Dubai dreams dashed: Indian tourists hit by surge in visa rejections amid new UAE rules

Israel has conducted a fresh round of strikes on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, claiming the lives of at least 11 people amid the regime’s unceasing aggression on the Palestinian territory.

Local media said the Israeli onslaught targeted a tented encampment in the al-Mawasi area of western Khan Yunis at dawn on Thursday.

The aggression killed at least 11 people, including three children, and the resulted in the injury of 12 others, with reports naming Major General Mahmoud Salah, the director general of the police department in the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza, among the fatalities.

The occupation forces also struck the central Gaza Strip, where Israeli vehicles fired at the north of Nuseirat refugee camp and shelled the west of the camp with artillery.

The regime’s helicopters also fired at the southwest of Deir al-Balah.

Moreover, the Israeli forces launched a raid targeting Gaza City and the Saftawi area, northwest of the city, as well as the Jabalia camp in the north of the Strip.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on the first day of the New Year that the Israeli regime had slaughtered 17 Palestinians in the northern Gaza refugee camp of al-Bureij.

Twenty Palestinians were also injured in the Wednesday airstrike.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

So far, Israel has killed 45,553 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured 108,379 others.

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced and much of the besieged territory is in ruins.

Occupation of Gaza City

Citing Israeli media, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday that the Israeli regime was considering ordering the military to occupy Gaza City.

Israeli Channel 14 claimed the move comes amid a stalemate in indirect negotiations aimed at reaching a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

“The political echelon is considering issuing an order to the Israeli army to head south and occupy Gaza City in the near future,” the channel said.

“Such an operation is possible now, especially in light of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the availability of more army forces to carry out large-scale and prolonged maneuvers.”

The broadcaster also said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is “satisfied” with the results of its military campaign in northern Gaza.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to reach a ceasefire in Gaza have so far failed due to Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the protracted war.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the blockaded territory.

Mandya: A 21-year-old man died after he allegedly blew himself up with a gelatin stick in front of the house of a girl he was in love with after her family rejected him, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred at Kalenahalli village of Mandya district on early Sunday morning, they said.

According to police, Ramachandra was in a relationship with a minor girl. Last year, he was booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act after he eloped with the girl. He was arrested in the case and spent three months in jail as an under-trial.

After getting released from jail, he entered into a compromise with the girl's family and the case was refuted in the court. But later, he started calling the girl and continued to maintain his relationship with her, police said.

Apparently, the girl's family was planning to get the girl married to someone else once she attained the legal age, a senior police officer said.

Ramachandra, a resident of a neighbouring village in Nagamangala taluk was allegedly upset with the girl's family for rejecting him. Suddenly on Sunday, he reached in front of the minor girl's house and detonated the gelatin stick he carried with him and the explosion claimed his life on the spot, the officer added.

Based on the complaint from the deceased person's family, calling it suspicious death, a case has been registered, police said. His family was in quarrying business and that's how he got access to gelatin stick, police said.

The webinar addressed key topics essential for enhancing employability and adapting to the current job market. It was organized by Gulbarga welfare society Riyadh chapter, among speakers Syed Nasir Khursheed, Mohammed Saleem Khaleefa, Mohammed Imdad Ali and Obaid gotori addressed, while it was presided by Mukhtarullah Jagirdar.

The major highlight of the webinar was focused on
1.    Free Visa Considerations
2.    Resume Preparation and Interview Techniques
3.    Current Job Market Trends
4.    Emerging Technologies and the Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The speakers provided valuable insights to newcomers already in Saudi Arabia and those planning to migrate on job or free visas.

Syed Nasir Khursheed, a social activist and Advisor to the Gulbarga Welfare Society, shared valuable insights into today’s competitive job market. He highlighted the need for young professionals to be not just skilled but also smart and well-prepared to secure and maintain good jobs. He encouraged students to think beyond traditional paths and explore exciting fields like Finance, Logistics, Public Relations, Events Management, Sales, and Marketing. Addressing a common misconception, he reassured them that jobs aren’t just about knowing the right people merit and hard work always comes first.

Nasir Khursheed also underscored the importance of good communication skills, soft skills, and earning professional certifications, which he described as essential tools for standing out in a crowded job market. His message was clear: with the right skills and mindset, success is within reach for everyone.

Mohammed Saleem Khaleefa, an educational and political activist from Jeddah, Advisor GWS – focused on resume preparation and interview techniques. He stressed that resumes should be concise, ideally two pages, and free from errors. Candidates should highlight their professional brand, value-added contributions, and competitive edge. He urged attendees to avoid exaggerations and ensured all necessary information, such as degrees, certifications, and dates, is accurately provided. Saleem also underscored the importance of eliminating the label of backwardness in the community through quality education and skill development.

Mohammed Imad Ali, President of GWS Saudi Arabia and a planning manager – While speaking. elaborated on the practical implications of coming to Saudi Arabia on a free visa. Highlighting the financial commitments, he explained that candidates need to plan for at least 5 to 6 months of living expenses, amounting to approximately 15,000 Saudi Riyals. He emphasized that freshers face significant challenges in securing jobs, while even experienced candidates require considerable time to find employment. His presentation provided a clear and realistic perspective for potential free visa candidates.

Obaid Gotori, an IT engineer, highlighted the rapid emergence of AI and the need for professionals to stay updated with technological advancements. He emphasized the importance of smartness, adaptability, and continuous learning to thrive in the competitive IT sector.

President, Mukhtarullah Jagirdar delivered presidential speech, while speaking he said, today's webinar is designed to provide valuable insights to students and their parents, helping them understand the options available and guiding them to make the best decisions for their futures. Through this platform, we aspire to assist them in exploring various career paths,

The Q&A session, masterfully moderated by Adil Ali, stood out as a highlight of the event. Adil adeptly summarized the audience's questions and facilitated a lively, insightful discussion, creating an interactive and enriching experience for all attendees.

The webinar was professionally conducted by Vice President Tameemul Hasan and General Secretary Mohammed Azharuddin, whose seamless anchoring added a touch of excellence to the event. Their meticulous planning was evident in the well-timed display of topic-related slides and their innovative approach to keeping the audience actively engaged through polls and interactive participation.

Their dynamic and charismatic hosting ensured a smooth flow of sessions, maintaining the audience's attention and enthusiasm throughout. This combination of strategic planning and engaging presentation elevated the webinar to a highly professional standard, making it a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

The program began with a soulful recitation of the Holy Quran by Hafiz Aquil Ali, setting a serene and uplifting tone for the event. This was followed by a warm welcome address from the Coordinator, Mohammed Hisamuddin. In his speech, he shared highlights from the past five sessions, reflecting on the diverse and impactful topics that have aimed to empower and guide the community. He emphasized that today’s session is dedicated to career guidance for job seekers—an especially timely and relevant subject in these dynamic and ever-changing times.

The event ended on a heartfelt note with Treasurer Abu Arif Shazli delivering a warm vote of thanks. He sincerely appreciated the distinguished speakers for their inspiring insights, the global audience for their enthusiastic participation, and the dedicated organizing team whose hard work turned the event into such a success. He also thanked Mirza Wajid Baig for live-streaming the event through Gulbarga Live, making it accessible to an even broader community.