NRI Top Stories ( Page 1 of 31 )

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.

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.

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.

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.

Australia Restricts Foreign Student Intake For 2025 August 28, 2024 08:01

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%.

UK anti-immigrant protests ringing bells for Indian Students August 09, 2024 08:18

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.”

All about Jay Chaudhry whose net worth is 11 Billion USD July 20, 2024 10:58

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 07:59

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.

US proposes plan to scrap additional security checks for Indians June 28, 2024 07:17

As part of an effort to streamline international air travel, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has proposed a "one-stop agreement" with India that would eliminate the need to re-screen passengers and luggage at transit points. At the India-US Aviation Summit in Washington, TSA Director David Pekoske highlighted the feasibility and benefits of the concept. The one-stop security concept simplifies the travel process as connecting flights in different countries do not require additional security checks for passengers and their checked baggage. “This concept facilitates the flow of passengers and luggage to their destination by eliminating double security checks at transit points,” explained Pekoske. Mr. Pekosuke highlighted the security benefits, noting that such an agreement would increase the safety of incoming flights to both countries. He said: “The continuation of this agreement requires regular exchange of information and improvement of security processes”. A memorandum of understanding is required for the exchange of sensitive security information between the two countries. “We have categories of information that are not truly classified, but are so sensitive that they require additional protection,” Pekoske said. Pekoske examined the origins of the TSA and India's road safety measures and found that both measures resulted from tragic events. For India, it was the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 and for TSA, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. “These tragic events marked a paradigm shift in the way we both think about road safety, and that continues until today,” he said. At the summit, US Aviation Secretary Michael Whittaker said: “Safety is a team sport. That is.” Mr. Whittaker emphasized the interconnectedness of the US and Indian aviation systems, which are part of a single global network. “We need to work together on security issues and share ideas and innovations, particularly on how we can safely bring some of these new technologies into our airspace,” he said. The cooperation between the two countries aims to improve the overall safety of the global aviation system by sharing best practices and learning from each other. Whittaker emphasized the importance of proactive data analysis in accident prevention. "Our goal is to raise safety to a new level. This means we need to proactively analyze data to identify risks of disruption and mitigate those risks before they happen,” he added.

Shocking: 40 Indians killed in Kuwait Fire Accident June 13, 2024 06:52

Tragedy struck in Mangaf city, Kuwait, as a fire broke out in a building housing 195 Indian workers, claiming the lives of 40 individuals and injuring 50 more. The blaze, which started in the kitchen of the six-story structure, occurred at 6 AM local time (9 AM IST). Sadly, the majority of the casualties were caused by smoke inhalation while the residents slept. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded swiftly, holding a high-level review and announcing a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for each of the families who lost a loved one. Additionally, the Minister of State, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, is immediately traveling to Kuwait to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased and provide medical assistance to the injured. The victims are currently receiving treatment in five government hospitals across Kuwait, as the nation grapples with this devastating incident. The Kuwaiti authorities have assured the Indian government that they will thoroughly investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable. The Indian embassy in Kuwait has established a helpline for family members to get in touch, and the Indian ambassador has visited the affected areas. The Emir of Kuwait has ordered an investigation, and the First Deputy Prime Minister has directed the arrest of the building's owner, janitor, and the owner of the company responsible for the workers, pending the completion of the investigation. The majority of the admitted patients are stable, and the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation and pushing for the early repatriation of the bodies of those who lost their lives. The migrant workers who perished in the recent tragedy in Kuwait made up a significant portion of the country's population and workforce. Tragically, the victims included individuals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Nepal, in addition to Kuwaiti nationals. This devastating incident has highlighted the precarious situation faced by many migrant laborers in the region.

Jaya Badiga becomes first Judge in the USA from Telugu States May 22, 2024 13:55

Gov. Gavin Christopher Newsom appointed Jaya Badiga, an Indian American, to the Sacramento County Superior Court, making her the first Telugu-speaking judge in California. Jaya Badiga was born in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh and completed his primary education in Hyderabad. She received a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and an M.A. in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University. Jaya Badiga passed the California Bar Exam in 2009. She then served as human resources consultant, general counsel, managing attorney, attorney for the California Department of Public Health, and presiding judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court prior to his appointment as a judge. In addition to Badiga, Governor Newsom announced the appointment of 18 additional Supreme Court justices, including Raj Singh Badshah of India. Indeed a proud moment for Telugu people. Jaya Badiga is the daughter of Machilipatnam Ex MP Mr.Badiga Ramakrishna garu.

Indian Students In Kyrgyzstan Asked To Stay Indoors May 18, 2024 10:59

As a result of attacks on foreign students in Kyrgyzstan, India has issued a warning to its citizens to remain indoors. The advisory was given after several Pakistani students were injured in mob violence in their hostel. The Indian Consulate has stated that they are keeping in contact with their students and that the situation is currently stable. However, students are still advised to stay indoors and contact the Embassy if necessary. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has also advised students to stay in touch with the embassy. The government has denied reports of three Pakistani students being killed in the attack. The Pakistan embassy has said that the situation escalated after videos of a fight between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students went viral online, resulting in hostels of medical universities in Bishkek being targeted by the mob. These hostels are inhabited by students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. A recent post on X by Pakistan's Kyrgyzstan consulate has reported attacks on hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, along with private residences of international students. The students come from various countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and a few Pakistani students have sustained minor injuries. Despite rumors circulating on social media about the death and rape of Pakistani students, no such reports have been confirmed. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has expressed concern and directed the Ambassador to provide necessary assistance. The situation may reflect tensions surrounding the presence of South Asian migrants in Kyrgyzstan, with an estimated 15,000 Indian students in the country, though it is unclear how many are currently in Bishkek.