Canada has rejected nearly 74% of Indian student visa applications in August 2025, government data shows. The drop comes as Ottawa tightens visa checks to stop fraud and limit temporary migration. Rejections for Indian applicants have more than doubled since 2023, when only 32% were denied. The number of Indian students applying also fell from 20,900 to just 4,515. Canada’s immigration office says stricter rules and higher financial proof are now required. Indian officials said Canada has long benefited from Indian talent. Universities across Canada report fewer Indian students enrolling in recent years. (PC: NDTV)

An Indian man from Odisha has been abducted by rebel forces in Sudan’s civil war. The victim, 36-year-old Adarsh Behera from Jagatsinghpur, was taken by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from Al Fashir city in Darfur. Sudan’s Ambassador to India, Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom, said both countries are working together to secure his release. He called the situation “very unpredictable” but hoped Behera would return safely. The envoy praised India for its humanitarian aid to Sudan and said India could play a key role in rebuilding the country after the war ends. (PC: HT)

Three 22-year-old school friends, including Indian-Americans Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, became the world's youngest self-made billionaires after their AI recruiting startup Mercor raised $350 million, valuing the company at $10 billion. They surpassed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who became a billionaire at 23. Each holds approximately 22% stake in Mercor. Hiremath and Midha attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, becoming the first duo winning all three major national policy debate tournaments in one year. Launched in 2023 connecting Indian engineers with US companies, Mercor achieved $500 million annualized revenue by September. All three founders are Thiel Fellows, receiving $100,000 grants for foregoing college. (PC: X)

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has appealed to Belgium's Court of Cassation, the country's highest judicial authority, challenging his extradition to India. Belgian official Ken Witpas confirmed the October 30 appeal, stating extradition execution is suspended during review. Choksi contests the Antwerp Court of Appeals' October 17 ruling declaring India's extradition request "enforceable" and rejecting fair trial concerns. Accused of siphoning ₹6,400 crore from the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam, Choksi fled India in January 2018 before acquiring Antigua citizenship. Recently located in Belgium for medical treatment, he faces arrest warrants from Mumbai's special court issued in May 2018 and June 2021. India has assured Belgium regarding his safety and human rights. (PC: The Economic Times)

Three 22-year-old friends, including Indian-Americans Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, have become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires. Their Silicon Valley startup, Mercor, raised $350 million, valuing it at $10 billion. The AI recruiting platform connects skilled workers with top tech firms like OpenAI and Google DeepMind. Founded in 2023, Mercor began as a student project before evolving into a global hiring network. Each founder now holds a stake worth over $2 billion. “We were always arguing about the future of work,” said co-founder Brendan Foody, reflecting on their journey from debate teammates to billionaires. (PC: NYT News Service)

Sikh man Harman Singh Kapoor alleges he was attacked by British-Pakistani men in London and subsequently arrested by Metropolitan Police instead of his assailants. Kapoor claims officers detained him for using racially charged language, calling attackers "Pakistanis" while the actual perpetrators remained free. Initially reporting the incident on May 16, he criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan and police for alleged bias. Six months later, Kapoor expressed frustration over case stagnation, stating his wife called emergency services but police arrested him for self-defense while attackers "walk free." Metropolitan Police and Mayor's Office haven't responded officially. The incident sparked debates about racial bias, policing standards, and minority community protection in London.

British tourists Emma and Alex Wanders experienced an unexpected history lesson during their Kerala visit when a local woman confronted them about colonial-era looting. The casual roadside conversation turned pointed after the couple revealed their English nationality. The woman directly referenced Britain's colonial exploitation, mentioning looted treasures, spices, and specifically demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond. When Alex defended Britain by mentioning railway infrastructure, the woman remained focused on historical injustices. The tourists responded with nervous humor, promising to "speak to King Charles" and suggesting she "talk to their ancestors." The viral video highlights lingering sentiments about colonial history, with ordinary citizens voicing demands for restitution of culturally significant artifacts taken during British rule.

India’s withdrawal from the Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan, its only overseas military facility, has sparked political and strategic debate. The Congress Party criticized the move, calling it a “major diplomatic setback” that undermines India’s influence in Central Asia. The base, developed with Indian investment and technical support, had served as a critical outpost for regional security and strategic reach. Analysts warn that the exit could weaken India’s counter-terrorism and geopolitical leverage, especially as China and Russia expand their footprints in the region. (PC: The Hindu)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the Indian government over the deportation of Italian Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini, calling it a setback for India’s global academic image. Orsini, a renowned Hindi literature expert from the University of London, was deported from Delhi on October 21 over alleged visa rule violations. Tharoor said such actions project India as intolerant toward intellectuals and urged authorities to adopt “a broader mind, a bigger heart, and a thicker skin” when dealing with foreign scholars contributing to Indian studies. (PC: NDTV)

Influencer David Simpson's Instagram video ranking "worst" travel destinations sparked outrage after calling India the "dirtiest" country. His October 17 post showed images of dirty streets and tangled wires, though he acknowledged "parts of it are unreal, people amazing." Simpson also named Guinea most corrupt, Baghdad worst traffic, Morocco most unfriendly, and the United States most expensive. When asked about worst airport experiences, Simpson cited India, claiming his flight was "cancelled 5 times, trapped for a week" in August 2025 due to weather. Users criticized his generalizations, with some defending India's hospitality and hotels. Others praised Pakistan as "most hospitable and beautiful." The video demonstrates how personal travel experiences can spark nationalist debates on social media.