Latest news with #OpenDoors
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Embassy warns govts of ‘serious consequences' – 'won't tolerate those who facilitate illegal immigration'
The United States Embassy in India has reiterated that the US will not tolerate those who facilitate illegal and mass immigration. The Embassy, in a statement shared on its X handle, also said the United States has "established new visa restrictions" targeting foreign government officials and others who do so. The statement comes against the backdrop of an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration in California's Los Angeles recently. "We will not tolerate those who facilitate illegal and mass immigration to the United States," reads the embassy statement. The US has established "new visa restrictions targeting foreign government officials and others who do so, and the Trump Administration has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations several criminal cartels that facilitate illegal immigration and alien smuggling," it added. "Also, governments that do not facilitate the repatriation of their nationals from the United States face serious consequences, including broad restrictions on entry to the United States for their nationals," it said. The US Embassy on June 10 had also issued a statement, saying, the United States continues to welcome legitimate travellers to the country, but it "cannot and will not tolerate" illegal entry and abuse of visas or violation of US law. The Embassy's June 10 statement comes a day after a shocking video of an Indian student, pinned to the floor at an US airport before being deported, went viral on social media. The person who posted the video, Kunal Jain, who is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumni, claimed that the student was 'treated like a criminal.' As per his post, the harrowing scene unfolded at Newark Airport, New Jersey. Tagging the Indian Embassy and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Jain made an urgent appeal for intervention. The Donald Trump's administration, since assuming power in January 2025, has deported as many as 1,080 Indian nationals from the US, As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Among the students deported was Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian PhD student from Columbia University, who self-deported in March to Canada after her student visa was revoked for allegedly being a "terror sympathiser." As many as 1.1 million international students, including 3,32 lakh Indians, studied in the US in 2023-24, according to the latest Open Doors report. The United States has established new visa restrictions targeting foreign government officials and others who facilitate illegal immigration. Key Takeaways The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement, leading to the deportation of many Indian nationals. Governments that do not assist in repatriating their citizens from the US face significant entry restrictions. The US Embassy emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal entry and visa abuse.
Broadcast Pro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Locarno Film Festival unveils Africa-focused line-up for Open Doors programme
On August 12, a panel of professional jury members will grant awards to the selected winning projects. The Locarno Film Festival has revealed the line-up for the 23rd edition of its Open Doors programme, with a renewed focus on the African continent. After completing a three-year cycle centred on Latin America and the Caribbean, the initiative shifts its attention to Africa for the next four editions, aiming to spotlight emerging filmmaking talent across the region. The 2025 edition, running from August 7 to 12 during Locarno Pro, will offer a blend of industry training, mentorship, networking and public events. Six film projects from across Africa have been selected for Open Doors Projects, the co-production platform. The line-up includes Les Bilokos, a documentary from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by director Erickey Bahati and producer Giresse Kassonga; the Ivorian-Burkinabé hybrid documentary-animation Diary of a Goat Woman by Azata Soro and Nameita Lica Toure; The Fortunate, a dark comedy from Ethiopia by Habtamu Gebrehiwot and Nahusenay Dereje; the Nigerian reincarnation-themed romance Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes) by Dika Ofoma and producer Blessing Uzzi; the Senegalese family drama Lutteurs (Fighters) from director Alassane Sy and producer Jules Dieng; and Black Snake, a supernatural mystery from Zimbabwe directed by Naishe Nyamubaya and produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya. In parallel, the Open Doors Producers initiative has selected six producers from Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The programme aims to strengthen creative production networks across Africa and support sustainable collaborative models. The chosen participants include Kamy Lara, Moustapha Sawadogo, Leul Shoaferaw, June Wairegi, Yannick Mizero Kabano and Kudakwashe Miss Maradzika. Yanis Gaye, the new Head of Studies at Open Doors said: 'The inception of the new cycle of Open Doors is an exciting marker of the role African film industries will play within the global independent film landscape in years to come. The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom. With our programme, we aim to strengthen both the creative vision and business acumen necessary to navigate selective markets while maintaining distinctive narrative voices. Participants will acquire the frameworks to develop their production companies into sustainable creative enterprises, while exploring ways to foster more equitable international co-production partnerships.' Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Head of Open Doors, added: 'As we enter a new cycle focused on the African continent, Open Doors reaffirms its commitment to supporting filmmakers working in contexts where artistic freedom is often challenged. We are excited to welcome a strong slate of predominantly first and second-time filmmakers whose inventive approaches and formal experimentation signal a bold evolution in global cinematic storytelling. The range of perspectives represented is striking — each project brings a distinct voice that challenges narrative conventions. We aim to contribute to a stronger regional and international film ecosystem by supporting a generation of filmmakers whose diverse ideas and ways of working foster a more sustainable and collaborative film community.' The programme will culminate in a professional jury session on August 12, where financial and in-kind prizes will be awarded. These include the CHF 50,000 Open Doors Grant supported by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, the EUR 8,000 CNC Development Prize, and the EUR 6,000 Arte Kino International Prize. Additional industry support will come from partners such as the International Culture Center Tabakalera, the San Sebastian Film Festival, Sørfond, the World Cinema Fund, OIF, IFFR Pro, and the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. Meanwhile, directors of selected short films will participate in the Open Doors Directors programme, gaining access to talks, workshops, and networking opportunities. Details of the short film selections will be announced on July 8, alongside the festival's official line-up. This expanded African focus marks a significant step in Locarno's commitment to fostering underrepresented cinematic voices on a global stage.
Mint
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Won't tolerate illegal entry, visa abuse': US' BIG warning to Indians amid viral video of handcuffed student
The US Embassy in India on Tuesday said that while the country welcomes 'legitimate' travellers, it will not tolerate 'illegal entry and abuse of visas'. In a post shared on X, the Embassy said, 'The United States continues to welcome legitimate travelers to our country. However, there is no right to visit the United States. We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law.' The Embassy's statement comes a day after a shocking video of an Indian student, pinned to the floor at an US airport before being deported, vent viral on social media. The person who posted the video, Kunal Jain, who is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumni, claimed that the student was 'treated like a criminal.' As per his post, the harrowing scene unfolded at Newark Airport, New Jersey. Tagging the Indian Embassy and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Jain made an urgent appeal for intervention. "I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night—handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal," Jain wrote. "He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. This is a human tragedy." The Consulate General of India in New York said it is in touch with local authorities after the video surfaced online showing the young Indian man being handcuffed and allegedly being deported. "We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard," the Indian Consulate said in a post on X. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, Donald Trump's administration, since assuming power in January 2025, has deported as many as 1,080 Indian nationals from America. Among the students, was also Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian PhD student from Columbia University, who self-deported to Canada after her student visa was revoked for allegedly being a "terror sympathiser." Another student, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian researcher pursuing conflict studies at Georgetown University, was detained on March 17 after his visa was revoked based on allegations of antisemitic speech and ties to Hamas. Suri denies the claims, stating he's being targeted due to his wife's Palestinian background. As many as 1.1 million international students, including 3,32 lakh Indians, studied in the US in 2023-24, according to the latest Open Doors report. Open Doors, an annual survey by the Institute of International Education (IIE), provides data on international students in the United States and US students studying abroad (This is a developing story. Please check back for updates)
The Mainichi
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Trump says he welcomes Chinese students, but wants them checked
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he welcomes Chinese and other foreign students to study in the United States, but he wants them to be screened more carefully. "Chinese students are coming. No problem. No problem. It's our honor to have them," Trump said at the White House ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "We want to have foreign students, but we want them to be checked." Trump made the comments in response to a question from the press as to whether he discussed anything regarding Chinese students in his phone call in the morning with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Trump administration has been tightening the screening of international students, claiming some of them could threaten national security. On Wednesday, he signed a proclamation to suspend student visas for foreign nationals seeking to study at Harvard University. Identifying China by its formal name, the proclamation warned that "our adversaries, including the People's Republic of China, try to take advantage of American higher education by exploiting the student visa program for improper purposes and by using visiting students to collect information at elite universities in the United States." The White House also noted that Xi's daughter attended Harvard as an undergraduate in the early 2010s. In a related development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week the United States will "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese students, specifically those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive fields. Rubio also said the United States will revise visa criteria to step up scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. In the 2023-2024 school year, China was the country of origin for the second-highest number of foreign students in the United States, following India, which became the leader for the first time since 2009, according to data from Open Doors, a program sponsored by the State Department. There were 277,398 Chinese students in the United States in the year, making up a quarter of the total number of international students.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Locarno Unveils Open Doors Program Projects, Producers for First Edition of Africa Focus
Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival's Locarno Pro-organized co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from regions where artistic expression is at risk, is gearing up for its 23rd edition this year with a focus on the African continent. On Thursday, six projects in development and six producers selected to participate were unveiled. Following a three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, the program is now offering a platform for emerging voices from Africa through its Projects, Producers, and Directors programs. It provides training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, along public screenings and events during the 2025 edition of Locarno Pro, taking place in the Swiss town Aug. 7-12 during the festival. More from The Hollywood Reporter Idris Elba on His Dyslexia, His African Cinema Vision and Doing "a Little Bit of Everything" 'Maxton Hall' Season 2 to Premiere in November, First Teaser Revealed ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus on Writing a Musical Assisted by AI and Those Kiss Avatars: SXSW London Here is a look at the six projects in development selected to participate in the co-production track: Congolese veteran documentary Les Bilokos (Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati and produced by Giresse Kassonga for Gikas Films; documentary-animation hybrid Journal Intime d'une Femme-Chèvre (Diary of a Goat Woman), a co-production between the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, represented by director Azata Soro and producer Nameita Lica Toure (TSK Films); Ethiopian project The Fortunate, a dark comedy by director Habtamu Gebrehiwot and producer Nahusenay Dereje (MTF Multimedia); Nigerian reincarnation romance Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes) by director Dika Ofoma and producer Blessing Uzzi (Bluhouse Studios); Lutteurs (Fighters), a Senegalese wrestling family drama by director Alassane Sy and producer Jules Dieng (Thiely Films); Zimbabwean supernatural mystery Black Snake by director Naishe Nyamubaya and producer Sue-Ellen Chitunya (263 Reels Productions). The participants of the Open Doors Producers program, a career-building initiative for creative producers, are Kamy Lara (Angola), Moustapha Sawadogo (Burkina Faso), Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia), June Wairegi (Kenya), Yannick Mizero Kabano (Rwanda), and Kudakwashe Miss Maradzika (Zimbabwe). Said Yanis Gaye, the new head of studies at Open Doors: 'The inception of the new cycle of Open Doors is an exciting marker of the role African film industries will play within the global independent film landscape in years to come. The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom. With our program, we aim to strengthen both the creative vision and business acumen necessary to navigate selective markets while maintaining distinctive narrative voices.' Open Doors head Zsuzsi Bánkuti added: 'As we enter a new cycle focused on the African continent, Open Doors reaffirms its commitment to supporting filmmakers working in contexts where artistic freedom is often challenged. We are excited to welcome a strong slate of predominantly first and second-time filmmakers whose inventive approaches and formal experimentation signal a bold evolution in global cinematic storytelling. The range of perspectives represented is striking — each project brings a distinct voice that challenges narrative conventions.' On Aug. 12, a panel of professional jury members will grant financial and in-kind awards to selected winning projects. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
