadline without being guaranteed permanent residency. Students who came to Canada in hopes of starting a new life are currently protesting across the country against the Justin Trudeau government's decision to restrict study permits and limit opportunities for permanent residency. This is what they want from the Canadian government. International students are calling on the government to extend work permits for graduates, create a clear and consistent path to permanent residency, and address systemic problems that contribute to exploitation. One of the main issues fueling these protests is the demand for more slots for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The PNP allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their skills, work experience and potential to contribute to the local economy. However, the number of slots available is limited and competition is high. Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada's smallest province, announced a 25% cut in admissions, sparking widespread protests by hundreds of Indian students who now face expulsion. The student movement started on May 18 and is still active after 110 days. They argue that sudden changes in Canadian provinces' immigration policies have made their future uncertain. Another major concern for international students and temporary workers is the expiration date of their work permit. After completing their studies, many international students are eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), which allows them to gain valuable Canadian work experience. This is an important requirement for many immigration routes, including the PNP. However, PGWPs are time-limited and typically last between eight months and three years. If a student fails to secure permanent residency within this period, they may have to leave Canada. In Manitoba, fear that work permits will expire before they can become permanent residents is adding to feelings of desperation.
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