A Vancouver court has sentenced Indian immigration agent Brijesh Mishra to three years in jail for a Canadian visa scam. Mishra, 37, pleaded guilty to three charges related to misrepresentation and communicating false information. He was arrested after a Canadian Border Services Agency investigation found he had issued dozens of fake college admission letters to Indian students between 2016 and 2020. Mishra apologized in court for his crimes, which defrauded students seeking to study in Canada. The case highlights the need for vigilance in combating immigration fraud.

Major Radhika Sen, an Indian woman peacekeeper, will receive the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her exceptional service with the UN mission in Congo. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present the award on May 30, International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Major Sen served as Commander of MONUSCO's Engagement Platoon in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2023 to 2024. A biotech engineer and Indian Army officer, she is a "true leader and role model," according to Guterres. Her dedication and service have made a significant impact in promoting gender equality and peacekeeping efforts.

Amal Bose, a 54-year-old Indian-origin surgeon, faces 14 counts of sexual assault at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire, UK. The allegations, made by six female staff members, cover incidents between 2017 and 2022. Bose, who was head of the cardiovascular surgery department, was suspended following a police investigation initiated in March 2023. Released on bail, he is scheduled to appear in court on June 7. The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has assured continued safe patient care amidst the ongoing case.

Srinivasan Sivaraman, a 40-year-old Indian-origin cleaning operations manager in Singapore, died on May 23 after inhaling toxic fumes at the Choa Chu Kang Waterworks. Sivaraman and two Malaysian workers were found unconscious due to hydrogen sulphide gas exposure. Sivaraman was declared dead at the hospital, while the other workers remain in intensive care. His body was repatriated to Tamil Nadu for final rites. Sivaraman's wife and two daughters, who arrived in Singapore earlier in May, were set to travel to Malaysia before his untimely death. The family returned to their hometown, struggling with the tragic loss.

Indian students in Prince Edward Island, Canada, began a full hunger strike on May 28, protesting recent immigration cuts that threaten their residency status. These students, facing deportation due to changes in provincial laws, have abstained from all food and water. Their demands include exempting those who arrived before July 2023 from the new restrictions. The cuts reduce permanent residency nominations by 25%, citing strain on healthcare and housing. Protestors claim the government has ignored their pleas and vow to escalate the protests until their voices are heard .

Indian peacekeeper Major Radhika Sen, who served with the UN mission in Congo from March 2023 to April 2024, will be honored with the UN military gender advocate award. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present the award on May 30, marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Sen, the second Indian to receive this award, was praised for her leadership and dedication. She emphasized the importance of gender-sensitive peacekeeping, stating, "Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity!" The award recognizes efforts in promoting the principles of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted on Tuesday that Pakistan violated the 1999 Lahore Declaration with India. Referring to the Kargil conflict, Sharif acknowledged the fault lay with Pakistan. Signed by Sharif and then Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lahore Declaration aimed at promoting peace and security. However, General Pervez Musharraf's infiltration into Kargil led to a war a few months later. Sharif also accused Pakistan's ISI of orchestrating his 2017 removal from office to bring Imran Khan to power. Sharif was re-elected as President of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party.              

Guntipalli Sowmya, a 25-year-old student from Telangana's Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, was killed by a speeding car while crossing a road in Florida on May 26. Recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University, Sowmya was returning from grocery shopping when the accident occurred. Her devastated parents, Koteshwara Rao and Balamani, are seeking government assistance to bring her body back to India. Rao, a former CRPF jawan now running a kirana shop, had struggled to fund her education. Sowmya had recently celebrated her 25th birthday and was actively looking for a job.              

Indian Judge Dalveer Bhandari, serving at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), joined in a majority verdict urging Israel to cease its military assault on Gaza's Rafah city. In a 13:2 ruling, Bhandari advocated for Israel to desist from actions that could potentially constitute genocide against Palestinians, under the Genocidal Convention. Born in Jodhpur in 1947, Bhandari, a former Supreme Court judge, holds a distinguished legal career. The ICJ's directive mandates an immediate cessation of military activities, amidst escalating tensions in the region. Israel, however, reaffirms its commitment to protecting its citizens and pursuing Hamas in Gaza.

The California Civil Rights Department's report reveals a concerning rise in Hinduphobia, with 23.3% of religious targeting incidents directed at Hindus, surpassing Islamophobia. The data, collected through the California vs Hate campaign, highlights an alarming trend. Hindu American Foundation (HAF) reports an increase in hate crimes, citing incidents at Vijay’s Sherawali Temple and Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple. Despite under-reporting concerns, the FBI's Uniform Crime Report documented 22 hate crimes against Hindus in 2022. Critics stress the need for better law enforcement reporting and acknowledgment of hate crime severity.