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Ottawa has rejected about 80% of visa applications from Indian students this year, marking the highest refusal rate in over a decade, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other analyses. The drop in approvals reflects sweeping policy changes by Canadian authorities, including increased financial requirements and tighter scrutiny of student credentials.

IRCC numbers show that during January to April, only 43% of study permit applications were approved overall. In contrast, work permit applications saw about a 69% approval rate in the same period.

Indian applicants have borne the brunt of this shift. BorderPass data cited by multiple outlets reports that in the second quarter alone, four out of five Indian student permit applications were refused. Canada has also raised the proof-of-funds requirement: as of September 1, international students must now show CA$22,895 in financial backing.

Educators and students are reacting to this change as more than procedural. The 2025 cap on study permits stands at 437,000—roughly 10% below the 2024 level. Countries such as Germany are emerging as preferred alternatives: surveys and reports indicate its share of Indian student interest has climbed to about 31%, overtaking Canada. Canada’s popularity among Indian applicants has reportedly fallen from 18% in 2022 to 9% in 2024.

Officials justify the stricter stance by pointing to domestic strains. Housing shortages, stretched infrastructure, political pressure to prioritise local talent, and concerns about fraudulent college admissions have all been cited. IRCC and immigration experts say increasing financial thresholds, more detailed study plans and higher language standards are among the new hurdles for applicants.

The effects are being felt sharply. Indian students, many of whom viewed study in Canada as a pathway to permanent residence, are reassessing options. Families facing sunk costs in application fees, language tests, travel, and preparations are now especially vulnerable. Educational institutions that depend on international tuition are also under pressure. Smaller colleges in particular fear that fewer foreign students will hurt viability.

Sharjah has recorded capital inflows of $1.5 billion in foreign direct investment during the first half of 2025, marking a 361 percent rise compared to $325 million in the same period last year. The emirate also saw 74 new FDI projects, and 2,578 jobs created, a 45 percent increase from H1 2024.

Growth has been strongest in consumer products, food & beverage, business services, and industrial equipment. The consumer products sector led in investment, with project numbers rising by 53 percent and capital spend increasing by 188 percent. Food & beverage saw project volume more than double, while job creation in that sector rose by about 25 percent. Business services posted the biggest leap in employment—about 1,100 percent—alongside a 500 percent jump in project activity. Industrial equipment saw a 100 percent increase in projects and a 45 percent rise in capital investment.

Officials attribute the surge to government strategy that emphasises strong infrastructure, regulatory flexibility, and investment in human capital. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, said the figures represent more than statistics—they mark improved livelihoods and sustainable value for the community. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, pointed to Sharjah’s integrated policy framework and robust investment climate as central to building investor trust.

SAP’s global chief executive Christian Klein announced a strategic expansion of cloud infrastructure in New Delhi today, unveiling the launch of SAP Software Cloud in India and urging that cloud computing and artificial intelligence must underpin India’s path towards self-reliance and a digitally fortified economy. He warned that India is on track to generate 10 zettabytes of data by 2025, and stressed that harnessing this data effectively will be critical for national growth.

Addressing an audience of business leaders, technologists, and government representatives, Klein emphasised that mission-critical infrastructure must increasingly rely on sovereign cloud offerings. These are systems where data storage, processing, and control are governed under local legal standards—ensuring both security and regulatory compliance. He added that many organisations will not yet have requirements for sovereign cloud, but sectors such as defence, utilities and others handling classified data are likely to lead adoption.

SAP India’s president and managing director, Manish Prasad, highlighted the firm’s 30-year legacy in the region, and the growing need to make AI “relevant”—not just in proof-of-concepts but in full-scale deployments. He made clear that India must benefit more from its data, not simply generate it. Enhanced capabilities in secure engineering, data sovereignty, and local control of cloud operations are being positioned as foundational elements for India’s next phase of growth.

One major component of SAP’s plan is investment: globally, the company is committing €20 billion by next year toward cloud infrastructure and expansion. India is being treated as a key strategic market for that investment. SAP says it will deliver the “full stack” for cloud solutions—including those with compliance, localised control planes and sovereign cloud services where required.

Klein also underscored that government policy, regulation and innovation capacity must keep pace with technological opportunity. India’s regulatory environment around data sovereignty and digital infrastructure is evolving, and sectors with critical or regulated data will demand clarity and trust in legal and technical frameworks. Without that, investing in sovereign cloud becomes more difficult for those clients.

Digital sovereignty loomed large in SAP’s message. Martin Merz, president of SAP’s sovereign cloud division, said that while physical infrastructure is important, operational, technical and legal dimensions of data sovereignty matter at least as much. He pointed out that SAP has already delivered sovereign cloud services to highly security-sensitive organisations globally, and that India offers “great potential.”

Dubai’s telecommunications provider du has begun rolling out its upgraded 5G+ network, aiming to double existing 5G speeds and unlock new technology-driven opportunities for both urban infrastructure and entrepreneurship. The rollout is concentrated initially in central zones of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other major emirates, with plans to extend coverage more widely by the end of 2025.

Karim Benkirane, chief commercial officer at du, said 5G+ will enable the UAE to advance its smart city and sustainability agendas, while creating an ecosystem where start-ups can “really innovate in the future”. He added that the network will offer faster download speeds, lower latency, and more seamless connectivity—features vital for AI-powered applications, ultra-HD streaming, gaming and real-time virtual or augmented reality experiences.

The infrastructure uses 5G‐Advanced architecture, operating independently of existing LTE networks, and requires compatible devices and SIMs or eSIMs to access the enhanced service. du has said that users leveraging the 5G+ network in busy or downtown areas can expect significantly improved performance.

Enterprise uses are being emphasised as well. du believes that the upgraded network will support government initiatives and private sector innovation, particularly in fields that depend heavily on low latency and reliable data throughput—such as smart traffic systems, IoT deployments, creator-led content, and AI for public services.

Smart city ambitions are aided by 5G+’s ability to maintain connectivity even in crowded zones and to deliver consistent performance as demand grows. The network’s enhancements are intended to sustain video calls, streaming and online collaboration, even in high-traffic environments. du has framed 5G+ as a cornerstone for future digital infrastructure across the UAE.

By T N Ashok The Trump administration’s latest immigration directive has stunned employers, foreign workers, and higher-education leaders alike: a $100,000 surcharge on each H-1B visa application, announced by executive order on 19 September 2025. What might appear on the surface as a routine adjustment to visa fees is, in reality, a dramatic escalation in […]

The article Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Redefines U.S. Liberal Immigration Policy appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

United Arab Emirates holds between 40 and 45 per cent share of the Middle East and Africa space market, which is estimated at US$18 billion, according to a report from the Boston Consulting Group. The UAE invested approximately US$443 million in civil space activities in 2024—nearly half of all government space spending across MEA.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar follow with civil space investments of about US$220 million each. Saudi Arabia accounts for an estimated 20–25 per cent of MEA government space spending, while Qatar contributes about 5 per cent.

Downstream services—such as satellite communications, navigation, and Earth observation—comprise roughly 70 per cent of the global space industry. The UAE is positioned to capture more than half of the downstream services market within MEA, while Saudi Arabia aims for over 20 per cent. Qatar’s role remains modest in downstream services, at just under 5 per cent.

All three countries are expected to grow at or above the global space economy’s compound annual growth rate of 5 per cent through 2033.

The report identifies several flagship programmes in the UAE—MBZ-SAT, the Hope Probe, and Arab 813—that are likely to generate returns of roughly 3-4 times the investment. These initiatives illustrate how long-term strategic planning, public-private partnerships, risk-tolerant policy frameworks, and global cooperation are central to the UAE’s leadership in the sector.

Saudi Arabia is expanding its international partnerships, including with NASA and Axiom, while Qatar’s Es’hailSat is strengthening its role in regional satellite communications. Digital policy integration—especially in satellite broadband, low Earth orbit constellations, and Earth observation—is emerging as a key success factor.

Qatar Investment Authority is injecting US$500 million into Ivanhoe Mines via a private placement that grants the sovereign wealth fund roughly a 4 per cent interest in the Canadian miner. Ivanhoe will issue 57,516,666 common shares at CAD 12 per share, with proceeds earmarked for development of critical mineral projects and general corporate needs.

Ivanhoe Mines operates key assets in southern Africa, notably the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine also in the DRC, and the Platreef platinum group metals project in South Africa, which is set to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2025. The QIA investment supports work across these operations and Ivanhoe’s exploration licences in the Western Forelands, which cover large prospective areas.

Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s Executive Co-Chair, described the deal as a strong endorsement of the company’s ambition to be a leading supplier of metals crucial to the energy transition, advanced infrastructure and technologies including AI and data centres. He expressed that QIA’s vision aligns with Ivanhoe’s long-term strategic investors.

Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA, said the investment reflects confidence not just in Ivanhoe’s asset portfolio but also in its capacity to sustainably discover, develop and supply critical minerals for global electrification and advanced technologies.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange. In addition, QIA and Ivanhoe will enter into an investor rights agreement which grants QIA the right to board representation and access to company information if its ownership surpasses 10 per cent, along with anti-dilution rights. Existing major shareholders, CITIC Metal Africa Investments and Zijin Mining Group, retain rights to acquire their pro rata shares at the same CAD 12 price to maintain their ownership levels.

Ivanhoe’s share price was affected by the deal: the CAD 12 issue price is below the closing price of CAD 13.19 prior to the announcement, representing a discount. The investment follows a climate in which sovereign funds and institutional investors are increasingly targeting critical minerals as part of global supply chains for the clean energy transition.