Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the United Nations General Assembly resolution for a "humanitarian truce" in the Israel-Gaza conflict as "deeply flawed." Expressing disappointment over India's abstention, he lamented that even many of Israel's friends did not insist on a powerful condemnation of the Hamas attacks. The resolution, adopted with 120 votes in favor, called for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians. India, along with 44 other nations, abstained from the vote. The ongoing conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with Israeli forces continuing airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.

A 24-year-old Indian student, Varun, was critically stabbed in a public gym in Valparaiso, Indiana, by assailant Jordan Andrad, 24. Varun sustained severe injuries to the head and was given a "zero to five per cent chance of survival." Andrad, who alleged feeling threatened by Varun, attacked him with a knife. Varun was rushed to a Fort Wayne hospital, where his condition remains serious. Andrad was arrested and is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder following the incident. Investigations are ongoing into the motives behind the attack. [Representative Image]

A Hindu temple in California was burglarized by six suspects who broke in early Monday morning around 2:15 am. The incident occurred at the Hari Om Radha Krishna Mandir in Sacramento. The burglars stole a donation collection box from the premises. No arrests have been made yet, but police are investigating the incident through surveillance footage. Advocacy group Coalition of Hindus of North America condemned the burglary and urged police to probe it as a potential hate crime. The temple's Guru Maharaj and his wife were at home during the break-in and shocked by the incident.

Thailand will waive visa requirements for Indian tourists arriving in the country from November until May 2024. The move aims to boost tourism numbers as the high season approaches. India has been Thailand's 4th largest source of tourists so far in 2022 with 1.2 million arrivals. Thailand recently waived visas for Chinese visitors too. From Jan-Oct 2022, Thailand had 22 million visitors, generating $25.7 billion revenue. The government hopes tourism can offset weak exports and boost economic growth. Thailand is targeting 28 million arrivals this year.

At the University of Oxford, MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntla delivered an insightful discourse on 'Exploring Inclusive Development: The Telangana Model', highlighting the state's transformative journey under CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's visionary leadership. She portrayed Telangana's rise from distress to a beacon of balanced growth intertwining infrastructure and welfare. Kavitha delineated pivotal projects like the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, Mission Bhagiratha, and power sector investments that drove development. Agricultural resurgence was a cornerstone, with the sector growing 15.7% in 2022-23 due to government support schemes like Rythu Bandhu, underscoring the ethos of harnessing resources and equitable wealth distribution. Kavitha highlighted the #1 rank in income equality, at par with Nordic nations, showcasing a commitment to minimizing disparities. She called for examining the Telangana model collaboratively as a blueprint of transformative governance. The address highlighted Telangana's indefatigable spirit of progress in equitably uplifting all sections, waging a war on poverty with much more to come.

An investigation by a UK media outlet reveals the operation of illicit visa appointment services in South Asia, where agents charge exorbitant fees to students and workers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Brokers advertise biometric appointment services on social media messaging platforms, with fees reaching up to GBP 800. The issue is most severe in Pakistan, where the abuse of the visa appointment system by agents has reportedly grown significantly. Agents often exploit individuals who may not have easy internet access. Authorities are taking measures to combat this problem, emphasizing the use of authorized channels for booking appointments. Image: Shutter Stock  

Indian-American physician Dr. Bharat Barai received the "Standing Against Antisemitism" award from an influential Jewish group, StandWithUs, for his unwavering efforts to strengthen India-US-Israel ties and combat antisemitism. Dr. Barai, an advocate for the India-Israel relationship, emphasized the collaborative bond between the Hindu and Jewish communities. He condemned Hamas's actions and expressed hope for more Middle Eastern nations to join the Abraham Accord once Hamas is eliminated. Peggy Shapiro, Director of Special Projects at Stand With US, praised his support and stressed solidarity in the face of recent Hamas atrocities against Jews. Born in Mumbai, Dr. Barai has played a crucial role in nurturing ties between these nations and communities.

The waiting period for Indians seeking green cards in the US employment-based EB-2 and EB-3 visa categories keeps increasing. According to USCIS, there is high demand from India for these visa types which require at least a bachelor's degree or advanced degree. With fewer unused family-based visa numbers to boost employment-based visas in fiscal 2024, the annual cap is expected to return to 140,000. Applicants from all countries should expect longer waits unless visa caps are raised. USCIS pledges to work with Congress for solutions but notes only Congress can lift immigration visa limits. The green card backlog for Indians in EB-2 and EB-3 continues rising absent legislative action.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams strongly denounced the rise in hate crimes against Sikhs, stating their turban represents faith not terrorism. At a Queens Sikh center, Adams called educating people about Sikhism key to ending the "stain" of attacks. He said Sikhs are protectors, not terrorists, and this must be taught citywide. Adams described Sikhs as an anchor in NYC, saying "Your turban does not mean terrorism. It means protecting, community, family, faith." His remarks follow an assault on a Sikh teen who was told "We don't wear that in this country." The mayor vowed to change the narrative and dialogue alongside the Sikh community against bigotry.

The controversial anti-India referendum in British Columbia, Canada has been deemed a failure due to extremely low voter turnout, reports CNN-News18. The event was held amid police presence in Surrey, following Canada's allegations linking India to a separatist's death. Turnout was reportedly only around 2,000, showing lack of new engagement versus previous referendums dominated by students. The last referendum in September claimed 135,000 votes but had 2,398 actual voters. After the poor response in Surrey, discussions are underway for referendums in other Canadian cities next year. India has pressed Canada to prevent these "politically motivated exercises" by extremist groups seeking Khalistan.