Two Indian citizens were murdered in Toronto, Canada in the last 6 days, which has created deep concern and sorrow in the Indian community. In the first incident, 30-year-old Indian woman Himanshi Khurana was killed, while in the second, 20-year-old Indian medical student Shivank Awasthi was shot dead.

Himanshi’s body was found inside a house

30-year-old Himanshi Khurana lived in Toronto and was a digital content creator on social media. According to Toronto Police, he was reported as a missing person at approximately 10:41 pm on December 19, 2025. The next day i.e. on December 20, 2025, at around 6:30 am, his body was found inside a house in the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West area. The police declared this death a case of murder and started investigation.

Toronto’s 40th murder in 2025

Police believe that this is a case of intimate partner violence (violence committed by a partner), because the victim and the suspect already knew each other. In the case, an arrest warrant has been issued across Canada charging 32-year-old Toronto resident Abdul Ghafoori with first-degree murder. Police are searching for him and seeking information from the public. This was Toronto’s 40th murder of 2025.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over this incident. A statement said, ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of young Indian citizen Himanshi Khurana in Toronto. We express our deepest condolences to Himanshi’s family on her demise and are with them in this difficult time.

The Consulate is in touch with the family and is providing all possible help in coordination with Canadian authorities.

Shivank Awasthi shot dead

In the second incident, 20-year-old Indian student Shivank Awasthi was shot dead. He was pursuing his doctorate (PhD) in Life Sciences at the Scarborough Campus of the University of Toronto. The incident occurred on December 23, 2025, at approximately 3:34 pm in the area of ​​Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road, which is very close to the campus.

On receiving the information, the police reached the spot, where he was found shot dead, but he died on the spot. The attackers fled before the police arrived. The campus was put on lockdown during the investigation. Police released Shivank’s photo and sought help from the public. This was Toronto’s 41st murder of 2025.

The Consulate General of India issued a statement saying, ‘We express our deep sorrow over the tragic death of young Indian doctoral student Shivank Awasthi. The Consulate is in touch with Shivank’s family and is providing all necessary help in this difficult time, as well as coordinating with the local authorities.

Is there any connection between the two incidents?

Both incidents happened in Toronto, but police have found no link between them. Toronto Police has clearly stated that there is no connection between the two cases and these are separate incidents. Concern about security abroad has increased among Indian students and community. Police are investigating both the cases separately and have appealed to the public to contact immediately if they have any information.

An Indian student has lost his life in a firing incident near the Scarborough campus of the University of Toronto, Canada. The Indian Consulate has expressed deep sorrow on Thursday (25 December). Toronto Police said on Tuesday that an Indian student named Shivank Awasthi was killed in the shooting that took place in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area.

Regarding this death, the Consulate said that it is in touch with the victim’s family and is providing necessary help in coordination with the local authorities. “We deeply condole the tragic death of young Indian doctoral student Shivank Awasthi in a shooting near the Scarborough campus of the University of Toronto,” the Consulate said in a post on Twitter. The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time and is in constant touch with the local authorities.

What did the police officers tell?
According to the Toronto Sun report, police said that as soon as they received information about the shooting, they reached the spot and found a person injured by a bullet, who was declared dead on the spot. Police officials said that the suspects had fled from the scene before the police arrived. The premises were closed during the investigation. According to the Toronto Sun, this is the 41st murder in Toronto this year. This was the second death of an Indian due to crime in the city in a few days.

Himanshi Khurana was murdered before this
Toronto police had earlier said a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman was found dead in the city, prompting them to issue a Canada-wide arrest warrant for a suspect who was said to be known to the victim. The deceased was identified as Himanshi Khurana, a resident of Toronto. According to the police, the search is on for 32-year-old accused Abdul Ghafoori, a resident of Toronto, in this case.

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In America, the Donald Trump administration has announced the abolition of the old random lottery system for H-1B work visas. Instead, a new ‘weighted selection’ system will be introduced, which will give priority to more skilled and higher paid foreign workers. This change has been made to improve the salaries, jobs and working conditions of American workers.

Notification of new rules issued

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have issued this new rule on Tuesday. USCIS spokesperson Matthew Treasurer said, ‘By taking advantage of the old random lottery system, many American companies were bringing in low-wage foreign workers, who were willing to work for less money than American workers.’

What changes will occur after the implementation of the new rules?

• Now visa selection will not be random, but will be weighted.
• Weight will be given in selection on the basis of salary level. Applicants with job offers with higher salaries will have more chances.
• There will be 4 wage levels decided by the Department of Labor (DOL). 1 entry at lowest level, 4 entries at highest level. This will benefit high-paid and high-skilled workers.
• The annual cap will remain the same i.e. a total of 85,000 H-1B visas (65,000 for general + 20,000 for advanced degrees).
• This rule will come into effect from February 27, 2026 and will start from the H-1B cap registration season of fiscal year 2027.

Why did the Trump government take this decision?

The Trump administration says that the old system was being misused. Companies used to bring foreign workers at low salaries by showing entry-level jobs, even if they had more experience. This affected the jobs and salaries of American workers. The new system is under the America First policy, which will promote high-skilled talent.

What will be the impact on Indian workers?

Indian professionals are the largest users of H-1B visas. This change will make it difficult for entry-level or low-paid young Indians to get visas. At the same time, experienced workers in high-paid and senior roles will benefit. This year, Amazon was the company taking the highest number of H-1B visas (10,000+), followed by TCS, Microsoft, Apple and Google.

The trend of studying abroad from India is continuously increasing. Not just colleges or universities, now a large number of Indian families are sending their children abroad even at the school level. The new figures released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the winter session of Parliament clearly show how rapidly the presence of Indian students is increasing in the countries of the world and how India is emerging as a major power on the global education map.

For the first time, the ministry has also included school level data, making the picture even clearer. This change is being considered necessary because now the complete and real picture of student mobility has come to light, where earlier only college or university students were counted, now the entire education system is being looked at.

Number of Indian students to cross 18.8 lakh in 2025

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, by 2025 the total number of Indian students studying in 153 countries of the world will exceed 18.8 lakh. Of these, 6.28 lakh are school students and 12.54 lakh are in higher education i.e. universities and colleges. This is the first time that school level children have also been included, making the total number appear to have increased suddenly.

Decline in university students compared to 2024, but total number increases

In 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs had informed that 13.3 lakh university students would be abroad. Now the report of 2025 shows that the number of students in universities and higher education is 12.54 lakh, which means that after the continuous increase of the last three years, there has been a decrease for the first time. But the total number has increased because school data has now been added.

Top three countries for Indian students

The three countries which are most attractive for Indian students both at school and college level are Canada, 4,27,085 students, America, 2,55,447 students and United Arab Emirates, i.e. UAE, 2,53,832 students. The number of Indian students in these countries continues to remain high. Whereas in 2025, the highest number of Indian students for university and college education is in Canada 4,27,085, America 2,55,247, United Kingdom 1,73,190, Australia 1,38,579, Germany 49,483, Russia 27,000, Kyrgyzstan 16,500 and Georgia 16,000. These countries especially attract undergraduate and post graduate students.

New school-level data has changed a lot. There are a large number of Indian expatriate families in the Gulf countries, whose children study in the schools there. In this, the number of school students is UAE 2,47,325, Qatar 47,846, Kuwait 50,000, Saudi Arabia 75,000 and Oman 44,547, that is, Indian school children form the largest student population in many Gulf countries.

Why did higher education decline?

The decline in the number of college and university students compared to 2024 is due to many reasons. Like India-Canada diplomatic tension, visa process slowed down. Plans of many students got stopped. New checks and strictures in the US, additional scrutiny of immigration rules and documents, stringent student visa and dependent rules in the UK, especially affecting entry for master’s courses, and increased financial requirements and difficult verification in Australia, despite all this, the overall presence of Indian students abroad is still very high.

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During a program organized at Mississippi University in America, such a moment came which stunned the entire hall. When US Vice President JD Vance was speaking on migration policy on the stage, a female student of Indian origin wearing a pashmina shawl stood up and asked him a question. Vance had said in his speech that America should now reduce the number of legal immigrants, because the increasing population is increasing the burden on the society.

On this the student directly asked him that you brought us here by showing us the American dream, we studied, worked, paid taxes, now you say that we are more? Want to kick us out? After the student’s question, the auditorium echoed with applause and the atmosphere became heated for some time.

Vance’s response and increasing tension

JD Vance tried to remain calm on the student’s question. He said he respects legal immigrants, but allowing millions of new people into the country every year could upset the social balance. He said that America should reduce the pace of migration keeping in mind the priorities of its citizens. The student then said, “This is not an uproar, it is a question. We are asking what every immigrant is feeling.” Vance said with a smile that dialogue is necessary, but the country’s policies are based on balance, not emotions.

Questions raised on religion and identity also

The conversation did not end here. The student asked Vance if “you have to be a Christian to love America?” This question was special because Vance’s wife Usha Vance is a Hindu of Indian origin. On this the Vice President said that my wife is a Hindu and I am a Christian. I want him to understand our religion, but if he doesn’t want to, that’s his right. God has given every person the freedom to choose his own path.” Hearing his answer, the atmosphere calmed down a bit, but the video clip went viral on social media. Thousands of Indian-American users praised the courage of the student and said that she spoke as the voice of every migrant.

Growing concern among Indian students and professionals

This incident has happened at a time when America’s migration policies are becoming increasingly strict. Many Indian students are troubled by the new conditions of H-1B and OPT visas. Thousands of visas have been canceled and the EAD (Employment Authorization) process has also been made more complicated. The Indian community says they have been contributing to America’s economy and innovation for years, yet now they are being made to feel like they are a burden. Because of this many youth are confused about their future.

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The US has implemented new restrictions for foreign students amid growing trade tension from India. Earlier, US President Donald Trump had imposed a tariff on India, now the Trump administration has issued a new decree regarding foreign students. In fact, the US administration has recently sent a 10-nine memo to the Universities of America. According to this, only 15 percent of international students will be able to take admission in Universities of America and the number of students of any one country will not be more than 5 percent.

Apart from this, the Trump administration has also asked American universities to reduce the registration of foreign students and improve some departments. Amidst the restrictions imposed on Indian students in America, let us know which countries other than America have better education options.

Know the effect of decision on Indian students first

The impact of the new memo of US administration will be seen on Indian students. Actually, a large number of Indian students study in America. After this decision of Trump, taking admission in American universities will be more difficult than ever, because the total number of foreign students in every university will be limited to only 15 percent and cannot be more than 5 copies of any one country. This means that competition will increase for Indian students and many students will not get admission. Apart from this, the university will also have to public the data of earnings after students’ GPA, test score, tuition fees and graduation. It is believed that after this decision of Trump, now Indian students will start looking for new options for studying abroad apart from America.

Germany Indian students choice

After the decisions of the US government, Germany is also considered a good option for the education of Indian students. Actually, tuition fees are not charged from international students in most public universities in Germany. Apart from this, international students do not have to pay more semester fees here. Also, there is permission to do part time job and post study work visa here. In such a situation, Germany is considered to be the best option for Indian students after America.

Canada is also a safe option

Canada is also considered a good option for Indian students. The university of Canada also has less tuition fees than America. On the other hand, if the students want, then you can also reduce tuition fees through many scholarships here. Along with this, many programs are also offered in Canada regarding business and health care, which students can also take advantage of.

Britain also in the list of Indian students

Britain is known for a place on one side and strong economy. At the same time, it is now being considered one of the best countries for the education of foreign students. The big reason for this is that in Britain, there is a chance to study in the top universities of the world. Which includes universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Apart from this, after graduation, there is also a job option through graduate visa.

France is also the choice of students

After America’s decisions, Indian students can also turn to France. In fact, the fees for international students in many universities in France are very low. Apart from this, the cost of living here is also different in different cities, due to which the small towns here can be economical for the students.

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Former US Ambassador Tim Romer has said that the plan by President Donald Trump to impose a new and heavy H-1B visa fee on Indians, can once again become an issue of talks after the Indo-US trade agreement. This step of the Trump administration has come amid strictness on immigration, which will have a profound impact on Indian IT companies and skilled professionals. The US has already increased 50% tariff and now the proposed 1 million visa fee can make American dreams difficult for Indian students and professionals. However, India is currently studying the impact of this decision.

In a conversation with NDTV, Romer admitted that the step could interrupt the relationship between the two countries, but hoped that the visa issue would be reconsidered after the business talks proceed. He also said that it is possible that the court or the US Congress should stop this decision, because the Congress has the right to decide the number of H-1B visas.

Romer said this big thing

He insisted that giving H-1B visas to Indian students and professionals is also beneficial for America. These students start new companies in the US by acquiring PhD and jobs, which are called ‘Unicorns’ and they create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Citing a study, Romer said that about 25% of the new technology jobs are made by students of Indian origin, who later become CEOs and strengthen the American economy.

India has also been emphasizing the aspect that H-1B visa holders strengthen innovation, technological development and people’s relations with people. The Ministry of External Affairs said that policies will be evaluated keeping in mind the benefits.

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US President Donald Trump has issued instructions regarding enrollment and visa of international students in the universities of the country. Due to this situation, the number of Indian students in American universities is seeing a decline. Education Consultants of Hyderabad say that the number of Indian students going to America may fall by about 70 percent. The main reason behind this decline is the stopping the availability of visa appointment slots from the US and a sudden increase in the rate of visa rejections.

Sanjeev Rai of Hyderabad Overseas Consultants told the Times of India, “By this time most of the students have completed their visa interviews and were preparing for their flight. But this year, students are refreshed on the portal only in the hope of getting Visa Appointment Slots. It is only refreshed on the portal so far. This is the worst situation in the last several years.

However, US officials had said in this regard that visa slots will be released in a phased manner, but so far there is a lot of confusion in this matter and due to this, students are also very upset.

Those who have booked slots also did not get confirmation

At the same time, Ankit Jain of Window Overseas Education Consultancy said in this regard, “Students who have been able to book a visa appointment slot in the beginning, have not yet received confirmation reply. He also said that it seems as if the system of America is opening to test just to test, because even after booking, no student has got the situation now. Indian students are turning to other countries instead of studying in America.

I thought my one year would be wasted- Indian student

Regarding the US visa, a 23 -year -old Indian student said, “I could not wait anymore, I felt that my one year would be ruined. Because it seems that now the road ahead is closed, so I withdrew my impression.” The student said that now he is looking for options in Germany to do masters in automotive engineering.

Everyday, nervous students and their families’ phones- Arvind

Arvind Manduwa of the i20 Fever Consultancy said, “If visa slots are not released in the next few days, then thousands of dreams will be broken. This time we can see a decline of about 80 percent. That is why we get calls from many students and their parents every day, whose voice is clearly visible.”

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Operation sindhu: Amidst Iran-Israel Jung, India has intensified Operation Indus. Under this, Iran has opened its shutdown airspace especially for Indian flights.

At least 1,000 Indian students trapped in Iranian cities are expected to reach Delhi in the next two days under Operation Indus. The first flight will reach New Delhi at 11:00 pm on Friday (June 20, 2025). The second and third flights are expected to come on Saturday and second evening on Saturday.

India’s big diplomatic victory
Most of the Iranian air spaces have been closed for international flights due to the ongoing missiles and drone attacks between Israeli and Iranian army. However, despite this, India has been given a special corridor to remove its students.

Iranian Foreign Ministry in touch with Indian Mission
India announced the launch of Operation Indus on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) to remove Indian citizens from Iran, as Iran’s struggle with Israel is increasing day by day instead of decreasing. Officials of the Iranian Embassy in Delhi said that after some students were injured, the Iranian Ministry is in touch with the Indian mission in Tehran.

How many Indians are there in Iran?
Iran has more than 4,000 Indian citizens living and half of them are students. According to the official briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs, 110 Indian students were evacuated from northern Iran at the beginning of this week and reached Jerevan in Armenia by road.

Tehran and Jerevan succeeded in removing students due to better coordination between the missions of India. On June 18, Indian students reached New Delhi on the morning of 19 June, riding in a special flight from Jerevan.

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