Latest news with #Devraj
Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Outer Ring Road from Hebbal to Silk Board in Bengaluru: 31km of bumpy rides, snarling traffic
Bengaluru: The Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch from Hebbal to Silk Board, spanning 31km, is a vital corridor for Bengaluru's tech and residential crowd. However, it has now turned into a nightmare: Metro construction for Blue Line has forced commuters off the main carriageways and onto broken, congested service roads, leading to massive traffic snarls, accidents, and near-daily frustrations. At least eight stretches on the route have become unusable by motorists because of massive craters, illegal parking, riding in the opposite direction and garbage on the median footpaths. The stretch is dotted by over 500 tech companies, including MNCs and is flanked by several residential localities, including Ramamurthynagar, Horamavu, HRBR Layout, and Nagawara, that have turned into major choke points. Chaitra Praful, a resident of Horamavu, who frequently travels along the Ramamurthynagar service road, said: "It is hard to believe this road was asphalted just months ago. It's already a minefield of potholes and massive craters. I've seen people fall right in front of me. Add to that, the chaos at Horamavu junction signal, it is a recipe for accidents." Pedestrians, too, face a daunting challenge. Devraj, who works in Ramamurthynagar, pointed out: "There are barely any footpaths, and even where they exist near bus stops, they're either broken or piled with garbage. When it rains, it's a mess for pedestrians." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Вот что поза во сне говорит о вашем характере! Удивительные Новости Undo Streetlights rarely work, and illegal parking and construction debris narrow the roads even further. Pratap Reddy, who commutes daily from BTM Layout to Marathahalli, described commute on ORR as a "death trap." He said: "I've fallen more than once. My back hurts constantly from jerks and bumps. Sure, there's Metro work happening, but does that mean our safety doesn't matter at all?" Leela Satya, another commuter who travels from Mahadevapura to HSR Layout said her 5km journey takes nearly 40 minutes on a good day. "The stretch near New Horizon College is horrifying. Heavy vehicles zoom past recklessly, and the potholes are deep enough to topple bikes. After dark, it's terrifying. I've witnessed accidents up close. The worst is Agara Junction — it's literally full of craters." For 21-year-old sales professional Threeveni S, the ordeal becomes worse when it rains. "The stretch from Agara to HSR gets waterlogged. Traffic just becomes insane. Even cabs start rejecting rides or charge double. We don't know when the Metro work will end, but until then, why are we being made to suffer like this?" The Tin Factory flyover is notorious for its heavy traffic during peak hours. One of the key reasons is traffic chaos, poor road condition, with craters and worn-out stretches significantly slowing down vehicular movement. The road coming from Hebbal towards Tin Factory bus stop is particularly affected. Officials say A senior BBMP official blamed Metro construction and digging by BWSSB for bad roads conditions. "Since its raining, we haven't started work, but we have taken up the issue and will be repairing roads from Iblur junction to KR Pura," he said, adding after completing repair of main roads, he'll also look into the situation of service roads from Bellandur to Silk Board as well. When contacted, BMRCL officials said: "BMRCL is responsible only for maintaining the main carriageway. The service roads are handed over to other agencies for utility work, and they often shift the blame onto us. It's BBMP that is responsible for maintaining the service roads." As the agencies shift blame onto one another, it is citizens who are left to manage safety crisis — dodging potholes, navigating traffic chaos, and hoping they reach home in good health.
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"But my son will not return": Bengaluru stampede victim's family receives ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh
Tumkur (Karnataka) [India], June 9 (ANI): Devraj, father of deceased Manoj Kumar, who died in the Bengaluru stampede incident among 10 others, received ex-gratia worth Rs 25 lakh by the Karnataka government and said that he would use the relief funds for the benefit of his daughter, who still depends on him. He expressed deep sorrow over the demise of his child and said that the financial assistance given to his family wouldn't bring his son back to life. 'I have been given a cheque of Rs 25 lakhs, but my son will not return. I will not use this money for my benefit... I will put it in the account of my daughter and her mother and keep the money for her future,' Devraj told ANI. Earlier, Tumkur Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Subha Kalyan said that the father of the deceased Manoj Kumar was given ex-gratia worth Rs 25 lakh from the Chief Minister's relief fund. '11 people lost their lives, one of them was Manoj Kumar from Tumkur district. Today, we received an order from the CM's office to immediately disburse a relief amount of Rs 25 lakh to his father, Devraj. We have handed him the cheque from the CM relief fund,' Kalyan told ANI. The DM stated that the deceased was a top student with over 85 per cent marks in Karnataka SSLC and was slated to go abroad to secure a job. 'He (the father) shared that he had a lot of dreams for his son, who was a topper and had scored more than 85 per cent in SSLC. He (the son) was slated to go to a foreign country for job opportunities. It is unfortunate that dreams, which a father carries, will not see the light of day,' she added. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered an increase in the compensation announced for the families of those who died in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede in Bengaluru to Rs 25 lakh each. Earlier, the government had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has said that the details regarding the Bengaluru stampede incident will emerge after the probe concludes. The stampede that occurred during celebrations outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations claimed 11 lives. 'Everything will be known after investigation, including who said what, what statements were given earlier, when, and by whom,' Parameshwara told reporters here. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that a commission has been formed that is currently conducting an inquiry into the Bengaluru stampede incident, where 11 people had lost their lives on June 4 during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. He refrained from commenting on the matter, noting that the state's Home Minister would provide a detailed response.'The commission is conducting an inquiry. I will not say much. The Home Minister will reply,' Shivakumar said. Moreover, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government is seriously considering moving the city's cricket stadium to a new location to prevent such incidents in the future. Speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah expressed deep personal pain over the tragedy, confirmed that the government is contemplating long-term solutions, and said that the government can shift the stadium to a different place. 'The government will look into shifting the cricket stadium to another location,' he said.'Such an unpleasant incident should not happen under any government. Personally, this incident has hurt me and the government,' he added. 'Five police officers have been suspended in this case. The intelligence chief and the chief minister's political secretary have been replaced,' Siddaramaiah confirmed. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘My son will not come back': Father of Bengaluru stampede victim says compensation will go to wife, daughter
Devraj, the father of one of the deceased in the Bengaluru stampede on June 4, said on Sunday that he would use the compensation announced by the state government for her wife and daughter. He said the cheque of ₹25 lakh given to him won't bring his son back, who died in the stampede that broke out during a victory parade of the IPL-winning team RCB in Bengaluru on June 4. "I have been given a cheque of ₹25 lakhs, but my son will not come back. I will not use this money for my benefit... I will put it in the account of my daughter and her mother and keep the money for her future..." Devraj said. Also Read | Bengaluru stampede: Siddaramaiah says he learned of deaths only at 5.45 pm Devraj's son, Manoj, was among the 11 people who died in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede in Bengaluru. The stampede occurred on the evening of June 4 in front of the stadium after a large number of people thronged to participate in the celebrations of RCB's first-ever IPL victory. According to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, the venue could not handle the size of the crowd, adding that the stadium's capacity was 35,000 but 2 to 3 lakh people had turned up for the celebrations. Also Read | Bengaluru stampede: Police had warned Karnataka govt before RCB victory event, says report The state government has appointed a one-member inquiry commission led by retired High Court judge Justice John Michael D'Cunha to investigate the tragedy. It has also announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased. The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government had earlier announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh. 'I have ordered an increase in the compensation announced for the families of those who died in the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium from ₹10 lakh each to ₹25 lakh. Our government hopes that families who have lost loved ones will not suffer further due to financial problems," he wrote on X on Saturday. In addition to the government's aid, the RCB franchise had earlier announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh per victim's family and promised the creation of a support fund to assist those who were injured in the incident.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
‘Is this the end?': Asian students bound for US anxious about visa freeze
BENGALURU/BEIJING: Devraj was until recently stressed about securing part-funding for a humanities master's programme at Columbia University, New York. But though the Delhi-based 26-year-old has secured a scholarship that will cover 85 per cent of his tuition, he is unsure if he will get to go to the US at all. Millions of students across the globe are in a similar bind, now that a new US policy has effectively frozen new student visa applications. A US State Department directive on May 27 ordered embassies to suspend scheduling appointments for student and foreign visitor visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants to enhance national security. Issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo directed US embassies to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas but said those with appointments already scheduled could go ahead. Rubio said the pause would last 'until further guidance is issued'. The move escalates a series of restrictions on international students, amid the US government's wider pressure campaign against top American universities. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Harvard University that it can no longer enrol international students. This was purportedly to hold the Ivy League school accountable 'for fostering violence, anti-Semitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus'. A judge has temporarily blocked the ban. In a twist of the knife for international students, the latest policy change could delay visa processing and disrupt enrolment timelines at US universities. Several student applicants in Asia declined The Straits Times' request for comment, citing a 'fear of any consequences' impacting their visa eligibility. 'A suspension could mean weeks or months, and things may not be resolved before my classes start in August,' said Devraj, whose name has been changed to protect his identity. He was unsure if he should confirm his enrolment by May 31, by paying the university a non-refundable US$1,000, which is around 83,000 rupees – not a small amount for the middle-class young Indian. Only then would the university issue him an I-20 certificate, which is a prerequisite for student visa application. India is the largest source of international students in the US, with 331,602 studying there in the academic year 2023-24. China comes a close second, with 277,398. These Asian giants together account for a third of foreign students in the US. They are followed by South Korea with 43,149 students, Canada with 28,998, Taiwan with 23,157, and Vietnam with 22,066. In China, students and officials alike were confused and disappointed. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV inquired with the US Embassy in Beijing on May 28, but a staff member said that it had 'yet to receive relevant information', and visa processing was proceeding as usual. Others reported on Chinese social media that slots for student visa interviewees were not available for June and July, although it is unclear whether this was due to the latest development. A higher education career counsellor in an international school in Beijing, who declined to be named, told ST: 'Since early this morning, students have barged into my office and exclaimed: 'Teacher, is this the end for us? What does this policy mean?'' She has students who paid deposits of a few hundred US dollars in May to secure their places in American universities before they can apply for visas. If they do not get their visas, they would have to squabble with the universities on whether the deposits can be refunded, she said. While most Chinese students still prefer to pursue their higher education in the US, some of them have already chosen to go to Canada or Britain instead, she said. 'Those who have shortlisted only American universities can only wait for further information,' she added. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on May 28: 'China has always believed that normal educational cooperation and academic exchanges should not be disrupted. 'We urge the US side to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of students from all countries, including Chinese students.' The introduction of stringent social media checks has raised concerns among prospective students and their families. Rubio had foreshadowed social media monitoring in March after the police arrested Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk over an op-ed she wrote on Gazans. She was later freed on bail as she fights possible deportation. At the time, Rubio had said: 'If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalising universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus – we're not going to give you a visa.' A leaked US State Department diplomatic cable dated March 25 describes a new standard for visa denials based on a broad definition of what constitutes support for 'terrorist activity'. It mandated comprehensive reviews of the social media profiles of all applicants seeking F (academic students), M (vocational students) and J (exchange visitors) visas. Officers must take screenshots of any 'potentially derogatory' content found during these reviews, even if such content is later deleted or altered. These records will be stored in the applicant's case file and may serve as grounds for visa denial. Many like Devraj are hurrying to make their social media accounts private. 'I have no other option. The US government could apply its whims and fancies under vague and broad parameters to deem any of my posts a threat to national security,' said Devraj, adding that he might look to Europe if 'things remain this bad in the US'. China-based consultancies who provide overseas educational application services have also advised Chinese students to remove 'sensitive content' on their social media, including phrases such as 'Gulf of Mexico', 'LGBTQ', 'gender diversity' and 'anti-Semitism'. A prospective Taiwanese student to the US, who declined to be named, told ST that she has yet to secure a visa appointment slot and is now 'very worried' that her application would be affected. The 28-year-old had been looking forward to starting a master's programme in law this August in Texas, where her boyfriend is already studying engineering. However, she is not concerned about the vetting of her social media accounts as she said she is rarely active online. 'If I post anything, which is rare, they're just pictures of food – nothing politically sensitive,' she said. On a Korean internet community group of more than 40,000 called Jaws Mom, set up to dispense free advice for parents looking to send their children to the US, group administrator Kim Seong-jun called the suspension of visa interviews 'shocking news'. He advised the group members to stay calm and wait to see what happens, as the start of the fall semester in US schools is still more than two months away. He also urged members to refrain from criticising the US government on its policies on social media platforms and to delete such comments if already made. A parent member, in response to Kim's post, shared that her child was supposed to start school in autumn, and had already received the I-20 certificate. She had not seen the urgency in scheduling a visa appointment with the embassy and now regrets her decision. 'I have no choice but to wait and see how things progress, but I'm anxious,' she wrote. The South Korean Embassy in the US created an emergency contact network for international students and held several meetings to share the current situation. Earlier, on May 22, the embassy posted a notice regarding the strengthening of US immigration policies and entry screening. In particular, it warned international students residing on student visas that 'if caught engaging in illegal employment or labour activities, it can be considered a serious violation of immigration law'. The Indonesian embassy on May 27 conveyed to the US its 'deep concern over the negative effect' the policy has on Indonesian and other foreign students. The US Embassy in Jakarta reported 8,348 Indonesian students in the US for 2023-2024. Rolliansyah Soemirat, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on the sidelines of the Asean Summit on May 27 that 'Indonesian missions in the US are prepared to provide consular assistance to affected Indonesian students'. Dr Sidrotun Naim, a member of the Jakarta-based alumni association Harvard Club of Indonesia, told ST on last week's ban: 'Indonesian students in Harvard face two options in dealing with this situation: They can transfer to another campus in order to retain their legal status in the US or return to Indonesia. But the situation remains fluid.' Since the ban on Harvard enrolment of new international students, some territories are moving swiftly to attract the run-off of top students from the US. The Hong Kong Education Bureau called on all universities in Hong Kong 'to introduce facilitation measures for those eligible with a view to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of students and scholars', and to attract top talent in accordance with each institution's diverse admissions and recruitment policies. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has invited affected students from any foreign university to make use of its 'robust transfer policies and admission protocols', streamlined credit transfers and seamless transitions into its programmes, including accommodation arrangements and scholarships. 'On the day the foreign student ban was announced, we were approached by graduating students, alumni, and prospective students currently bound for Harvard – many from Hong Kong and mainland China – who are grappling with profound anxiety about the disruption of their academic journeys,' a HKUST spokesman told ST. Japan has also indicated its willingness to support visa applications for those who may find themselves stranded by US policy directives. Tokyo on May 27 called on its domestic institutions of higher learning to open their doors to students who plan to or have enrolled in the US. The top three public universities – University of Tokyo, Kyoto University and Osaka University – have said they are considering the acceptance of students and young researchers of US universities who may be displaced. One hitch is that the Japanese academic year begins in April, making it out of step with the US. University of Tokyo president Teruo Fujii told the Nikkei newspaper that the stagnation of higher learning in the US marked a 'crisis for the global academic community'. He added: 'We will work towards expanding, within the year, our acceptance of international students who have difficulty studying or researching overseas due to political interference.' Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined comment at a regular news briefing on May 28, saying Tokyo would respond after it gains a 'full understanding' of the matter, including how long appointments for student visa screenings would be paused. Japan is not a top source of foreign students to the US. The weak yen and sluggish economy make costs prohibitive. Still, 13,959 Japanese students and researchers enrolled in US universities for the 2023-24 academic year, including 260 at Harvard. Yusuke Matsuda, the Japan representative of prep school Crimson Education and an adviser to the Education Ministry, urged students who have secured appointments with the US embassy not to cancel or reschedule their interviews and to carefully review their public profiles. 'If your interview isn't scheduled, this suspension may cause anxiety, but it is recommended that you wait a few days to a week and see how things go,' he wrote on the online portal Newspicks. Matsuda said it was likely for US universities to eventually band together and seek a class action lawsuit to halt policies that would hurt their enrolment of foreign students, citing precedent in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump, in his first term in office, sought to implement a policy that would have forced international students to leave the US if their classes were held entirely online. The authorities rescinded the policy after Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration. Andrew Siow, 19, a student enrolled in an American Degree Transfer Programme at Sunway University in Malaysia, had planned to finish his third and fourth years in science engineering at Western Michigan University in the US. 'If this continues, I guess I will have to finish my studies in Malaysia. I really wanted to go there and see the US, maybe visit parts of the country during my semester break. I've always wanted to visit California. I just hope the American government will stop this soon,' said Siow. Some have given up on the US. Indonesian Niwa R Dwitama, 33, told ST that he is considering pursuing his doctoral studies in Britain. Niwa, who holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University, was accepted into Johns Hopkins University in Washington for his doctoral studies in March. 'With the current US immigration policy and economic uncertainties, being a foreign student in the US poses greater risks and hardships. After all, I will be bringing my family with me during my studies,' he said. In Malaysia, the new directive was the final nail in the coffin for Liyana Ariff, whose 19-year-old daughter is planning to study data analytics in the US. The 48-year-old engineer told ST that she may send her daughter, a computer science student, to study elsewhere, though 'I know my daughter will be disappointed'. Liyana had already been 'quite concerned and wary of how the US has been deporting people out of the country'. 'I've read about that lady from Wales who was detained for three weeks even though she was flying out to Canada from Seattle. And she's white. They're also arresting their own citizens. If that can happen to these people, they could do a lot worse to my daughter.' - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘Is this the end?': Asian students bound for US anxious about visa freeze
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Harvard University that it can no longer enrol international students. PHOTO: SOPHIE PARK/NYTIMES 'Is this the end?': Asian students bound for US anxious about visa freeze – Mr Devraj was until recently stressed about securing part-funding for a humanities master's programme at Columbia University, New York. But though the Delhi-based 26-year-old has secured a scholarship that will cover 85 per cent of his tuition, he is unsure if he will get to go to the United States at all. Millions of students across the globe are in a similar bind, now that a new US policy has effectively frozen new student visa applications. A US State Department directive on May 27 ordered embassies to suspend scheduling appointments for student and foreign visitor visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants to enhance national security. Issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo directed US embassies to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas, but said those with appointments already scheduled could go ahead. Mr Rubio said the pause would last 'until further guidance is issued'. The move escalates a series of restrictions on international students, amid the US government's wider pressure campaign against top universities in the US. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Harvard University that it can no longer enrol international students. This was purportedly to hold the Ivy League school accountable 'for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus'. A judge blocked the policy. In a twist of the knife for international students, the latest policy change could delay visa processing and disrupt enrolment timelines at American universities. Several student applicants in Asia declined The Straits Times' request for comment, citing a 'fear of any consequence s' impacting their visa eligibility. 'A suspension could mean weeks or months, and things may not be resolved before my classes start in August,' said Mr Devraj, whose name has been changed to protect his identity. He was unsure if he should confirm his enrolment by May 31, by paying the university a non-refundable US$1,000 (S$1,290) which is around 83,000 rupees – not a small amount for the middle-class young Indian. Only then would the university issue him an I-20 certificate, which is a prerequisite for student visa application. India is the largest source of international students in the US, with 331,602 studying there in the academic year 2023-24. China comes a close second, with 277,398. These Asian giants together account for a third of foreign students in the US. They are followed by South Korea with 43,149 students, Canada with 28,998, Taiwan with 23,157, and Vietnam with 22,066. Chinese students ask if it is the end In China, students and officials alike were confused and disappointed. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV inquired with the US Embassy in Beijing on May 2 8 , but a staff member said that they have 'yet to receive relevant information', and visa processing was proceeding as usual. Others reported on Chinese social media that slots for student visa interviewees were not available for June and July, although it is unclear whether this was due to the latest development. A higher education career counsellor in an international school in Beijing, who declined to be named, told ST: 'Since early this morning, students have barged into my office and exclaimed: 'Teacher, is this the end for us? What does this policy mean?'' She has students who paid deposits of a few hundred US dollars in May to secure their places in American universities, before they can apply for visas. If they do not get their visa s, they would have to squabble with the universities on whether the deposits can be refunded, she said. While most Chinese students still prefer to pursue their higher education in the US, some of them have already chosen to go to Canada or the United Kingdom instead, she said. 'Those who have shortlisted only American universities can only wait for further information,' she added. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on May 28: 'China has always believed that normal educational cooperation and academic exchanges should not be disrupted. 'We urge the US side to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of students from all countries, including Chinese students.' Social media vetting The introduction of stringent social media checks have raised concerns among prospective students and their families. Mr Rubio had foreshadowed social media restrictions in March after the police arrested Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk over an op-ed she wrote on Gazans. She was later freed on bail as she fights possible deportation. At the time Mr Rubio had said: 'If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalising universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus – we're not going to give you a visa.' Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk is fighting possible deportation. PHOTO: AFP A leaked US State Department diplomatic cable dated March 25 describes a new standard for visa denials based on a broad definition of what constitutes support for 'terrorist activity'. It mandated comprehensive reviews of the social media profiles of all applicants seeking F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitors) visas. Officers must take screenshots of any 'potentially derogatory' content found during these reviews, even if such content is later deleted or altered. These records will be stored in the applicant's case file and may serve as grounds for visa denial. Many like Mr Devraj are hurrying to make their social media accounts private. 'I have no other option. The US government could apply its whims and fancies under vague and broad parameters to deem any of my posts a threat to national security,' said Mr Devraj, adding that he might look to Europe if 'things remain this bad in the US'. China-based consultancies who provide overseas educational application services have also advised Chinese students to remove 'sensitive content' on their social media, including phrases such as 'Gulf of Mexico', 'LGBTQ', 'gender diversity' and 'anti-Semitism'. A prospective Taiwanese student to the US, who declined to be named, told ST that she has yet to secure a visa appointment slot and is now 'very worried' that her application would be affected. The 28-year-old had been looking forward to starting a master's programme in law this August in Texas, where her boyfriend is already studying engineering. However, she is not concerned about the vetting of her social media accounts as she said she is rarely active online. 'If I post anything, which is rare, they're just pictures of food – nothing politically sensitive,' she said. Applicants uncertain, officials try to help On a Korean internet community group of more than 40,000 called Jaws Mom, set up to dispense free advice for parents looking to send their children to the US, the group administrator Kim Seong-jun called the suspension of visa interviews 'shocking news'. He advised the group members to stay calm and wait to see what happens, as the start of the US schools' fall semester is still more than two months away. He also urged members to refrain from criticising the US government on its policies on social media platforms, and to delete such comments if already made. A parent member, in response to Mr Kim's post, shared that her child was supposed to start school in autumn , and had already received the I-20 certificat e . She had not seen the urgency in scheduling a visa appointment with the embassy, and now regrets her decision. 'I have no choice but to wait and see how things progress, but I'm anxious,' she wrote. The South Korean Embassy in the US created an emergency contact network for international students and held several meetings to share the current situation. Earlier, on May 22, the embassy posted a notice regarding the strengthening of US immigration policies and entry screening. In particular, it warned international students residing on student visas that 'if caught engaging in illegal employment or labour activities, it can be considered a serious violation of immigration law'. The Indonesian embassy on May 27 conveyed to the US its 'deep concern over the negative effect' the policy has on Indonesian and other foreign students. The US Embassy in Jakarta reported 8,348 Indonesian students in the US for 2023-2024. Mr Rolliansyah Soemirat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on the sidelines of the Asean Summit on May 27 that 'Indonesian missions in the US are prepared to provide consular assistance to affected Indonesian students'. Dr Sidrotun Naim, a member of the Jakarta-based alumni association Harvard Club of Indonesia, told ST: 'Indonesian students in Harvard face two options in dealing with this situation: They can transfer to another campus in order to retain their legal status in the US, or return to Indonesia. But the situation remains fluid.' Asian universities open doors Since the ban on Harvard enrolment of new international students, some territories are moving swiftly to attract the run-off of top students from the US. The Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) called on all universities in Hong Kong 'to introduce facilitation measures for those eligible with a view to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of students and scholars' , and to attract top talent in accordance with each institution's diverse admissions and recruitment policies. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has invited affected students from any foreign university to make use of its 'robust transfer policies and admission protocols' , streamlined credit transfers and seamless transitions into its programmes, including accommodation arrangements and scholarships. 'On the day the foreign student ban was announced, we were approached by graduating students, alumni, and prospective students currently bound for Harvard – many from Hong Kong and mainland China – who are grappling with profound anxiety about the disruption of their academic journeys,' a HKUST spokesman told ST. Japan has also indicated its willingness to support visa applications for those who may find themselves stranded by US policy directives. Tokyo on May 27 called on its domestic institutions of higher learning to open their doors to students who plan to or have enrolled in US. The top three public universities – University of Tokyo, Kyoto University and Osaka University – have said they are considering the acceptance of students and young researchers of US universities who may be displaced. The only hitch: the Japanese academic year began in April, making it out of step with the US. University of Tokyo president Teruo Fujii told the Nikkei newspaper that the stagnation of higher learning in the US marked a 'crisis for the global academic community'. He added: 'We will work towards expanding, within the year, our acceptance of international students who have difficulty studying or researching overseas due to political interference.' Wait and watch Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined comment at a regular news briefing on May 28, saying Tokyo would respond after it gains a 'full understanding' of the matter, including how long appointments for student visa screenings would be paused. Japan is not a top source of foreign students to the US. The weak yen and sluggish economy make costs prohibitive. Still, 13,959 Japanese students and researchers enrolled in US universities for the 2023-24 academic year, including 260 at Harvard. Mr Yusuke Matsuda, the Japan representative of prep school Crimson Education and an adviser to the Education Ministry, urged students who have secured appointments with the US Embassy not to cancel or reschedule their interviews, and to carefully review their public profiles. 'If your interview isn't scheduled, this suspension may cause anxiety, but it is recommended that you wait a few days to a week and see how things go,' he wrote on the online portal Newspicks. Mr Matsuda said it was likely for US universities to eventually band together and seek a class action lawsuit to halt policies that would hurt their enrolment of foreign students , citing precedent in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic . Mr Trump, in his first term in office, sought to implement a policy that would have forced international students to leave the US if their classes were held entirely online. The authorities rescinded the policy after Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration. Mr Andrew Siow, 19, a student enrolled in an American Degree Transfer Programme in Sunway University in Malaysia, had planned to finish his third and fourth year in science engineering at Western Michigan University in the US. 'If this continues, I guess I will have to finish my studies in Malaysia. I really wanted to go there and see the US, maybe visit parts of the country during my semester break. I've always wanted to visit California. I just hope the American government will stop this soon,' said Mr Siow. Some have given up on the US. Indonesian Niwa R Dwitama, 33, told ST that he is considering pursuing his doctoral studies in Britain. Mr Niwa , who holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia Universit y , was accepted into Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, for his doctoral studies in March. 'With the current US immigration policy and economic uncertainties, being a foreign student in the US poses greater risks and hardships. After all, I will be bringing my family with me during my studies,' he said. In Malaysia, the new directive was the final nail in the coffin for Mrs Liyana Ariff, whose 19-year-old daughter is planning to study data analytics in the US. The 48-year-old engineer told ST that she may send her daughter, a computer science student, to study elsewhere, though 'I know my daughter will be disappointed'. Mrs Liyana had already been 'quite concerned and wary of how the US has been deporting people out of the country'. 'I've read about that lady from Wales who was detained for three weeks even though she was flying out to Canada from Seattle. And she's white. They're also arresting their own citizens. If that can happen to these people, they could do a lot worse to my daughter.' Additional reporting by Stania Puspawardhani, Jakarta Correspondent; Walter Sim, Japan Correspondent; Wendy Teo, South Korea Correspondent; Magdalene Fung, Hong Kong Correspondent; Yip Wai Yee, Taiwan Correspondent and Azril Annuar, Malaysia Correspondent. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
