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Canada Tightens Restrictions on International Students September 20, 2024 13:35

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.

Inappropriate Relationship: Indian origin Lawyer Fired in USA September 12, 2024 20:09

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.

Canada's study visa approvals for Indian students to drop by 50% in 2024 September 10, 2024 20:06

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".

Four Indians Die In Road Accident September 04, 2024 21:26

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.

Indian students are facing deportation and are struggling in Canada August 28, 2024 20:05

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.

Australia Restricts Foreign Student Intake For 2025 August 28, 2024 13:31

Australia has announced it will cap international student intake at 2,70,000 in 2025 to deal with record levels of immigration that have driven up housing rental prices. Australian Education Minister Jason Keller said today that the restrictions would affect not only higher education courses, but also apprenticeship and vocational training courses. The move will impact Indian students who want to go abroad for higher studies, especially those from Punjab where there are a large number of such students. In June 2022, Australia forecast an international student enrollment of 510,000. This number will fall to 375,000 in 2023. Chancellor Sunil Jaggi said: "Australia's immigration representatives, universities will allocate quotas by country and then by state." He further said, Students who were preparing for admission in February will be affected by this announcement and students from Punjab will be the worst affected. A student from Haryana who wants to study nursing in Australia said, “It will affect my career.” “The cost of studying in Australia is very high, so my family is taking loans to finance my education.” Another student said: "The Indian government should present the students' views to the Australian government." Notably, the Australian education minister, who visited India last year, signed an agreement to expand domestic access to Australian higher education institutions for Indian students. According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, about 122,000 students from India study in Australia. Quad Partners India is the fourth most popular destination for Indian students after Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Australia has also increased the non-refundable visa fee for international students from A$710 to A$1,600, another move likely aimed at reducing immigration rates. Canada also announced new restrictions on its temporary foreign worker program. From September 26th, companies will be allowed to hire up to 10 percent of their workforce as foreign low-wage workers, previously it was 20 percent. The decision to limit the number of low-wage foreign workers was made in response to rising unemployment in Canada. The overall unemployment rate reached 6.4% and the youth unemployment rate reached 14.2%.

Indians leaving Sweden in Record Numbers August 24, 2024 13:16

Many Indians migrate abroad in search of a better future. Traditionally, countries like the US, UK and Canada have been popular choices for Indian students and professionals looking for better opportunities. But in a surprising development, the European nation of Sweden has reversed this trend with more Indians emigrating abroad. Between January and June 2024, Sweden recorded a significant increase in the number of immigrants of Indian origin. With 2,837 departures compared to 1,046 departures in the same period last year, there was a significant increase of 171%. According to Swedish statistics, Indians are the largest immigrant group from Sweden, surpassing immigrants from Iraq, China and Syria. This decline could be influenced by current challenges such as layoffs in the technology sector and stricter work permit regulations. According to Swedish statistics, the population of Indians in Sweden was 58,094 in 2023. The change marks the first time since at least 1998 that Sweden recorded negative net migration of residents of Indian origin in the first half of this year. From 1998 to 2010, a total of 24,034 residence permits were issued to Indian nationals. Of these, 61.2% (14,705 people) were used for work, 25.8% (6,200 people) for school, 9.6% (2,307 people) for family renewal, 3.1% (747 people) for adoption and 0.3% (75 people). ) was done for humanitarian reasons. According to the European University Institute report. Robin Sukia, secretary general and CEO of the Sweden-India Business Council, cautioned against jumping to conclusions. We do not believe there is a single reason for this change as it is likely due to a variety of factors including the high cost of living, lack of serviced apartments and general accommodation issues. Sukia told Local Sweden. According to a local Swedish newspaper, despite this increase in immigration, Indians will still be one of the largest groups of new immigrants to Sweden in 2024, just behind Ukrainians. From January to June 2024, a total of 2,461 people born in India immigrated to Sweden, compared to 3,681 in the same period last year. Excluding the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, this is India's lowest immigration rate since 2017. The decline follows years of steady growth, fueled by strengthening diplomatic ties and Sweden's efforts to attract skilled workers to fill gaps in areas such as technology. However, recent challenges such as layoffs and stricter work permit regulations in the tech sector are affecting this trend. The number of work permits issued for highly skilled immigrants fell 20 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, while the number of first-time work permits for Indian nationals fell by 30 percent. These trends reflect the changing challenges faced by Indians in Sweden and indicate possible changes in the country's migration dynamics.

UK anti-immigrant protests ringing bells for Indian Students August 09, 2024 13:48

Indian students in the UK and those arriving in Japan this year are concerned about escalating anti-immigration protests in the island nation, which is embroiled in one of the worst unrest in 13 years. The UK is currently home to over 180,000 Indian students, making it one of the top five international destinations. The rest are Canada, the United States, Australia and Germany. India on Tuesday issued a caution warning for its citizens traveling to Britain as violent protests continued in several British cities. Study abroad platforms such as Leverage.biz, Collegify, iSchoolConnect and AECC Global have been answering panicked calls and questions about developments in the UK since last week. This includes both existing Indian students in the UK and new students looking to start their studies this year. Students typically enroll in college in August and September. “We hear about people being placed under house arrest. Students who are on the verge of expulsion are thinking about it,” said Collegify promoter Adarsh Kahandelwal. “Many students are asking their respective universities for a postponement. The situation is likely to calm down soon but parents do not want to compromise on safety,” he said. In recent days, leaders have said parents fear their wards could inadvertently become involved in protests and offered advice on the current situation in England. “Like local police, we are currently in the UK to avoid travel to conflict areas.” The student, originally from New Delhi and currently studying at King's College London, said his parents were worried about returning home. “I’m trying to reassure them,” he said on condition of anonymity. People with children already studying in the UK make numerous phone calls to inquire about their child's safety. “This is scary news. You feel helpless when you are so far away,” said a parent of a child studying abroad in Manchester. Several students who use the Collegify platform to realize their dreams of studying abroad told ET that they were nervous about going to England. Khandelwal said some were looking for alternative countries, such as staying in India. Popular courses among Indian students include Engineering and Technology, Business and Management, Computer Science and Information Technology, Medicine and Healthcare, Law and Social Sciences. The best British universities for Indian students are Oxford University, Cambridge University, Imperial College, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and University of Edinburgh. Vaibhav Gupta, chief marketing officer at iSchoolConnect, an AI-powered study abroad program, said his company expects the number of British students to fall by 20 percent this year. Mr Gupta said: “The current situation has expedited their decision. Macroeconomic conditions and strict visa requirements are now causing students to reconsider the UK." Mr Agarwal, Director of South Asia and Africa, said: "AECC recognizes that the confidence of students wanting to study in the UK has declined significantly. We understand the concerns caused by anti-immigrant sentiment and protests.”

Newly-wed Indian-origin man shot dead in front of wife in USA July 22, 2024 20:34

In the US state of Indiana, a 29-year-old Indian man was shot dead in front of his wife in a traffic accident. The victim was armed with a handgun in his van when he confronted the other driver, and the suspect, who was initially arrested at the scene, was later released, suggesting the two may have acted in "self-defense." According to police and media reports, the incident occurred last week, on July 16, at an intersection in Indianapolis. Police said the victim, Gavin Dasaur, was on his way home with his Mexican wife, Viviana Zamora. According to local news reports from WTHR, the man, who was from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, married on June 29, just two weeks before Zamora's death. The video shows Dasaur approaching the driver of the van, holding a gun in his right hand and banging on the door. He then moved his right hand to the window of the truck and transferred the gun to his left hand. In response, the pickup driver fired three shots and Dasaur immediately fell to the ground. During the brief seven-second encounter, the suspect never got out of the car. USA - An Indianapolis road rage incident has claimed the life of 29-year-old Gavin Dasaur. He approached another car and can be heard screaming "You want to play with me?" as he banged his gun against the door of the pickup truck of the man he was arguing with. Dasaur was… pic.twitter.com/GzT8z7ZKbX — The Many Faces of Death (@ManyFaces_Death) July 18, 2024 Officer Amanda Hibshman of the Indianapolis Police Department (IMPD) reported that just after 8 p.m. on July 16, authorities received a report of a gunshot victim at an intersection on the city's southeast side. Arriving officers reported seeing a man lying on the ground in the middle of the street with at least one gunshot wound. The shooting victim was identified by the man's wife. “I held him while he bled and waited for an ambulance,” the victim’s widow told the Indianapolis Star. According to IMPD, the shooting and the alleged road rage incident remain under investigation. While mourning her husband's death, Dasaur's wife condemned the shooting. “He was a hard-working man who wanted to give me and my family the world and always tried to help others,” she told local media.

All about Jay Chaudhry whose net worth is 11 Billion USD July 20, 2024 16:28

Jay Chaudhry, the 65-year-old founder and CEO of the cloud security giant Zscaler, is estimated to have a net worth of more than $11 billion. Surprisingly, he claims to have never truly cared about accumulating wealth. This mindset, ironically, is what helped him become a billionaire. Chaudhry, who grew up in a small village in rural India, explains that he never had money during his early years, so the idea of amassing wealth was never a priority. This perspective, he believes, was instrumental in his decision to become an entrepreneur. In 1997, Chaudhry and his wife Jyoti quit their jobs and invested their life savings, approximately $500,000, into a cybersecurity startup called SecureIT. They recognized an opportunity to establish a foothold in the burgeoning internet industry. Undeterred by the possibility of losing their savings, the couple's "pretty simple" lifestyle, which involved minimal spending, gave them the confidence to take the risk. They were also convinced that they could find new jobs if their startup venture failed, a mindset Chaudhry attributes to his family upbringing, which "never changed." Some individuals who acquire substantial wealth often feel compelled to indulge in extravagant purchases, such as multiple homes, boats, and planes. However, the 65-year-old entrepreneur finds this type of behavior to be a burdensome distraction. The couple worked collaboratively to establish their companies, with Mr. Chaudhry serving as the chief executive officer while his wife oversaw the financial, operational, and human resources aspects in the initial stages. Less than two years after launching SecureIT, they sold the company for approximately $70 million in stock. Using a portion of those proceeds, the couple founded several additional businesses, eventually investing around $50 million to establish Zscaler in 2007. The company went public in 2018 and is currently valued at approximately $29 billion. The billionaire attributes his prudent approach to wealth management as a key factor in his ability to make strategic, long-term business decisions. He has observed that individuals who raise significant capital often invest in lavish office spaces and unnecessary luxuries, whereas using one's own funds instills a more responsible and thoughtful approach to business operations. "Mr. Chaudhry proposed that we take a chance and commit to this project together," he said conclusively.

Indian-American Man's Rs 8,300 Crore Fraud shakes USA July 02, 2024 13:29

An Indian-American entrepreneur, Rishi Shah, the former multimillionaire co-founder of Outcome Health, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by a US court. The case involves a massive ₹ 8,300 crore ($1 billion) fraud scheme that shook prominent investors like Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Google's parent Alphabet Inc., and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's venture capital firm. The verdict, delivered by US District Judge Thomas Durkin, closed the chapter on one of the largest corporate deception cases in recent times. According to a Bloomberg report, Outcome Health was Mr. Shah's brainchild during his university days. Originally named Context Media Health, the company was established in 2006 with the goal of revolutionizing medical advertising by installing televisions at doctors' offices to stream health-related ads aimed at patients. Mr. Shah teamed up with his co-founder Shradha Agrawal, and the company's valuation grew exponentially as it sought to bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers through innovative ad placements. By the mid-2010s, Outcome Health had become a major player in the tech and healthcare investment communities. The promise of integrating cutting-edge technology into traditional healthcare marketing attracted high-profile investors. Outcome Health, the company co-founded by Mr. Shah, was experiencing a meteoric rise, amassing substantial funds and clientele, making him a prominent figure in Chicago's corporate circles. However, the shiny exterior concealed a crumbling foundation. Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Shah, along with Ms. Agarwal and another defendant, the chief financial officer Brad Purdy, orchestrated a massive fraud scheme against investors, clients, and lenders. They misrepresented the operational and financial health of the company, selling more advertising inventory than they could actually deliver and fabricating data to cover up the shortfall. This deception extended to pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk A/S and other clients, as they misled them about the company's network size and ad reach. The misleading information, combined with fraudulent data, painted a picture of exponential revenue growth, luring further investment and financial backing. Meanwhile, Mr. Shah lived an extravagant lifestyle, indulging in exotic trips with private jets and yachts, even purchasing a $10 million home, all funded by the inflated ad sales and investments. The company had been engaging in deceptive financial reporting methods, concealing the true state of its finances from the public. The illusion crumbled in 2017 when a media investigation by the Wall Street Journal exposed the fraudulent activities. Later, a group of investors, including Goldman Sachs, Alphabet, and Governor Pritzker's firm, filed lawsuits against Outcome Health, accusing the company of fraud in its $487.5 million fundraising earlier that year. The fundraiser had provided a $225 million dividend for Mr. Shah and Ms. Agarwal, but left investors with a significantly overvalued stake in a company on the verge of collapse. Mr. Shah was charged with over a dozen counts of fraud and money laundering, and was convicted on these charges in April 2023. He was joined by Ms. Agarwal and Mr. Purdy. While the prosecutors sought 15 years for Mr. Shah and 10 years for his co-conspirators, the final rulings by District Judge Durkin were inconsistent, including a three-year sentence for Ms. Agarwal in a halfway house and a two-year and three-month sentence in prison for Mr. Purdy. Alongside the criminal case, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil action against Mr. Shah, Ms. Agarwal, Mr. Purdy, and the former chief growth officer, Ashik Desai. Employees had acknowledged their guilt even before the trial commenced. Mr. Shah, facing health issues, expressed remorse and took accountability during the sentencing. In a pre-written statement, he admitted to failing in properly overseeing the rapid expansion of Outcome Health and fostering a corporate environment that enabled deceptive methods. He conveyed feelings of "shame and embarrassment" over the misconduct that ultimately led to the company's demise. "The culture I cultivated allowed my team to believe falsifying data in response to client inquiries was acceptable," he acknowledged.

Australia doubles student visa fees to curb Migration July 01, 2024 16:21

The Australian government has introduced a significant increase in the fees for international students, more than doubling the cost from AUD 710 ($473) to AUD 1,600 ($1,068). This new measure, implemented by the Anthony Albanese government, effective July 1, aims to curb the high influx of migrants that has put pressure on the housing market. The move is likely to affect Indian students, who make up the second-largest group of international students in Australia. Additionally, temporary visa holders, such as those on Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and Maritime Crew visas, will no longer be eligible to apply for a student visa while they are in the country. This change will impact thousands of Indian students currently residing in Australia. The Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O'Neil, stated that "The changes coming into force today will help restore integrity to our international education system, and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller and better able to deliver for Australia." The Australian government's crackdown is intended to ensure that only genuine students are granted visas, thereby supporting the country's economic growth. The recent government data reveals a substantial influx of Indian students into Australian educational institutions. In 2022, over 100,000 Indian students were enrolled, and this number grew to 1.22 lakh during the January-September 2023 period. However, the increasing costs associated with obtaining an Australian student visa have made it significantly more expensive compared to options in the United States and Canada, where the fees are around $185 and CAD 150 ($110), respectively, as reported by Reuters. In response, the Australian government has announced measures to close loopholes in visa regulations that allowed foreign students to extend their stay repeatedly. This decision comes after observing a surge of over 30% in the number of students holding a second or subsequent student visa, reaching more than 150,000 in the 2022–23 academic year. Additionally, the government has raised the minimum savings requirement for student visas from AUD 24,505 ($16,146) to AUD 29,710 ($19,576).